Mountain Time

Water Wheel Saloon

It was our first time playing at the Water Wheel Saloon and we weren’t sure what to expect, but the second we saw the 1930s A-frame and abundance of taxidermy, we knew it was our kind of place. The great pizza doesn’t hurt, either.

Essentially a roadhouse outside of Columbia State Park, the saloon attracts an eclectic mix of punk and rockabilly-loving locals, bikers, and an intrepid tourist or two. Owners Brad and Lauren couldn’t have been nicer (shout-out to Lauren, who kept escaping from behind the bar to rage on the dance floor), and we had an enthusiastic audience who demanded two encores. The Water Wheel is a seriously dope experience, and we’re excited to play one of their infamous Parking Lot parties next summer; check our Shows page for details.

The next day…

We headed to Truckee so Donny could get his hot dog fix at “the world’s best” 7-Eleven before playing a quick and dirty set at Truckee Brewfest. Then we gunned it to Blairsden for an evening show at The Brewing Lair (thanks, Susan!).

The Brewing Lair

For the uninitiated, the Lair is a brewery smackdab in the middle of the forest. There’s no indoor seating, and a lot of people bring grills and make an afternoon of it. We met up with family and friends there, and after the show, Holland and Gary headed to Auburn for the night, while Donny spent the night at nearby Jamison Creek Campground to kick off his post-tour mountain biking trip, which culminated in Downieville.

We’re always stoked to head to the mountains. Stay tuned for a Summer ’27 tour, kicking off at the Water Wheel.