West Indian Girl

family dining at it’s best

we spent the day off before our next show driving from philly to toronto. what was unusual about this drive was that rob drove the whole way and he isnt known for driving long stretches. i attribute his penchant for driving on this particular day to either one of 2 things: one, the drivers seat is one of the more comfortable seats in the car or two, that he needed time to reflect upon me spanking him in 2 games of ping pong before we left my sisters. i went 5 and 0 in pong and now reign supreme. so, in buffalo we stopped and ate at an italian place called buca di beppo. we showed up right before they closed but they werent mad at us at all, on the contrary they were really really nice to us there.
dan and kristan (in pic) you’re awesome. we love you guys. thanx for all the food. i was so down with the manicotti because it reminded me of what my mom would make for me when i was growing up. after the meal we cruised into canada and made an immediate pit stop at niagara falls. that place is cool at night. it’s fun being a tourist sometimes – especially with this band. the falls were crazy, what a trip – i cant believe anyone would actually be dumb enough to try going over them in a barrel. we took some great pictures there.

the next day we played at the mod club theatre and this show, much like the pic of robert was a blur. i loved the mod club’s stage – it was deep set and made of old wood so it wasnt totally level in spots. the thing that sucked about the show was that it started way too early and we played to like 1/4 of a room. yes playing early is too be expected when you’re an opening act but come on people. some of these start times are fucking ridiculous. dear promoters of this tour….not smart. especially in the midwest where im from…shows start late…i mean late…not at 8pm. anyway, i cant wait til we headline our own tour so i can impose a late start time. i mean, seriously, if i went to see my own show i would miss me cos i wouldnt get there on time. many people have come up to me and said, “i cant believe you played so early” weird, hmmm i really dont have much to say about the actual show. it was good but the crowd was standing so far away and the lights were in my eyes it felt like we weren’t playing to anyone. the best part of my stay in toronto was after the show. lewscious, mariqueen and i went back to the hotel and regrouped. i took them down to queen st. we stopped off at the rivoli for a drink and then it was down to the bovine sex club where we had a blast. we started the jaeger shot club that night. the bovine has a great back room with real super high booths in the back. it was fun hanging with lewscious and mariqueen and finally relaxing and not thinking about the show. we we just laughing — good fucking times man.

Mariqueen’s Mind

The City: oh toronto, how i love thee, let me count the ways. one – you have trash cans with recycle options. gaaangster… two – everything is cheaper… three – kensington street… four – queen street… five – my fabulous hotel room… six – canadians are just the friendliest people around… seven – two words: niagara falls. one more word… it’s a compound one at that – breathtaking. i’d say my worst experience in niagara falls had to have been right when we got there. i was DYING to go numero uno but couldn’t find a decent bathroom. then we get to niagara falls and i’m about to keel over just so i could pass out and piss in my pants. seriously, people… WORST FEELING IN THE WORLD. i ran out of the burban and searched frantically for a bathroom… guess what… they were all CLOSED. thank god i had carter with me. he took me to an upstairs area where it was completely abandoned and he kept guard. let’s just say “le sigh” is the only way i can describe the feeling of finally releasing the fury. after that, niagara falls was all to the good. we took some fantastic pictures with my camera. it’s a casio. it’s the best. be jealous.

The Venue: the mod club was super hot. literally and figuratively. toronto was especially muggy when we played and i’m not sure the mod club’s air conditioning was being used. the layout of the place is gorgeous. the decor… just stunning. what i’ve noticed about toronto is that they have their bathrooms downstairs. hmmm… not into that so much. i had a lot of fun playing here because the stage was super choice. the lighting was ultra rock and roll and the acoustics were great. i’d do it again. yes please.
The Show: i had the time of my life singing. i gave this show a nine out of ten. momma likey.

What Were You Thinking While Playing: i wasn’t. maybe that’s why i liked the show so much.

Interesting Things After The Show: well, aside from watching carter and tommy work the canadian girls. i’d say the amusing parts of my evening had to have been when lewscious, fran and i went out on queen street to kick it. we started out at the rivoli where the geminis had stellas and the supreme aries had a crowne and coke. that’s right, bitches… always choose crowne. we got bored watching the mentally challenged people walking by. you think i’m kidding don’t you? no. there were some serious crazies roaming the streets. one guy was wearing a santa hat with no shirt on growling at fools. this was when i downed my drink and snapped my fingers for my minions, i mean, my beloveds, to get the gettin. we walked, we talked, we laughed, we got stalked. then, low and behold… the bovine sex club. ohmygod this place was siiick. best music around. the three of us preceded to do jaeger shots and they had more beer while i got another whiskey and coke. no crowne at the bovine though… so jack was good enough for me. it didn’t matter at that point because i was nice and tickled pink. we hung out and talked about how much we loved each other and then we walked back to the car. at this point mark and fran were both hungry, as they always are. these two eat so much crap and yet stay skinny it makes me want to backhand them. we stopped at a hot dog stand and i took pictures of my darlings stuffing their beautiful faces. if you could see all the classics i captured you’d die of laughter. ask francis. so after the hot dogs we went back to the hotel where tommy decided to come to the light and come back home to the people who love him most. fran was too tired to keep going because he had somehow between the hot dogs and the tomminess over exerted himself. who knows… he wasn’t down anymore and so mark, tommy and i continued the party in our hotel rooms. we opened up the mini bar and between more whiskey and red wine we took a bunch of superheroesque pictures on tommy’s camera. we laughed, we whined, we discussed our futures and we clowned on fools and then watched the sun come up. it was a magical and beautiful evening. i think carter had more fun than us though… he is our west indian girl machine… in more ways than one. mhm, don’t deny it carter, darling…

Carter’s Conscience Toronto– Our first time in Canada as a band, and my first time as well! We stopped in the middle of the night to see Niagara falls from the Canadian side. Even in the dark it was amazing, just about the best thing I’ve seen so far on this tour! Tommy said it reminded him of Superman. Well said my friend. One of my best friends Heidi Good Times is from Toronto, she always tells me what a cool city it is, now I understand. I spent most of the time wandering around Kensington Market, checking out record shops and vintage stores, music stores, eating yam burritos, etc. Thanks to Elaine for being my tour guide! The Mod club was a really cool venue, its a little theatre right in the middle of everything. The show itself was cool, I think it was the first time a lot of the crowd had heard of us. But thats what its all about, makin new friends across the continent. . . After the show the Mod club turned into a regular club, with DJ’s and bubble machines and the whole bit. It was perfect, the party came to us after the show. Everyone was partying quite a bit that night, Fran Mark and Q hit the Bovine Sex Club, a well known drinking establishment in town. Tommy and myself couldn’t find a reason to leave the club, we tied one on till the wee hours. I woke up the next morning and realized that I left my backpack somewhere the night before. I attempted to retrace my steps the next day but it was a lost cause. At least i still had my passport, but i did manage to lose my digi-cam. I was a little sad for about 2 and a half minutes but then I remembered that I am a special person anyway. At least that is what my mom says.

honeymoon moment #1 mariqueen and i finally got marriedi married lewscious five minutes latermore band love – sickening isnt it
radio personality tanya aka “strung out sam” in the house

F.TEN