My little island

When I wake up it seems that everybody is gone and I’m alone. Bill has made his famous cup of coffee for me and put it on a little warmer. Together with Cats Banana bread it is the perfect start for today. It’s a little chilly so I start a fire. It reminds me of the time with Evo and Juliana just when I arrived in CA for the first time.

I cuddle on the couch and start working on my emails. I’m quite behind due to the touring so I’m glad to have some time to hang and focus on it. I always loved to do that in the morning. All over sudden Cat appears from upstairs. She must have been asleep. We chat a little before she has to head out. I still have about a couple of hours time to work on the biz end of being a musician before I have to leave as well and take one last pic of their house.

Today I only have to drive little more than 3 hours from Ashland to Eugene. My old friend Jorge emailed me that he’ll be there to play with me. I’m glad that he’s doing better again. He’s had another set of chemotherapy and felt weak and unmotivated for a while and I was worrying.

We meet at the 5th Street Beanery and play a couple of sets. He’s such a fine musician besides a great friend and I never tell him which song I play or what key it is in. He’s just going for it and we have a lot of fun. There are only a few people there but I don’t mind so much, I had no expectations on this one and I’m just glad that Jorge could make it. Gina, the manager is very nice and accommodating so the whole evening feels good. After the show I’m visiting with my friends Kathy and Bob where I spend the night just like 4 weeks ago when I played the Cozmic Pizza.

They are such wonderful, caring people and have become my little island in central Oregon. Both are passionate Contra Dancers and involved in community and very fun to hang out with. We chat until midnight and then fall into bed. Tomorrow is another day.

Paper Walls

I wake up in a room and have no clue where I am. It lasts for only about 5 seconds but is as real as can be before I realize I’m in the same place I went to bed yesterday. It must have been the hot springs.

I look at my phone and see that it is only 8:15 am so I try to turn around and get some more sleep but I’m awake and nothing can change it so I get dressed and walk to the restaurant where they serve breakfast. Some people recognize me from the concert last night and I’m friendly but not very talkative and so they leave me alone and I enjoy my veggie scrambled with hash brownies while scribbling some new lyrics on the back of a business card. I still have that picture in my head where I saw a man sleeping in the rain outside a 7/11 in L.A. covered with a dirty sleeping bag. It made me think of “Paper walls” and how easy it is to walk through them to the other side though they give us the illusion of separation and safety.

After the breakfast I think about hopping in the tubs but then decide to pack and get going. I have another big day of driving all the way to Ashland and might hit snow again. I drive into Middletown and stop in front of an apartment building to see if anybody has WIFI. Bingo, I check some mail and get caught up in the process and spend almost one hour in the car doing biz - strange but necessary. The drive is long and not very exciting and I just put miles behind me. I don’t feel like listening to anything so I just drive on and on. A couple of hours later I stop and call India. She’s such a good friend, wonderful singer songwriter and also working hard on building community. She’s German as well but we always talk english, it seems just more natural to do so. I’m inspired by the L.A. community that I experienced and fired up to share it with my friends. I’m pondering over a letter I want to write and we talk about the things we miss in Seattle. It’s good to know that someone feels the same so one can work together to make a change. Right after we hang up Phil call and tells me about his meeting with the guy that is in charge of Easy Street, the Tower Records Label. Basically I’m doing currently all the right things and there seems to be no short cut - at least that is what Phil is getting out of this meeting and I’m just fine with that.

Several hours of driving later I reach Mt Shasta and make a stop at the Stage Door. Tom is there and we chat for an hour. Then it’s only another hour until I reach my destination. Bill and Cat are home and await me with a nice dinner. Cat has her ladies tea and plays music with a friend while Bill and I get deeper and deeper into a great conversation about evolution, the brain and culture. At around 10 pm we all go to bed and I work on some emails until two in the morning...

Harbin Hotsprings

I wake up around 8:30 am after little more than 5 hours of sleep. I’m a little exhausted and feel that I partied - but it had to be! After several cups of coffee I load the car and say one last goodbye to my friends James and Melinda. They were wonderful and I’m so glad that we all met and had a chance to get to know each other a little bit.

I’s a long drive way more than the 6.5 hours that I googled. After almost 8 hours I pass the last vineyards in the Napa Valley and start winding my way up in the mountains.

Oh my! It does not end and I get really tired and wired at the same time. Short before I arrive I take a wrong turn and lose another 15 minutes driving down a street that almost kills my car with big holes. Several times I think that this is it but I guess I was lucky and glad when I finally after nine hours reached my destination. The Harbin Hotsprings are natural springs and famous for its healing powers. I’ll check that out later, now I have to get my gear into the yoga room where I perform an all acoustic concert for the most relaxed audience I had so far on this tour. They lie on pillows on the ground and have a great time. I enjoy the show but am also glad when it’s over and I finally can go into the hot pool - uuuuhhhh

Party Bellissimo

The morning flows by without realizing and I help James a little with getting his CD sales button onto his website and some other small edits. Later we meet for dinner with Gregg and his wife Allison. Gregg is a sound engineer and musician that worked on James’ last album. He’s a very sweet guy and great personality. Currently he’s working on the new Chicago album and his main music project Echoes Landing.

James, Melinda and me are driving to the Café Bellissimo in Woodland. I’m the featured artist in a Songwriter showcase hosted by Garret Swayne and later there is an open mic. Garret has a great style of writing and should be in Nashville. His songs are just perfect for that.

The Café is an Italian Restaurant and a lot of the folks that I saw at Kulak’s and McCabes are here again. The community her really inspires me and I hope I can communicate that to my friends in Seattle. The evening is grand and again there is a lot of talent in the room. One of my favorite songs is about 9/11 by Ric Taylor. He’s a great writer with a big heart. Mindi came too and invites us all over to her house and so (let’s see if I get all the names right)James, Melinda, Craig, John, Julie, Beth, Genevieve, Berington, Eric and me are heading over to party hearty. Man - what fun. We play everything from Neil Young to Paul Simon to the Beatles until it’s about 2am. I could easily go on for another two hours but James is my smarter half and points out that I have to get up early to drive about 8 hours North to the Harbin Hotsprings.

All in all L.A. was a wonderful and intense time. I certainly did not expect to make such friends and be taken into their community with open arms and when I mention that to Craig and express my gratitude he returns it by saying that I was an inspiration for them which causes teary eyes and I feel that saying goodbye is not so easy this time. There is so much more to say and explore that now has to wait.
They all will be in my thoughts for a long time and I hope to get back soon.

City of the Angeles

James, Melinda and me spend most of the day hanging at their home and doing some email and myspace stuff. I finally get all the new emails I collected from the tour into my data base which only takes several hours. Tonight is going to be an open mic at Kulak’s Woodshed in North Hollywood. It is said to be one of the best in the world. Well, I haven’t heard of any other that does a live Web cast with 6 professional cameras and has audience all over the world. You can get a DVD of your performance for $20 that is professionally recorded. Before we go we fool around with taking some pics. Here’s a nice one of Melinda.

The drive to North Hollywood is about an hour. The sun is about to set and I love seeing the lights of the Fernando Valley mixed with the oncoming traffic.

Once we arrive my friends introduce me to the whole community. I must say that I haven’t expected that from Los Angeles and I’m moved by the way everybody is supported. I need to bring some of that back to Seattle and communicate this example to my friends up North. Kulak’s is such a cosy place with couches and even a bed to hang out.

They handle the Open Mic with a drawing, where everybody fills out a slip for one song and puts it into a bucket. Kiki Wow who works for Warner Brothers and is also a singer songwriter hosts and MCs the event. When my name is drawn as #14 people cheer and I’m totally moved. When James gets drawn he gives up his slot to give me the opportunity to perform two songs - man, good friends are a blessing. It’s a record night and a total of 27 people don’t get to play but most of them stay through the night to support everybody that is going up.

When it’s my turn they cheer again and I play “Inner Windows” and “Invocation”.
The reaction is overwhelming and the room is boiling over. This open mic has miraculously become the highlight of my whole tour and for once I realize why it is called “City of the Angeles” in the first place. Who would have thought of an loving island like that in the heart of L.A. There is a lot of talent in the room and most people stay throughout the night. When it’s over Kiki comes up to me and hands me a DVD of my performance as a present. What an evening! Here’s Kiki and me.

After the show we go out for some dinner and then do the drive back home. I certainly made some new friends and from now on I’ll see a different picture in my mind when I think about L.A.

McCabes in Santa Monica

The day started slow and I’m glad to have some time to chill. Later that evening I’m going to McCabes in Santa Monica to play one of their famous Open Mic nights.
But before that, how about a breakfast and later a trip to the sauna. I’m in heaven!
James and me leave at about 4pm driving down to Santa Monica. We get a sandwich, some gas and on it goes.

The drive is about an hour and something and we go through Topanga Canyon. The landscape is stunning and it’s hard to imagine that we are so close to L.A.
All over sudden there is a turn and we see the Pacific Coast. We drive through Malibu along the coast. A lot of rock and movie stars and have their estate here. Shortly after we enter Santa Monica.

McCabes is an old guitar store that is famous for its collection of first class guitars and a monthly Open Mic on their back room stage.

We arrive early enough to take a little walk around the block. When we come back there are already people waiting to get in and sign up. It’s a four hour ordeal and a total of 26 acts are playing. It’s a fun show and i do a couple of songs and get a nice recording out of it. I love Open Mics and this one is certainly special. The community is working and everybody gets the support they need. The talent is amazing and I’m thrilled to make some new friend. Here is a pic with James and Singer Songwriter Lisa Turner.

Some good mexican beer and fish tacos in a great Mexican restaurant end the evening and by the time we’re back in Moorepark I’m ready to crash.

The wizzard of pinball

I get up at the first alarm of my cell phone, slip into my pence and get going. I still have to fill the tank again and don’t want to be late for the interview. I arrive on the clock and Larry comes down to greet me with a parking pass. He’s a wonderful soul and I already spoke a little bit with him yesterday after the show. We go up to the studio and 5 minutes later I’m on the air. Boy is it early! I didn’t have breakfast nor coffee and only 4 hours sleep. I have no clue how I do it but somehow it works out and Larry’s very happy.

When I want to say good bye he says ‘Wait a little, let’s go the other studio and do another show for future airing.“ Oh my, well why not. It turns out to be so much fun and the hour flies by. He’s such a professional and engaged interviewer and makes it very easy even if you’re not awake to think yet.

After that we treat ourselves to a Chines buffet that knocks out most of the dinners I had in my life. All you can eat with Crab legs, other fish dishes and pretty much anything you can imagine. We walk out about three hours later - better said we roll out! What an enjoyable morning and early afternoon. Before I leave Larry suggests to take one of the canyon roads down to Highway 1 and the beach.It’s a great drive and all over sudden I see the sign for ”Malibu.“ Wow, I know it from movies and books but it’s different being here. I stop at a park and walk around watching Pelicans fly.

There is also a museum/house that shows of the artful tiles that made Malibu famous in the 50s. It’s a beautiful structure and I imagine how life was here before so many people moved in. Here is picture of the tiles that were part of the house.

From here it’s a short drive along the coast before turning onto Kanan Dume road which leads through the mountains to Agoura Hills. It’s a nice Cafe with a good stage. I have a little time so I sit down and relax into a Soy Latte.
Tonight it is going to be a triple bill with Duff Ferguson, James and me.

There are only about 6 people showing up but it shows again that quality goes over quantity, well not necessarily from a financial point of view but still. One of the guests is Alan Abrahams, a well known and connected producer that happened to buy a CD of each performer before we even started saying that he can’t stay and has to leave in a couple of minutes. Well, he sits in a couch throughout the whole concert enjoying each and everyone in stage. Right before the show Mindi Martin, another music producer and 3 times World Pinball Champion and Guiness Book record holder with playing 23 days non stop walks into the room.

She’s a wonderful spirit, good friend of James and has done and seen it all.

Further South to the Backstage

In the morning Judy made a nice breakfast and we ate outside for the first time this year.

It was great sitting in the sun and I stayed until about noon before I left for Moorepark where James is living with his girlfriend Melinda. Both are singer songwriters and james is opening for me tonight at the Coffee Gallery backstage in Altadena. First I had to make a short stop at the Cayucos Beach to see the pacific.

The drive down south is very beautiful and enjoyable at a cruising speed. There was no traffic up to Santa Barbara but ther I could at least check out some palm trees while being stuck.

I arrived at about 4pm in Moorepark. Somehow it was as if we knew each other for a long time and it felt great to finally meet. We left around 5pm for Altadena and Melinda drove with me so I would not get lost somewhere in the Fernando Valley. Wed were lucky and got to the club early enough to set up in a relaxed manner which I needed after 5 hours in the car. Bob Stane, the owner of the Gallery Backstage is a veteran in show biz. He used to run a club in the 60s that was the first all Comedy Club in LA and youngsters like Jay Leno or David Letterman bit their tongs and sweat on his stage. He gives me envelope with a couple of articles that were in the news and mumbled something like “well done”. One of the largest paper in LA did a full page interview and we’re both impressed that it worked out so well. I also got a fare share of airplay. Lets see what it does.

Here is a pic of James and me before the show.

James did a great Job opening up and our styles fit very well together. I love this small place and the atmosphere even though we only have a bout 20 guests. Bob does a great Job doing the lights and sound and creates a theater like tension before I go up on stage. The show goes really well and the sound is inspiring. After that a bunch of us goes out for dinner.

We sit until late chatting about god and the world and its great being in good company after a wonderful show. The drive back to Moorepark is about an hour and by about 3am I’m finally in my sleeping bag. I gfot to get up at 7:45 to get to a radio interview with Larry Wines on KCSN in LA

Ups and downs and ups

After mailing some stuff and having a bagel breakfast I’m leaving San Jose driving to San Luis Obispo. I like that stretch of 101 and there are some very beautiful parts in it.

When I come to the wine country I'm thinking of taking a little break and do some testing. I pass various wineries but when Io come by “Scheid Vineyards” I can’t help but stopping. Scheid is my original German last name so I have an incentive to check it out.

I test about 4 different red wines and we talk about awards that one wine got from a San Francisco magazine when I drop that I’m a traveling musician and my latest CD just got awarded best acoustic album 2006 by Indie Acoustic Project - not a Grammy but still pretty good!. Soon after that my CD plays loud over the speakers into the courtyard and I sell 2 copies right n the spot. Actually I trade one for a good bottle of Merlot. The other goes to a woman from Finland that happened to overhear the conversation. Refreshed and excited I continue the drive down south.
I play in a place called “Frog & Peach” which turns out to be an all American bar, certainly nothing I’d expected, plus it is farmers market and everything is buzzing.

The sound system is partially broken and only one speaker works, well actually only the bass and mid frequencies of that speaker work, well no, sometimes the treble kicks in and pierces ears for a split second. It is a tough show, certainly the worst so far and I’m lucky that Judy, a friend of mine brings six of her friends. Am I lucky? No I’m embarrassed that it sounds so shitty that I think to simply stop and walk out the door. But I’m holding through and her friends are very nice. After the show I’m offering to play just for them acoustically. Mariah finds a gallery around the corner that lets us in and so I get to finish the concert appropriately in a round of new friends. Here is a pic with all of us.

I’m staying with Judy tonight but first we have to find her car. Then I try to follow her to her house in Cayucos but lose her at a turn. I realize that I don’t have phone number but find the address. Some folks point me in the right direction and 30 minutes later I sit in front of a good bottle of Zinfandel and chat into the night.

George Harrison's button

I sleep in and it feels great. Once I’m ready to rumble Phil and me are going to some Mexican breakfast place and eat burritos. After that he’s got to go to work and I stay back at the house and do some laundry and email. I leave around 4:30 pm for the Ugly Mug in Soquel. It’s not so far but the traffic is bad and I get into a big jam.

The Ugly Mug is a sweet small Coffee house with very nice staff. I set up right in front of an aquarium and hope the fish won’t bother.

I get the audience to listen and they enjoy it. After the show Nathan, one of the staff and also guitar player comes up to me an gives me an old scratched George Harrison button as thank you for playing “Here Comes The Sun”

I sit down with a couple of people and talk about the world. Here is a pic with Tana, a 20 year old snowboard instructor that just arrived freshly from Montana and is still getting used to living in California now.

I drive back to Phil on the couch watching a movie with Uma Thurman (Prime).
Then we talk and talk and all over sudden it’s 3:30 am. I got to get to bed!

Lakeside

I take a little walk in Pat’s garden before I leave Fresno around noon heading West towards Los Gatos. She’s a master gardener and has great skills in planting and I love strolling around and sitting on a bench letting my mind wander.

The stretch on highway 99 is boring and I’m glad when I see the turn for Los Banos and Watsonville. After I pass over Highway 5 it gets really pretty at the San Luis Watershed. There is a big Lake and the Landscape around is stunning.

The drive takes way longer than I imagined and after 4 hours I finally arrive at the Lakeside Community Center. Laurie is already there awaiting me. She’s done a wonderful job organizing it and was very thorough in communicating plus she is a wonderful spirit.

After sound check we’re having dinner. I’m going into their music room which is hidden within the school so I have a little privacy. I lay down on the floor and almost immediately fall asleep. Half an hour later I wake and my body hurts quite a bit. Even yoga doesn’t really do the job. Now I can feel the driving/gigging every day and there is no break in sight. I get myself ready and freshen up a little bit before I go on stage

The concert turns out very nice and there are enough people to make it happen. They have a nice stage and put some flowers on each side.

After the show I met with some nice people and chatted away. Here is a picture with Phil, my old friend and partner in arts, and Phillip a friend of his who really enjoyed coming out to the show. He heard a lot of my recordings through Phil but never saw me life.

I stay with Phil in San Jose which is about 15 minutes away. Shea, a friend of his visits for a bit and plays some of his songs for us. I enjoy sitting back and listening for a change. All over sudden it is 3 am and certainly time to crash.

Bird on the wire

I have to get up early to go down to Wilson Elementary and meet with Linda. She’s invited me to do a performance for her 5th grade classroom. The school shows are really fun and inspiring. I’m doing the Penguin song of my ‘Hazzazar’ album and teach them some German. They love it and are very attentive and sing along. For future shows I probably have to learn a Rap to accommodate that request. Here’s a pic with me and the class.

After I’m back from the school my friend Joachim comes by and brings a bottle of good Merlot for my birthday. He couldn’t make it to the show yesterday so it’s great to see him now. We chat for a couple of hours before he has to go back to work.

I’m heading over to Evo and Juliana for the evening. Juliana is a great artist and recently had a wonderful exhibition with new paintings. Here is one of my favorite owl motives.

I lived with them when I moved to the US so it’s kind of my first home here. Back then I remember Sheba their dog who was greeting me the first time I came with putting his head right on my feet rather than barking which he was supposed to do. He’s dead now since some time and their black lab Zulu has taken Sheba’s place. They also have several cats and a guest bird that they take care of. It is usually very shy but was pretty outgoing and adventures as you can see.

We have a wonderful dinner and a nice Zinfandel I brought. Around 10 pm drive back to my in-laws for the night. Tomorrow I’ll be at the Lakeside Community Center in Los Gatos.

Birthday Bash in Fresno

Today’s my birthday and I’m on the road again leaving Sutter Creek going down south to Fresno where i have a house concert. Still waiting for spring which is supposed to start tomorrow.

The drive is eventless and I must say that I’m not particularly fond of that stretch of Highway 99. It’s dull and flat and I have simply done it too often. I’m glad when I see the sign for Herndon which is my exit in Fresno. My inlaws are already preparing their house for the show and expect about 40 people, a large crowd for the size of the living room. We rearrange the piano and furniture and come up with a working solution. My friend Jemmy Bluestein comes a before the show and gives me a arm and joint massage. Both my wrists are starting to hurt and kind of bother me while playing. He’s also showing me some stretching exercise he invented to counter balance the repetitive motions of playing the guitar and piano.
Somehow I’m nervous and stay in my room while the house fills up. Though I’ll probably know most everybody coming tonight I need some alone time. Pat announces me and I come out. Full house - yes, I love it and they do too! It;’s a great show and at the end everybody starts singing happy birthday. I’m pretty moved and try to get rid of some snot that’s trying to run away.

After the concert I can talk to all my friends here. I should eat but am not very hungry. Later that evening I jam with my friends Evo and Jemmy Bluestein. We do the Zydeco and people start to dance around.

I met Evo and Jemmy at a German music camp that was built after Lark in the morning. In ‘98 I visited them and decided to stay for good. Linda a good fiddler and teacher invites me to do a school show for her class the next morning and so I’ll do another of those. It seems that I can incorporate that into a tour and use the Mondays and Tuesdays for that. I love going into a class room and play for kids.
Around 11 pm the house empties out and I spend a couple of hours catching up with email not realizing that I have to get up early tomorrow and be bright. Well, let’s see. However, it was a great birthday party and concert and I’m hovering about 10 inches above ground towards my bed.