(Dan) Maybe you were wondering how our first show went. Were the Tinys worried about putting over their homemade music in a country with such a strong musical tradition of its own? Would the equipment provided by the club read Radio Shack (or worse, Peavy) on the front, and smolder resentfully when plugged in? Would the people of Catalonia enjoy our unique and flippant stage presence? And would we sell any of the yellow Tiny squeeze-estrellas?

Or would Alberto, ever patient and kind, decide it wasn't going to work and send us home?

"I'm a little nervous tonight," admitted Sheila, as we walked from restaurant to gig.

In fact, the show went off wonderfully, to a packed house of appreciative Lliedians. The club owner made us take three encores. The back line featured Marshalls and Fenders and the sound crew were great guys. The gig felt like a really good show at Slims, with an EFX track dubbed for Spanish television. Paula charmed the crowd and tossed yellow squeezies into their midst; Sheila broke the heart of one of the sound guys; Patrick showed them how to really play Los Batterias (the beaters, I think it means), and I jumped around a lot and bumped heads with Sheila once or twice. All in all a good night.

Afterward were interviewed by a very likeable Catalan journalist, for a paper we will probably not see (much less be able to read). Home in bed in a jiffy, by 5 am. We are on Barcelona time in a big way.

One other random memory: the radio in the van playing really kick-ass flamenco music. It is all over the airwaves (not a big surprise I guess) and the stuff has an edge to rival Link Wray. High praise coming from me.

(Sheila) And p.s.: The gas strike is presumably over as we were able to purchase it on the way out of town.