First thing is first: I'M SORRY.

I've heard from a few of you -- really just Zach, actually -- about slacking on the blog. The truth is I didn't mean to...but after Dallas, we moved pretty quickly to Austin, and stayed in a "musical retreat," where our extra down time went mostly to playing various instruments...I mean, I did go for a bracing swim at Barton Springs, take a few jogs, and see some awesome shows, such as Big Thief, but overall we were either eating tacos, or playing music...Or, partying on 6th Street.

DALLAS: we had a super fun show at Opening Bell Coffee, a place we were even more excited to play after finding out Shovels & Rope played there. Great sound, people, and IPAs, and then a super fun night out in Deep Ellum, where we got some tasty food and whiskey cocktails...and a talented piano player busted our old-school rap songs like Warren G's "Regulators," while random guys jumped up and kicked rhymes - wait, where are we again?

WACO: We had no plan, and no show, but we ended up at a cool coffee shop doing some work, before finding a solid spot to sleep outside of Austin. Torchy's Tacos was worth the wait, even though Amy almost died of hunger silently in the backseat while Justin and I housed Chex Mix in the front....

AUSTIN: words and blogs can't describe how amazing the 'Musical Retreat' in Austin was...our new friend Tony Roger's opened up his home and instruments to us, and we spent hours out on the deck working on new and old material. Having Tony play cello on our new song "Reckless" was a sublime and serendipitous highlight. But before that, bright and early on Tuesday morning, we played South by Soupfest, a showcase at a soup kitchen in the city. We were so honored to play for an enthusiastic audience (and servers / workers), and also make music alongside awesome bands like The Mastersons, out of LA, Toney Rocks, and the National Parks, from Utah. One of the coolest shows I've played in my life - thanks Laura!

We celebrated with a Bloody Mary on the deck in the 70 degrees sun, and then more tacos (better than Torchy's, IMHO) at a bar off of 6th street. Then we headed back to Tony's (Rogers, not Rocks) to chill out and play music. Later that night, was boy's night, apparently, and Justin and I headed out on the town to blow off some steam and give out SBA stickers to everyone we could, even making some friends who also shelled our stickers for us. The night grew a little blurry - I believe there was a dance party? And apparently Amy awoke to us shouting in the bathroom at 3am -- let us never speak of this again...

The next day, Wednesday, was spent getting some exercise, going for a swim, playing music on the porch, eating real and vegan fried chicken sandwiches, and getting ready for MOUSEFEST. When Thursday came, all of WEMF and Dave Crespo's hard work reached fruition, as one Boston band after another crushed the stage for a crowded bar, and a packed sidewalk. We had an awesome time playing and streaming the gig to our friends back in Boston and elsewhere. Dave - you rule.

Mike Doran joined the crew on Wednesday night, and along with Heidi, brought a breath of fresh air!

That night, Justin and I met up with my old friend Jon Bahr from CD Baby, and ended up at the Rachel Ray House Party, where we watched the band who wrote "I'd Start The World and Melt with You" play the song "I'd Start the World and Melt With You..." I'm aware that's not the title, but that's what the song sounds like. And I have no idea who that band is, but when the song started, everyone went nuts. Also, does Rachel Ray really need a police escort? She arrived with thicker security than the Big Orange Russian Potato Chip.

On the other hand, Amy, Mike, and Heidi bopped there way over to a different party to see Hanson. MMMMM, Bop. Bitty bop bang boom.

Friday, we moved to a strange, Princess-themed AirB&B where everything was the color pink, and we quickly developed many questions about the owner of said apartment, and the locked closet. What was she hiding? Why were there tiny notes of encouragement everywhere - especially eye-level with the toilet? That day, we were lucky enough to check out the BEEHIVE showcase, where bands like Big Thief (Who we love!) and Rainbow Kitten Surprise (yep), played the stage of the Wild Honey Pie, whiskey smashes were served, snap peas were given away by the bucketful, and many laughs were had. We finished the night with more tacos, since it had been over twelve hours since our last batch.

Saturday, our last day...We played a fun, sweaty gig at G & S in the morning, and then found ourselves in a castle full of free tacos and Pacificos, listening to live music. We managed to escape for our FINAL SET, at Cherrywood Coffee, where we met the totally radical Kristen Ford, out of Nashville (and Boston!), and played one of the most enjoyable, loose, energetic sets of the entire two weeks.

Then, Brian and Heidi went to the airport, where Heidi was almost not let on the plane, and Brian watched two hours of comatose college basketball (Go URI!), before boarding a turbulent plane ride back home. Justin and Amy, meanwhile, went down as martyrs for driving the gear back to Boston. Thanks guys.

This feels unlike an ending. It feels like a beginning. So, stay tuned for the next TACO TOUR 2017!

B

Just went for a relaxed jog through the leafy streets of Dallas. Amy and Justin did all the driving today, through Arkansas and into Texas, and I'm grateful as hell. Love you guys.

We were up at 7 in our beautifully lovely Memphis Roadway Inn that was scented with a really intoxicating "old cigarette butts" smell, and we're now getting the first real down time of the trip, and super excited to play Opening Bell Coffee tonight in Dallas! Between driving and playing a show yesterday,
I've slacked on this blog, so let me catch you guys up, (especially Josh Rollins who's clamoring for an update)...

-We took the night in Nashville off, choosing fried food and a few beers and catching up on sleep over anything else. At one point mid-meal, a tiny Miley Cyrus slid down a pole and everyone cheered, and the waitress tried to get us to do shots...or maybe I was already dreaming. I'm already dying to get back to Music Row, since we weren't able to see too much, but it felt good to recharge.

-Anyone who knows me knows how much I love Jack White, so it was a little surreal to hang out at Third Man Records yesterday morning, RECORD "Borderline" and "Straight to Space" straight to vinyl in the booth, and pick up some records and schwag. What he has created there is a totally unique world, one that encourages the true appreciation of creating music. So rad.

-Memphis! We ate some tasty BBQ (they even had a BBQ Portabella sandwich for this guy, who is saving his possible "day of BBQ" for Austin...maybe...) and then we met up with Steve (friend of Gwen, friend of Lisa Smith THANK YOU LISA!!) at Ghost River Brewing, and he helped us with equipment. The number of amazingly nice and supportive people we've met has been overwhelming on this trip, and Steve was an unbelievable human. Thanks, Steve, for hanging out and bringing friends and hooking up the gear, and cheering for us - come to Boston like you promised! We drank awesome beers on the house and both bands played really fun sets, (maybe capitalizing on the Elvis Energy that hangs over the city), including new song 'Reckless' which is coming along. Thanks to Emma for having us at Ghost River!

Side Note: It's been so fun having Justin along with us and his Hope & Things sets have been stellar and moving - tonight is sadly, his last solo show, so we're really stoked.

-Hmm, what else? Well, things might be bigger in Texas, but six-inch Subway sandwiches are still the same. And, at that first rest stop in Texas (and before I got my first "howdy" from a guy on my jog) I think we felt we'd entered a different world, culturally, socially, politically; you name it...Amy and I learned about the fabulous "Bartlett Bladder" today - I'll save that definition for another time.

-Oh, and Justin lost his mind and tried to high-five his phone while driving.

Onward!
b

Friday is here, and we're in Kentucky, but after the last few days on the road, the names and dates are starting to blur. Or, maybe the haze is from our visit to the Bulleit Distillery, which houses some of the best-smelling rooms I've ever been in. We picked up a bottle of a batch straight from the barrel to break out once we finally make it to Austin.

Last night we got to play an intimate house show in Columbus and check out some other great local musicians, and tonight in Nashville we're planning on playing an open mic before our gig at Ghost River Brewing in Memphis tomorrow. Thanks to Haley Butters for being an awesome host and letting us sign your wall!

Observations from the road: falafel is still tasty 24 hours later, bourbon clears congestion, BBQ places here have names like Deez Butts, potato chips are served by Stubby, who smiles a lot, bourbon distilleries apparently make Amy and Justin emotional, (which I find odd), and we are totally prepared for the hundreds of Kentucky fans piling into Nashville right now - wait, no. We're not prepared at all. This might be crazy.

We're staying at a hostel tonight, and hoping to hit Third Man Records tomorrow!

Thanks for reading and stay tuned-
b

Thursday - 5 shows down, 9 to go! One week until our Austin show at the Aquarium / Mouse Fest.

A few updates before we head over to play a house show at The House with No Name in Columbus, Ohio...

-Thanks to Amy's friends and everyone else who came out last night to WILBERT's Food and Music, where Mike Miller and legendary sound-man Anthony Cambodia made sure we were fed, fired up with coffee, fired down with beer, and even jacked with a pre-show shot of Yukon Jack. Ross Kowalski opened up with an acoustic set of tight originals and 90s covers, and we hit at 9pm. The show is also on youtube! Go check it out. THANKS to Mike and Anthony! We want to come back to play at your spot again!

-This morning we woke up and rallied to the Cleveland Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. My third time there, but Amy's first, and it was cool to see her take it all in. I never get tired of seeing the Phish Hot Dog.

-Felt amazing to get to a lakefront AirB&B and shower. And take a quick nap. This road trip has already been rewarding and super interesting, but I think we realized when Amy couldn't calculate the tip at the Greek restaurant that we're all tired. After all - we started this run at Toad last Saturday and haven't looked back.

-I slept with Justin last night at a Red Roof Inn. I have nothing more to say about that.

-We've got an early and long drive to NASHVILLE tomorrow, with a planned stop at the Bullet Distillery...but first up we're headed to tonight's gig...RIGHT NOW!

Hey Guys-

Ryan Adams new album "Prisoner" is playing and I'm rattling around in the backseat of Amy's car on a crazy windy day as we leave Rochester NY. We played the Little Theater last night and Justin's hometown crowd came out strong. Thanks to Meghan and Brendan for breakfast and beds and beers; you guys rule - and amazing to meet Victoria the Mentor and the rest of the gang as well. Songs were played, IPAs were sipped, wings were eaten, garbage plates were inhaled.

Hope &a Things played a heartfelt set that held the quiet room spellbound. "Tug of War" felt especially poignant last night; go listen to that song right now and tell me it doesn't tug at your (busted) heart.

Our cover of the Beatles "Come Togetber" went over really well, and new song "Colorado" is coming together (pun!) - our hype man Flava Flav (Justin) had the crowd singing along to the chorus. We finished our set with a quiet acoustic version of "Straight to Space" that felt really right.

Special thanks to Nick Williams for coming out before work to run sound for us! One of the nicest souls we've met so far, and the sound was unbelievable.

Amy and I talked so much about this little tour before setting out, (Amy did an amazing planning job and we wouldn't here without her), and now that we're headed to our fifth show in Cleveland, it's a pretty strange and exciting feeling to be sitting in the backseat of this car filled with guitars and amps. Tonight we'll play a venue called Wilbert's Food and Music, that we've never stepped foot into before. Every day is a blank page out on the road. Every set, every room, is unknown, different. A mystery.

I do know, however, that we will spend a lovely night this evening at the Red Roof Inn, where I'll bunk down with Justin. Tour Rule #2: no horizontal hugging.

Happy International Women's day! The Future is Female, don't forget it. Shout out to my mom and sister - two of the most amazing women I'll ever know.

Onward,
b

Hello internet! It's day four and show four tonight, if you're counting, and after two shows in Boston, the real traveling got off to a killer start last night in Northampton. Aaron Borucki opened up for us at Bishop's Lounge with a really cool set of loops, guitars, and keyboards, thanks dude! Justin and Hope & Things played one of the best sets we've seen him play, and managed to invert some Bon Iver lyrics while also crushing a Ryan Adams cover.

Hold the phone - I'd be remiss if I didn't mention that one of my best friends FLEW in for our 2nd gig at TOAD, and danced his ass off all night. We love you MISTER Ryan Mara!

Have to make this quick because we are running to soundcheck: our show in NoHo was great; we got people to sing along to our new song Colorado -  and then we had a dance party and shut down the bar! Mike Doran is one of the best dancers I've ever seen. Some of the best twirling in the game. Already a highlight.

Oh, and a Cougar sank her teeth into sweet Justin. But he escaped!

We are so excited to keep playing...
Will we keep playing?
SURE WILL!!

b

It's Monday, March 6th, 2017, and our band Strangers by Accident is about to do something I've always dreamed about -- take off on a National tour across the country.

We played at MIT Thursday night, raged it up with a packed hometown crowd on Saturday at Toad Cambridge; a local spot we've had on our list for a while, and are now separately packing up and figuring out how to fit three musicians, instruments, and all our other shit in Amy's RAV-4 (Our drummer Heidi is flying in and meeting us later). I, for one, just went to the grocery store for apples and granola bars, forgot to get granola bars, got a flask of whiskey for the two-week trip, and came home with an idea inspired by my old friend Josh, who asked for emailed updates along the way: why not start a blog to fill people in on what happens when you book 14 shows across two weeks, and just start driving? What will unfold as the highway signs blur by, and we play set after set of our own mix of indie-folk tunes for bars, coffee shops, parks, and even homeless shelters while we make our way to SXSW? How many times will Amy and Justin force me to stop at Taco Bell and abandon my vegan roots? How many shirts with dinosaurs will Justin purchase, and will he ever buy real shoes? Will Amy really dance and leap around during every show? How much awkward stage banter can I come up with?

We are so fired up, and while I don't look forward to sharing a mattress with Justin - our guitarist, vocalist, and the leader of the great band Hope and Things, who is joining us on the road - at the Red Roof Inn in Cleveland, I do look forward to writing down all the chaos, drama, laughs, and new music and highway inspiration this road trip promises to bring.

Catch us tonight in Northampton, MA at Bishop's Lounge!
https://www.facebook.com/events/1699544213677516/

Stay tuned-
B