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.