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***PardoN our mess...this page is a JuNk in progress...go ahead and stay awhile ... but watch your step!***
soon-to-be LIVE and on the air 24/7...
the BLACKTOP RAMBLER café
Our most recent roadside philosophies & curbside epiphanies...sprinkled with free-wheelin'quotes, musical incantations for the road, and truckloads of trivial tidbits!
So take a GrEYHOUND bus or a midnight train to GyPSYVILLE, pull up a chair and join us at the BLaCKTOP RAMBLER café!
THe LEGeND and LoRE of 'da BUS junkification'
JULY 2006
So it all started at one of our most favorite hang-outs...none other than the good ole HOUSE OF BLUES in las VEgAS ...we were hangin' with the LAMBERT crew backstage before a show. Just shooting the breeze about big-tired trucks in TeXAS, our favorite soft tacos from roadside joints, and MIrANDa's new wheels she would commandeer in JanUARY 2007. We all agreed that the typical shiny, cold, 'law-office' decor in most tour buses just wouldn't fit her edgy ROCKsTAR cowgirl style...that's when MIrANDA requested her bus be JUNK GYPSY style and the collaboration was born...
AUGUST 2006
we gypsies hook up with miranda's mom, BEV LaMBERT, in NASHViLLE and head to DIAMOND COACH to make initial bus decisions.
After 2 days of laboring decisions, battling the 'norm', and stressing over 'pulling it all together'...we finally make headway on ceilings (creme de la creme CROCODILE...bev likes to refer to it as vanilla vodka), the chairs (RED ToRTOISE), the WALLS (rock n roll BLACK), and a kabillion other details to be installed at the factory.
  
 
CMT INSIDeR wants in on the action so we end the day with LauRA douglas and crew...
we wrap up and head back to TEXAS under the illusion that our bus decorating decisions are over until it arrives in GypSYVILLE in december. ThE bus will be built and made road-worthy at the DIAMonD COaCH factory in Illinois until it comes to GypSYVILLE for the 'finishing out'.
*the guys at the ILLiNOiS factory...installing the rock n' roll STaR GAzER ceiling!
 
 
SEPTEMBER-DECEMBER 25
non-stop MADnESS at the warehouse! from nailheads to drawer pulls...floors to sinks...sconces to shower tiles...the DECisIONS never end and the CHALLENGE of pulling it all together WiTHOUT the bus here is MONUmenTAL! we have numerous mini-breakdowns and hit the road all over the LonE STAR state in search of fabulous fabrics, vintage and new, for the curtains and bedding...as well as can't-live-without kitschy decor that puts the FUN in functional!
DADDy-O SIKES engineers the FAmED license plate guitar...and ships it to INdIANA...
dECemBER 27 2006
The PeARLY vision arrives in GypsYVILLE! the moment we've been nervously anticipating for months and months!
 
We're so excited to see all of the long-distance decisions we've labored over for the past several months LIVE and in-person!
Everything looks GREAT...unbelievably, everything looks totally RoCKIN'!
it's COzY, it's EDgy-rockSTAr, it's JUNK GypSY! she's gonna LOVE it!
The bEST part? Dad's mosaic license plate guitar!
We take about half a day to kum-ba-yah in the bus...
and then it's time to GET to WORK!
We've got just over 2 weeks until this bus has to be on the ROAD to NAShVILLE!
DECemBER 31 2006
no rest for the weary in gypsyville...
curtains to be designed and sewn (rich velvet brocades matched with cozy crazy quilt fabrics), bedding to be created (flocked damask with turquoise satin shams and crushed velvet ruffle pillows), nailheads, wall decor, chandelier shades, the list is never-ending...
We spend NeW yeARs eve looking at fabric swatches and pulling our hair out over which nailheads to choose!
JANUaRY 1 2007
The fam meets for breakfast while CHeF du JouR DADDy-O SIKES cooks up some of his FamOUS pumpkin walnut and sourdough waffles with homemade southern sugar syrup! yuM!
then, back to the warehouse! mucho work to do!
JaNUARY 2-12
ALL of the decisions come together beautifully and perfectly...
the final product is even more amazing than we could have imagined.
it's been a labor of love by the entire JUNK GYPSY crew...blood, sweat, and tears...we've had nervous breakdowns, emotional meltdowns, and are suffering from pure-d sleep deprivation!
but man, oh man...it was worth it!
photo credit of JACK THOMPSON PHOTOGRAPHY
JanUARY 14 2007
RAMBLIN' FEVER from TEXAS to TENNeSSEE!
COUNTRY livinG joins us in COLLEGE STATion for our NAShVILLe adventure!
FIRST stop...the legendary DIXIE CHicKEN of COLLEge STatION!
you just haven't been to TExAS until you've stepped through the
swinging doors of our mosT favorite JuNKY joint off ALL TIME!
after several plates of their FAmouS TIJuANA fries and a few games of pool & dominoes,
We turn in for the evening a little early knowing our bus hits the BLAckTOP at 2am!
JaNUARY 15, 2007
BREaKER-bREakER 1-9!
we're eastbound and down!
NaSHViLLE or BUST, BAbY!
2am - MirANDA's new casa on wheels pulls out from the GypSY warehouse at 2am...it's 34 degrees (which is antarctica-FREEzinG-your-hiney-off-COLD to us texans) & raining (not good conditions for 2 of the WORST backseat drivers in history...JanIE and AMie). BUT our TruSTY pilot & roadtrippin' CApTAIN LEE phARRIs is at the wheel so we know we're in good hands.
*note amie's birdseye view of the road
6am - we pick up RICK and BeV LaMBERT in KilGORE, tEXAS (a moment of silence please in honor of good ole east texas which we hold so dear). THEY loooove the bus! BEV is speechless and misty...maybe more like gushy...
and riCK just digs the zebra hide on the floor and gun logo on the door.
they load up and we're non-stop to LITTLe rock!
noon - LiTTLE rock, AR...STiCKY fingERZ rock 'n ROLL chicKEN shack!
we meet up with our SIKES cousins for a little lunch at STiCKY finGERZ...it's a funky little joinT that is reminiscent of the HouSE of BlueS serving everything from
FInGER lickin' nachos to GraTEFul VEG grilled pizzas.
  
 
loved the grub! GoD bless ARKANsAS!
and we're on the road again...
mid afternoon: we're singin' DOOBiE BROTHERS, BLACKWAtER as we cross the ole MISSiSSiPPI into TENNEsSEE...
'ole BLaCKWATER, keep on rollin',
MiSSiSSIPPi moon won't you keep on shinin' on me...'
ANd as we roll into MeMPHIs, TN...
HOmE of the BLUES & the BiRTHpLAce of ROCK 'n ROLL...
you can hear MaRC CohN's masterpiece -
WALkin' in MeMPHIS echoing through the air...
'then i'm walkin' in memphis
walking with my feet ten feet off of beale...'
we pull up to THE LEgENDARY SUN STUdio
completely oblivious to the sacred ghosts of rock 'n roll legends
that await us inside...
we felt as if we were on hallowed ground ...
it was an experience none of us will soon forget!
thanks SUN!
THEN...down the street to the HOME of the KING!
we leave our mark at the GATeS of GraCELAND
and head towards our shelter for the night...
THE PEAboDY hotel...
the mississippi delta is said to begin in the lobby of THE PEABoDY...
and it's also where amie
realized she'd left her luggage back in TEXAS!
So, while she phones DaD-to-the-RESCUE to have her luggage overnighted to NaSHVILLE...
 
we watch the world famous PeaBODY ducks take their nightly march...
read the legend of the ducks here!
ThEN off to BEALE STREET...
where we basked in the soulFuL remembrances
of BLuES legends and RocK 'n ROLL heroes!
WE turn in for the nite after a memorable day of
walkin' through history and lovin' every minute of it!
JANUARY 16
NAshVILLE or bUST!
we're up at the crack of dawn (didn't take amie long to get dressed!) and headed due EAST for NAShVILLE!
we stop at LoreTTA LYNN's cafe for some good ole GRITs & a photo-op by the BiGGo BUffALO
NASHVILLE!
we spend the rest of the day at the REVEAL of the bus...talking with PreSS and then ending the day with the PerFECT pink champagne toast!
MIranda was overwhelmed and teary at the sight of her new casa!
she loved every detail...especially the guitar and RAINboW STEW bubblegum canister!
FOr more road pics and bus pics...check out our photo gallery!
AND be sure to snag a copy of the AUGUST issue
COUNTRY LIVING on newsstands NOW!!!
www.countryliving.com
"It's A BIg OL' roAd out there KId . . .
WHiCH WAy ya gonna go???"
| GypSY JAMS - some tunes we be lovin'
One of the BEST things about being a GYPSY is GREAT tunes...sooo, we thought we would share some of our FAVE jams that we really think you oughta have.
KEB MO...recommended by our one and only JOE PETE and now an absolute must-have! makes you wanna pour a glass of wine and do a little soul dancing. www.kebmo.com
MIRANDA LAMBERT...a hellraisin' TEXAS girl with the soul of WILLie and the attitude of JAniS - www.mirandalambert.com
WILLIE NELSON...OK, ok we admit it, we are TRUE-bondafide-genuine texas girls through and through...and what TEXAS girl doesn't salute PresiDENT WiLLIe??? www.willienelson.com
ANSON and the ROCKETS-which way is TeXAS...a Roundtop staple. We play this one in our tent non-stop...a fave with us and our customers! www.ansonandtherockets.com
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GypSY FLIckS - two thumbs-up, baby!!
what blacktop bandit, doesn't just love curling up with a great movie between roadtrips? Some of our all-time faves...
LONE STAR STATE OF MIND...if you're looking for deep thoughts, this is not the movie for you! but if you're in need of a no-brainer and a good laugh ... this one is HILARIOUS! We quote it all day long! "If you ain't livin' you're dyin' Earl. I wanna live"
WHAT ABOUT BOB?...ok, ok, so this one's not too profound either but it has us rolling every time! Bill Murray is an all-time gypsy FAVE! "What if I'm looking for a bathroom, I can't find one... and my bladder explodes?"
PRACTICAL MAGIC...fiery, spirited, and spell-binding! "My darling girl, when are you going to understand that "normal" is not necessarily a virtue? It rather denotes a lack of courage."
THELMA & LOUISE...some things just don't need an explanation... "You said you 'n' me was gonna get out of town and for once just really let our hair down. Well darlin', look out 'cause my hair is comin' down!"
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MoRE of our MUsT-see LinKS:
CouNTry LiVing On Location Blog
ride with the GYpsies and Country LiVing magazine as they take a brand new GypSy-fide TouR bus to Grammy-nominated country singer Miranda Lambert!!!!
www.officialjanis.com - JANIS JOPLIN ... let's all show a little respect for the original LADY of rock n' roll BLUES ... can somebody pass the SOUTHERN COMFORT???
www.lonestarmusic.com - LONE STAR MUSIC ... one of the best sites to find original TeXAS musicians.
www.yoranch.com - YO RANCH...home to our FAVORITE ROWdy RANCH divas in all the LAND...
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