Recently the Tumbledown House crew set off to historic Virginia City, Montana to play at the Bale of Hay Saloon. For those of you unfamiliar with Virginia City, it's like Tombstone without the gift shops or Deadwood without video poker. Virginia City (and neighboring Nevada City) have done such incredible jobs preserving the original look and feel of the late 1800's that they both stand today as shining examples for every other boom-town-turned-tourist-attraction.


They have not only done an impeccable job of maintaining the exteriors of the buildings, but many of the structures contain the actual relics from the original time period, allowing you to peer inside to check out its 19th century goodness. Here, for example, is one of many storefront windows complete with shoes, gloves, and other weird shit.

Other stores contain original canned goods that were for sale. Some of them are augmented with mannequins that are intended to enhance the overall effect and make the history seem more "alive", although in my opinion they just look contrived and downright creepy.


On the particular night that we were to perform at the Bale of Hay, Virginia City was hosting its annual parade and ball, where hundreds of period nuts bring out their corsets, parasols, and cummerbunds and parade up and down main street. While I unfortunately was unable to get a photo of them in en masse, I was able to snap this shot of a few musicians in the main room of the Bale of Hay. One of these psychos is actually a former teacher of Gillian's, which explains a lot.


If you've enjoyed the blog thus far, you'll be delighted to know that I have yet to reach the best part. After our show in Virginia City, the next morning we headed to neighboring Nevada City, which is maybe even a little less touristy. Lo and behold, dear reader, there we found the most incredible thing. Some may call it the source. Others may refer to it as the Largest Collection of Automated Music Machines in the world. Oh my fucking god. Behold:



Unfortunately, neither the pictures nor my limited vocabulary can do this mecca justice. They have player pianos whose pitch wavers as their mechanical insides grind together to churn out ghostly melodies. Automated organs billow out clouds of noise that can be heard across town. Mallets, xylophones, and beaters beat out rhythms along with the throng. So, what does the municipal township of Nevada City charge for entrance to their fair music hall? $20? $10? $5? No, you guessed it.. It's free. And the machines cost a nickel to operate. Jesus. I would have given a kidney to witness this splendor.


So in conclusion, you need to get your ass down to Virginia and Nevada cities and check this shit out. It's just amazing. Here's another pic from Nevada City. These people are just walking around in their bonnets. They don't care about anything. And if you do go, please behave yourself and watch your children. We saw one ungrateful little bastard complain that the music hall was "boring" and was tugging on one of the machine's fragile wooden parts. Don't be that guy. Don't let your kid be that guy either. If you think that in a hundred and fifty years there will be a museum with 'Golden Tee' and 'Dance Dance Revolution' you are sorely mistaken.

As an added bonus, as you are exiting Nevada City, there stands a house that can only be described as Tim Burton's wet dream. I hope that it is condemned, because if anyone lived here the envy would just be too much for me to bear.



Thanks for reading. We leave for our massive tour in two weeks. Currently our van is in the shop with possible engine issues, we're having trouble with some of our gear, and I may be getting sick. Somehow, I'm confident that it will all come together.

Cheers,
TR