So, I'm chatting with my friend today, and she mentions to me that her husband, who teaches at an elementary school, wants to start a ukulele choir there. Brilliant!

Since I'm coming home in late March to record with Pops, and we were already talking about doing a show, I thought we should turn it into a benefit to raise funds to buy an army of ukuleles for the kiddos. When I called him, Pops was, of course, amenable.

Now we have a tentative event, but why wait until March 27th to have people contribute to this wonderful cause? We could start the night already on our way to meeting our goal. I hereby invite you to contribute to the first-ever Maplewood Elementary Ukulele Choir.

ChipIn uses Paypal to securely transfer funds. The widget to link you to the secure donation page is in the "About Me" section of this MySpace music profile. While you're there, and feeling extra generous, you can also chip in to our other cause, getting me and Pops to Hollesley with a brand-spankin'-new record. /shameless self-promotion

If anybody has any suggestions as to brands of ukulele, I'm all ears. Of course there's always the cheapie beginner sopranos like Hilo, but I'm interested in researching a slightly higher quality uke, even for the elementary kids. I'm making calls to the local Austin music stores, but of course you guys are a mine of great information, so I naturally have to ask you, too.

Thanks, y'all! 

 

Thanks to the harmonica magic of Mr. Michael Rubin, the thumping bass of Ryan Gould, and the twang bangs of Jimmie Dreams (and the brilliant recording expertise and dobro of Flash), Memphis has graduated from demo to full studio cut. Enjoy :)

I keep wanting to tell you all about my time in the Grand Canyon, among the redwoods, between the sands and the sea.

I am ever tempted to share with you those buoyant moments of intimacy, rediscovered beat by beat and strum by strum on the wings of strings and harmonies left lilting in the memories of listeners long since left by the wayside highways of a past that has already vanished in the rear-view mirror.

It all so quickly sinks beneath the vanishing point on the long road between there and here.

I cannot bring myself to mar the melodious and fragile memory. There are no words.

As much as I love you and wish you could hear it ring out as it did--deeply into eagerly listening ears flanked by mountains, deserts, grins, candles, trees, teas, and ever-vanishing time--it is gone.

"What's next?," I ask myself.

I reply, "Yes."

I haven't been keeping up very well. My apologies. It's more difficult to get to a computer when you're on the road and constantly surrounded by magic.

They were rather uptight, it turns out, in Haight-Ashbury. After exactly one point two songs, a cop threatened to impound our instruments. What a tool. Next time, I'll get a freaking permit, but you certainly don't have to be a complete jerk about it. So much for Haight-Ashbury being hip.

Los Angeles is a big smirking mystery with unnaturally white teeth. I fully intend to explore more of its nooks and crannies. If they're anything like the one I saw this trip, I will be ever pleased. I drank what is quite possibly the world's most perfect cup of coffee at a new place called Intelligentsia on Sunset in Silverlake. If you would like to have all other java ruined for you, by all means go there and have a Gibraltar. It is pure ambrosia. Be sure and get yourself a dollar burrito across the street at El Pollo Loco. My mouth waters just thinking of it. I even considered moving to LA just to spend more afternoons on that porch with that little glass in one hand, drizzling avocado salsa on my BRC with the other.

San Diego also requires more of my attention. A kindred spirit happened upon us in the shade of a trellis in a well-manicured garden by the zoo and museums. He shared his mango and digeridoo in exchange for our smiles and songs. That night we played our tightest set yet (replete with protest songs) to a crowd consisting of Naval pilots and deaf people. It didn't strike me as all that odd at the time, but speaking of it, it sure sounds funny. Best part is, we sold more cds there and made more cash than any of our previous shows. Ha!

The drive to Arizona on I-8 is one of the best I've seen. There will be pictures. Tonight we play in a place called the Fiddler's Dream in Phoenix. It is an erstwhile folk joint and also sometimes church, though I couldnt' tell you for what faith. All I know is, this will be our first show with no food or drinks of any sort being served. Not even tea! Speaking of which, I should go get some grub.

Next stop: The Grand Canyon.

Eureka!

Well, our gig was in Arcata, just north of Eureka, but we slept there after a long day and night of jamming on Betsy's front porch in Salem. What a magical place this Pacific Northwest is.

Upon our departure, I was certain I had lost my capo. ("@$~&! One gig and I'm already losing my equipment!") We rolled into Arcata just in time to settle in before the show. The drive down the 299 from 5 to the coast is A.Ma.Zing. I was often too enthralled to snap photos, but I got a couple for you. Best thing to do, though, is to see it yourself. Get out there!

Today we set off from Eureka with smiles on our faces. My first time as a traveling couch surfer* is one for the books. Our host came out to our gig and took pictures of us, plus showed us the kind of top-tier service you can only get in someone's home. She gave us a good taste of the local flavor.

Our night off is chill--hanging out in the Castro district of The City. Oh, we took some hot photos of the Golden Gate Bridge. I'll have to get those up here quick. Looks like we have a few more gigs lined up here than originally planned. Little coffeeshops in downtown and the Castro. The single best cup of coffee I think I've ever had, I just had at this coffeeshop: Philz.

Now, the best thing I think you can do as a single San Francisco experience (other than stay with Vik, my friend, which you can't alldo), is to have Dim Sum in Chinatown. I now have my number two savory experience: Coffee at Philz.

More to come, my dears.

* CouchSurfing.com is an international hospitality network set up a lot like social sites like MySpace, but with verification and vouching systems, plus a comments-style reference system to ensure that the people surfing and hosting are the coolest of the cool. I haven't had a bad experience yet. Go check it out! I've been using it to much delight for three years.

Welcome to the "Say Yes" tour! Our inaugural gig went off like one of those fireworks they set off at the 4th of July that has that long stripe in the sky, and then explodes into a big bright poof, and then does it again in another color.

That last stretch of plane ride is exceptional coming into PDX. Seated on the right side of the plane, I had a clear shot of the Columbia River Gorge. One moment, the view was two colors: the clear light blue of the sky and the fluffy landscape of white. The next moment we descended into one of the world's most captivating views. This place is magical.

The crowd at the Mississippi Pizza Pub took a shine to us. It was a wild ride--Jack and I only had about 40 minutes to figure out our set before we went on, but judging by the reception, we pulled it off with style.

Thanks to our gracious hosts, Laura and her family, we have rested well and been well fed and also quite happy from all the giggling we do when Laura's around. Not that we weren't happy before, mind you. A nighttime game of light-up frisbee doesn't hurt, though.

Now on to Salem, where we may spend the day getting sitcheeayted.

Until next time,

Say yes!

Mustang

Jack Wilson and I are booking a tour from Seattle (I'll join him in Portland) to Austin. Stay tuned for dates and music, and in the meantime, go visit Jack:

www.myspace.com/jackwilsonmusic