Empty Malls, Zambonies, & Last Minute Gigs – Tour Days 2 & 3
Last night I played in a real life mall.
Yes, they still exist—at least in Medford, OR.
It & I, Arthur Buezo, and I (Polybanderous) performed for the crew at what’s essentially an artist commune built inside the old Gap store at Rogue Valley Mall. The space has painting studios, music gear, free instruments, rehearsal rooms, and band storage—all inside a mall that first opened in 1986. Here’s a piece of nostalgia for you: 📼 1986 Rogue Valley Mall footage
At one point, it was just the three of us and our sound guy Ryan wandering an almost pitch-black mall as the lights shut off and a Zamboni rolled past. So we did what any musicians would do—we jammed. Dylan and I grabbed random instruments lying around and started improvising. It was one of the most surreal sessions I’ve ever had: making music in an empty 80s-era shopping center where people once had their first kisses, raised families, and now post on Facebook about missing the old food court. (Does nostalgia for Sbarro and Orange Julius really run that deep?)
Our load in was literally behind this store.
After finally getting a proper night’s sleep in a quiet suburban Airbnb, I hit the road at 11 AM. We were originally booked at Siren’s Song Tavern in Eureka, CA for tonight, but they canceled the night before. Luckily, Arthur pulled some strings and landed us a last-minute show at the Garage Taphouse in Klamath Falls, OR.
I’m writing this from the Garage Taphouse right now. The owners, Stan and Jennifer, couldn’t be more welcoming—and, oddly enough, their names match my late uncle and my ex-wife. Life on the road is full of strange synchronicities.
As for where I’m sleeping tonight? No idea. Tomorrow we head to The Logger Bar in Blue Lake, CA—about six hours away. But first, it’s time to crush this set and let the road take care of the rest.
