Day Four – Tucson, AZ to Palm Springs, CA January 9, 2009

Parting Tucson was such sweet sorrow – I actually liked it a lot. Granted, I only saw a bit of it because that 7 1/2 hour drive made me very sleepy and cranky but the parts I did see and the people I met were lovely. I like how the mountains surrounding the city are just part of the cityscape, as shown in this photo.

I drove out on the 10 listening to a mix I made myself with The Magnetic Fields as the jumping off point. City traffic makes me tense.

When I was about clear of Tucson I put on Roger’s driving mix. Very witty. And in regard to the Art Brut song I’d like to request that no one from England move here to find Morrissey.

Then it was all drive, drive, drive – flat, flat, flat – dull, dull, dull until Phoenix. I stopped at a place I found randomly on my GPS called Claim Jumper because it was such a ridic name. I had the glazed walnut & asian pear salad and it was ever so yummy. This also may have been the first vegetables I’ve eaten on this trip. Mmm lettuce.

Then it was drive, drive, drive – la, la, la for another million miles or so. There were hills. I listened to another one of my own mixes that was Motown/Soul/Girl Groups/Bacharach and then Sam P’s excellent mix with songs I haven’t even thought about in five years. It was lovely.

When I got to the border of Cali they were pulling everyone over to ask if we were bringing produce into the state. That was an interesting question.

More amazing revelations after the jump, including the days playlists and…oh yeah the earthquake.

And then! Finally! Picturesque views off the side of a mountain! Near Joshua Tree and the Coachella Valley.

And then! I got to my hotel in Palm Springs, the lovely Del Marcos, and promptly decided not to ever leave. It’s a nice slice of the early 1950s right up against the side of a giant mountain. I sat outside for a long time with my feet in the saltwater pool, a drink in my hand and listened to music while looking at the stars – in January. There are a lot of reasons I’m going ot miss New York but that last sentence is full of reasons I won’t.

I had dinner at a place called The Vineyard Tuscan Grill that was just across the street and it was very yummy but I couldn’t help overhearing the party next to me, who were seated when I was finishing, as they placed their drink orders. They, like everyone in Palm Springs, were clearly retired and the man started conversing with the waiter about the vodka they had on hand. The waiter told him Svetka was a great Sweedish brand (no) and the man told the waiter he really likes Skyy (no). Then his wife ordered a Jaeger with sugar free Red Bull and I had to physically stop myself from laughing. You can buy a lot of things but…

Oh yeah and there was an earthquake! I was sitting by the pool when it happened and it was kind of like for one moment someone just shook everything. Then it was like nothing happened – except the hotel manager was freaking out totally while I tried not to giggle. I guess it was a 5.somethingorother, who cares. I can totally handle earthquakes. Bring it, L.A. Bring it.

The Sun Goes Down And…

• The Magnetic Fields “The Sun Goes Down and the World Goes Dancing”
• Ted Leo & the Pharmacists “The Angels’ Share”
• Neutral Milk Hotel “Naomi”
• Wilco “Summer Teeth”
• Built to Spill “Time Trap”
• Kings of Convenience “Winning A Battle, Losing the War”
• Beck “Beautiful Way” (what a great driving song)
• The Shins “Your Algebra”
• Stars “Reunion”
• Feist “Now At Last”
• TV on the Radio “Tonight”

Roger’s playlist

• Plastilina Mosh “Toll Free”
• Club 8 “Whatever You Want” (really liked this one, very Saint Etienne-ish)
• Department of Eagles “No One Does It”
• Murder Mystery “Love Astronaut”
• Oliver Future “Happiness Machine”
• Art Brut “Moving to L.A.” (god I hope not)
• Jim Noir “Don’t You Worry”
• Sondre Lerche “The Tape”
• Benjy Ferree “Hollywood Sign” (nice)
• The Cure “Mint Car” (kind of a stretch but I do like the song)
• Vampire Weekend “The Kids Don’t Stand a Chance (Chromeo remix)” (jesus this is just horrible)
• Pop Levi “Dita Dimone”
• Eulogies “Two Can Play”
• Jay Reatard “I Know A Place”
• The Thrills “One Horse Town”
• Sunny Day Sets Fire “End of the Road” (I have got to get this album)
• Those Dancing Days “Home Sweet Home”
• Octoberman “Run From Safety”
• Eels “Woman Driving, Man Sleeping”
• The Rumble Strips “Girls and Boys In Love”
• Sam Roberts “Them Kids”
• The Replacements “Kiss Me on the Bus”
• The Broken West “Brass Ring”
• The King of France “Watch Out for the Man”
• Be Your Own Pet “Becky” (love)
• Novillero “A Little Tradition”
• Ben Kweller “Commerce, TX”
• The Animals “We Gotta Get Out of This Place” (very nice)
• Koufax “Any Moment Now”
• Sunfold “Between the Worlds”

My Motown Hybrid Mix

• Kim Weston & Marvin Gaye “It Takes Two”
• The Supremes “The Happening”
• Brenda Holloway “Every Little Bit Hurts (Del-Fi version)”
• PP Arnold “The First Cut Is the Deepest”
• Martha Reeves & the Vandelles “(Love Is Like A) Heat Wave”
• Dusty Springfield “I Just Don’t Know What to Do with Myself”
• Doris Troy “Just One Look”
• The Ikettes “I’m Blue (The Gong-Gong Song)”
• Dionne Warwick “Don’t Make Me Over”
• Jackson 5 “I’ll Be There”
• Stevie Wonder “You’ve Got It Bad Girl”
• The Temptations “Ain’t Too Proud to Beg” (what a great singalong song)
• Diana Ross & the Supremes “Come See About Me”
• The Marvelettes “I’ll Keep Holding On”

Sam P’s playlist

• The Get Up Kids “Mass Pike” (srsly I haven’t listened to this in almost a decade but many did I sing along loud)
• Alice Russell “Hurry On Now”
• Journey “Don’t Stop Believin’” (someone had to!)
• Massive Attack “Unfinished Symphony”
• Q-Tip “Move”
• Say Anything “Woe”
• Jim Ward “On My Way Back Home Again”
• Rachel Platten “Honey Bees” (very pretty)
• Dixie Chicks “Goodbye Earl”
• Vanessa Paradis “Just As Long As You Are There”
• Esperanza Spalding “Precious”
• Mansions “The Worst Part”
• Jason Anderson “Movin’ To the City” (rad)
• Quincy Coleman “Don’t Go Away”
• Cariad Harmon “Rolling”
• Tokyo Police Club “Your English Is Good”
• Elvis Costello “Pump It Up” (one of my all time favorite songs)
• Jamie Lidell “Little Bit of Feel Good”
• Nicole Atkins “Brooklyn’s On Fire”

After this I put on The Beatles Rubber Soul and Let It Be and the began obsessively listening to “Dig A Pony.” Seriously, probs played it 10 times in a row.