We have befriended a Gourds fan over the last year or so who is also a Texas Game Warden. Like many police officers he is a member of The 100 Club, which is an organization that provides financial and emotional support for the widowed families of officers fallen in the line of duty. This was their annual awards banquet. Austin C.O.P. Art Acevedo and Texas Attorney General Greg Abbot were there. The juxtaposition of The Gourds playing for a bunch of cops is entertaining I know. I had a great time though. Can't say the same for all the others. Private parties can sometimes be less than inspiring affairs for a band like us that thrives on the symbiotic energy feedback between band and audience. The coolest guy there had to have been Houston McCoy. He was the Austin Police Officer who shot Whitman in the tower. He asked me to learn Beautiful Lies by Amazing Rhythm Aces, which I plan to do. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Houston_McCoy
This event was held at the Texas Disposal System Exotic Game Ranch next to the Creedmore landfill (see Ramsay Midwood). So, basically it was like playing at a lodge in the middle of the Serengeti for a bunch of Texas cops. Interesting. The show was basic Gourds. We struggled trying to get those folks to dance. Some did, but no party energy could be sustained. The high point at the end of the show, conveniently, was Jimmy unplugging his acoustic guitar and walking off stage onto the dance floor. This was born out of frustration from the small, passive crowd and his having quit smoking again. I joined him on the floor but did follow him as he walked off into the darkness of a pasture while singing the end of All The Labor. A memorable moment capped by his return to the stage as we crescendo d  to a musical climax. Well All Right, Well All Right, Ooooo Yeahhhhh.

We started this leg in Atlanta at SOB on a Tuesday night. Not the best turn out we've ever had there, but respectable considering we had just played there and it CSI Miami was on TV, whatever that is. (CSI not TV) I can't say we were as good as we could have been, considering we got up at 6am and flew,then took the stage at 10pm. I was not crazy about the opening act, whoever that was, I can't remember. Honestly we could have just gone on a 9pm and it would have been all the better.

From there we trekked up to Knoxville to participate in a new live audience radio show called Tennessee Shines. It is hosted by the exceptional Jim Lauderdale. We were one of four bands I think. Scott Miller, Donna The Buffalo and one other gal who did some kind of avant-techbop-one-girl-band thing. We played about 30 minutes interspersed with interview at the beautiful Bijou theater...

 Next morn was early wake up and drive long time to Spring Fest in Live Oak FL. This is one of my favorite festivals we play. We had two shows in two days. The first was on a Thursday night at the big stage. Rain was softly falling across the park as we took the stage. From the word go we were on. I can;t remember ever being so comfortable at a throw and go festival show. Normally we get a bit freaked out having to set up and begin playing so quickly. We hung with Zig and the Albino Skunk guys and Annie Lee/Sean/Michelle that evening until we hauled it over to the hotel. Next afternoon we got on the smaller Amphitheater stage just after Tornado Rider who is a highly trained cellist who seems to be a cross between Richard Simmons and David Lee Roth. Not my cup of tea, really. But, entertaining to many. Billy Blade came up to the stage and began singing "Pressure Drop." He had made the set list for us that I lost somehow. I think I got pretty close to most of what he wanted to hear. Of course none of the new record was on his list, so we had so play some of that. It is the new record after all. This was a pretty fun show. We didn't have long enough to play though as Tornado guy went stage hog on us. He's from the Berkeley school of music for god's sake, he has the right to go long. The night went long as we made the rounds to many Gourds fan campsites. Steve and Nancy from New World Brewery in Ybor City hosted their usual country boil. Mounds of shrimp, corn, potato, onions, sausage dumped on paper lined tables with little piles of butter and Obay spice strategically placed for the partaking. From the we went over to the Florida Brewers Assoc. camp. They bring a cart with 12 or more hand crafted beers in it. One just gets a cup and walks around the cart pouring different beers from spouts labeled with descriptions of the beer. They were all good. I hear that Sunday night is when all who remain converge on their camp to help finish off the beer. That sounds like it may be the best night of the fest.

Two days off after that. We drove to Jeff and T's house in North Carolina. They put us up and fed us like kings. Doug and Susan were there as well. Great to hang with these good folks. Doug, Susan and Jeff are all Bluedevils. But T is pure Heel. So congrats to her and UNC for their national title. Next day off we went up to Maryland and stayed with Front Of House engineer, Mark Creaney's family. Great Maryland dinner was had. Crab Cakes, Crab Soup, fried chicken and mac and cheese. Wow, great days off.

to be continued

Good set last night in Amarillo Texas at the famous Golden Light Cantina. Very much like Jovitas, Keith said. Sounds kind of like that too. Lots of ply wood around the place. Folks here are pretty lively and prone to hollering if they feel good. Jeff Cook got cut off coming from Mississippi in Dallas on his way to meet by some kind of HAZMAT situation. The Golden Light in Amarillo has the potential, I am sure, on some nights to result in a HAZMAT situations as well. This night was cold, cold and shocking after gettin' used to the 80's all week. They brag about the burgers at this place, but they are just Mad Cow Slurry Pucks formed and frozen and flown to the well seasoned griddle. Much like a "Whataburger," which ain't bad, really. Not "Mighty Fine" though, which is my new rule of thumb for all restaurant burgers.
The show, the show...yes, well..it was pretty good energy from the gourds after having drove for 8-9 hours from Austin. (Yes, Texas is that big, bigger actually) We opened with Jericho and Country Love. C-Love got the folks going pretty good. Jimmy then did I like drinkin' and Kilo. Kilo was a highlight for me cuz I did some cool shit on that at the end. Um it gets foggy after that. Max did Blankets, Signs and then he couldn't do his last number cuz we broke strings on both acoustic guitars, shame. Not sure is his songs should carry over to the next show? I then did Promenade, Pillbug and Ants. These folks really liked Ants. Jimmy rock block was...Brigit, ?, Betty and pack. I finished with Raining In Port Arthur and Pine Island Bayou. Something about being way in the Pan Handle makes me want to play songs about the other side of the state. It really always blows my mind how massive this place is. I wonder if there was ever a thought to break this into two or more states? Just crazy the eco and cultural diversity Texas encompasses. I know you may not see it that way, but it is true. Encore was Dyin Pines, Dargle and Laredo. Then we wisely left it alone. This is one of those gigs that can turn into a really fun time for us. We can blow our voices out in the process, thus making remaining shows a less explosive offense. We are still good when we play defensively. My main complaint this morning is this hotel called The Fifth Season Inn is one of those stupid places that puts the coffee away with their lame continental breakfast. Of course the coffee should never have been served anyway.  Maybe they did me a favor by not ruining my morning coffee. Thanks to all the great folks in Amarillo we met. We had a great time and we'll be back when we can. 

A great apology to everyone who suffered from the cancellation of the Reno show at the Nugget Casino on Wednesday Feb. 11. We left Portland on the morning of the 10th for what we anticipated would be a 10 hour jaunt to Reno where we planned to stay over night to be bright eyed and bushy tailed for our show there the following day. Well, the fates would see it differently unfortunately. We were stopped in a line a trucks and cars just south of Medford Oregon at the Siskiyou pass about 3:30 that day. We finally got the go ahead to take the trip across into California around 5pm. Somewhere around 6:30 or 7 we made it to Yreka in a heavy snow storm. Considering night was falling on us and not knowing how far we had to go we decided to get hotels there. The next morning the sun was shining and the roads were melted. We thought we'd have it made. No sooner than we had set out the road was closed again for a car wreck. We waited an hour or more and then the road opened. But was closed again before we could get through because of another wreck. People are stupid we learned, again. Once we made it out of there and over the Shasta pass with no incidence it became clear that time was our enemy. With an 8pm start time we understood just how close we would cut it under the best of circumtances on the Sierra passes. As luck would have it the same storm that stopped us the day before had out run us to the Sierra's. And it is there we met our match. With roads closed again by this cold bitch in the sky and more car wrecks on the roads we were rejected and dejected and directed away from where we once knew we would be going. And for that we are soar and sad. We intend to make it up to the good Gourds fans of Reno. And the radio station KTHX there that wants to bring us back. I did get on the air today and talk with them in hopes that I could somehow bring calm back to a city torn by rioting and outrage. I can only hope my words helped bring about some peace. 

The hotel concrete no-where. From our window we can see a billboard for a cracker barrel a few miles down the road. The rest is badly lit concrete and glass. I had a great mix of chex mix and doritos that I dreamed up from the vending selection just outside our room. Usually one does not see General Mills hanging along side Frito-Lay, but hey this is Albany F'n New York! Anything is possible. It reminds me of that power rangers episode I watched today with lil H-Bomb. The one where Ivan Ooze comes back from his 6000 year banishment to seek revenge on Zordon and earth. After a colossal battle with Ivan the rangers return to "homebase" to find Zordon has been killed. They tear up for a sec. until Tommy (white ranger) remembers what they were taught  by Zordon. They gather hands around him and send little picto-morph's of their spirit animals into his body. He wakes up and all is right with the world. I feel kind of Zordon-ish right now. If I could procure a good source of protein I might feel more like Tommy (white ranger). 

Let me just say how much I am diggin' that Marvin Gaye nat'l. anthem commercial with the USA B-ball team. 

  This whole run through the west  came about because of  Pickathon Music Festival.  Zale and Terry asked us back again. We were glad to oblige them.  In my opinion this is the best music festival in the country. Now, I know some of my brothers in Gourds will disagree with me. But, this is based totally on the music fans perspective. Speaking as a fan, I rather think my taste runs along similar lines with the Pick-A-Thonian cartel. The space at Pendarvis farm is perfectly sized and beautiful. And of course the influence of Portlandia is key to the black and gold energy encircling the songosphere.  
  The journey begins though is Idaho. We were lucky enough to get invited back to the "Alive After Five" downtown Boise free show in the Grove Plaza. This was a really fun show for us last year. This year I was even bigger and better. What was great is that we had a few days to hang in  Boise. I know I have said it before, but this is a nearly perfect city. It is growing fast. One can see the future will not be kind to the overall vibe of this berg. Though at this moment in time it is in just the right place. Bicycle culture seems to have a larger than normal influence here. At a back yard party we played, the front yard was littered with bikes. It looked like a bike sale out there.  Slo-Red and Shinyribs double bill at this back yard party, by the way. And I think It was recorded in some way.
  Hailey, ID I must say was not a highly anticipated show as it stood on paper. Pick-a-thon overshadowed everything else. We knew nothing of this Northern Rockies Festival at all. It came as a surprise  that this fest has been going for 31 years. What it seems to function as is more of a regional friend and family reunion. It is an event that everyone comes to from around the area each year to re-connect with old friends and enjoy the music. We were the headliner for Friday night. Radney Foster was going to headline Saturday night. The sound check and hospitality was perfect. There were no obvious weaknesses or mistakes that we could find. The only possibility I could think of, in my cynical mode, was that perhaps the promoter or the people would hate us. Pete, the main man, said they saw us on Austin City Limits and knew immediately that we were Northern Rockies band.  They were right. The people loved the show and the sounds. From the very beginning we had them dancing and grooving. The sound was perfect, the fellows were all fresh and happy and the night was beautiful. At one point people jumped on stage and we were in the midst of about 30 of them dancing all around us. The stage crew ushered them off though. Pity, I thought, spontaneity on such a level is rare these days in the nanny state. It should be encouraged more. This is among the best show experiences we have ever had. It rivals the Missoula River City Roots show for pure, unadulterated, high rising hum dinging.
  There is probably no way the next show could live up to the high we attained in Hailey that night. But, the potential in Bend, OR. as we have known in the past, is always there. The unfortunate and frankly rather stupid routing scenario was a 7 hour drive on gig day. The county fair was going , as was Pickathon. So, we ended up having less than half of what we normally get in attendance there. We are generally a band that tried not to let such things affect our performance. It is important in the face of perceived failure to play with heart and self determination.  That was one factor along with fatigue and over indulgence in pizza that contributed to what I would say was a sub-par showing from us. Sometimes there is just a general malaise over a given show. It happens to everyone sometimes. It stands to reason that if you play every night, at some point some shows are going to suffer. I am not sure what the audience felt. They were highly supportive and encouraging to us. Maybe it was just us. We are our own worst critics sometime.
  Off to Pickathon on the Sunday. We were disappointed to have missed Bad Livers the night before. If Ralph White had been part of the reunion then I would have really been pissed off. I doubt that'll ever happen though.
  I got there early with Keith and Mike Stewart to make a "Songwriters Workshop" for Shinyribs. I thought I would be part of a larger group of songwriters as is usually the case at these things. But, it was just me. The name of the workshop was "Songs Of The South." This was news to me as I had done no advancing on this.  The room was full though and I was flattered that these people knew me. I told stories and took questions and played whatever songs came to mind for an hour. It was one of those golden moments that a songwriter dreams of.  It was a super boost to me self esteem. I truly was grateful to everyone there for giving that opportunity.  Shinyribs got another set later on the little stage, next to the big stage. The way they work it there is they have bands alternate between big and little stage to keep the shows moving. While someone sets up on the big stage another band plays the small stage and around and around it goes all day. Shinyribs being a heretofore unknown entity was asked to play the small stage while another band set up. But, you all should know by now. It don't matter how small the stage is…Shinyribs will make them all his stage. And that we did. I had the pleasure of being joined by Mike Stewart on Bass and Keith Langford on Drums to bash out a bluesy half hour of hits for the good people there. I think we really surprised a lot of folks. Most did not know us at all. There were a few hardcore Gourds fans who were in the know and were there front and center. I had blast playing some of these songs for the place. Probably the best compliment I got was from one of the guys working behind the stage. I am not sure what he was doing. But he seemed to be a skilled technical worker of some kind. He came up to me and said, "Now that's the music I have been waiting to hear all weekend, thank you." Wow, after all the great music that had been coming through here, my sound resonated with him. That is something special, I think. Those are the kinds of surprises that keep me doing what I do. I can inspire people and bring joy to them. What an incredible gift this is. I should never take it for granted and always honor it.
  There was a long wait for the Gourds big stage finale performance. It was cool to be the band that closed the fest down that evening. Zale said a few words and then seemed truly happy to have us playing there at that moment. It was a good show for The Gourds if not a great one. We were told clearly that we should not play past a certain curfew time based on concern for neighbors. We were supposed to end our set well before this time to insure we would have plenty of encore cushion.  I was using my own clock though, which turns out was about five minutes slower than there's. This became precious time lost in the end.  When we got back up we thought we could pull it off. I called up the great Mark Rubin to sit in on GnJ with us. He was given the bass by Jimmy, which was cool. He rompled us though the song in a unique way as Jimmy pranced and skipped gaily around with only a tambourine and a smile. As is always the tradition we lost power at the end and it all fell apart. Glorious and goofy Gourd things going ..wards. We were picked to close the barn as well in the late night. We followed Wayne Hancock's set in a warm and crowded little barn around 12:30 am. We were promised 2 monitor mixes which is about 4 less than we usually need. We chose  to play a stripped down set to make it easier for us. Turned out we had zero monitor mixes. We could not hear ourselves at all. But, oh well….the show was fun and sweaty and drunk and tired. We just played whatever we could think of to play. I remember playing "Promised Land" and then the rest is a blur. There was a moment when Jimmy asked if I remembered Spankin'. I really just could not remember the riff in that one. I said no, but he and Claude kept on pushing me on it. I was toast, really. I know it is simple as putting on socks, but I cannot hear it, think it at all. We were tired and a bit cranky at that point. But, we pushed it as far as we could. I was hoarse as an umpire the next three days.
 
 

7/30/2008               Boise           ID      Grove Plaza - Alive After Five Series
8/1/2008                Hailey          ID      Northern Rockies Folk Festival
8/2/2008                Bend            OR      The Domino Room
8/3/2008                Happy Valley    OR      Pickathon Roots Music Festival
8/6/2008                Telluride               CO      Town of Mountain Village
8/7/2008                Durango         CO      The Summit
8/8/2008                El Prado                NM      Taos Rock Garden Amphitheater
8/9/2008                Albuquerque     NM      The El Rey Theater
8/27/2008               Albany          NY      The Linda
8/28/2008               Brooklyn                NY      Music Hall of Williamsburg
8/29/2008               Philadelphia    PA      World Cafe Live
8/30/2008               Scotch Plains   NJ      Private Event
8/31/2008               Charleston      RI      Rhythm & Roots Festival
9/1/2008                Burlington      VT      The Higher Grounds 9/2/2008                Northampton     MA      Iron Horse Pub
9/5/2008                Falls Church    VA      The State Theatre
9/6/2008                North Garden    VA      Private Event
9/11/2008               Fort Worth      TX      8.0 Club
9/13/2008               San Antonio     TX      Sam's
10/2/2008               Los Angeles     CA      Safari Sam's
10/3/2008               San Francisco   CA      Private Event
10/4/2008               San Francisco   CA      Hardly Strictly Bluegrass Festival
10/5/2008               Pasadena        CA      Private Event
10/6/2008               Phoenix                 AZ      The Rhythm Room
10/8/2008               Aspen           CO      Belly Up
10/9/2008               Englewood       CO      The Gothic Theatre
10/10/2008      Ft. Collins             CO      Aggie Theatre CANCELLED
10/10/2008      Ft. Collins     CO      Hodi's Half Note
10/11/2008      Golden          CO      The American Alpine Club
10/24/2008      Kerrville               TX      Private Event
10/25/2008      New Braunfels   TX      Private Event
10/26/2008      Austin          TX      The Backyard w/ Willie Nelson
11/7/2008               Milwaukee       WI      Shank Hall
11/8/2008               Chicago         IL      Martyr's
11/12/2008      Ann Arbor       MI      The Ark

I am leaving Wire studio after mixing my last song for this recording.
I must say I feel satisfied and a bit, dare I say, excited about it
all. Jimmy did the last of his last night and though I have not heard
those mixes I am sure they came out well as all of them have so far.
The grooves on this record are the best so far. It just feels good,
the whole thing. Max is due in this evening to mix his two. As of
tonight it will be a mixed and ready to send off to Jim Wilson in
Colorado to master. No name, of course, as of yet. The obvious title
track, which I like, would be Fossil Contender. This has its roots in
brain storming Noble Creatures sessions. I am a bit worried, for some
reason, about leaving the word "Fuck" in the recording of the song
Shreveport. I just don't want any of you to think I am the type of man
who goes around using such language all the time. Oh by the way we are
under a "curse word" ban in Santa Fe NM this week. I do not know if we
can get through a whole show without dropping expletives. If we hadn't
been told not to, it would have been more likely that we wouldn't.
But, now, I don't know, I just don't know. We might have some huffy
New Mexicans morally judging us as we bust out of the Land Of
Enchantment, pockets full of chili pods and fried bread.

Shinyribs-Threadgills

This Wednesday June 11th Shinyribs-Threadgills-in the yard-9pm-special guest on the sit in. Next Wednesday June 18th- same thing-make plans to come witness.