I CAN'T BELIEVE WE GET TO PLAY HERE!

Playing just two dates in Alaska takes a great deal of logistics. All nine of us flew the length of the United States across from Atlanta, and then the same distance north. It took as long as a transatlantic trip, but felt a lot longer since we were going backward in time zone worlds. It was worth every second, and waking up at 4 a.m. for several days in a row.

The last time we played Alaska was on my 45th birthday in Anchorage, seven years ago, which was THE BEST way to spend a birthday – playing a town I had never played. It was so much fun. I even had a cup of coffee at the Snow City Cafe that led to me falling in love with my sweetheart, ManFriendJeff. That cup of coffee (or five) changed my life in the best possible way. I even became a mom/dad without having to give birth, as ManFriend came complete with the best kid on Earth! (I did not mean for that to rhyme… ew.) My dressing room was a short black bus with a stripper pole in it. The band and I had such a wonderful time playing for the Alaskans!

So you can imagine my joy at the news that we were not just going to play Anchorage but also Fairbanks this time! I had never even been to Fairbanks let alone played there. I was losing my shit.

Anchorage was fantastic. I had forgotten about the Alaska tradition of breaking the show up into two 45-minute halves with a 20-minute intermission in the middle. It’s so that locals have a guaranteed window to catch up and visit. WHAT?! How sweet is that?! Everyone but me and Joe were drunk on King Crab (which led to HORRIBLE earworm infestation of a bad (?) 80s childhood memory… see below) and sleeping in and ready to play. The show was in a giant spaceship theater in the middle of downtown. It was so comfortable and friendly and we had a fantastic time. Thanks to everyone at the Alaska Center for the Performing Arts! What a bunch of sweethearts :)

The day after we boarded a plane for Fairbanks and were lucky enough to take off at the height of Alaskan fall foliage colors. (See the “FALL PORN!” post.) Ugh! It was so beautiful and so crushing to know there were no days built in to hang out and hike. (Though, Joe, Stacey and Nora managed to get a little in the day we landed in Anchorage. They were more hardcore then me that day, I had a nap. I still have nap-shame.) We landed in a light fog which was burning off to reveal a candy corn-colored Fairbanks at peak gorgeous. We were picked up by Tim and Marie in a giant blue bus like we were a hockey team. Hot. We loaded into the Hering Auditorium early and downed a half-case of pamplemousse seltzer in record time which was proof of our collective exhaustion. The show was fun and emotional, it had been a long tour and we had logged a lot of miles and chalked up three virgo birthdays. Whew! I was so proud to bring my talented friends and loved ones to play for Fairbanks for the first time. I cried a little bit. Thanks to everyone at the Hering Auditorium and our friend Aubrey who is one of the greatest ambassadors (and best photographers) a state could have :) You are wonderful people and it’s a privilege to play for you. 

It was very sad to leave the next day, but we were finally done and all splitting up to go our separate ways home. Except for myself and Carl and Jeff who were off to Chicago to see Roxy Music. Oh shit. To be continued…