Hi folks,

Having a good early evening, writing and packing and such. Tomorrow, it's a plane to Detroit, then another to London. Then Eric Brace and I will start gigging away. Please send good thoughts to my knees, neither of whom enjoys airplanes of any sort, much less the international airbus things. The payoff for my knees and I is that once we make it to London we're going to have an awfully good time. There are few things as neat as flying across an ocean, landing in a place where you know next to no one personally, and then getting to the show and finding an audience of people who are glad you came. It's absolutely worth the awful flight and the worry that your guitar may not survive the flight (I'm convinced that lots of baggage handlers are people who once harbored thoughts of making it big in music, and that they left music in a huff and decided to take the airport job in hopes that they could destroy every guitar in site. Doug Lancio has a guitar/airport story in which his instrument was not just damaged, it was murdered. It's enough to make a fellow remember to pack his free drink coupons.

Pause while yours truly collects and stores his free drink coupons.

Okay, so I had a nice time last weekend, playing shows as semi-part of Last Train Home. I played and sang on their songs, and they played and sang on mine, and it was a great time. After three nights of singing over a loud, great band, my voice sounded like Tony Joe White, only not nearly as good as Tony Joe White, but still... what a rush. We played the beautifully revitalized city of Roanoke, and then did two gigs in the DC area at LTH's home club of IOTA. Saturday night, we were joined by John Wesley Harding (the dude, not the Dylan album), and I'm told footage of that is available on the Internet. Wes was traveling with comedian Eugene Mirman, who is now my favorite comedian (I said "favorite comedian" now... my favorite impressionist is Paul Griffith when he's telling Jo-El Sonnier stories).

Things are shaping up great for the late summer and early fall. July is busy. August is easy and mostly open, which is good since Eric Brace and I are working on some new songs and we need some studio time. Then once the leaves change we'll be getting set for numerous shows, including some opening for Nanci Griffith and Chris Smither. And we have what is thus far a once-in-a-lifetime show set for Nashville's Station Inn on Sept. 25: Eric and I will perform with a band that includes pedal steel Hall of Famer Lloyd Green and International Bluegrass Music Association Lifetime Achievement Award winner Mike Auldridge. Lloyd and Mike have never played together on the same stage, and they're great fans and friends of each other. Also in the group that night: Pat McInerney of Nanci Griffith's Blue Moon Orchestra, Dave Roe (of Johnny Cash fame) and Jen Gunderman (The Jayhawks, Last Train Home, all of my recordings). That same crew has been helping Eric and I record a follow-up to our You Don't Have To Like Them Both album, as well. Thus far, we've recorded songs from myself, Eric, Tom T. Hall, John Hartford, Herb Pedersen and Jon Byrd. More to come.

Not sure how much digital touch I can be in while over in Europe. But I'm looking forward to the evening I get back to Nashville, on Tuesday, June 9, when I'll jump off the plane at BNA, try to pass quickly through customs and then hot-foot it to the Bluebird Cafe for a gig with great singer-songwriter Terri Hendrix, Craig Bickhardt and Walt Wilkins. That's great company. Hope some of you will head out and make it even better company.

Until then,
Nanu, Nanu

Hi folks,
I've been having a ball of late. A busy ball, but a ball nonetheless. Eric Brace and I are heading to Chattanooga this afternoon, to play Charles & Myrtle's Coffeehouse. Showtime is 8 p.m., if you're anywhere near the 'Noog. This coffeehouse is a great little room, with good sound and nice people, and this is looking like the prettiest day of the spring so far.
Eric and I have also been recording lately. We had a magical day over at Richard McLaurin's House of David studio, tracking with Lloyd Green, Mike Auldridge, Richard Bennett, Dave Roe and Pat McInerney. I'm not sure when this stuff will actually come out, but I'm anxious for folks to hear it. We did a new song of mine, written with Don Schlitz, called "Suffer A Fool," and we also did a fabulous new song of Eric's. Then there were songs from Tom T. Hall, John Hartford and Jon Byrd, and a cover of the Herb Pederson-penned classic that Auldridge used to play with The Seldom Scene, "Wait A Minute." The Seldom Scene changed my life when I was a high schooler: That band provided my entry into bluegrass, Dylan, Emmylou Harris, Gram Parsons and so many others, so to sing a Seldom Scene song with the Scene's great Dobro player was pretty unbelievable and wonderful for me.
Also wonderful was a chance to head home to Spartanburg, SC and play The Showroom. Saw a bunch of old and great friends there, and another formative influence, Matthew Knights Williams, actually worked the soundboard for us. Eric and I will be back in the upstate of South Carolina on May 8, opening for Iris DeMent at The Handlebar.
I will soon post all our European tour dates for June. Can't wait to get back over there, see some good pals and make some new ones. I also am looking very forward to our May 6 show at The Bluebird: That night, we'll play with a band, and we'll have special guests including Kim Carnes.
Other quick thoughts:
* At the moment, I'm listening a lot to Larry Jon Wilson's self-titled album, recording on the gulf coast a couple of years ago. It's magical. If you haven't heard Larry Jon sing, you've missed one of the most soulful voices of our time. This album has been out for a while in Europe, and it is being released soon in the US.
* I'm re-reading Will You Miss Me When I'm Gone?: The Carter Family & Their Legacy In American Music. Brilliant, brilliant, brilliant.
* I'm thrilled that my photographer pal Deone Jahnke is opening up a Nashville studio soon. She's good people, and her work is top-notch.
* If you haven't been to a show of mine lately, then you haven't heard my Kinscherff guitar. A gorgeous instrument, with Brazilian rosewood back and sides. I started touring with this instrument about two months ago, and four sound guys have told me it's the best-sounding guitar they've heard. Richard Bennett, who collects instruments and recordings and whose main gig is playing guitar for Mark Knopfler, told me it was "magnificent," and Vince Gill and Bill Lloyd have also had great things to say after playing it. www.kinscherff.com is the website.
* Paul Burch has finished his next album, and it's really, really, really good.
* Webb Wilder plays tonight in Nashville at 3rd & Lindsley, for an album-release show for his great new More Like Me.
* Someone told me a heart-warming story about Eric Taylor the other day. I've heard a bunch of 'em. Stories about Eric are almost as good as his songs.
* The cops just got the guys who have been robbing people in East Nashville, so it's safe to hang out in the Family Wash parking lot again. Whew.
* May 9, May 9, May 9, May 9. That's the date for the Elmo Buzz & The Eastside Bulldogs Show. I heard from my good friend Cigarette Milner that Elmo and the guys will be playing kick-ass, party hardy rock 'n' roll.

Hi folks,
Just a reminder that Eric Brace and I will be playing a short full-band (the band's not short... just meaning that we won't play more than a half hour or so) set at 12th & Porter tonight (Tuesday) at 8 p.m. in Nashville. We have a tremendous band, with Tim Carroll, Jen Gunderman, Pete Finney, Dave Roe and Paul Griffith. We'll amp up and play some songs from the You Don't Have To Like Them Both album, and we'll offer up a surprise or two as well. It's an 8 p.m. sharp show, since it's part of the multi-act Billy Block show. 12th & Porter is a great-sounding room, and we're going to have a good time. Join us if you so desire.
-Peter Cooper

It's a sad time around East Nashville, as we're all pretty broken up about the death of our great, singing, songwriting, guitar playing pal, Duane Jarvis. Last night, Kevin Gordon hosted an impromptu tribute show at a local bar here, and he and Dave Coleman (with a wonderful rhythm section of Jimmy Gray and Marty Lynds) played a bunch of Duane's songs. Joyful music for an anything-but-joyful night. I won't go on much about Duane here, because I'm not sure this is the right format. I wrote an obit that ran today in The Tennessean, and if you'd like to read it you can go to http://tennessean.com/article/20090402/TUNEIN/904020367
On to something... anything... else.
Playing tonight in rainy Nashville, and I hope folks will brave the weather because I do believe we're going to be putting on a super-fine show. I'm playing in-the-round (song swap style) with RB Morris, Bill Lloyd and Phil Lee. Some of my favorite performers and songwriters, and I get to share a stage with them. 9 p.m. Third & Lindsley. Cover charge is next to nothing, and this is a benefit for the Nashville Songwriters Association International.
Also getting set for spring gigs in the southeast and DC area, and for tours of the UK, the Netherlands and Germany in June. Amazing to be able to fly over an ocean, land and play music for people you've never met who are happy to see you. Hey, it's amazing just to fly over an ocean at all. Quit a trick.
The Eric Brace and Peter Cooper duo record, You Don't Have To Like Them Both, remains popular on all the unpopular music charts! If stations keep playing it, we may crack the Top 10 on the Americana chart next week. Currently, we're at 11 there, and we've topped the Folk DJ chart and also topped Sirius XM's The Village chart for a couple of weeks. I'm very pleased at the response to this album, and I'm having a great time playing shows with Eric. He's a marvelous singer and an excellent traveling companion as well, so the miles roll easy. We've been to Stonehenge in England, Foamhenge (yes, it's a real place) in Virginia and dozens of other places. Recently, we opened for the Dan (Mr. "I Am A Man of Constant Sorrow" Tyminski Band in lovely Roanoke at a gleaming performing arts center, and followed that up by playing a show in Maryland with Mike Auldridge on Dobro and steel guitar.
When I was 15, my dad took me to The Birchmere to see bluegrass band The Seldom Scene. The Scene played the Birchmere every week, and after that I was there most weeks, sitting in the front row, staring up at Auldridge. I remember the way the stage lights bounced off his Dobro and shot colors across the room. Prettier than the Northern Lights, I think. My favorite Seldom Scene song was "Wait A Minute," where Auldridge chimed in on baritone harmonies. So when he played with Eric and me, we added "Wait A Minute" to the set list, and he added the baritone harmony. I would have paid $1,000 for that experience, but at the end of the night they GAVE me money.
What else is going on in the world? Let's see...
I do a lot of dachshund herding around the house.
I saw Buddy Miller the other day: He's recovering nicely after his heart surgery, and they apparently didn't remove the part of his heart that pumps kindness.
I think everybody should buy the Rolling Stone that comes out on Friday, April 3. There's an amazing piece in there on Kris Kristofferson.
Frye Gaillard wrote a marvelous story in the Mobile, Alabama newspaper about my song, "715 (For Hank Aaron)." Hank is appearing in Mobile at a fundraising dinner next Tuesday, and my understanding is that they're going to play the recording of that song during the dinner.
Having fun playing bass for Elmo Buzz & The Eastside Bulldogs. If you ever get a chance to catch an Elmo show, I can guarantee an unforgettable experience.
The Todd Snider record that comes out in June is spectacular. Todd does a duet with Loretta Lynn on there, and I got to play bass for that recording. I repeat, I have played bass for Loretta Lynn. Those of you who have seen recent shows of mine may also recall a song called "The Last Laugh." That's the one with the chorus about "I've got a lot of love." Todd and I wrote that, and that song is on Todd's upcoming record. Don Was produced it. Nice!
Okay, I'm off to get ready for this show. So, yoga and vocal exercises. Or maybe no yoga and a glass of wine.

So Eric Brace and I have this record out, called You Don't Have To Like Them Both. And it seems that things are going well. This week, we are #1 on  the Folk DJ chart, and also #1 on the Freeform Americana chart (just ahead of Willie Nelson!). We also debuted in a tie for #28 on the regular old, not-freeform Americana chart. And I am very happy to learn that we have been added to the playlist at The Village, which is the Sirius/XM folk channel. I'm a huge fan of The Village's mastermind, Mary Sue Twohy, plus my mom listens to that station. I listen to it, too. A lot.
What else is happening? Gigs, gigs, gigs. And I'm getting my non-sea legs back after a week on the Cayamo cruise through the Caribbean. Man, I had fun. Imagine walking outside to a pool party with Webb Wilder and his band playing an hour and a half worth of killer rock 'n' roll. And there were great concerts featuring Lyle Lovett, Patty Griffin (good gosh, she absolutely slays me every time), The Greencards, Shawn Colvin and a bunch of others. I was humbled (not an easy trick) and amazed at the talent on that boat. Eric and I played a show as well, and that was big fun. We also rented an ATV and tore through a rainforest in the Dominican, and rented a scooter and rode it around Nassau. "Hey mon, you need another scooter," some dude shouted at Eric. "What are you going to do if you get lucky and get a girl? Put her in between the two of you?" Luckily, Eric did not get lucky. Because that pool little scooter could not have handled another person.
The only bummer about my week at sea was that I missed the Nanci Griffith/ Elizabeth Cook/ Mary Gauthier show at the Bluebird. Nanci has a new album coming out soon, and she's back to doing folk songs. There's some wonderful stuff on there. Elizabeth and Mary each write songs that I'd give a finger or two to have written. Hard to believe folks like that get together and play at some little tiny room in a strip mall in west Nashville. Harder to believe that there are people in Texas who make a living singing bad songs about the Hill Country and selling "Nashville Sucks" koozies. Nashville sucks? Tell that to Guy Clark, John Prine, Emmylou Harris, etc. Sometimes I think Texas sucks, 'cause it doesn't do enough to celebrate its resident geniuses, like Eric Taylor. But then I go to Texas, have a big and fun time and realize that Eric still lives there for a good reason.
If you're in Johnson City, Roanoke or Rockville, we're headed your way this weekend. If not, hey, it's a great time to travel.
 

I'm sitting in a Miami hotel lobby, where music folks are buzzing around, schlepping instrument cases (presumably with instruments inside) and getting ready to take shuttles down to the port, where we'll walk up onto a big cruise ship. There's Joe Ely, talking to Webb Wilder. There's Luke Bulla typing on a Blackberry. There's Jon Hagen, Lyle Lovett's phenomenal cello player (who got his recording studio start, by the way, playing on an Eric Taylor record) with the biggest instrument case in the room (hard shell, with an actual airbag inside, I think).
All of which is to say, this might be a fun week. Eric Brace and I are sharing what's called a "mini suite," and we're having they're serious about the suite and not so serious about the mini. Either way, there'll be plenty of great music to hear (Patty Griffin, John Hiatt, Lyle, Webb, Greencards and many others), and I'm hoping we shall emerge back onto dry land with some new songs written and demo'd. We shall see.
As soon as we hit the Miami shore next week on March 7, Eric and I will head to the Ft. Lauderdale airport and catch a flight back to Nashville so we can be at Norm's River Road House (or is it River Roadhouse? never can remember) for our Saturday night show. We're playing with Phil Lee - he throws knives, sings songs, etc. - and Jon Byrd, and who knows who else may show up. This is not a polite, singer-songwriter in-the-round. Actually, very little involving Phil is polite. This is a band show, where we're making the band up as we go. Original songs, cold beer and the best barbecue sandwiches in Nashville (please do not throw the sandwiches at the band: offer them gently and at low rates of speed). Norm's maybe be Nashville's best-sounding room. Googlr-map it or something before you head out. It's easy to find, once you know where it is.
Aloha. I'll say hey to Webb Wilder, Joe Ely and Captain Stubing for you.

Tuesday night. Nashville. Been typing stuff all night, except when I was cooking stuff (sizzling shrimp salad, and a good one). Itching to get to New Mexico for a couple of days and a much-anticipated (by me) gig with the great Vince Bell in Santa Fe. Listening to the new Springsteen. Can't tell you much about it yet, other than the tones are inspiring and the bass sounds FANTASTIC. Gotta hear it some more to get some perspective.
Eric Brace and I had a blast at our Nashville release show Saturday at Station Inn. I realize that no one ever says they had a bummer time at their CD release show. But this was special, and scary, too. Walter Egan (dude wrote "Hearts on Fire" for Gram & Emmylou, and had a big FM radio hit with "Magnet and Steel") was there, as was another big favorite of mine, Bill Lloyd. I figure I stole at least half the high harmonies on the Eric Brace/Peter Cooper CD from Bill's work with Foster & Lloyd. Weirdest of all was that Tom T. Hall sat at a front table, and I could see his face the whole show. Like staring into the sun, folks. What's the opposite of the Pearls-Before-Swine thing? Wait, don't answer.
In any case, it was an all-star audience and an all-star band in Jen Gunderman, Dave Roe, Tim Carroll, Pete Finney and Paul Griffith, and we had a great time. We were also heartened to find that people drove from Wisconsin, Virginia and Ohio to catch the show. And we were thrilled that a bunch of Tennessee folks saw fit to come hear us on an evening when David Olney, Elizabeth Cook, Tommy Womack and other brilliant performers were playing in town. I'm not saying those ticket-buyers made the right decision, just that I was glad for their attendance.
I was also glad to get a finished version of the Keith Sykes album I co-produced with Todd Snider. That happened on Monday. Keith is now out opening for Todd Snider for the next couple of months. If you get a chance to go to one of those shows, I highly recommend that you be there with bells on. Keith wrote "You Got Gold" with John Prine, "Shut Up and Talk to Me" with Guy and Susanna Clark, "Volcano" with Jimmy Buffett and a bunch of other stuff by himself. I think my favorite is one called "Very Short Time" that hasn't been covered much. But, good gosh, this guy is fantastic. And I'd go see a Todd Snider show if there was a $100 cover charge and if it featured guest soprano sax from Kenny G and harmony vocals from Rush Limbaugh.
The Sykes album comes out in late spring or early summer, but he's got it out on the road at the Todd shows.
Hope all is well in your world, if you're taking the time to read this. Or even if you're not. Wait, that's hardly possible. In any case, as the late and wondrous Frank Morgan titled a not-too-late and wondrous album, You Must Believe In Spring. Maybe that's not true, but it's certainly a beautiful album. At least that's my opinion. And it is true that in the spring, if there is a spring, there will be baseball. And that makes me feel better about every possible thing.