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SPRING TOUR 2005
Wednesday, May 25, 2005 – Spring Tour Kick-off – Day 1
I love being home. But I love the road too. This month, I’m quite proud of myself for actually being able to finish a couple of projects that I started. There are so many unfinished projects around my house that to actually complete one makes me feel like I won something. It seems like I’ve been gone during May for the last 7 or 8 years. I had forgotten how beautiful the month of May is in Georgia. Of course, the trees are in full bloom, and have been for some time. Whatever blossoms are active are giving off that wonderful fragrance, and just does make me remember one of the reasons I made Georgia home. But now it’s time to hop in the rig and start the tour. I did it the easy way by playing a solo acoustic gig at the Trackside Grill in Kennesaw, so the first venture was only about 5 miles away. I’ll be leaving directly afterward for Huntsville, Alabama for a Thursday gig at Humphrey’s. Each week the, Trackside Owner Brett Olszeski, and his chef, Ron, feature a dinner special called “Catfish & Blues”. This is a perfect hometown concept for me. The food there is superb and it looks as if this thing might take off… although a bit slowly. Like anything, it’s a matter of getting the word out. Fortunately, the editor and publisher of the Northside News, Todd Beckett and his wife Kathi were there completing the ad for the July 4 celebration (held on July 3 in Kennesaw to coordinate with neighboring Acworth for theirs on the 4th). I’ll be performing that day, so it will be like a homecoming for me, hopefully having just successfully completed this tour a few days before in one piece.
Thursday, May 26, 2005 – Spring Tour – Day 2
The 2pm checkout time that Holiday Inn gives to its Priority Club members is always a nice luxury when applicable. After checking out of the hotel in Huntsville, the first stop was to get an oil change for the van. From there, I was made a visit to my old highs school buddy, Dr. Greg Millar, who is now a successful chiropractor in Madison, AL. After attempting to realign my body with a series of adjustments, it was nice to feel that the lights were back on for me physically. Greg usually shows up at Humphrey’s for to treat us to dinner before the gig, so we confirmed that plan. He always goes out of the way to give us a good sendoff or welcome back, depending on the situation. We have been good friends for over 35 years. Then back to the club to set up the gear, and to hook up with Matt Foy and Eric Rhodes, my band for this tour. This would be the best time to relocate the van and trailer to the club to be in position to leave for Tallahassee, FL right after the gig for an all night drive.
Friday, May 27, 2005 – Spring Tour – Day 3
The gig at Humphrey’s in Huntsville was very pleasant due to the enthusiasm of the crowd and to the beautiful weather. The balmy evening in the New Orleans style courtyard makes an average evening feel very festive. Once the gear was packed by 2am, it was time to hit the road again Tallahassee bound. I love driving at night after the gig for a few hours, because that is a great use of wind down time. The only drawback on this night is that going from central time briefly and then back to Eastern Time is rough in losing that hour. So by the time we rolled out at 2:30am, it was really 3:30am. Our goal was to make it to Troy, AL in order to stop over and sleep, and then not have too long of a drive to Tallahassee. Huntsville to Birmingham to Montgomery to Troy took about 4 hours. We spent the night at the “million dollar refrigerator” (Wal Mart) in Troy for about 5 hours and rolled out around noon toward Florida. We arrived at the Bradfordville Blues Club around 5pm and immediately set up the gear. This place was formerly Dave’s CC Club, which was a very well-known juke joint for many years. It is now owned by local Tallahassee attorney, Gary Anton. Gary is a special guy. Even back in 1996 when I was coming through to play acoustic sets at Borders Books, Gary was there. He didn’t know me from anyone, but he liked the blues, and would make it a point to come out. He didn’t even own the club then, but whenever I was in Tallahassee, he would be there. Now that he is the one booking me here, its like playing for old friends. The ever-burning bon fire outside is always a treat to sit next to when the band takes a break. This is one of those clubs where the people come for the music and they hang on every note you play. It is very exhilarating and inspiring to perform in this environment because everyone is having a good time, from the customers, to the staff, to the musicians. I’m sure that was what warranted the first set to last just over 2 hours. These are the kinds of nights that make me remember why I’m out here on the road.
Saturday, May 28, 2005 – Spring Tour – Day 4
We checked out of the Motel 6 in Tallahassee at 11am and headed east on I 10, bound for Port Richey, FL on the gulf coast. The Edgewaters Restaurant is right on the intercoastal waterway, and so playing right on the water here is a real treat. Owner Sally Sills is such a great supporter of live music, and so we know we are going to have fun, in addition to eating great seafood. The crowds are there a little earlier, and are starting to build, but again it takes time. We are seeing more new faces each time we’re there. The last time I was there, I stayed over for a trip out to sea on the casino boat, but this time, it was down the road after the gig to Palatka, Florida for the Blue Crab Festival.
Sunday, May 29, 2005 – Spring Tour – Day 5
We arrived in downtown Palatka about 5am and immediately pulled the rig over and slept until about 11am. That’s when I located my friends, and festival organizers, Ann & Gary Jones. This is my second appearance at the Blue Crab, so this is a real pleasure. This is a huge 4 day seafood and town festival attracting thousands of visitors. The artists are treated practically like royalty. Gary gets me a spot at the city’s maintenance facility to park the van and trailer in order to plug in and run the AC. It is very HOT here over Memorial Day Weekend, and the air conditioning in the rig becomes a necessity rather than a luxury. Our set was at 6 to 7:15pm. The couple of days of overnight driving have caught up with me here and have taken its toll on my voice. I had the range of “Howlin’ Wolf” for this show, but the set still went off well. After the show, it was time to eat. After all, it is a seafood festival! Tomorrow, Eric and Matt will be picking up a rental car in Jacksonville, FL for their trip home to Huntsville. I will be making my way north to Pennsylvania for the next leg of the tour.
Monday, May 30, 2005 – Spring Tour – Day 6
After awakening around 10am, it was time to roll. A quick gas and coffee stop and a breakfast sandwich to go is the norm. Usually, McDonald’s and Hardee’s etc all stop serving breakfast at 10:30am. I can never get there in time for a McMuffin, because I’m always walking in at 10:31, or else it’s just way too late. Today I won. I made it in for the hot breakfast biscuits. On the way to the airport in Jacksonville, I am just hoping that the rental car facility is in a relatively easily accessible place. Not so! Driving the rig into the airport rental car area has the lanes narrowing and the top clearances starting to lower. I find my self stuck in a lane with cabs starting to lineup behind me. Not a good situation to be in. Luckily there was a transition lane next to me that I was able to cross into. Miraculously, I was able to do it without hitting the curb. Then, of course, I was in the bus lane and commercial vehicle lane. Luckily, the dispatcher saw my dilemma and got me through the restricted area. Just picture Houdini driving a van pulling a house and making the escape. Eric jumped out of the van and went to pick up the car. Matt and I drove to a location so we could swap gear and they could make their trip home. I then headed north up I 95 and decided to call a couple of friends in Raleigh, NC. I reached Bill Lyerly, who wrote 2 of the songs on my latest CD, “The Ohio Connection”. We met briefly to grab a bite and to catch up. Both of our goals are now to really jump onto the internet radio bandwagon, which is in the embryonic stage, but is bound to be where radio destined. I had also called my friend, Ira Planer, who had been a guitar student of mine in the 70’s, and he invited me to come by and visit and spend the night. He and his wife, Molly, have 3 adorable little girls, and are doing an amazing job of keeping the home fires burning. I arrived about 11pm and we sat up talking for a while, but soon started to fade into the next day.
Tuesday, May 31, 2005 – Spring Tour – Day 7
After a good night’s sleep at my friend, Ira’s house, I got up feeling pretty good. Coffee and a few errands around town were in order. It was the last day of May, and an absolutely beautiful day. I ended up doing some internet work, as I am now, and watching a few music videos, and basically just enjoying the day. Later that evening, we cooked out and sat on the deck. Very enjoyable. About 9pm, I once ventured down the road through the wilds of North Carolina headed toward Virginia. After about a 4 hour ride, I made it to a favorite familiar truck stop north of Richmond and promptly went to sleep.
Wednesday, June 1 – Spring Tour – Day 8
This was the day off I was looking forward to. Driving north from Richmond is alwaysan adventure as the northeast starts to take shape. Of course, Washington, DC is always fun to maneuver through. This sounds scary, but I do tend to get a bit of my phone work done while traveling here, because the average speed to get around our nation’s capital is about 10 mph. After clearing Baltimore, I picked up US 1 in order to avoid the $15.00 toll on I 95 for 4 axel vehicles. It was a nice ride for a while, but then I found my self in the “City Of Brotherly Love’s” rush hour. I certainly didn’t see any brotherly love driving in this town. Finally, I made it to Langhorne, PA, my destination for the night. I had managed to have my room normally reserved for after the gig on Thursday for today so I could just enjoy a quiet evening off on the road. The Red Roof Inn in Langhorne, PA was next to a suburban Philadelphia mall sprawl, but that was OK. After having dinner at a local buffet, I took some time for a walk, and a couple of hours Barnes & Noble, just browsing publications, and purchasing an internet book. A brief adventure involving misplaced keys was also experienced, but those are becoming more regular anyway.
Thursday, June 2, 2005 – Spring Tour – Day 9
After a good night’s sleep, it was up with some coffee, watching a little Fox News, and checking out a 11am. The gig tonight would be at AJ’s in Levittown, PA, just a short distance away. Getting to the club early is always nice because then there’s no rushing around. I was able to pull the trailer up behind the club facing a small creek, and then setting up the gear as I felt like it. I patronized a local pizza restaurant, and then pretty much relaxed the rest of the day until Harry & Scott, my musicians from Harrisburg, PA., showed up from work. The crowd at AJ’s was really into the music. This is a blues Thursday presented by the Bucks County Blues Society, one of the most active blues societies in the US. They bring in a lot of touring national acts, so it is a pleasant stop for a road band. After the show, it was time for me to driver through the night to northern New Jersey for a noontime solo acoustic concert at the library in Rivervale, NJ, not far from the NY border. That’s why it was nice to have the motel last night.
Friday, June 3, 2005 - Day 10
Left Levittown , PA about 2am headed for Rivervale, NJ on the NY border for a noontime concert. Arrived about 5:30am to the Rivervale Library in this quaint little North Jersey Village. The sun was coming up as I went to sleep in the rig. Awakening about 11am in time to shower, set up, and string my guitar, fortunately these people had the most important thing at that moment waitng for me… COFFEE! Now I could halfway function to fulfill my obligation. The show was a solo acoustic lunchtime performance for “The Friends Of The Rivervale Library”. It was mostly an older audience that really support the arts locally, and also an audience that would never frequent a late night club. Then it was on to my friend, Bob Lyons house in Pearl River, NJ. Bob helps me with booking events in that area, and also opens his home up to me while I’m in the area. My immediate goal was to get to the bank, post office, and to grab a nap before we headed to Shea Stadium in NYC to watch the Mets. The daytime gig allowed for a night off to catch a ballgame. Unfortunately, while we were on the way, the game was called due to rain. We decided to head back and check out the club I would be playing on Saturday. Later that night, we had a friend that invited us to get on the guest list at the Turning Point in Piermont, NY to see Peter Tork, formerly of the Monkees. I wasn’t sure what to expect, but what I witnessed wasn’t unexpected either. As I remember, Peter and Mike Nesmith were the 2 real players in the only band ever really just formed for TV. His chops were OK, and the rhythm section was good, but one could tell it was an act that was put back together about 10 years ago after a long hiatus. Time hasn’t been good to this guy, and his appearance and attitude showed it. It could be that becoming a household name and having your image on millions of posters, teen magazines, and lunchboxes isn’t all its cracked up to be. It seems like the stars that rise fast, fall even faster.
Saturday, June 4, 2005 - Day 11
Our gig tonight was at Murty’s Public House in Pearl River, NY. My rhythm section from Harrisburg, PA., Harry Werner and Scott Stump came in for the gig. It was a typical club where the audience turned over a few times, but I have enough friends there that it always feels like a party from the first moment. We had a good time.
Sunday, June 5, 2005 - Day 12
Today was a 2pm solo acoustic concert at the Pearl River Library. This is about the 4th one I’ve done annually. It is a very pleasant environment.. one which allows for talking about the songs played, and throwing in a little background here and there, which the audience seems to enjoy.
That evening, Bob and I headed over to the Wagon Wheel in Bergenfield, NJ to visit Les Paul’s son Russ at the jam he hosts each Sunday. I met a few new players, along with a few I already knew and sat in on a few tunes.
Monday, June 6, 2005 - Day 13
Today, I went to a NY state park in Nyack, NY, on the Hudson River. I took a good hour or so walk on the trail along the river, which was just what I needed. The sky was a little hazy, so I couldn’t take any real good distance photos. The Tappan Zee bridge was only about a mile or 2 away and could hardly be seen through the haze. This being Monday in New York, I always reserve this day to hang out with Les Paul at his Monday night gig at the Iridium Jazz Club at 51st and Broadway. This is a special time, since Les is celebrating his 90th birthday on June 9, everyone wants to talk to him. While I was there, VH1, The LA Times among others were there interviewing Les. He wasn’t even able to eat his dinner until after the first show, and even then, people were in line to talk to him. I got to sit in on the second show, which is always a treat. I was also able to have Les sign my Gibson Melody Maker, which is a guitar I’ve had since high school, and currently use strictly for slide guitar. It’s also always good to see Les’ band members, who have since become close acquaintances.
Tuesday, June 7, 2005 - Day 14
Today was an off day, so I slept well past the crack of noon. Coffee, breakfast, and a little computer work was in order until time to leave for Shea Stadium to see the Mets take on the Astros. This was to make up for the game we missed due to rain on Friday. It was a beautiful day, and this is always a fun experience. We grabbed some food at a real NY deli and headed into the city. The Mets had their “54 million dollar for 4 years” pitcher, Pedro Martinez, pitching that night. He had a no-hitter going until the 7th, but the Mets still won. I played it close by wearing my Atlanta Braves shirt into Shea Stadium. Although nobody said a word, I did get scanned by the metal detectors at random on the way in.
Wednesday, June 8, 2005 - Day 15
Today, I headed to Chambersburg, PA for a Thursday night gig at The Relax Inn. On the way, I stopped to see Lou Pallo, Les Paul’s other guitarist for 20 years, at his Wednesday night gig at Kopici’s in Bloomingdale, NJ. He and 75 year old sax man, Muzzy, have been doing this duo gig for 3 years. Lou is a great jazz player, who I learn something from everytime I hear him. I then headed out for the 4 hour drive to Chambersburg, arriving at 5am. I meant to get there by around midnight, but I was having too much fun hearing too many great stories from the sources.
Thursday, June 09, 2005 - Day 16
Today is Les Paul’s 90th Birthday. Be sure to check out the lineup for his big celebration at Carnegie Hall on June 19, 2005. Tonight, Harry & Scott (The Pennsyvania Railroad) will join me at the Relax Inn in Chambersburg, PA. This is a regular stop for me along the I 81 corridor just inside the PA line from Maryland. These folks always have room for us depending on where the tour takes us in the northeast.
Friday, June 10, 2005 - Day 17
I left the Relax Inn about 2am headed for NJ and The Stanhope House. This will be a busy weekend in NJ. I arrived at the club at about 5:30am and pulled into my regular parking spot, and plugged in the rig so I would have AC when the sun comes up, which it has already started to do. It has been unbelievably hot here in the northeast in June, more like Mississippi than New Jersey. It gets hot here, but this year might be unprecedented. I’ll be doing an opening band set tonight with my NYC/NJ boys, Sly Geralds and Mike Fumento. This way, we’ll be whipping ourselves into shape for our 12:30pm hit at the blues festival in Plainfield, NJ tomorrow.
Saturday, June 11, 2005 – Day 18
After the set at the Stanhope House, I had a little time to kill. My friend, Jeff Latawiec, who has been coming to my gigs since I first played here in 1998, stayed around after the gig to visit. Sly and I had rooms booked at the Woodbridge, NJ Hilton so we would be in position for our noontime start at The Rhythm and Blues By The Brook at cedar Brook Park in Plainfield, NJ, with the headliner later that day being the Average White Band. We got to the hotel about 2am after driving around trying to find the place, and requested a 9:30am wake up call. We got to the festival site about 11am and were promptly greeted by a great professional and courteous stage and hospitality crew. We even had our own air conditioned motorhome to relax in before and after showtime. We did a one hour set starting at 12:30 and the crowd was with us from the first note. This is when we remember why we’re here, and are out on the road doing what we do. This was a great time. Unfortunately, the bottom fell out during the next band’s set, but I was told later that the rain didn’t last long, and the remainder of the day went off well. Since I had another solo acoustic opening set to do at 9pm back at the Stanhope House, I had to leave to rest up for that. Naps are a key point to my survival in this day and age... especially at this age. The set that night was fun, but when I came back in about midnight to jam with Jeff Pitchell and his band, that’s when the fun began... and was a great way to end the day.
Sunday, June 12, 2005 – Day 19
Once again, I’m glad the air conditioning in the trailer is working good, because it was already very hot when I woke up at 10:30am. I am to play a solo acoustic set for the Stanhope Day Festival, which fortunately, is right outside my trailer door. The streets are closed, and there are hundreds or people making their way up and down the streets among the many vendor booths. This set is my Stanhope swan song for this long weekend here. It’s always nice to set up residence at the SH and then commute to my various gigs as needed. I left Stanhope at 2:30pm on the way back to Chambersburg for a Monday night solo acoustic set. On the way, my friend Jeff, who is an avid railroad buff and photographer invited me to see some of the sites where some great train photos are shot. We didn’t see any freights this late in the day, but I got a couple of good shots of the Pattenburg Tunnel, and a fairly decent track bed shot. It doesn’t take much to amuse me. I left there at 6pm and headed on to Chambersburg, PA, arriving back at the Relax Inn at 10pm. After a busy weekend, it was nice to retire early.
Monday, June 13 – Day 20
Got about 12 hours of sleep waking up today around 11am. Always feels good to get that rest… like money in the bank. Not really burning the candle at both ends very often. Today was a simple day. Made a trip to the bank, Wal Mart, and a thrift store. It’s wing night at the Relax, and the gig is solo acoustic outside on the patio. It was a beautiful night, and it’s always fun to just sit and play guitar and sing in a simple, low-key environment. I’ve made some regular friends here, plus Michael and Nick always make me feel like one of the family here by letting me plug in the rig, and just come and go as I please to commute to different gigs as needed.
Tuesday, June 14 – Day 21
I’m headed to Kclinger’s Public House in Etters, PA today, just outside of Harrisburg. Instead of taking the expressway through the city, I opted for the longer, scenic route, since I had a little time, and it was such a beautiful day. I left Chambersburg heading east on US Hwy 30 through Gettysburg, York, and over to Interstate 83 to the gig. Of course, when I checked in to Motel 6, which is usually not a problem here, I got the new guy at the desk. He meant well, but had no clue on how this club-direct-bill concept worked. He was looking the club up in the yellow pages, and was way more flustered than I was. I simply called Bill Klinger for his authorization to get into my room, but meanwhile went to the pool while the new guy was trying to sort it out. Kclinger’s is spelled the way it is because the owners are Bill Klinger and John Clinger, but are not related. These guys bring in the best of the road blues guys, and its always great to be here, especially because they offer weeknight gigs, which are heard to get these days. You can fill weekends up forever, but the biggest problem the touring guys are having are not being able to work during the week while on the road. Our crowd was great because they are there for the music, and unexpectedly hit the dance floor on the first note. A great night.
Wednesday, June 15 – Day 22
Time to head to New England today. Left Motel 6 at 11am heading north into New Jersey, over the Hudson River at the Tappan Zee Bridge, through Connecticut during New York Ciyt’s rush hour, and on into Massachusetts. It was about a 10 hour drive, but I always enjoy the drive to New England. I arrived at Harry’s Cajun Bar in Hyannis at about 9pm and went to the grocery store. I knew the Wednesday night band would play from 10pm until 1am, so I thought I would head in around midnight to say hello to Fred and Erica. I thought I would lie down for just a few minutes around 10:30pm before going in, but the next thing I knew, it was 10 hours later, 10:30am. I’m not going without sleep here, just in case anybody is wondering.
Thursday, June 16 – Day 23
The days are really adding up here. I went for a great breakfast at the Collucci Brothers Diner, and landmark in Hyannis, Mass. The I set out for a walk- about town. I headed out Scudder Road which eventually gets you to the neighborhood of the Kennedy Compound. It’s always great to walk around there and think about the early Kennedy days when Joseph Kennedy was trying to bankroll his family into politics, which he succeeded in doing. Thinking about the “Ratpack”, Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, and Sammy Davis, Jr. rolling in and out now and then, along with everything else that has gone on here that nobody knows about, was quite intriguing. Then after the walk, back to the club to set up the gear, then check into the motel. Of course, that led to the afternoon nap, which leads to the evening, which leads to dinner and a cup of coffee, and a night of playing the blues. Harry’s Cajun Bar is a great place with a great audience. They hang on the first note and are with you until the last one. I love this place. I especially love being in one place for a couple of days, which means not having to move any gear tonight.
Friday, June 17 – Day 24
This is the most gorgeous day I have seen in a while… and to be here on Cape Cod to experience it!! It’s about 72 degrees, blue skies with a few white clouds… about as close to perfect as one can get. Time for another walk-about. This time I made a couple of thrift store stops, then on to a different direction in Hyannis. I walked to the harbor and on to the JFK Memorial, as well as the Korean War Memorial and the beach. The wind on the beach was a little brisk today, but still a beautiful place to be. While reading the plaque at the war memorial, I was amazed to find that the Korean War Cease Fire had taken place not just around the date, as I had previously thought, but the war actually ended on my birthday, July 27, 1953. I seem to have showed up at the end of an era, and the beginning of another. That was cause for reflection, if not cause for alarm. :o) Then my walk took me once again back to the Kennedy neighborhood as I made my way back toward the hotel. I passed the large concert hall about a block from the club, and I found Lynyrd Skynyrd loading in for a show tonight. I had no idea they were in town. I had known all of the boys at one time back in the old days, and had done about 4 or 5 shows over the years with Johnny van Zant. I left a message for him through a relative of the club owner. I later found out that bassist Ian Evans said from the stage that if anyone wanted to hear more music, they should come to Harry’s Cajun Bar, where I was playing. When I went to work tonight, I could hear LS playing “What’s Your Name” as I walked into the club. The club eventually filled up so much that I could barely get off the stage. When I went wireless during “Hurricane Blues”, I had Ian follow back to the stage and start playing bass mid-song. We then played an old Jerry Lee Lewis classic, and then I was trying to think of which Skynyrd song I would remember enough to attempt. “Gimme Three Steps” got the nod and by doing so, I thought the place was going to lift off of the ground. … to be continued…
Saturday, June 18 – Day 25
Left Hyannis for the trip through downtown Boston on the way to N Conway, NH. The town is in the middle of the beautiful White Mountains, and the folks at the club , Horsefeathers, always enjoy the music. This was Harry and Scott’s last night as they had to leave immediately for a 5pm gig in Baltimore. I was till pretty wound up after the gig, so I decided to drive as I had a day off to get back to Chambersburg, PA. I made it as far as a rest area on the Massachusetts Turnpike and turned in about 4am.
Sunday, June 19 – Day 26
Instead of taking the highway down through NYC, I decided to take the Mass Turnpike all the way to the New York state line. It was a beautiful day, and the landscape is breathtaking in places. Once in NY, I decided to take a US Highway across the middle from Hudson, NY on the way to Binghamton, NY to pick up I 81 and head south to PA. I made it to the Flying J truck stop in Scranton, PA, which is where I decided to spend the night. I’ve been there before, so it’s kind of like home in a way.
Monday, June 20 – Day 27
Back to Chambersburg, PA for a solo acoustic gig. This place is like home also, but this would be my last day in the northeast, as I would venture south about 11pm. Michael and Nick are just wonderful people at the Orchards Relax Inn. I can’t say enough about them making me feel as at home as they do. This is my third gig here on this tour, so they have been a major factor in making my extensive tour possible.
Tuesday, June 21 – Day 28
Drove until about 3am and went to my regular stop at the Wal Mart in Harrisonburg, VA. To spend the night. Drove all day until Bristol, TN, where I stopped for dinner at the Troutdale Dining Room. Ben Zandi has had me play there several times, but this night I just happened to come in at the start of the Braves game. A great burger, dessert, and a ballgame really made the night enjoyable. After the game, I headed south on Hwy 11E toward my friend and Tennessee bass player/guitar tech, John Brown. John lives right near the Appalachian Mountains in East Tennessee. We have recorded together at his place before, so when I got there around 11:30pm, I took my folding chair out next to the trailer to just sit and look at one of the most unbelievable full moons I have ever seen. I slept with the screen doors open to take in that great mountain air.
Wednesday, June 22 – Day 29
John fixed my guitars and my pedal board, which I was desperately in need of. He owns Recycle Sound, his own repair shop nestled in the woods on a mountain stream. What a great place! Then on to Maryville, TN for a gig at Brackin’s Blues Bar to meet Matt & Eric, and then head to Nebraska for a couple of clubs and a festival.
Thursday, June 23 – Day 30
Made it to Hopkinsville, KY to the Flying J truck stop around sunrise and went to sleep, only to wake up around 11am and start driving to Omaha. Passed St Louis, avoided Kansas City, and went through, St Joseph, MO arriving at Mckenna’s Bar B Que in Omaha about 1am. The bartender, Fast Eddie, who books me there, came over to visit for a little while. After visiting briefly in order to shake off the road, we were ready to sleep and proceeded to do just that.
Friday, June 24 – Day 31
It was a warm day in Omaha today. After checking into our hotel, it was tantamount that I get an oil change on the van. I searched out a place and took care of that, and rested the remainder of the afternoon before heading to the club around 8pm. The gig was fun, as always there, although the College World Series being place in town may have affected the turnout somewhat, as does frequently happen. After the gig, we headed straight to Grand Island, NE for the Hope Blues Festival, where we are to headline tomorrow.
Saturday, June 25 – Day 32
Drove overnight after our Omaha appearance to Grand Island, NE about 150 miles away. Our plan was to stay in the trailer until to get into the motel, but like last year, the desk clerk was kind enough to let us into our rooms when we arrived about 4am. That usually never happens. It is really hot in Nebraska, but our show is not until 10pm which allows us to rest for the whole day. This is my third appearance on the Hope Blues Festival. The event is a benefit for the Grand Island Crisis Center, but is held at the nearby St Librory, NE Fire Department facility, basically acting as a benefit for both entities. By the time we hit the stage at 10pm, we were ready to play. The energy from the crowd and band were both up, so which made us finally remember why we were there. It was a great show.
Sunday, June 26 – Day 33
Our gig today is booked at a little club in Johnny Carson’s hometown of Norfolk, NE called Chewey’s Although, I have worked for this lady before, upon showing up for this gig, we found the club’s property owners going into the club, and informing us that the club manager had skipped town with $50,000.00 and leaving them with all of the bills. This was a shame for them, but it was really a relief for me, because I was still basking in the sunlight of the wonderful gig the night before. It also gave us a head start on the trip home.
Monday, June 27 – Day 34
We stopped east of Kansas City at a truckstop for the night and woke up here about 10am. Today was just a drive back to Huntsville. We stopped for dinner at Superman’s hometown of Metropolis, IL, and then arrived in Huntsville around 1am.
Tuesday, June 28 – Day 35
Woke up after spending the night in the trailer in the Holiday Inn parking lot in Huntsville. I gave a phone call to Blackjack and AJ on the air at WRFG in Atlanta during the blues show. They have been pushing my upcoming shows at home, and it’s always nice checking in from the road. My friend, Dr Greg Millar was on TV during the channel 31 noon news giving medical advice to callers, and then came by to get me to take me to lunch about 1pm. After that, he sent me out to one of his chiropractic offices for an adjustment, which I desperately needed. I then spoke to my blues buddy, Microwave Dave, about coming on his blues radio show later on around 7pm. After the afternoon nap, I headed over to WJAB to be on Dave’s show. We had a good time talking about the road and just cutting on the air about the business of the blues. Then on to Humphrey’s for my final night on the road, a solo acoustic gig, which is always fun there. The humidity was just about unbearable, and being Tuesday, the crowd was thin, but responsive. As I write this in my hotel room, I always feel quite rich in spirit when coming off of a fulfilling road trip. So many good people, many great gigs, sites seen, and experiences that would otherwise not exist without getting in the van and heading out. I’m ready to come home for a while, but the schedule there looks busy too, with a few days of down time thrown in.
Friday, June 29 – Day 36
Left Huntsville, AL at 11am and arrived home at 3pm with time to rest up and make the gig in Atlanta at Blind Willie’s, the first gig at home off the road. It’s good to be back from another successful tour. Until next time.