The end of my car

Leaving Memphis I hardly get in a gear - I knew this was going to happen because the transmission made trouble since I left Lubbock a couple of weeks ago. Now I’m on my way back there for another concert and wonder if I ever make it. It’s touch and go and I brake down about 8 miles before I reach my friends house in Ransom Canyon. What a drag! well I’m still lucky, it could have happened somewhere in Arkansas...

After running two stop lights (I could not stop anymore because I knew that at this point it was impossible to get in a gear) I stop at the third one because I had a police car behind me (He probably saw me going through the other ones). That’s it!!! I’m dead in the water. The policeman is nice and helps me pushing the car to the side of the road where I wait for my friend to pick me up.

They drop me early next morning to wait for the tow truck. It’s a beautiful sunrise.



One last good look



After about 2 hours the truck comes and takes it away!





That is that! Oh well, I know something will come after that - or not?

Time to say goodbye

Time flies here with all these wonderful folks and music all day/night long. I take in as much as i can and am sad that by tomorrow everything is over.











One last listen

Memphis Folk Alliance:)

Yiha, I made it, despite an almost broken transmission! Here I’m driving over the bridge into Memphis.



Once there it’s as crazy as always



Glad to see old friend Bill



and then the evening hotel room sessions















It must have been 5am before I hit the bed, sharing a room with four other musicians it feels like I’m seventeen again:)

On my way to Memphis

Long drive to day...Somehow it takes me forever to get out of Houston and it seems my GPS has the flu. It’s guiding me through weird small places.







Sometime late I just take the next motel I can find

Early morning in Spring, TX

I have to get up really early after almost staying up to 5 am. This morning I play in Spring at the Creative Life Center. Geoffry, the music director, and Rev. Jesse greet me warmly and I instantly forget how tired I am.



Geoffry is a wonderful piano player and next time I go and visit we’re going to play together.



Never seen a Reverend playing the congas so well:)



After the service I have to pack up fast and drive back to Houston for the Stiteler House concert at Chris and Susies house. They have a great house in a wonderful neighborhood.



Willie and me play the same format than yesterday





After that we - who would guess - paaaaarty

Fred and Linda's House Concert

Today Willie and me share a house concert at his friends Fred and Linda. I’m glad that we have a packed house after a few low key shows.



They are great listeners



Willie starts the first set and I finish it and the second set we play together which is a lot of fun!



It’s a successful evening and I’m fully satisfied.

The Bugle Boy in La Grange

Never Realized that ZZ Top had a song called La Grange. It’s a little town halfway between Houston and Austin. The Bugle Boy is a great little listening room and one of the best of it’s kind in Texas. Once I get there I park the car downtown and walk around.



After a little snack I drive to the venue



It’s a wonderful space but I don’t have a lot of people there...



I play for Lane, the owner, the staff and a few folks that made it but I do a whole concert and everybody loves it:)

Anderson Fair

Tonight I’m playing the Anderson Fair with my friends Ken Gaines, Butch Morgan, and Wayne Wilkerson. Here is Butch warming up.



We are playing in the round



After a good show I drive back to Willie’s where I have a nice guest room.



Willie is a master of hat’s:)

Driving to Houston

Today I have a show in Houston which is a bout a 4.5 hour drive. After I wake up I stroll though Marble Falls and get a hair cut - always an adventure in a small town. I haven’t had breakfast yet so I go back to the River City Grille for lunch and sit out on the deck looking over the Columbia River





The drive is very nice. I love the bridge structures once I get closer to Houston.



My car is starting to give me some trouble and I suspect the transmission. I really hope to make it at least to memphis next week. I’m staying with my friends Willie and Mo. Willie drives me to the show at the Hopshouse. Love Houston at dusk...



Here is the house band who opens up the evening.



Here are Willie, Mo, and me afterwards...



Willie wants to show me another club and off we go - this one has just a green door...



We play a game - I forgot the name but it’s like curling on a long table:)



After that we drive back home and I have good night sleep.

More Folk Alliance

In the morning I take a little walk down to Beale Street but it's friggin' cold!!!





I need to get back to the hotel where it’s warm - brrrrrrrr!



It’s a full day of listening and playing



Always loved that pyramid!



my buddies from California



Then the sun goes down over Tennessee



Another great evening...