Northampton, MA

I am in Northampton, MA stopping over for the night enroute to Marita & Daks wedding in Maine this weekend, but this post won't be so much about what appears to be a cute little town. Instead it will be almost completely dedicated to Great Lake Swimmers.

I've just got back from seeing this awesome Canadian band at a great little venue called The Iron Horse with Krista and Lenny my road trip companions.

I'll set the scene, it's the start of fall, the trees are starting to turn from green to brown and pumpkins line the window sills of all the quaint antique stores.  Big houses with wrap around porches line the wide quiet streets, it was almost impossible to get a drink or even pizza past 9pm .

The Iron Horse is a small venue with  a cabin in the mountains type feel. For me, if the mountains could sing they would sound just like Great Lake Swimmers.  Tony Dekker's voice is like rough velvet and when i close my eyes i smell the damp ferns surrounding a cool lake with waterboatmen and dragonflys buzzing off it. The chilly air warded of by the warmth of a log fire and the taste of a rustic red wine and a hearty stew dancing together in my mouth.  The lyrics are pure poetry that just envelopes my whole heart and transports me to the mountains of Oregon or WA.

I love Great Lake Swimmers.  Various Stages, a song about manic depression brings to mind a troubled ex, "i have seen you at various stages of undress, i have seen you at various stages of madness, i have seen you be wreckless in matters of love, i have seen the boiling point come and go" Rocky Spine gives me hope of how i'd like to feel about a future love.

Now, time to bed. We are staying at the very colonial Autumn Inn. Lenny in his bed and Krista and i sharing a rather small double. It's fall, time to get cosy.

Listening to: Back Stage with the modern dancers - Great Lake Swimmers