Just Vote Tour Pt. II: Arizona

Sunday, August 15, (Aboard the Votemobile on the furnace known as Interstate 8, southern Arizona)-

With the tour prologue safely behind us, we've headed east into Arizona. Add rule #4 to the list of things not to do on your tour- 'Never drive through Arizona in August.' Unless, of course, you like sweat pooling off your chin as you squat and change a vegetable oil filter on your bus in air that would make your health club turn the thermostat down in the sauna. We never said we were exactly 'smart' about this whole adventure.
Friday night in Long Beach was fantastic, except for Son of Votemobile overheating climbing the Grapevine north of L.A. meant the Aphrodesia guitar section of David and Mully had to catch a ride from David's old bass player's dad (got all that?) to get to Long Beach just in time for our set. Which was fine, except that the box with voter registration forms and leaflets was on Son of Votemobile, so the two volunteers who showed up from Music For America had nothing to do except hang out and watch us play a good set opening for the incredible Delta Nove, who invited the Aphro horn section up for a New Orleans-style second line number.



The Aphro Nove Horns
Political rabble-rousing was limited to some choice comments from the stage and and an irate Republican who crumpled one of our MoveOn stickers and threw it at my cousin Carlos at the merch table while yelling he was a Bush supporter. Ah, the thrill of political discourse.
The next day, with Son of Votemobile expertly fixed by Ryan, we refueled with veggie, played a wonderful wedding at the Hilton, took a last dip in the Pacific Ocean, and headed into the desert for a couple hours before sleeping for a few hours by the side of the road. Since the Votemobile's top speed is around 65 and Son of Votemobile tops out at around 60, Aphrodesia is now packed aboard the big green machine heading to Arcosanti, where the caravan will reconvene at the show.