Did them joining forces result from the "Arkansas Traveler" sessions/project?

Speaking of Michelle Shocked, I have a little story to share with you all. You see when I moved out to AZ for graduate studies at ASU in Tempe back in 1988; Michelle use to hang out at a club on Mill Ave called "Long Wongs". The reason for her being there was her relationship with a music writer for the local free weekly called,"(Phoenix) New Times". On my second nite in town, I went to Mill Ave to have a few beers with a girl I went to high school with in Indiana. After introductions with her and friends, I sat down on a barstool to enjoy a beer and a smoke. Well, I nearly fell off my stool when Michelle walked in and sat two stools down from me. A few months later I was telling my music friends that Michelle Shocked hangs out at Long Wongs, and they were like "Michelle who?" It was a very depressing time for me. Nobody knew anything about what I listened to! Needless to say Michelle moved with her boyfriend (later hubby) to LA, but before the move, she stayed in Tempe during the summer of 88. I later learned that she would occasionally sit down and jam with some of the local acts during happy hour sets before the bar got full for the main act.

On another interesting side note: That Friday nite when I saw Michelle at Long Wongs, was the regular weekly gig nite for a local band called "The Gin Blossoms". You see, when they played Long Wongs they were billed as their alter ego: The Dell Montes! This is when their original guitarist/songwriter was in the band before they signed a record deal. They use to rock that house, as well another band,"Dead Hot Workshop". Ah, those innocent days and nights on Mill Ave before The Gap and Starbucks took over!

Well enough with my silly little brushes with fame.

Cheers,

Kevin