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Well, I guess it wasn’t really a tour—just 4 days up north. But, I like to call it a “tour” because it was my first taste of bringing my band on the road—adventure with purpose—sharing the magic of my tunes in San Francisco and Big Sur. I took my trusty ol’ polaroid along for the ride to save up some moments for later. So, without further ado…

LEFT:

Backstage with Nicole Atkins at Rickshaw Stop in SF. Nicole is such a golden-hearted & powerful spirit. I don’t often get nervous—more so excited and giddy—but I was really feelin’ the overwhelm before this show. Somehow, chatting with Nicole about Nashville & vocal steamers backstage was the main thing that put me at ease. Not to be cheesy or overly dramatic, but it’s almost like the confidence she exudes, being such a seasoned performer, songwriter, vocalist and musician gave me a glimpse of my future self / higher self that will blossom as I become more of a seasoned performer and musician myself. And I am already on my way! But, her steady energy and cool composure made me feel calm & inspired for the future.

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We began in San Francisco, opening up for the incredible Nicole Atkins at Rickshaw Stop. Here I am in the green room, where I signed my name on the wall amongst the likes of Kurt Vile, my friend Mae Powell (who we played Big Sur with) and apparently Shakira lol (but obviously not really). The sound was so crazy in this venue, when we sound checked and the bass came on I felt it in my bones! I felt pretty amazing about our performance too & we sold some vinyl.

LEFT:

Posing in the green room at Rickshaw Stop with beautiful, talented Cecilia James, who plays bass & sings silken harmonies in my band, but who is also an incredible singer & songwriter in her own right! We met playing a songwriter showcase at SoHo in Santa Barbara and that turned out to be such a fruitful connection, as we’ve played many more shows together, and now I get to have her in my band! One of my favorite girl power bad ass moments in our set is when we sing the final harmonies on our “These Boots were Made for Walking” cover—“walk all over…YOU!”

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My BANDMATES—all caps necessary; so lucky & stoked to have these humans supporting me on my musical journey. Featuring Zach Wallace on guitar & keys, Cecilia James on bass & harmonies, Michael Morales on drums, and we were lucky enough to have our SF friend, Camellia Boutros join us for these couple shows on trumpet, which added so much feeling and energy to the songs. Funny to think this show was truly the 3rd show we’ve ever played (we’ve been rehearsing about 4 months now? About once a week playing my album and a few other songs) and it was opening for such a solid artist. I just had a good feeling about it and decided to reach out, and I’m so glad I did…!

LEFT:

The morning after the craziness that was San Francisco, we took off down the winding coast through a thick film of fog & bursting into the sublime honeyed sunlight—towards that pocket of heaven on earth we call Big Sur.

Mayya, Mayya—where do I begin? My oldest friend in SF—we met at the Westfield Mall when I was 13 and ran into again seeing “Harold & Maude” alone at the Roxie years later. It was the greatest gifts & honor to share the show with her!

We were beyond blessed to play at possibly the most magical venue in the world—Henry Miller Library, which is a charming cabin in the woods, full of beatnik literature & poetry. There’s a big wooden stage set up in the forest clearing out front, so you get to sing with an audience of towering redwoods, pinprick stars, the spirits of legendary beatniks, & of course the beautiful humans who’ve tripped up & down the coast to hear the music.

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Spencer, Garret & Mae at Jake Padorr’s beautiful Big Sur property the day after our show.

LEFT:

Mae Powell bein’ magical in the sunlight, standing outside the diner we all went to for breakfast the day after our Big Sur show! It’s the most beautiful gift to find both a true friend & musical companion in someone!

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Mae and I amongst our fellow flower friends in Big Sur. I grew up in San Francisco so had known of Mae through my pal Mayya / through the grapevine, but it wasn’t until a mini tour she did through SoCal that we officially hung out. We played a set at my favorite yoga studio for all of about 3 people by candlelight, and I was utterly blown away by the velvety richness, spacious vibrato & honesty of her voice. Pure magic.

LEFT:

With my love amongst the redwoods at Henry Miller Library in Big Sur. I wish a love for all like the love we have.

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Some mysterious photos captured on the black rocks before the silver stormy sea in Big Sur, shrouded in mist. My boyfriend, Geoff took these on our way back. At first we though they didn’t come out enough, but now I love how faded and nostalgic they look. I felt like a biker riding down the coast in my huge torn-up leather jacket I found for $30 at a thrift store in Ojai a while back. The sea there is more like a raging melancholic place to pensively pace through the mist over white sand, nothing like the sun drenched postcard-perfect shores of Santa Barbara, which are more evocative of a Beach Boys hit. Still, I love both.

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Cici! We almost all wore pink for this show.

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Mayya plays bass in Mae Powell’s band & Sam plays drums. I love ‘em both!

Note: Hover over the page to see the typed entry, in case you have difficulty reading my handwriting!

At the end of August, I took my band on a mini “tour” up the coast. It was actually just two shows, one in San Francisco opening for Nicole Atkins at the Rickshaw Stop, and the other at my dream venue, Henry Miller Library in Big Sur with Mae Powell and Jake Padorr. Nevertheless, I’m calling it a tour because touring is one of my highest life goals, and I feel like I got to dip my toe in the water with this quick jaunt up the coast. Plus, this is my life and I get to make the rules so I’m calling it a tour, ya hear?

Anywho, I brought along a Polaroid camera and snapped some incredibly magical moments, so I thought I’d combine my loves of music and journaling and craft a very cute, very DIY “Tour Diary.” I almost lost steam on this project, but when I showed my friends the other day, their sweet smiles and genuine reactions of joy encouraged me to start again. Looking back, the nostalgia distilled in these pages is a prize in itself.

So, I hope you enjoy these memories: maybe you dream of touring yourself and this puts some wind in your sails, maybe you’ve already been touring and this inspires you to create your own travel diary, or maybe this reminds you to tie up the ends of one of your own creative projects (just because you’re telling yourself it’s not good or it doesn’t matter doesn’t mean that’s the truth.) Your creations are needed! We need more magic and color in this world, especially right now.

Sending you so much love!

A.R.