Last Day in Evansville

Today is my last day here before I drive South again for my weekend in New Orleans. I try working at the Coffeehouse but their WIFI has glitches today.

I end up driving around until I find a connection and park the car to send some emails.

Later in the afternoon I play at the Public Library and have a nice spot.

In the evening Heidi and me watch a Peter Gabriel concert which blows my mind. I just love him - so creative!

Children's Museum

Today is my show at the Children’s museum. It’s a nice day and I love these old houses.

I should probably take a walk rather than just driving around.

It’s an early show and I only have to play for half an hour in the performance space of the museum.

before I start I look around. It’s a great place and I’m fascinated by the colors.

It’s an interesting show but the 30 minutes go by too fast and all over sudden I’m done. I go back to Penny Lane to work some more on the computer before I visit with Beth. Around midnight I go back to the house where I stay and fall into bed.

Going North

I leave Memphis in the morning going North towards Indiana. It’s a dark day.

The route leads through all of Tennessee into Kentucky.

I find the Cafe right away despite the fact that it was more than one year since I have been here.

It is a nice show and I connect with a lot of people. Here are some fans and Beth, who works at the Library and organized all the shows. She bribed me into going North out of my way with three gigs:)

I stay with Heidi and Paul which have a little guest room...

The Conference Part 4

Today is the last day and I’m looking forward to get back on the road again! It has been a great experience and I met a lot of good people and built some community.
I ran into a lot of people but simply forgot about the camera most of the times.
here is Jay, Jon’s friend from L.A.

Later on I see Bill Isles a wonderful songwriter from Minnesota and connect with him. We’ll do something in September when I’m in Saint Paul.

Then I have a dinner with Steve Dulson, the president of Far West, his wife Michelle and Fran. We’re back in the same beer place and have a wonderful time:)

The party goes wild back at the hotel and in every room over three floors there is music! This night goes until 5am and I have no clue how I’ll do tomorrow:)

The Conference Part 3

Here is a picture of the sleeping arrangement that I took in the morning of day 3.

Back in the hotel I use the stairs to exercise. On the 17th floor I have a great view and can see all the way to Egypt.

During the day I play some showcases again and for dinner Fran, Bob and I go to a great beer place that even has the original beer goddess

Later back at the hotel I run into Marni from the Seattle Folklore Society. She’s hanging out with Wes.

It’s another long night...

The Conference Part 2

Again only about 4h of sleep! I wonder how long I can keep that up?
After a short breakfast I go back to the Conference and walk around until my feet fall off. I stop by Blame Sally again. I really like them a lot!

I also visit with Jon T. Howard and his band. I know them from Far West and Jon and his friend Jay came out to se me at Genghis Cohen in January.

The day flies bye and all of a sudden it’s 4 am again!!!

The Conference Part 1

I wake up early and Wes and me go for a breakfast just down the street before we get to the Conference. I have about four showcases today and check out several other artists. My favorite were “Blame Sally”, four gals that remind me of Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young with beautiful voices and great songs.

After one of my showcases I take off for a little walk down the street.

Then it is time to visit the Exhibition Hall where presenters as well as musicians have their booth. I run across my old friend Rhiannon, a fantastic banjo player that I met in Virginia while on tour with Jamie several years ago.

It’s time to go back to the Showcase rooms which are on the 17th, 18th and 19th floor of the Marriott Hotel - Lucky me gets to use the elevator with a view

Later that night I hang out with Travis and Karin from “Houston Jones”. Travis also hosts the “Best of the West” showcase where I have several slots.

It’s another late night - ehem, early morning and I get to sleep around 4 am.

Birmingham Slums

Todays journey via Memphis brings me through Alabama.

In Birmingham I’m supposed to get to another highway but somehow lose my way.

After driving through downtown for a while I end up in the worst part of the city. Not only is it a grey day, especially after leaving Savannah, but now I see the worst that America has to offer. I think about taking pictures but am simply too sad and can’t remove myself from the devastation of this ongoing slum! It takes me about two hours to find my way out but I know that what I saw will be engraved in my mind forever :(
By the time I get closer to Memphis the sun goes down and I have spend another 12 hours in the car.

When I arrive at the Marriott I meet with Jamie who already picked up my batch and signed me in.

After that I’m going to the bar and have a beer. I’m not in the mood for talking at all but there is a business man that starts a conversation. It is amazing, we instantly connect and chat for a full four hours! It is exactly what I needed to get in the mood for my late night showcase at 1:30 pm. It goes well and the demons of the day went to sleep :) After that I stop by Jamie and Ashley’s room - they are still playing.

I didn’t have a place to stay to begin with but my friend Wes Weddell, a fellow Seattle songwriter, has a room in a hotel about six blocks away and gave me a key just in case I need it. He has only one bed but I have a matte that I can put on the floor. I get all my stuff in the car and start to drive again! Man, am I stupid or what?! I can’t find the darn place. It’s after 3 am and I stop on the side of the street in a place where I find WIFI and google my way. Half an hour later I’m lying flat on the floor!

Bye bye Savannah:(

I woke up with the sun in my eyes and started the day by driving back into Savannah for a breakfast and a little sightseeing. It starts with a wonderful sky while driving over the bridge from Tybee Island into Savannah.

After some hours at the Sentient Bean I finally get out and walk through the park towards downtown.

I love the architecture and it reminds me a little of some parts in Frankfurt.

How beautiful - I could just stay and forget about the rest of the tour:)

Well, I know, I got to get back to my car and start the drive - just one more...

In the park I meet Judith, she was at my UU church show and greets me with a big smile. Feels like home!

As soon as I’m on the way the weather turns dark and the sky sheds tears - maybe not just the sky.

It’s a long, long drive and it’s getting dark when I finally drive into Atlanta.

Eddie’s Attic is a wonderful place and Eddie and Tom, the owner greet me with a smile and give me very warm welcome. I open up for Ryan Montbleau and his band. They are fantastic and it turns out to be a great evening.

I even have someone from myspace coming out for me:)

After the show I start the drive towards Memphis. I planned on going another 3 hours but after about 30 minutes on the higway my eyes start closing and I put an end to it and get a Motel.

Condo on the Beach

In the morning I go back to the Bean.

After some hours of email I’m ready for some sightseeing and I’m told to check out
River Street.

There are boats and I’m thinking of taking a ride...but I want to go back to the beach. Mary has offered me to stay at her Condo on Tybee:)

Check this out! I could have done a Trolley tour:0

The Condo is nice and I’m glad to have a place for the night and can stay a little longer.

I walk over to the local pub and have a guinness and some food

Thinking about leaving Savannah is hard - I really wish I could stay longer

Point of Return

I get up way too early and drive back into the city. I start working on the computer at the Sentient bean before I drive over to my UU gig. I’m fascinated by the beauty of this city and the blue sky makes it even better.

It’s not far from the bean and the UU church itself is an old wonderful stone building

Kelly the Music director is very nice and we connect instantly. Her response to my music was great from day one I contacted her.

It’s a nice morning and after the service we sit in a little park. Kelly invites me over to her house to spend the evening with friend playing music. I’m looking forward to that but for now I need to see the ocean. After a lunch at the Bean I start driving West.

Tybee Island is wonderful and i love the beach houses.

Then I’m getting there - just a little further:)

Here I go - this is it - the Atlantic!

I reached my point of return and breath in the salty air. I walk along the shore and talk to the seaguls.

After a couple of hours hanging out on the Beach I drive back into town to Kelly. The party starts soon. It’s very nice and we hang out all evening playing songs.