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Here is a depressing angle on how the price of gas is affecting traveling bands. The Asylum Street Spankers, one of the most interesting bands out there, are leaving the road. Singer/multi-instrumentalist/songwriter Christina Marrs is saying a full-on "farewell to the road," after a short run through the Northwest, according to an e-mail from the band's publicist, John Riedie. And Riedie would know, because he and Marrs are married with children.

She will remain a band member, Riedie said, responding to a follow-up e-mail.

The rest of the band will "cut back drastically," according to the mail.

It reads, in part:

> Filling the tank may be somewhat less painful this week (link added by cutnscratch), but its still twice what it was two years ago. The $50 motel with an actual pillow has gone the way of a $5 lunch consisting of actual food. So what's a scrappy indie band to do in the worst touring environment they've ever faced? Riedie writes that the band is "not really breaking up, though." Recording is in the act's future.

More of the message, including tour dates, is below. Sadly, there are no dates in the valleys, where the band has played some really cool shows to receptive audiences.

Well, we got a little drunk, some of us got a bit high, then we had a meeting. It's a sad reality that after nearly a decade of making a living on the road, we can barely break even on a tour these days. So we've decided to cut back on our touring drastically. The current short run to the northwest will be Christina's farewell to the road, while the rest of us will finish out the year with a trip in November accompanied by some special guests. So catch us if you can afford to gas up your Prius.

So, uh, yeah, we're not really breaking up. Don't freak out, man. We'll be working on new material for a studio album, mixing some gospel recordings for the long awaited gospel bootleg, playing around Texas a bit and picking up a festival date here and there. But as far as big trips across the country, not sure when we'll be doing that again. You guys get cracking on fixing the economy, overturning corporate welfare and ending our disastrous dependence on foreign oil. (Oops, that's from Wammo's stump speech.) We'll be breeding and working, and, nervously, keeping an eye on the scene. When it's safe to come back out, we'll be there to Spank you.

For those few of you on the verge of despair, we've got our new two disk live album on Yellow Dog Records, "What? And Give Up Show Biz?" compiled from our acclaimed two week stand at New York's Barrow Street Theatre last January. With a great Spankers line-up including Stanley Smith on clarinet and Korey Simeone on violin, the album brings the live vibe unlike any record we've ever released. With souped up live versions of many Spankers classics as well as the two new hits "Leaf Blower" and "My Baby in the CIA" and the previously unreleased "Big Noise in Winnetka," "Why Do It Right?" and "The Medley of Burned Out Songs" as well as pieces from the stage show like "Morning Moron Mob" and "The Gig from Hell," this is a must have Spankers' collection. Stores and online sources will not have it until September 30th, but you can get it right now right here.

And now for Ms. Christina Marrs' last concerts on the road before the long break:.

8.28.08 Thursday Boise, ID Neurolux 8pm 208.343.0886

8.30.08 Saturday Seattle, WA Bumbershoot Seattle Arts Festival

3pm Kids Show @ Wells Fargo Stage (kids), 6:45pm @ Starbuck's Stage

8.31.08 Sunday Portland, OR Aladdin Theater 8pm 503.233.1994

9.1.08 Monday Eugene, OR McDonald Theatre 8pm 541.914.0788

9.3.08 Wednesday Ashland, OR Jackson Wellsprings Resort 8:30pm

9.4.08 Thursday Arcata, CA Mazzotti's on the Plaza 10pm 707.822.1900

9.5.08 Friday Crystal Bay, NV The Crystal Bay Club 9pm 775.831.0512

9.6.08 Saturday San Francisco, CA Red Devil Lounge 7pm & 10:30pm 415.921.1695