Over the great Hudson River

We have a great breakfast with good bread and Swiss Muesli! Ahhh...love it. Klaus , Renata and me keep on chatting and I almost forget that I have an early house concert and have to leave right away. Somehow my directions are gone but they give me a map and I can figure out the rest on the road. Renata sees that one of my tires on the Honda is almost flat - darn, I almost overlooked that. We say goodby and I’ head out to get gas and fill up the tires with air.

First I have to go a little West on 78 before I head north towards Albany. At some point I go East again and cross a bridge over the great Hudson River.

Then it goes on and on. The obnly city I’m passing through is Hartford, CT. I almost got a gig here but it was cancelled last minute.

I’m speeding and realize it’s fairly late. I don’t know if I can be there in time but then again better late and safe, so I slow down and relax. Linda, who hosts the concert tonight in Bedford, MA a little North of Boston gives me a call and I get some directions. It works out and I arrive in time to change and freshen up a little. Bedford is a nice little community that has a very rural touch to it. Linda lives with her mother and her son Hans (another one!) a dog, cats and several chicken in a nice house. They organize a Coffeehouse in Boston and do house concerts every once in a while. They are just wonderful folks and I have a very appreciative audience.

Even the cat loves the music.

After the show we have some dinner and chat until late before I go to bed. I have a room in the basement and can stay a couple of days. That feels great and I realize that I’m fairly exhausted and am ready for a little break.

Lucky guy in New Jersey

When I wake u it is pitch black and my head hurts form the smoky bar yesterday. I remember that this motel room did not have any windows. I try to find the light switch but only get the remote, so I turn on the TV.

They are still debating about the anthem sung in spanish. Man, when do they get that this country was created by “foreigners” We’re all from somewhere else with different colors and tongues and I would think of it as an honor if someone takes my anthem and translates it, especially in spanish. I get up and take off as fast as I can to leave that place behind.

The drive is actually beautiful and it is another sunny day. The landscape changes again and again, subtle but visible. I stop for breakfast in a little village. It’s exciting getting closer and closer to the East coast. Now NYC is only 60 miles away. New Jersey is very green and Watchung, where I play tonight, is simply gorgeous.

I find the Arts Center and am fascinated by the sound of the room. I get lost in simply singing around a bit. All over sudden it is an hour later, wow! I decide to play all acoustic, it’ll be great.

Everybody is extremely friendly out here. There are not as many people showing up as I had hoped for but they already warned me that the attendance in the last month left a lot to be desired and that I should not take it personal. Easy said - but the people who came were really good to me so I’m fine. There was a German couple that got the tickets from their daughter for their 49th anniversary. Another couple (Klaus & Renata) were also from Germany. Renata comes from a village 10 miles away from my hometown in Saarland and we chat in dialect which completely blows me away! After the show we take a picture.

Klaus and Renata invite me to stay at their house which is walking distance from the Arts Center. We have some snacks and German Weiss Bier and chat late into the night - I’m a lucky guy☺

Social studies

That was a nice motel! I sleep in knowing that I have an off day.

Around 10 am I’m driving back to the Coffee house to have breakfast. I’m going to work today on my computer doing email and booking. Renee comes by a little later and we chat a bit. She’s extremely nice and I’m looking forward to coming back on a Friday or Saturday when I have more people.

It’s amazing how fast time goes by when I’m on the computer. All over sudden it’s 5 pm and I certainly need to get going for a couple of hours. Tomorrow I play in Watchung, NJ at the Arts Center which is about 6 hours Southeast. It is sunny and the drive is beautiful.

I’m not going to be on the road for hours and so I take the time to explore. I see a sign that says something about a historic district. It’s a little village called Brooksville and I take the chance to check it out.

I wanna go just a little further and end up in Dubois, PA where I take a motel. It has also a bar and I’m starving. I eat something and have a couple of beers. It’s Friday evening and the place starts filling up fast. You can easily do a social study here and I must say I’m fascinated watching several parties playing pool and getting absolutely hammered on shots until I’m ready to retire to bed. I try to sleep but somehow it won’t work. I try for a couple of hours until I go back to the bar to get some water a little snack. It’s about 1:30 am and the place is out of control. The customers doubled and the amount of wasted people is simply amazing - well after all it’s Friday evening, no Saturday morning but something tells me that this is how it is every day. I get my water, some potato chips and go back to my room.

First time Pennsylvania

I awake in another Motel, thinking where the “h....” am I? It was night when I arrives so I start looking around, well it’s just like any other truck stop along the way and I get going. I’m hungry and need breakfast. As soon as I see an exit with a little village I take off and drive North towards lake Erie. It’s called Conneaut, OH and looks kind of neat.

I’ll take the time to see the lake and take a deep fresh breath. I’d love to sit a little longer by the lake but I’m starving and despite the bright sunshine it is very chilly.

I’ll take the first diner that I can find. It’s a cute, typical American diner with it’s own charm.

The food is certainly not charming and I can only eat it because my stomach is craving for anything that comes its way but I’m not sure about it, so I make sure to utilize the bathroom while handy. It’s as curious as the whole place.

Finally I get back on the way. I’m playing in a little Coffeehouse in Edinboro, PA tonight and from what I’ve seen so far this must be a little island of espresso in a big ocean of see through coffee flavored water. The drive reminds me a lot about my home county in Germany and I enjoy the change of landscape.

After a while I cross into PA for the first time and it’s now only another hour to go. Edinboro is a sweet little college town and “Eclectic Etceteras“ is the Coffee shop.

Renee, the owner recognizes me from the poster and hands me a cup of ”Americano“ - ahhhh, the real deal, now we’re talking. The venue is very nice and cozy and I’m looking forward to playing.

I have a little time to do some email so I get to it. Renee took care of a motel and so I feel pretty good no matter how the evening turns out to be. I play from 6-8 and have about 3 people there. It’s a little hard on me after an empty house yesterday but I keep my spirit up and have actually some really nice conversations with college students and even sell a CD. I still feel a little sick and am glad when I’m in bed around 9 pm watching some SciFi channel stuff until about 11pm. Tomorrow I have a day off and will drive down to NJ to be close to the next venue.

All the way to Ohio

I get up early, around 7 am and do some biz before I get ready to leave Chicago. I have a show in Cleveland this evening and it’s about a 7 hour drive plus I lose an hour from Central to Eastern time. First I have to go to the post office to drop off some letters and a CD, after that I get a coffee and get going. It’s been a great time here and I feel a little sadness rising up in me but the sunshine invites me to start the next adventure. The drive is long and uneventful, mostly on I 90 with some toll stops in between. I finish some lyrics on the way writing it in the car.

I reach Cleveland around 6 pm but somehow miss the right exit and have to improvise. There is a ball game tonight and lots of streets are actually closed up by police so I end up cruising through downtown.

It takes about an hour before I find Wilberts. I realize that I had passed it several times before but did not see the little sign.

It’s a big Bar/Restaurant with a stage in one corner. The staff is nice and Michael the owner is a good guy. He’s asking me right away if I want some food or drinks. There are two acts tonight. I start the evening followed by Orooni, a Jam- Funk Band. They are from Fort Collins, CO and are all very friendly. There is nobody there and I wait until about 9 pm.

It stays like that and so I play for the band who loves it. I play about an hour and then stay to listen to the band until about midnight. I have no place to stay and so I need to get back on I 90 East to find a Motel. It takes about an hour to get out of Cleveland and my sense of direction is a little off target. Finally I make it and drive about 90 min East. I’m tired and there is not a lot of traffic.

Finally I find a little motel and get to bed instantly.

Last day Chicago

I sleep in which is a great thing to do. Later on I meet with Benjamin. I met him the first day in Chicago at the Uncommon ground. He’s a musician and sings with the Chicago Symphony Choir. He picks me up for lunch and I get a little tour through the North End where a lot of Germans settled.




We’re going for Northern Thai food and I enjoy eating as well as a good conversation. Around 3 pm he drives me back to the apartment.

I have to do some email and later on I meet with Randall for lunch. He comes by around 7:30 pm and we go to a nice restaurant. I’m just going for the salat bar and enjoy the greens quite a bit. Later we go back and I share some unfinished songs with him. He became an instant friend and I now have family in Chicago.

Another day in Windy City

I hardly believe where I am when I wake up and have to blink twice. Yes, it’s a wonderful little studio apartment about 10 minutes walking distance from the Lake and from downtown, right in the heart of “Old Town.“

After doing some email and biz I get out and start exploring the neighborhood

I find a little thai place and have lunch before I start my walk down to the lake. It’s a beautiful day and the sun burns down. TI pass a park with playing kids and everything seems to be in balance. The lake is gorgeous and the water has almost a turquoise color to it.

From the lake it’s a straight shot downtown and the walk feels great. People are out doing all kinds of activities and almost everybody has a smile on their face. It’s a fascinating city, that’s for sure.



I walk into a Rainforest Cafe and get a couple of T-shirts for my girls. I start a conversation with Cindy who works there. She’s had an ex that worked as a sound engineer and as a musician so she’s interested in my tour story. In the end she gives me a nice Chicago T-shirt for free and puts a lot of good energy in it.

I’m starting to walk back to the apartment, I’m getting a little tired and still want to go out to the Open Mic night at the Uncommon Ground. How about one more pic just of the sidewalk?

When I get back I just have time to grab my stuff and drive up to the venue. It’s a Cups game night and the stadium is around the corner of the Uncommon Ground, which means it is almost impossible to get a parking spot. After about 50 minutes I’m close to giving up and driving back home. There, I spot a place and park. To be sure I’m good I ask a woman that walks by. She tells me that it is a trap, there is no sign but the police tickets it anyway. She tells me to wait for a little and disappears around the corner. When she comes back she hold a residential parking pass in her hands and gives it to me. I’m stunned, wow, I certainly did not expect that. With that I find a spot just close by and get in time to the venue. It’s a great Open mic and I have a good time listening and playing. After that it’s late and I get back to the apartment where I fall into bed straight away.

Down and Up to Chicago

We start the drive back to Indianapolis as planned around 8 am. It takes a little more than 4.5 hours and with some breaks in between we’re there around 1 pm.
I take a quick shower and get back on the road to Chicago. That’s going to be another 4 hours and I’m currently not excited about that. I’m tired and still wiped out by Melissa’s show. In addition of being really tired I’m feeling a depressed and out of balance. The road takes it’s toll. I got to talk to a friend and reach India who just says the right things. I’m listening and hope she does not stop talking. Why is it so painful to grow and find ourself? After that I feel much better though I’m still wiped out but then the city takes over and the new views start a new chapter.

I need all my concentration to get through the traffic. Chicago is a fascinating city and some parts remind me of the old country. The “Uncommon Ground“ is a restaurant, a Cafe and a concert space and tonight there are 3 acts on the bill, Natalie Rivera, a young and upcoming Singer Songwriter, me and Jenny Bienemann, another great Chicago Songwriter. I have to get something to eat, I’m starved and so I sit and relax for a little bit. A friendly face greets me and introduces himself as Kalley - myspace works and I have a friend visiting - yeah!

My show goes well and the audience is appreciative. I’m still inspired by yesterdays show and am more outgoing and intense with my vocals and guitar playing. At the end I ask for the first time if there is someone in the audience that has a free couch for tonight and wonder if there is anything coming from that.
Jenny comes up next with her husband and does a great show.

I’m already preparing myself to drive another hour out of the city to get a cheap motel when a man approaches me. I find him instantly sympathetic and his company Megan, a Singer Songwriter from Nashville too. Randall invites me to stay the night at his studio in Old Town Chicago but first we go and see the end of another concert at Schuba’s a wonderful venue again similar to the Tractor in Seattle. After that we drive to his studio and I’m completely floored. It’s a place in the greatest neighborhood and a short walk away from the lake and also downtown. It has a kitchen, a piano and everything one need to feel at home. Randall is also a Songwriter and he and Megan share some songs with me. I’m overwhelmed - how in the world did that happen at the first time I ask on stage for help? I’m invited to stay until Wednesday then I have to drive to Cleveland. It could not be better. Before they leave I take one of the famous ”one arm shots“

I just made two great friends!

Ferrick in St Louis

Today I’m going to play early in the morning at Lazy Daze. I don’t feel like playing at 11 am but I know I’ll get in it after a good shower and a decent breakfast. It’s going to be a long day. Robin and me have breakfast at a typical american diner.

The Lazy daze is a small coffee shop close to downtown with a little patio where I set up. It’s my first outside show and I’m excited.

Well, no reason for it there is nobody there and most of the time I’m playing for just Robin. After a while I have a couple of people sitting there but still. It’s the third in a row and I must say that it becomes a little harder to be putting out good energy if there is nothing coming back - got to get through it. After the show we go back to Robin’s house and get ready to drive to St Louis to see Melissa Ferrick. Kelly, another Ferrick fan has joined us. Let’s see what the day brings.

It’s about an 4.5 hour drive and the landscape changes to a more saturated green the more we go South. All over sudden I see a gigantic cross on the horizon and don’t have a clue what to think about that!

We drive to the hotel we’re staying the night and then from there to the venue. St. Louis has a fascinating Skyline with a most prominent arch that is a masterpiece of architecture.

We are the first to arrive at the venue and the girls are excited. They are true fans and I’m fascinated how the lesbian community follows their hero’s around. I haven’t been to a good show for a while and am curious how it feels to be one of the only man in a big crowd of gay woman. Slowly other people arrive and I get used to the thought. The venue is called “Off Broadway” and reminds me a little of the Tractor in Seattle, only a little bigger. The opening act is Kennie Starr, a Canadian that does something between spoken word and Rap. I like it and she’s good on stage.
Around 10 pm Melissa comes on stage with just a guitar. The moment she starts is like a bomb exploding, both her guitar playing and singing is simply stellar and she completely floors me with her energy and personality.

I certainly did not expect that! After 5 songs her friend Allison comes on stage to play drums. Same here, great musicianship paired with a lot of energy. This is probably the best show I’ve seen since I’m in the US. Absolutely inspiring!
On our way back to the motel we get lost and have to do some unexpected turns and finally reach our destination way after 1am. We need to get going not later than 8 am because I have to get to Chicago and so I curl up and fall asleep.

Indianapolis

I leave Des Moines at about 8 am and it is warm already with a blue sky above.

The drive is fairly eventless and the scenery does not change a lot. At some point I take a bridge over the Mississippi river for the first time in my live

Hours and hours pass by and it won’t stop. I like seeing that sign!

I make a couple of stops in between and at some point I have to close my eyes for 30 minutes because I can’t concentrate anymore. I look at my cell phone and realize that I crossed over one more time zone and lost another hour. I make it to the Boulevard Place Cafe just in time after a 9 hour drive.

Robin and Katie are already there and Katie has set up her piano and a little PA. She’s gonna open for me and I’m looking forward to hearing her. She’s only 20 but already a wonderful singer songwriter with a lot of potential.

There are not a lot of people there but I get them to stay and sit around a table after the show is done. At least we all talk a little which makes me feel fine about the evening. When everybody is gone I take a shot of Robin and me. She booked this show and the one tomorrow and is a wonderful spirit with a huge heart.

I can stay with her tonight and after I packed everything away she leads the way through Indianapolis. We stop to get some beer (I need that tonight). before we get to her house. After some chatting, beer, some veggies and a load of laundry, I lay down on the couch and hopefully have good dreams.