Tour Update from Portland

There are some really friendly folk out here in Oregonian land (even despite the bad apple that ripped off our iPod, GPS, some cash, and sunglasses out of the van while parked next to an elementary school in Springfield). We eased the pain, though, with a soothing soak at Cougar Hot Springs in between a killer show at Axe & Fiddle, a live performance at KRVM Radio, and a show at Cozmic Pizza in Eugene. KRVM deejays Shotgun Majors and Tim Little have been spinning The Fate & The Fruit (released today!!), and it was a pleasure to meet them in person at the Eugene show. Good times. Our new friend Chad Babino filmed both the Axe & Fiddle and Cozmic shows, and for that, we are really grateful (see below for "Burnin' at Both Ends" from  Eugene).http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cCdYUrHzW_4Portland on a Monday is tough biz, but playing with Goose & Fox and Broken Arm at Alberta St. Pub made for some great company in an intimate setting. Shawn Fleming (formerly of Rotating Superstructure and a JH native) was crushing the kit with Broken Arm, and catching up with hometown peeps somehow makes everything feel more comfortable.Today is May Day here in Portland, and protests have erupted all over the place, even stopping thoroughfare traffic. They were non-violent, though, which is more than Seattle could claim. People here are not shy that's for sure, and its nice to experience a little more culture than ole Wyom'. Once that wears off, I'm sure coming home will be bliss. We're off today, which meant time to check out the local record store in search for used vinyl (today's mint $3 scores: Led Zeppelin IV and The Drifters).Thanks to Chad, Kurt and Sierra for hosting us in their homesteads -- makes our life much easier out here! And big thanks to everyone who has come out to the shows. We have met some really cool and kind music fans, and that has made the tour thus far pretty great. Off to Moscow, Missoula, Livingston & Ennis.~Aaron, Seadar, Andy & Tom