Jeremy Porter Road Blog

Road Blog: Tuesday October 20, 2026 - Lawrence, KS

Road Blog
October 20, 2026
Lawrence, Kansas

Our day started with a rare leisurely morning at the AirBB drinking coffee and getting some laptop work done. We headed over to Massachusetts Avenue, which is the main drag of Lawrence, Kansas for some breakfast at The Roost. We parked, dialed in the parking app, and quickly realized that two out of three of us had stepped in dog shit next to the van that was likely a bi-product of the guy and his k9 living out of his van in the next parking spot. It wasn’t a massive mess, but it wasn’t pretty, and no way to start the day.

JakeE Jacob has a nearly perfect batting average when it comes to picking restaurants, and he’s hitting 1.000 on this run so far. My BLT + avocado with a side of sausage link at The Roost s was aces. Our Kim Gordon look-alike server, the cute alt-rock girls sitting next to us, and the age-appropriate early punk/Replacements/Husker Du fan in the vestibule who called us out as a band right off solidified the whole thing. We passed out business cards, told them all about the show, and got wired to the gills on the self-serve coffee bar.

We worked our way up Mass Ave to Love Garden Sounds and spent a respectable amount of time thumbing through the bins and talking to the staff. Last time I was in Lawrence, in 2018, I bought an original hand-stamped pressing of The Replacements STINK! At this store, which was the find of a lifetime. Nothing that sweet this time around, but still a well-curated and run store. We sort of drifted apart and went up and down Mass Ave, dropping in and out of stores and coffee shops and whatever, and eventually met back up at the van, where I warned a girl getting out of her car and wearing Uggs with her nose in the parking app on her phone about the dog crap, and she thanked me profusely. We did a drive-by the venue and stopped in to see Chesha, the owner and our host for the show. All was good, we talked a little logistics, got the lay of the land, and headed back to our pad.

Back at the AirBB Troy did some laundry, JakeE read his book, and I got a legit nice little nappy in and then a needed shower and some overdue hygiene. I checked in with TrooperGirl22 back home, who was preparing to meet up with some friends for a drink and didn’t have a lot of time to talk, but things are good and we’re working our way towards reuniting on Sunday. I rallied the boys and we headed back to Mass Ave for dinner. Out near the van we came across a couple little lizards running around the dive way. Who knew they had lizards in Kansas? We gave them business cards and told them to come to the show, and that the cute alternative girls from The Roost might be there looking to party, but they had little bugs to eat and generally don’t do weeknight shows unless it’s early and someone big.

I’m a big fan of Po’ Boy sandwiches and it took a little prying to get the boys on board with Terrebonne Cafe. After some inner-debate and not one to play it safe, I went with the `gator Po’ Boy and a cup of gumbo. (Sorry John + TG2, back to the grease bin for this fella!) I’ve got a mixed history with alligator meat – mostly something I’ve enjoyed, but occasionally not so much. The Po’ Boy was great. Not like Maine/fried-oyster or clam great, but definitely great. The alligator meat was breaded, taming the gaminess and elasticity of it. I’d probably get something different next time; shrimp or catfish or something, but no regrets. The gumbo was probably the best I’ve ever had. Amazing flavor, perfect distribution of ingredients. I’ve got the bug to work on my own this winter. The boys were happy with their selections too. A+ Terrebonne! Thanks!

We loaded in at The Gaslight Gardens onto the patio stage and set up our gear and merch. It’s a small space, some volume moderation would be in order, but we’ve played smaller. I dialed in my tone and we got a round of drinks and talked to Chesha about her club and Lawrence for a while. I was mentally preparing myself for another thin night, but a few people showed up, then a few more, and pretty soon the small space held what felt like a respectable audience. We went on shortly after 8, prepared to play an hour, and ended up doing nearly 2 ½. It was a very diverse audience. We had some college fellas, stoked about the upcoming UK-Duke game in Lawrence, a few girls off to the side, and some folks clearly cut from my own 80’s post-punk/90’s alt-country roots and record collection digging it, among others, some coming and going, some in for the haul. We played a fun, loose set, starting with the more Americana stuff and eventually getting into the rock stuff. I told some stories, asked for requests that we couldn’t play, and had a blast. It was engaging, interactive, and a lot of fun. Couldn’t ask for more, especially in a city we’ve barely played, and on a Tuesday night.

After the set we sold some merch and hung out with the locals, who insisted on buying more drinks than we wanted or needed and then even more. JakeE got into some intellectual conversation with a girl named Olivia while I got deep into the post-punk/60s-rock revival weeds with the local crew out on the patio until we poured ourselves into the van and drove back to the AirBB (Troy, who was last night and generally the best behaved at the wheel – safe, sober, and legal).

Back at the AirBB we had a nightcap and got in some deep discussions about family and life and music and I had to crash out around 2am. Big thanks to Chesha and the Gaslight Gardens and everyone there for a super fun night that exceeded all expectations. We can’t wait to come back to Lawrence, a city we’ve fallen in love with over the last 24 hours. We’re enamored with everything about it (except the dog shit) and the people are awesome.

Today we’re off to Columbia, Missouri, a city I’ve never played or even been to. Our new friends in Lawrence told us about some bitterness between the two cities dating back to the start of the Civil War, but then separately chuckled off to the side that it’s a cool place. We’re on at 6pm at Dive Bar as we round out the valley of the tour and head back into the weekend and the eastern time zone in Tennessee and Kentucky next. Let’s do this Missouri!!!