Good day, Folks!
Still in London. On to Dublin on Tuesday for a show Thursday. It’s been great, really.
Despite my own brain and fighting old feelings and the residue of old fears, this trip over the pond has been great. Here are some things I’ve done.
Manchester:
Ate in the basement of a Buddhist center. Being served by seemingly sad people who have found some peace was an oddly emotional moment.
Got a tentative shave by a barber who I think needed the practice shaving. Not a great experience but I was happy he was proud of himself when he didn’t hurt me.
Did an odd interview on a BBC radio show. Unnecessarily contentious because the ‘interviewer’ had something to prove to another ‘interviewer' (me).
Did a not so weird interview on a BBC Morning TV show. Though one of the hosts made an ‘uh oh’ face when I called Trump a monster. He is a monster.
Did an almost two hour long set in a packed sweet-sounding theater. A lot of riffing. Great crowd.
London:
Did more BBC radio. A show called ‘Loose Ends’ which was like a roundtable and one of the other guests was Mavis Staple. MAVIS STAPLES. Talking about singing for Dr. King and being proposed to by Bob Dylan. Such an honor meeting her. Some days I love show business.
Ate at a plant-based restaurant. It was good. Cauliflower.
Got my boots shined at a cobbler around the corner. Made me want to be a cobbler.
Smoked a Cuban cigar.
Did a show for 1900 people at a venue designed for symphonies. There were moments between bits where I deeply realized I was just a little guy on a huge stage and I was all alone. The crowd carried me. It was kind of beautiful. Grateful for my fans. Special people.
Slipped. Tanked the regimen. Ate British pork pie, filet mignon, Dover sole. A fan gave me vegan baked goods: cross bun, cinnamon roll, banana bread, carrot cake, sausage roll. In a fury of insecurity and need for reward I ate half of each in about a three-minute pig-like feeding flurry.
Laid down. A sugar sponge. Did the other thing. DIDN’T EVEN BRUSH MY TEETH. I’m a fucking outlaw, man.
Did laundry at a launderette. Humbling. Human. Meditative.
Dublin:
I’ll let you know.
There are new tour dates! It’s a lot but here:
August 9th in Portland, Oregon at Revolution Hall.
August 22nd in Dallas, Texas at the Majestic Theater.
August 23rd in Austin, Texas at the Paramount Theater.
August 24th in Houston at the Cullen Theater at Wortham Center.
September 6th in Vancouver at the Vogue Theater.
September 7th in Seattle at the Moore Theater.
September 20th in Chicago at the Vic.
September 21st in Detroit at the Masonic Temple.
September 22nd in Minneapolis at the Pantages.
October 10th in Philadelphia at the Merriam Theater.
October 11th in Washington, DC at the Kennedy Center Concert Hall.
October 12th in Boston at the Shubert Theater.
October 18th in Nashville at the James K. Polk Theater.
October 19th in Atlanta at the Tabernacle.
and October 26th in San Francisco at The Masonic.
There will be a fan presale for tickets this Wednesday, April 10th at 10am to Thursday, April 11th at 10pm. Just go to the venue websites and use the password Buster.
The official on-sale date for all venues is Friday, April 12th, except for the Kennedy Center. That's on sale April 19th.
You can always go to wtfpod.com slash tour for more info on all these dates and venues.
Today I have an engaged, intense chat with Vincent D’Onofrio. He directed The Kid. It’s a western. Good talk. On Thursday one of the two remaining KITH members I haven't had on yet came over. Bruce McCulloch and have nice talk.
Enjoy!
Boomer lives!
Love,
Maron