The Trouble Notes – US Tour Recap: Week 1

From Chicago to the Pacific: A Journey Begins

Our US Tour began with an epic cross-country journey that only we would think to embark we touched down in Chicago and immediately set off westward, driving nearly 2,200 miles to San Francisco in just five days. With the vast American landscape unfolding before us, each hour behind the wheel was a step closer to reuniting with Julz and Flo and beginning the next chapter of our adventure.

Arriving in San Francisco was like stepping into a dream. We were welcomed by our beautiful friend Gioconda, a radiant soul who has always made us feel at home in the city by the bay. She guided us through the streets of SF with her signature sparkle, taking us back to some of the city’s most iconic landmarks. Of course, no visit would be complete without a stop at La Taqueria, where we shared stories over authentic Mexican food that warmed our hearts as much as our bellies.

Our first show of the tour was an intimate private performance at our friends Hector's and Pierre's. It was a deeply wholesome evening, the kind that reminds us why we do what we do. Music flowed gently through a space filled with love, laughter, and the kind of energy that only old friends and kindred spirits can create. The very next night, we stepped onto the stage at the Hotel Utah, one of the oldest and most legendary venues in San Francisco. There’s a certain magic in places like this—a feeling of footsteps past, of stories told, of melodies echoing through time. We poured our hearts out that night, and the audience gave it right back to us.

From San Francisco, our road led us east to the foothills of the Sierra Nevadas for our first US festival: Chivalry and Fantasy Festival. We were greeted with open arms and two unforgettable days filled with musical connection, spontaneous dancing, and sun-soaked joy. It felt like a homecoming of sorts, a reunion with the American festival spirit we’re experiencing for the first time.

It was there in Mariposa that we crossed paths with two long-time fans, whose energy and kindness led us into the heart of Yosemite. Alex and Jaime, both employees at the park, asked if we would be willing to do an impromptu Monday night concert in Yosemite for all of the other employees. We couldn’t believe our eyes when we saw the message, it was as if a lifelong dream was manifesting. We spent the entire day in Yosemite, hiking up the misty trail and searching for waterfalls. After a full day of hiking, we felt invigorated. What would happen next was beyond anything we could have imagined. Our friends took us to a picnic area with a stone slab that was kind of like a natural stage. With a view to the half-dome, we set up in a “busking” style and started to play. With each song we played, the crowd grew. Within minutes it turned into a festival, hundreds of people dancing, chanting, screaming and connecting. The experience was once in a life-time.

After we were done playing, a handful of park rangers came out of the woodwork and informed us that we had done was very much illegal on federal land. No nature was harmed, so we only ended up with a small fine. All of the employees banded together and sent us some money to pay for the fine. After the show, so many told us that that was the most epic thing they had ever experienced in Yosemite – A badge of honor that we will carry with us until the end of time.

Still buzzing from the Yosemite experience, we drove on to Santa Cruz, where our dear friends Kathy and James welcomed us with warm embraces and open doors. That night, we joined a Drum Circle, letting rhythm guide us into another beautiful evening of community and creation. It was wholesome, it was free-spirited, and it was everything this tour is meant to be.

Week one has already given us memories we’ll carry for a lifetime—and we’ve only just begun. Stay tuned, because the road ahead promises even more magic.

Thanks to @lalalopophoto for the photos of this journey!