Well the summer is coming to a close once again and it's time to turn in my first assignment for school. As you may have noticed, I seemed to skip class last month and forget to turn in my homework. Thus, my superiors who run this site posted some fun witicism for ya all to see and have a good laugh at. Unfortunately, when your bass player drops his laptop down a flight of stairs at a Motel 6 in Brattleboro, it makes it difficult to communicate via the web. And thus no Tao of Wu last month. Boo hoo...yah...I know, I coulda found a Kinko's somewhere or an all night coffee joint. But I figured, hey...I'm a big time rock star and I don't need to honor any damn commitments! Actually I didn't figure that at all and apologize. Hopefully this month can make up.

I spent most of my summer time staring at the Interstate and contemplating why I am here....like usual.

Today I needed to mow the lawn but there is going to be one monstrous Minnesota thunderstorm soon so I can't get to it. We were in Madison at the Barrymore Theatre and Milwaukee last weekend so I wasn't able to mow. We finally sold out the Barrymore Theater. Thanks everyone!

I'm sitting in my basement at my laptop right now and wondering if it was smart having the computer down in the basement. Its pretty dank down here literally. The dryer gets heated up and since we don't have one of those cool vent hoses that you see in grander versions on the Space Shuttle and things...it gets moist down here sometimes. I have a dehumidifyer going although sometimes the tank gets filled in a day and I have to dump it out in the sink. By the way, sometimes I pee in the basement sink when I'm in deep thought and don't want to go upstairs. The Basement sink doesn't get used except when the washing machine is releasing all that soap and grime and then the rinse cycle water. I figger that sink gets a better flush than the Biffy. Plus its made outta some kind of stone.

The most fun I had this summer was probably at the Minnesota Zoo Amphetheatre show. A very nice welcome home after being out on the East side of this country for about a month. Thanks for helping us set an attendance record there this year. 1617 people! Yahoo! I wouldn't say it was our best performance but the energy there was like a big ol' squeeze from big momma. We've talked about playing You Can Call Me Al since we have an estranged keyboard player by the same name and our artist: Betty!. The zoo seemed like the right time to pull it out. Thanks for playin along with us. Not exactly a heady song. But tons of fun...

We also had a great time at the Incident in the Hills in Terra Alta WV. We played in a barn around 5pm. After Yonder Mountain played on the mainstage, Jeff Austin came running over and caught the last couple a songs with us in the barn. Thanks Jeff! After our show, most of the Big Wu left and headed for Philly. I elected to stay with my good friend Jack Chester and enjoy the Cheese. We had a blast goofin around all night and got all weird. The next mornin I woke up on a hill. I squinted my eyes at the mornin' surise and Jack was staring back at me saying, "Dude...we got to get to Philly, you have a show at noon!". This was a 6am. Jack said, "You ain't falling asleep..you are going to keep me awake if we are going to do this!" Jack put on this narrative tape from "Fear and Loathing" and it was all screaming and killing and stuff....and I fell asleep for a while. Jack was great though...he was a trooper and much thanks to him for gettin me to Philly on time. 5 hour drive and we/he made it! I missed performing one song actually. The show was downtown Philly in Central Park. Because I was tardy, I had to pack and load the van after the show. It was about 99 degrees in Philly that day. Thank God Vai Sikahema was there. You may be wondering why I mentioned this famous Eagles punt returner...he happened to be at our show doing an ice cream taste-off for Ben and Jerry's. Pretty strange day. From the Incident in the Hills to hanging out with a legendary football player like Vai Sikahema. So anyway, there ya have it. The Incident in the Hills experience. The Cheese sounded outstanding as usual. Michael Franti from Spearhead joined them on stage for a tune or two. Very much a highlight of the night. All these great musicians! I have so much fun appreciating how awesome these bands are when we are fortunate enough to be playing great outdoor music festivals like at Trip's Farm in Terra Alta. Looking forward to the Autumn Equinox Festival later on this month too!

MORE BIG WU NEWS:

1. Our new studio album Folktales comes out on October 17th. Come to the Cafe Tomo Sushi Bar in Arcata California and help us celebrate. We also are celebrating at the Last Day Saloon in San Fransisco too on Saturday October 21st. Minnesota Family should know the CD Release party is at the Fitzgerald Theater on November 10th.

2. Our West Coast Tour encompasses most of October and ends up in Denver in the first week of November. We had a very sucessful tour last time out West and are very much looking forward to being with ya all who came out and supported us. Thank you ahead of time!!!

...dats about all folks. Write me if you want! I'm always around...

Keep it kind!
jason
http://www.thebigwu.com