Jason and Seth of the Maldives at Birds on a Wire Fest ::: Polaroid by Josh Lovseth

We asked the Maldives to go old-school on us for their three week tour down to SXSW and back and send us a few postcards from the road. (Click on the postcards to enlarge them, to read or admire their kitschy wonderfulness.) We caught up with the Maldives at the tail end of their tour and Josh snapped the above Polaroid at their second to last stop in Pullman, WA. It was clearly a great tour, but also typically fraught with pitfalls and difficulties, as we find out in the very first postcard …

Tour… Between Sickness Rain Snow Good Friends Good Shows Empty shows and Burritos… Tour had finally started… And… Stopped… For the Moment… Our Trailer has A Bum Wheel and We are Slightly bummed on the Side of I-5 in Between SF and LA… In the Middle of Nowhere. But… It’s Sunny… Luv… The Maldives… (Transcribed by JB).

Hey S on S, Seth here. We are having mostly a blast, as you probably know, and but we all can’t wait to get home as well. It’s Friday night now, just before No Depression Set, We are Watching College Basketball. Lame, I know, We found a new favorite bar here in Austin called “Donn’s Depot.” An Amazing Honky-Tonk piano bar. Wish you were here! <3 Maldives.

Hello Guys, We’re here in Austin. The Boys and I have been running around Austin Tryin’ to cause some trouble. Lots of tacos. Lots of beer. Some Swiming and GREAT MUSIC! Wish Y’all were here. See You Soon. Brady.

Dear Sound on the Sound… We Have Left Austin and SXSW in our Wake and are Heading Home… I’m Sure that SXSW Stories are the Same every year (Crazy Shows, Crazy Food, Crazy People… Bill Murray), But Since Twas My First Time Attending, I Feel… Impressionable, And in Reflection… This Week I hung out with some of the Best People on the Face of the Planet… Most of the Them are from Seattle… But Austin is One Helluva Town… Can’t Wait to Go Back Next Year. Love JESSE, The Blond Maldive. (Under the Stamp is a really cool skull).

Find some video postcards from the tour that drummer Ryan McMackin put together at themaldivesmusic.blogspot.com.