[Editor's Note: Exene Cervenka is a writer, visual artist and punk rock pioneer. The OC transplant is the lead singer for X, the Knitters and Original Sinners. Her column, Exene Says…, is her space to basically just write what's on her mind, everything from crazy life stories to political theories and observations about what's going on in this fucked up world of ours. To contact her, send all messages to
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We're still on the road with Blondie. It's starting to be a bit of a blur at this point. I did get my laundry done, though it was a bit of a fiasco–my clothes got washed in Detroit and dried in Cincinnati. It was a (bad) timing issue.
See also: [Exene Says…] On the Road With Blondie
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We were just in Seattle. The city is lovely, so lush, green, spongy. People smile a lot there because there the local economy is still good. The show was outside at a cool little amphitheater. Eddie Vedder came to the show and sang “The New World” and “Devil Doll” with us. I love singing with him; it's a good mix. That was most excellent.
The audience was very happy to see X and, of course, Blondie. Everyone in that band is so damn good. Blondie comes out every show wearing black, pointy dunce-like caps. I was gifted with my own to wear last night; it is supposed to make me smarter! So I wore that when we went on.
My camera is not working, so my friend Alex has been taking pictures for me. Much thanks to him!
A couple of days before the Seattle show, we played Riot Fest in Chicago. Lots of cities have Riot Fests now, and they are still pretty independent, with cool bands–smaller festivals are a blast to play.
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The highlight for me was seeing FLAG; that was powerful. Chuck Dukowski wowed in orange and yellow. The songs sounded great, and the set was visually really great. The huge crowd went crazy for them.
I told their vocalist, Keith Morris, after their show that it was amazing, that they were so great because the group have the right frequency and vibrational aspect. He kinda smiled at me, a bit confused perhaps. I'm still not sure if it was festival beer or a sudden realization that made me say that to him. It just felt like more than music. I love Keith.
Replacements played the day we left the festival, so I missed them. But I saw a little Blondie, a little TSOL–it was just like being a kid at a carnival, running around with friends, laughing, seeing people. It was the most fun so far.
Exene Cervenka is a writer, visual artist and punk-rock pioneer, as the lead singer for X, the Knitters and Original Sinners.
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