5.2

Cambridge was an absolute blast. I headed out of Manchester, NH, in the morning, picked up my friend Demetri in Worcester, MA, had Mexican food for lunch, and then headed to the city for the gig at night. Demetri and I were in an a cappella group together in college and it was surreal to spend the day together and catch up. In Cambridge we got ice cream cones and hung out on the Harvard campus until the show. The weather was gorgeous and it was nice to just relax and enjoy the fresh air with a good friend.

The show itself was one of my favorites of the trip. It was at a bar called Toad about a mile off the Harvard campus. I linked up with a local band called The Hats to set the show up, and they were super friendly and welcoming when I arrived at the gig. We waited in the green room for the early show to end, and then I hit at 10 pm. Some old friends of mine from high school showed up as well, and it felt really special to be playing to familiar faces so far from home. The Hats played right after me. They are a kick-ass indie 5-piece that everyone should check out, and I hope they make it to NJ/PHL sooner than later. I found myself staying at the bar far later than I meant to because of how great their set was.

5.3

I woke up early in Worcester, MA, with a long day ahead of me. I had to drive all the way to Brooklyn for a show at BK Bazaar with my friends Edenspore, Foxanne, and The Hell Yeah Babies. This day felt like I was really on the home stretch of the journey. The heavy traffic and non-stop highway construction made me feel like I was right at home. I arrived in Brooklyn around 1 pm and immediately showered and napped at my friend Leah’s house. I needed the rest after not getting much sleep the previous night and driving so far. Leah is another old friend from college that I was thankful for the opportunity to spend time with her.

I usually try to take public transportation in NYC, and the drive to the show was the perfect reminder why. Even though Leah’s residence and the show were both in Brooklyn, the drive there was a full hour. We rewarded ourselves by meeting up with Foxanne at a delicious Polish restaurant next door to the venue. I don’t think I had ever had Polish food other than some inauthentic pierogies, and I was not disappointed. After stuffing my face, we headed to the Bazaar for the show.

Edenspore (PHL) opened the show with some eerie tunes about witches. I followed and had a blast on stage, knowing it was the last solo performance of the tour. Foxanne played as a duo after me, and as always the music was mesmerizing. Definitely check out their new EP halfing if you haven’t yet. The Hell Yeah Babies closed out the night with a super fun, high energy set. And even though it took us a full hour to park when Leah and I got back to her place, I couldn’t help but be satisfied with how the night went. Especially that Polish dinner…

5.4 & 5.5

Home. Family. Rest & relaxation. Preparation for the big finale…

5.6

My birthday! And what a truly magical day it was. So magical, in fact, that I forgot to take basically any pictures all day long. I got to wake up at home next to my love and our cat, with my best friend/soul twin Vin sleeping downstairs. As soon as I was awake, I published my first single in well over a year, History & Art (available on Bandcamp). I was nervous but people have been extremely supportive, and maybe that’s because it was my birthday and maybe that’s okay.

Anyway, after a slow but very exciting start to the day, we headed out to breakfast at a restaurant called Turning Point. I ordered chicken and waffles, which I had been craving for weeks. We stuffed our faces and headed home to prepare for the show. Vin and I jammed on guitars together because the show at night would feature a totally new KDU lineup of musicians and I reassigned Vin’s instrument (muahahaha). After playing through the set, we packed up and relaxed for a little while before heading up to New Brunswick.

I decided on ramen as my birthday dinner before the show. We ended up finding an amazing little spot on Bayard St., and I got vegetarian spicy miso ramen. From there we headed to the Scarlet Pub for what I already knew was going to be a truly memorable show. Friends and family came from as far as an hour away, and every time I saw a familiar face come through the door my heart smiled a little bigger. Bobby Mahoney & The Seventh Son absolutely slayed their opening set. I had never seen them before and I hope I have a chance to catch them again sooner than later. Jeff Linden & The Black Spot Society played next, and I just love Jeff’s music so much that it was basically a birthday gift in and of itself to have him play as my support. I closed out the night with a never-before-seen lineup of musicians, including Jeff Linden on bass and his drummer Evan. Vin played guitar with me and Elyse Kiedaisch brought the tight harmonies. The set felt amazing, and all I could think about was how much fun I was having and how lucky I am to be able to create and perform my art in the capacity that I am with people I love so much.

Final Thoughts

I had no idea what to expect on this tour. I could have ended up playing for no money to empty rooms everywhere I went, but what ended up happening was so much better than that. I got to see so many cool places and meet so many kind people that I hope I can now consider friends. Spending time with old friends was another huge perk of this tour, and it filled my heart so much to have support and company almost everywhere I went. This trip brought me back to important parts of my past in a lot of ways, and in equal measure it showed me what’s possible for the future of Kate Dressed Up. It was an eye-opening experience that gave me a lot of new perspective about my own personal journey and the various relationships I have in my life. The overarching feelings tying everything together now that it’s over are gratitude for everything that has been, and hopefulness in everything that may still yet come to pass. Can’t wait to hit the road again next week!

Final note: thank you to my friends at YDKJ for the opportunity to share my adventure with everyone! Y’all the real MVPs.

Copyright, You Don’t Know Jersey, LLC (2010-2024)

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