This (above) is what most of the structures along Galveston’s Seawall Boulevard looked like Saturday morning, after Hurricane Ike roared ashore in the middle of the night with 110 mph winds. One of the buildings constructed on piers and set over the Gulf of Mexico was the world-famous Balinese Room, a 79-year-old nightclub that once hosted the likes of Frank Sinatra, George Burns, Bob Hope and the Marx Brothers. ZZ Top wrote a song about the club, “Balinese,” in 1975. 
Ike turned the Balinese into toothpicks on Saturday, nothing was left standing; above is a souvenir shop that was next to the club; photo at right is the Balinese in its heyday.
From Houston to Port Arthur, millions of people are without running water and electricity, thousands have serious damage to their homes and most are still shell-shocked from the events of Friday and Saturday – but thankfully there seem to be very few serious injuries or fatalities. This part of the country is strong and stubborn; we’ll be back. Thanks for your thoughts and prayers, America.
MP3: “Hurricane Jane” by the Black Kids
MP3: “Devil Wind” by Ribbonpigeon
MP3: “Mighty Storm” by the Duhks
MP3: “I Can See Clearly Now” by Jimmy Cliff
30 Days Out 