Hello!

I'm sitting in a Comfort Inn, just off the campus of Ole Miss, getting ready to play at Parrish Baker Pub in downtown Oxford. It's a beautiful town.

We weren't even supposed to be here, really.

Just in case you're scoring along at home, my good friend Josh Grider and I set out from Dallas on monday morning, headed eastward. We're taking the show on the road to the southeastern US, and it's a complete breath of fresh air to get out and play markets that we don't get to play very often, if at all.

So we headed for Ruston, Louisana, where we kicked off the journey at The Dawg House. Ruston is the home of Louisianna Tech, and even though it was a monday night, we were hopeful that there would be a crowd. Our memories are a little foggy, but I'm fairly certain we drank beer on a monday while we were in college, so we expected that, of the many things that could have changed since we've gotten out of school, that probably wasn't one of them. The crowd came, and brought their drinking shoes with them. Some of these people wore very big drinking shoes. I can't remember the last time I saw a guy drink two Irish Car Bombs back to back, right after a beer and a shot of whiskey. He hung in there all night, too. That guy was a pro, for sure... Oh, and we found out that Ruston is one of the few places in America where you can get beaten up for wearing a New Mexico State hat. Some members of the football team were consuming some beverages when we arrived, and they promptly spotted Josh's NM State hat. Being the diplomats we are, the situation was quickly diffused, and hand shakes went all around. SO. We supplied the music, caught the end of the monday night football game, and had a generally good time. It was COLD, though. I've lost my thick winter skin living in Texas...

Up and at 'em, taking on some Waffle House, and we were off for Jackson, Mississippi, Soulshine Pizza Factory being our destination. We navigated our mighty Honda Element over the equally mighty Mississippi River and took in the sights in Vicksburg. Yes, I said Honda Element. Anyway, we pulled into Soulshine at 3 and enjoyed some fine pizza and some local brews. Our gracious host, Brother Sartin, makes some excellent pies, not to mention a kickass crawfish soup. We played to a small, but attentive crowd and enjoyed the night. I have to say, being told to turn up the PA and to tell more stories was a welcome change... All you usually ever here is "turn it down," and "shut up and sing." I could get used to the change.

I was kind of excited to think about the music world outside of Texas, and to think of how many Brother Sartin's there are in this big country of ours. It makes me feel good-- people get what we do, and they may be a little far from home, but they're out there.. and I hope I run into each and every one of them.

After the gig, Josh got a phone call from a friend who is working in Oxford, and he told us that he could get us a gig here... we held an executive meeting... our original plan was to drive to Chattanooga, Tennessee, which is half way between Jackson and our Thursday destination, Roanoke, and have a day off. The drive from Oxford to Roanoke... how long would that be? Oh, 11 hours you say? Sweet. Let's take the gig in Oxford. That's why were out here on the road.

So here we are, in Oxford, taking in the sights, getting ready to get some grub, and complaining about the cold front that just blew through town with the rest of the locals. If it's going to be this cold on this trip, we better see some snow, or I'm going to be mad.

I'll fill you in on our adventures as they happen. Hope everyone is doing well!

dk