The Vespa Experiment

There are few possessions I love in this world more than my seafoam green Vespa scooter. At a wicked 49cc, it putters around Decatur, Ga., at a mind-warping 38 mph. Whenever I want to head to the Square to visit my favorite pub, The Brick Store, or my favorite gastro-pub, Leon's Full Service, I know I can pull into one of six scooter-only parking spaces (mine's the one pictured in front, above). It's our second car, and I took my four-year-old to pre-school on it this morning. So I'm all in favor of The Vespa Experiment—an all-Vespa tour by Jason Reeves, Brendan James and Amber Rubarth.

The three singer/songwriters are headed up the California Coast, from Carlsbad to San Fransisco, on their scooters to raise awareness about Global Warming (even if I thought all Californians were pretty aware at this point). With just their instruments and some camping gear, the musicians have partnered with Greenpeace in order to "inspire young people to consider their impact on their environment."

"It seems like back in the late '60s and early '70s, people turned to folk singers and songwriters for inspiration and answers to difficult questions," Reeves says. "We were very motivated by that idea and hope to influence a new generation to become more environmentally aware as they grow up and take command of their future."

With a photographer and film crew in tow (not in Hummers, I'm hoping), Reeves, James and Rubarth will be posting footage and photographs of the tour at their respective websites as well as at MySpace.com/TheVespaExperiment. Rubarth's subtle pop, in particular, is worth checking out. Here's a complete list of their stops:

4/30     Carlsbad, CA, The Museum of Making Music**
5/1       Costa Mesa, CA, Sutra Lounge
5/2       Hermosa Beach, CA, Saint Rocke
5/3       Los Angeles, CA, Roxy
5/5       Ventura, CA, The Lodge at Zoey's
5/7       San Luis Obispo, CA, Downtown Brew
5/10     Monterey, CA, Monterey Live
5/12     San Francisco, CA, Café Du Nord
** Jason Reeves & Brendan James only