Blind Pilot. Three cities, three dates, two ears, one state.

I suppose there are worse things I could do with my time than follow a Portland band around for a few nights and compare notes with, eh, myself when it's all over and done with. I heard Blind Pilot trading songs back and forth between their new album and their old so much, in fact, I thought they were doing nothing but old tunes last night; that's the level of familiarity that's present, either in my now knowing these songs as well as I do or due to their blasted, fantastic consistency. I had to slap my face a few times on that drive home from St. Augustine and nearly ran a red light on account of carnapping (just like catnapping but, you know, while driving) but, now that it's over with, I can say it's worth the extra travel and lost sleep. It's part of that grand adventure, it is.

When the band asked if they could join us, climbing off the stage and gingerly transferring their instruments to the middle of our crowd, quietly suggested we put our cameras down and be in the moment with them for the space of a song, then proceeding to perform an unplugged take on their "Three Rounds and a Sound," well then, I was as happy as the jumping-up-and-down trumpeter/organist in the band. I just hid it a whole lot better.

Added highlights: 

Being pleasantly surprised by their Gillian Welch cover, "Look At Miss Ohio," which seemed to make all kinds of sense. Choosing Cotton Jones as their opener for this leg of their tour. You could say that band doesn't have much soul but then you might have to check and see if you had one yourself. This song. Aaaand visiting Ybor City for the first time. I do believe I'll be back, and soon.