Where the heck am I???

This morning I woke up with a headache and had no clue where I was - I mean no clue for at least a minute! The room looked like any other motel room I've seen in the last six months. Finally I got it, I'm in Connecticut on my way to Philadelphia. This time I google it before I put it into my GPS and decide to drive about 100 miles out of the way to miss out on the main traffic close to New York. On top of that I experience various Work Zones. I'm still alright with time but spending it in a car going 15 miles tops is certainly not my idea of fun. I'm still looking forward to the web TV interview with Ray Naylor tonight. He's doing this Grassroots undertaking from his basement in a Philadelphia suburb - you've got to love it. For the first time Ray is doing two interviews in a row, first Christine Havrilla at 8pm then me at 9pm. It's great despite the technical snafu's that keep coming:) I planned on staying but also want to be in Brooklyn tomorrow morning to rehearse with Chris for the evening show in Manhattan. So I drive off into the night towards NYC. Unfortunately it starts pouring down after only 10 minutes and I almost crash the car when a truck passes me and splashes water on my windshield which blinds me for a few seconds even with the wipers on full speed. Hell! now I'm awake - I feel like throwing up and get rid of all the adrenalin that entered my system a second ago. I got to find a Motel soon! Oh, and some food. Dang, it's late and so I'm stuck with Wendy's. Too bad it's on the other side of the street with a divider in between. I have to drive in circles and the rain doesn't make it easier. This is really hard!!! Finally I get there - but now I have to drive back to the Motel. I can't believe that it takes so long for such a short distance!!!. After a long day I finally sit on the bed eating a burger and drinking a coke infused with some Evan Williams and an HBO movie that plays in one of my favorite US Cities - New Orleans:)

Philadelphia, PA, 5/11/2010

Life is Plenty!

What a week!!! From the clear view peaks of the emotional mountains in WV to the deep down grind in the City of the Cities. It takes a long time through the windy roads of West Virginia to drive down into the valley. I'm playing at the Fredericksburg Songwriter Showcase. It is in the same building as an old music store where I'm invited to play a 1936 Gibson amongst other treasures. Before I have to split to get to the sound check I'm invited into the back room to enjoy a cold Micro Brew IPA after a 6h drive - Welcome in Virginia! Nice folks and a great evening that spills over to Bob's house. He hosts the showcase since decades and has developed wonderful listening room. We sit talk, and play music until about 2am.
Early morning rise to drive 9h to Western Massachusetts. My GPS, I trust it since it became very stressful to constantly question its integrity, leads me straight through NYC - over the Brooklyn bridge into Manhatten!!! Oh boy - after some deep breaths I start to laugh - stand up against the beast! I already paid toll and learned my lesson - when on the East Coast have cash in your pocket! After three hours of crawling through Brooklyn, over the bridge into Manhatten and past the East river upstate NY, I finally arrive in Sheffield I was 12h in the car - nonstop, well, a gas Station doesn't count, right?. The concert that night I won't mention, just that it kicked me into the ground and brought me close to tears. Wow, I haven't been so low for a long time - glad I have friends out there and cell reception! The same night I drove another two hours and brought the count to 14h total - a new record! A few hours in a motel before I play at the Unity of Central Massachusetts. Then Chinese take out, Sam Adams Imperial White, and watching Master and Commander:)

Life is Plenty

Worchester, MA, 5/2/2010