Jiggity Jogg...

And just like that, we are back home in not-so-sunny California. It rained most of the night last night and into the afternoon. I went to bed at 11 and woke up at noon... I must have needed it. So where were we...

Last we spoke we were still heading east.. We left Chicago, split a few shows with our badass drummer Katherine Monnig, had a bitchin show in Cbus with the Rosie Burgess Trio and guest appearance by Joe's little bro who laied down some awesome lead lines for us. There we received one of the coolest gifts Coyote Grace has ever received.. an Alaskan Ulu, a kickass knife with the words "Columbus loves Coyote Grace" inscribed on it... No shit. Way cool. I'm going to chop some greens for a dinner date with Ing tonight with it. Aw:) Anyway, way cool, thanx Jazz! On to Pittsburgh, a great show sweetened by the sweet stylings of Nicole Steele on the djembe.

Heading northeast, we start to feel the fall, brilliant leaves on a few select early bloomers. Boston is just as treacherous as ever with their lack of signage and street grids (cows don't walk in straight lines, silly suburbian!) but we had an amazing show with Chris Pureka and Brooke Brown Sarancino at the Lizard Lounge. The appreciation for folk/acoustic music over there never ceases to amaze and empower me. We played in Vermont for the first time, postcard views everywhere. Had to stop at the Ben and Jerry's Ice Cream Factory, it was awesome! Free samples and everything. And at that point, we begin to head west again...

Nothing like heading west. That means you're heading home. Long drives this way, house concert with friends in Ann Arbor, a return show in Chicago with the rhythmically boggling Congress of Starlings (we're going to make this a regular thing). There was a very heartfelt show/memorial in Des Moines at the Ritual Cafe, one of the leaders of the community there fell upon tough times and checked out early. Jeff is greatly missed, and his presence affected more lives than he knew. He continues to inspire and change the world with his memory. Here's to all the folks there fighting the good fight!! Lots of Graceful Coyote love to you all.

A long stretch across the Plains to the Front Range, I feel the moisture disappear from the air, and the mountains rise in front of us, the highest hurdle. We rock out in Denver and Fort Collins, so awesome to reconnect with our Folks Fest and Song School buddies. We shared the Ft Collins show with Jill Brzezicki, rocked out late at night in her amazing cabin in the woods. I feel as though that music community I have been looking for is developing before me, and I am so grateful. Off to Park City UT where our show was canceled without a heads up, but luckily an old high school friend on Ing's had a health spa up the street and offered her space! So we had an awesome guerrilla show in the spa, slept on massage tables that night, woke up and got rubbed! Amazing:) Then we jumped on 80 and blazed 11 hours home. A little snow, endless Nevada, and clean sheets at the parent's house. This is my job? I must be dreaming.

Not quite done yet, however, we stay in the Central Valley for a few extra days and play a fun hometown show in Sacto with old high school musician friend of Joe's, Boy Loin out of Oakland. If any of you have been to a show that my Mom was attending, you can imagine the energy. I never get heckled so much. Lots of fun, up to Chico for another show with Boy Lion, not to forget Chico State and Sac State. Then... an awesome house concert is Oakland at the Back Porch Concert Series (do check them out if you appreciate good taste) and THEN... we finally get to go home.

Now it is raining again, we are back home on our computers getting ready to do it all again... We have the winter fairly free, save a trans conference in AZ for Joe, Trans Day of Remembrance in Omaha and possibly Iowa, and a week trip to LA. And lots of busy work in between. The "Buck Naked" EP will be out by January, our next big tour will be to the Southwest in Feb, and the big wheel keeps on turning. It's a life, I tell ya.

Lots of love to you all, it is an endless joy to play music for you and have that energy exchange; a good show is definitely a joint effort between the audience and the performer. Neither party is more important than the other. It is an age-old line of work I suppose, and I am beyond grateful that I can contribute to the self, group, and community healing that takes place in the presence of music. Happy winter everyone, we look forward to seeing you again down the road.

j&i