Whitmore seeks out weird little places
Austin, Texas-based singer-songwriter Bonnie Whitmore has the kind of plaintive vocals that convey a song’s meaning as much as her introspective lyrics. On her album “Last Will& Testament,”she deals with rape culture (“Asked for It”), gun-related rampages (“Time to Shoot”) and the importance of self-care (“Fine”).
The daughter of an airline pilot and an opera singer— and the sister of Eleanor Whitmore of the band theMastersons— Whitmore said therewas always music in her household. And thanks to her father’s job, she grew accustomed to traveling constantly, which prepared her for a life of touring.
Q: What untapped destination should people knowabout?
A: Pomeroy, Iowa. I’ve actually found a lot of really cool towns in Iowa with hidden Frank Lloyd Wright hotels and houses. In Pomeroy, it is all about the bar and hippie haven called Byron’s. It’s an incredibly inclusive and funky place thatwill leave you questioning if any of these memories are truly real or just a dream. They also have the Kaleidoscope Factory. My joy in life is getting to findweird little places like these.
Q: Whatwas the first trip you took as a child?
A: The earliest memorable trip I can recallwas to Hawaii when Iwas around four or five. I remember we had to fly on a different airline to get there, because Delta— the airlinemy dad flew for— didn’t at the time. I remember the flight attendant gave us flower leis and let me help them by picking up the trash fromthe other passengers. We stayed in these condos thatwere right by the beach.
Q: What’s the most important thing you’ve learned fromyour travels?
A: To eat where the locals eat and do what the locals do. That’s the only way to have an authentic experience. That and (pack with) travel cubes.
Q: Where are your favoriteweekend getaways?
A: We used to take trips down toUtopia, Texas, when Iwas a kid. We’d camp near the Sabinal River with the huge cypress trees. We’d find the parts of the river with dinosaur footprints and float over the little dams likewewere white-water rafting. Unfortunately, a tornado tore up the campground years ago andwe haven’t been back since.
Q: Where is the most romantic destination?
A: Spain. Barcelona and Granada are incredible.
Q: If you’ve ever gone away for the holidays, whichwas the best trip?
A: One yearwedid Christmas in South Carolina, becausemy dad wasn’t able to get it off work. The layoverwas in Charleston. Everything was closed and itwas colder than expected, but wewalked around the town and stayed at a very nice hotel and I had lamb chops and cheese grits for the first time. Itwas more about being together, than the destination. All other timeswe’ve been atmy folks’ home or in Terlingua (Texas) for the holidays.
Q: Wherewould you like to go that you have never been to before?
A: Senegal orNigeria, South Africa, Morocco. I’d also love to go to places in South America. I wish I could be like Anthony Bourdain and travel everywhere eating and drinking in the culture. There really isn’t a place Iwould not want to experience, except I don’t exactly blend in. I am painfully aware that I look like an American, but if Iwas given the opportunity, Iwouldwant to go somewhere that didn’t needlessly putmy life in danger.