Awkward Pose

The culmination of the year and a half long tour cycle was brought home, so to speak. Montreal, still hot in the slow burn of September, POP Montreal madness (there are SO MANY amazing bands packed into a few days, it’s insanity). We were hoarse with it all. Rewinding a few days, there were similar moments of that epic, this is about to be the end of something, feeling. Austin Texas, my home away from home of late, was a cracking 105F. We stewed in hotel pools and ate avocado everything. I was there days early for Bon Iver, a deep clear watery blue compared to our frenzied oranges and pinks. Not to get all water colours on y’all, but Bon Iver makes my heart sing and cry. I lingered in Austin, awaiting our second-to-last-bigshow. And well worth it, I love the place. We tore it off for that show, so sweaty, so fun. My voice was gone from yelling.

Then, no sleep and some airports later we were home. But home with a wrap party, our two last home-town shows and a POP Montreal festival. Groceries and unpacking and general cleanliness would have to wait. It’s funny relating these experiences weeks later. (That’s why the precedent was to write immediately after things happened, damn life.) It’s like trying to make tea from the same bag twice. It’s all still there in my mind, but not as poignant. BUT I’ll never forget that week, that’s for sure. A tiny by our standards show at Metropolis, followed by one of most massive productions yet. A free show downtown Montreal, outside. Masses of people. Everyone we’ve ever seen was there. It could of been 10,000 or 100,000- you can never tell. Apparently it was closer to the latter figure. Last shows can be weird. It’s like goodbyes in general, you kind of want to look away. But this one, there was a warmth going around from the people to us and from us to them that was….unbreakable. It was overwhelming really. My mind was in shreds. In a good way though. (Good mind shreds?) I snuck home relatively early, pounding the coconut water, craving bed. It’s REALLY strange going to your own bed after something like that, reality and unreality having an old fashioned sword fight. 

As an aside I’ll mention that earlier that day I was on the same block, playing music for a free Moksha Yoga outdoor class- in celebration of POP’s 10th birthday, No Car Day, and Kanpe. By playing music I actually mean I was huddled on the ground under a plastic sheet with my friend Patrick, drummer for Stars. We made some amazing new age magic happen while yoga was had, on the grass next to the porta potties set up for our show later that night. THAT is not my average before soundcheck activity. 

And of course, since this is “Awkward Pose” the blog, I must mention that I had such a moment before our last show- in a very narrow trailer I must add. I don’t know if this is easy to picture, but when objects are very close to your face it’s strange performing intense repetitive movements inches away from say, a trailer wall equipped with a vanity mirror, or say, a clothing rack, an overstuffed couch no one will ever sit on, a garbage can full of things that could be recycled. But it goes down anyway, the yoga does. And it always fulfils it’s purpose. To make me feel better than before. Always. 

That’s pretty much it for reporting on that whole situation of a day/week/year. But I do feel inclined to keep “you” posted on a few things. 1. More musical developments. 2. My experiences opening a yoga studio in Manhattan, YES THAT’S ACTUALLY HAPPENING 3. I have a lot more to say about coffee and other things I really like. 

So, see you soon, Internet.

Sarah.