After the New York show we hopped in the bus and headed back to Toronto. We had two days off and we figured that we might as well spend it with our families instead of in some pokey hotel room. That’s the beauty of traveling on a tour bus; all it takes is one nights sleep and you find yourself 500 miles down the road and sitting at your front door.

We had two shows over these past two nights at The Birchmere; a legendary music club sitting just outside of Washington, DC. Oddly enough, we have never played this venue. In the past we have been lured by the big bucks of the 9:30 Club, the downtown rock venue. We realize that our audience is becoming more and more reticent about standing up for an entire show in a dingy rock club (although, as far as rock clubs go, the 9:30 is a very good one). Our hips aren’t as sturdy as they once were. In any case the move across town seems to have been a smart one as we were rewarded with two sold out shows. It also happens to be a very good performance space, with a nice size stage, excellent sightlines and very good sound. The house crew was also exceptionally friendly and helpful. It looks like we have found a new home in the DC area.

Both shows were a little odd in their own special way. When you play a new venue, especially one as intimate as The Birchmere, you have to figure out the audience. They were very low key both nights: extremely attentive, just a little low key. But I think we had a couple of pretty good shows. The new songs seem to be coming together quite nicely.

We also got an invitation from the Canadian Embassy to join some staffers for lunch and a quick tour around the Embassy. It was a very pleasant way to spend an afternoon and a much appreciated show of hospitality.

Opening up for us these next few shows is Andy Maize and Josh Finlayson (aka: Finlayson/Maize). They are a couple of Toronto veterans whose band, the Skydiggers, has been a staple on the Canadian scene for the past fifteen years or so.