Pitchfork

As the legendary Mission of Burma make their way down the West Coast on a week-long trek, guitarist Roger Miller shares his tour diary with Pitchfork. Stay tuned for daily entries ("Of course, it depends a bit on free WiFi," Miller says.)

Here's part eight, in which Burma breathe new life into a song.

Read part seven here.
Read part six here.
Read part five here.
Read part four here.
Read part three here.
Read part two here.
Read part one here.

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Thursday, September 21:

The Phoenix has a very nice breakfast spread and, by god, it was sunny in SF. Lounging in the courtyard. Clint, Bob and I splashed about in the pool for a while-- a great way to de-kink one's torso from excessive van-age-- then we drove to the venue to pick up our gear (stored safely overnight).

Prescott conducts the Conley Brothers in our "Load-Out" routine

(I almost forgot: Last night Bob came up with a new loop idea for "Donna Sumeria. On the recording, I play a "sound" riff overdub during the second instrumental section, the bass melody. I press the strings hard against the pickup, and with a dose of reverb it has a sparkly ambient quality. Bob wanted to loop that and play it back in "the right place."

Since this is one of our songs that "eases in" rather than all of us starting together, I can play that "sound" riff while Pete is messing with his electro-keyboard and pumping up that fat disco bass drum. Bob and I agreed that we'd probably forget to do it during the show.

However, once Pete started in on his riffages, I recalled Bob's idea, and cast a longing glance towards the sound desk and played my sparkly motif. By gum, but what if Bob didn't give me a high-fiver and I knew he'd looped the sonofabitch. And yes, a minute and a half later [approximately] I heard the loop kick in at just the right spot. Yeah, sometimes things really do get done around here.)

Out of SF to the Pacific Coast Highway heading south. Really gets beautiful after Monterey. In fog. Out of fog. In fog. Out of fog. In fog. Out of fog. Jimmy deftly handled the steering wheel like a master while the rest of us gazed out at the oceanic kelp forests that clung to the coastline and the whitewater smashing on the raw rocks, the steep cliffs. Not an easy environment.

Burma on PCH

Rolled into a fine hotel in Pismo Beach. Walked on the beach. Smelled the salty air. Saw that it was good.

Remaining Mission of Burma tour date:

09-23 San Diego, CA - Brick by Brick *#

* with 50 Foot Wave
# with Kill Me Tomorrow