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Episode 13 - Entry Date: 03/15/04
First PoE Tour out of TX Dallas, TX - The First Pit Stop by Anuj Timblo I can't ever completely show my appreciation to the hospitality of Sahir, Kaushal and Badal in Dallas. This was the second time the band crashed at their place this year, and they were more than accommodating. Sahir and I went for a drink while the rest of the band slept, and what an outing it was. Conversation ended up focusing on Electroencephalography and the theory behind the brain wave generator. Quite interesting, wouldn't you say? :) After the outing, I found out that they sacrificed their rooms for us. This was an amazing gesture. Thanks again guys! ----------------------------------------------- Manhattan, KS - Experiencing Aggieville by Anuj Timblo Manhattan - the Oasis of Northeast Kansas. After driving 8 hours from Dallas, there could not have been a better sight. K-State is a small microcosm of 22,000 students in the middle of Manhattan, an otherwise small town. Only here did I realize that the word "Aggie" doesn't only refer to people from Texas A&M, but in fact to all students from agricultural universities.
Our dear Miss Mansi Shah was a HUGE success with her Henna design in Manhattan. The lines almost reached Kansas City! :) Abhinit did a tabla workshop which attracted all kinds of people. That was quite interesting as well - although I would choose to listen to him play anytime over listening to the history of the Tabla.
Overall, the experience was great. Samantha Musil, our event coordinator at the university, was a doll. She managed to make sure we were very well taken care of throughout the stay. In fact, after the show (which ended at 12 midnight and then took an hour to close down) - the girl had the enthusiasm to take us out to "Aggieville", the party area of Manhattan. Kinda like our Sixth St.
Samantha is a masters student at K-State who is an expert at campus activities and artist relations, so we were definitely being taken around by the best there is. Since last call was only 10 minutes away the three of us had to limit ourselves to one beer. The law and hunger eventually lead us to Bob's diner.
I really didn't get to meet Bob during my meal, but I did get to meet two unusual men who came up to us. One was trying to hit on Samantha, while the other was trying to hit on Omar. Both attempts were disastrous failures.
----------------------------------------------- Salina, KS - Contact with the Unexpected by Pat Cieply There is a town in Kansas located on Saline River known as Salina. On a cold and rainy day in March PoE entered the town for a show at the local Unitarian church. Neither I or the other "pieces" were quite expecting the reception we got. To say it was warm and friendly would be a gross understatement. We were greeted by a person named Charlie who it turned out had been on journeys from Afghanistan to Katmandu getting way high up in the Himalayas. This gent was very interesting to talk with as well as share a few well crafted jokes. As people trickled in David, the leader of the congregation and a few others appeared with a beautiful lunch made to suit the vegan palette of most of us in the band. If you know any Vegans you know how ordering food can go. "Well, I don't eat any meat and cheese or any other kind of dairy products. I eat chicken on occasion, cheese is good but no rennet or tofu please. etc. etc." Well they got all that together and made food fit for a Vegan Brahmin priest - top caste!! Then came the show. The audience varied in age from a few years old to very well seasoned. And after each song, the response was huge. These folks got it! Attentive listeners all and the warmth of the applause has left a lasting impression on me. Curing me of the feeling that I couldn't shake from the last show we did at a club where the people seemed to be waiting for the coroner to come pick 'em up for processing. I especially enjoyed talking to two young musicians named Josh and oddly, Josh. They were both interested in talking music and compared us favorably with Dave Matthews and a band called Cake. I always enjoy talking to young players with a strong interest in playing music. I hope I can help them along the path in some positive way, even if it's just encouraging them to listen to certain artists who have given me inspiration. Our time in Salina passed quickly, a sure sign of a good time. And we had to head on down the road to Tahlequah, another very bright spot in the midwest and right next to the immortal town of Muskogee where "white lightening" is still the biggest thrill of all! Thanks to our friends in Salina for helping us remain sane during our short little jaunt through the land of Dorothy, Toto and the ever present Oz! PoE is a better band for having been there. --------------------------------------------------- Tahlequah, OK- Headquarter of the Cherokee Nation by Laura Giammona The drive from Salina was filled with rain, construction, and a few wrong turns-but we arrived safely that evening. Even before getting out of our cars, Reverend Thea Nietfeld was outside greeting us with her lovely smile. In the damp, dark night, the delicate stained-glass windows glowed warmly, inviting us in. Originally, we were scheduled to play two shows in Tahlequah, one that evening and the other Sunday morning. However, we were saved! After a long drive and late arrival, Thea decided that we should just do the morning show and get some sleep instead. That was the first of the many gifts this amazing town bestowed upon us. Many people asked me why Pieces of East was stopping in this random small town to perform ...all I can say is it wasn't a choice we made, we were meant to go there. It is funny, how your destiny will show its strength and wisdom at the most unexpected times.
We left the church for FOOD!!! Frankly, I don't think I could have survived on another Gogurt-String Cheese-Nutri-Grain meal. Upon meeting Iris and Thea, I just knew this was going to be a memorable stay. Iris had served up a feast for us, with couscous, this delicious Thai-garbanzo bean curry, hummus, homemade bread, cornbread, cheese (MUENSTER cheese -my favorite), apple crisp, and let me not forget Thea's fantastic veggie chili. It was beyond delectable! Not to mention the next morning we were fed just as well!
Eating dinner with Iris and Thea was like visiting old friends and family. The room was filled with a mysterious energy, that perhaps came from the soil below us, as it is the homeland to the Cherokee people. It is not coincidence that Iris means goddess of the rainbow and messenger of the gods. Nor is it by chance that Thea means goddess of sight. That night and next morning, we were so lucky to be in the company of such interesting, warm, giving and loving people.
After eating a great meal made by Iris and Thea in Tahlequah, OK we had to split into two groups for home hospitality. Thea mentioned to me that she had a house out in the country side and I immediately grabbed the opportunity to go with her. I convinced Will to come with me by telling him we can practice on the "Diya" solo in the morning, and Pat the "cat bearer" also came even though Iris' cats were already starting to like him. We headed off away from the artificial lights and I felt as if I was totally immersed into nature and its beautiful darkness. We arrived at Thea's gorgeous house where we were welcomed by "Sully" her 7 month old puppy. When we entered the house the beds were already made with a pair of blankets. It was a little cold for us "southerners", so Thea kindly lit us a fire. Before Thea went to bed she mentioned a creek that was walking distance from the house, so I was overly excited for the sun to rise the next morning. Sitting next to the fire with Will, I realized that in Thea and Iris's company I never felt like I was away from home.
I woke up around 6:15 and got ready for the morning walk to the creek. It was a gorgeous morning. Pat and I along with Thea walked on the road we had driven through the night before. As we walked towards the creek we saw green planes and a thick forest where beautiful horses stood. The sky was filled with the birds emitting sounds that my ears never experienced before. As we moved closer to the creek, I could hear the water winding down the hill over the rocks. The creek was crystal clear with icy water. This was just how Thea had described it. While going back to Thea's house we talked about how a person living in a fast paced environment has forced him/herself to avoid the beautiful nature and how important nature is for our good health. I was reminded by Iris and Thea that, in some mysterious way, we are all connected and my conversations with them made me feel much more than just a one-night-guest. --Abhinit
To all of our new UU Congregation of Tahlequah friends, we have been changed by you. Thank you for your support. We will be waiting for the next time destiny takes us to Tahlequah. With Love, Laura ----------------------------------------------- Tulsa, OK - Old Friends, a beautiful church and Red Eye by Anuj Timblo I had been on and off the phone with Justin Schroeder from All Soul's Church so often that when we met in Tulsa it was like I was meeting an old friend. But sometimes I tend to think that such meetings are more than that. Sometimes you get along with someone enough where it seems like you've known them forever. Maybe it has something to do with past lives and Karma. I'd like to believe that.
Before I experienced All Soul's Church in Tulsa, I had always connected the Unitarian way of life with small communities and even smaller gatherings. But after seeing the size of this church I was convinced that larger Unitarian communities are indeed possible. The band played at a gorgeous part of the church where the acoustics were good enough for the crowd to hear a pin drop. On account of this, the group decided to start small and soft. But eventually the audience's energy and acceptance inspired the music to gradually get louder. By the end of the service we were playing at least twice as loud as we started.
Some young adults of the church - Justin, Jeff, Matthew, David and Jessica later took us to Brook restaurant which was mostly delicious with a few avoidable dishes. Conversation was very good, at least on my table. The topics included the economic dynamics of Music and Art in a capitalistic environment, obscene flight delays, garden burgers that rocked our world and what causes red eye in flash photography. David, Matthew and Jessica were a delight to be with at the table. I would have liked to spend some more time with Justin and Jeff though. What made this trip very special for Laura was the presence of her old friend from Montana, Natalie. Someone I would have liked to have talked to and gotten to know - especially after the stories and experiences I've heard about from Laura. But I know there will be other times in Tulsa. Can't Wait! - Anuj |
