Choices and Chattanooga

Before I get on the road I drive back into Johnson City to give Kim a couple of CDs for the massage. This morning it looks different just because the sun is out - life can be simple after all.

Kim is already working and just comes out for a little to say goodbye

Back on the highway on and on. There are all these choices...

So where do I have to be again?

When I get to Charles and Myrtle’s there is a sermon going on - over the telephone. It’s on a speaker and the folks listen to a distorted voice talking about the bible.
I need to sneak out fast - wow that’s going to be an interesting evening. I call Stephanie, another myspace friend. She invites me over for a coffee. She and her roommate live close by and we instantly connect and are sitting in the living room chatting up a storm. Then I have to go back and set up - well, not a lot it’s like a house concert and all acoustic. I have a small and appreciative crowd. Here is Andrew introducing me.

After the show we chat a little before i say goodbye.

Stephanie and Vicki invited me over for the night and I’m looking forward to some more good company. I have a ball and haven’t laugh as hard for a long time but those gals just crack me up!

We party hard and I get to bed way too late for an early UU show tomorrow!

The edge of Eastern Tennesee

It’s cold and probably will start to snow - brrrrrrr. I get in the car and crank up the heat. And yes! just as I get into Eastern TN it starts snowing lightly.

After several hours I arrive in Johnson City. I’m not sure about the vibe but I think it’s the dark weather that effects me.

It’s easy to find the Cafe and I sit down to do some work again.

My myspace friend Kim who has a massage therapy studio offered to work on my messed up back, so I drive over and get a massage before I head back to the Cafe to set up.

It’s a strange show though people seem to enjoy it but it’s also a place for people to talk and chat and not a listening room. I reach a couple of folks and be grateful for that. After all I really can’t expect a thing. This is another Motel night and I’m a little sad and tired and end up watching stupid movies until 3 am.

One more day on the road

Today I’m gonna drive through Memphis and later through Nashville.

It’s the second day of straight driving and must say that I like it. I do my one hour vocal training and then work on some lyrics:) Ok, Memphis here I come!
Just a short glance - well I’ll be back for five days soon. When I finally reach Nashville it’s dark and the city looks like magic.

I need to go at least a little bit further today, so I squeeze in another hour before I stop and get a motel. There is a restaurant close by and I indulge in a nice Steak and some beers - nicely decadent, well, just some soulfood after a long drive. When I sit down at the bar the man next to me is cussing on the phone - in my German home dialect!!!! I can’t believe it but stay put and just observe. At some point he’s starting to talk to me but I can’t admit that I’m German too and so I let him believe I’m american. It’s a little strange but I’m not up for cussing today.
After a great dinner I go back to the motel and work a little while checking out several movies on the TV.

Hope is President Clintons birth place

Early start! One last look and off it goes.

I drive North on 35 towards Denver. It’s a gloomy day and I get a lot of traffic on my way out of Austin.

Then it gets better and several hours later I’m getting close to Denver. First I think to use one of the loops and go around it but then i decide to just stay on 35 and drive straight through. The traffic is decent and the view great.

Then it goes East towards Arkansas. I’m starving and there is nothing out but fast food - oh my, well, it’s a first time on this tour but I just need some fuel

I’m tired and it’s getting dark so I decide to stop in the next town which turns out to be Hope, the birthplace of President Clinton. I saw an add for a $32 room at a Days Inn and go straight at it!

After a long bath I want to go out and get a beer and something to eat. I drive around town but there is literally nothing. Finally I find a Mexican restaurant that looks inviting. When I order a beer, they look strangely at me and explain that this is a dry county!!!! Darn, I’m German and want a beer! Well, not tonight:) So I habe a tortilla soup and a water before I drive back to the Motel. Tomorrow is again a long driving day...

Bob Marley's Birthday

Again I work all day and find out by total coincidence that I have a show this Friday in Johnson City, TN - 1200 miles from Austin! I got this in September but thought it was never confirmed - well I was wrong. Luckily I find out today which means that I have to leave early tomorrow.
In the early evening we go and celebrate Bob Marley’s Birthday with $1 Red Stripe☺ Here is Melissa and her friend Jena.

After that we go to an open mic night in an absolute dive bar.

They still smoke here though it’s officially ruled out but... I play pool for a while and drink some more Lone Star Texas beer.

Around midnight we drive back and I start packing for tomorrow.

First day off

Well, not exactly - it means only I don’t play in the evening but I get up early and work until about 3 in the afternoon straight.

When Melissa comes home from her job she takes me to a nice green belt with a little river running through. I did not think that there is something like that so close to the city. Ahh, the water feels great!

After a brisk walk back to the car we drive downtown.

We get some groceries for the evening at the Whole Foods master store - wow! it is huge! After a dinner with the family and some nice chats I’m ready for bed.

Back to Austin

I have a slight hangover when I wake up but the bed was great and I’m rested. Oh, it’s only 8 am - nobody is up yet, so I sit on the veranda and play guitar looking into the valley. After a great breakfast I do some laundry and then pack up (stuff) my car and get ready to leave fro the drive back to Austin. Saying goodbye isn’t easy, I had such a wonderful time...

It’s a wonderful day and I enjoy being up on the hill and driving down.

Jovitas is a nice large venue and the stage is more for bands than for solo artists.

It’s Super bowl Sunday and so I don’t expect anybody to show up. After all I have three people, including Melissa. I don’t care and just relax and play my show. I’m still fulfilled by my experience in Kerrville yesterday. After I’m done Melissa shows me some cool places in Austin. Here we are on South Congress.

After a great mexican dinner we go to see some Songwriters playing down the road. Around 11pm I’m fried and ready to go to bed - oh my, not quite yet! when I get to the car I see that I have a flat tire. It’s the one that has still a cap on it. I don’t have the key so I need to use force to get it off.

Well, that was another full day - got to go to bed now!

Into the Hills of Kerrville

It’s a nice drive from Austin via Fredericksburg to Kerrville. As soon as i get closer to my destination the hills show up and I just love it. It’s a sunny day and I’m looking forward to the house concert.

Now I know why Paula and Marty’s series is called “Hill Top House Concerts“ There impressive house is indeed on top of a hill and actually the last one in the street.

The setting is beautiful and when I arrive I’m welcomed with a big smile and a hug. Paula shows me around and I love the living room where I’m going to perform in a few hours

I get settled in and make myself at home. It’s getting there and the sun is going down. The view from the veranda is stunning!

Tiffany a friend of the family arrives after a 3 hour drive from Corpus Christi down at the TX coast. Here is a pic with her, Marty and Paula.

Then the people arrive with lots of food and wine! Wow what an audience. they are so vocal and simply love what I’m doing. It is probably one of tthe best shows I ever played and at the end I get a long standing ovation - pretty emotional!
Before everybody leaves I take another picture:)

The nighty is not over and Tiffany, Paula, Marty and me party and chat until the wee morning hours. I don’t even want to look at the clock when I finally get to bed.

Mozart in Austin

I leave San Antonio around 10 am and drive straight to Austin. It’s still chilly and I hope the sun comes out later that day.

It’s only about an hour drive and I’m excited when I enter the city despite the traffic.

I don’t know why but I love the high rises and am fascinated by it - I should keep my eyes on the road though!

Austin is smaller than I thought and easily to navigate. I find my way to the venue who is located right at the Austin Lake. It’s only noon when I get there which gives me about 8 hours to work on the biz side of all:)

I sit right next to the window and hours later I see the sun going down and coloring the sky - that’s so beautiful!

The show goes well despite the fact that people talk. I have some myspace friends coming for me and it’s great to meet them face to face. Here a picture with Molly and her daughter Pam.

Also Datri Bean and her husband Chalo come which is a total surprise. I even forget to take pictures! My friend Melissa is also here. I stay with her and her parents in the outskirts of Austin.
When I get there later that night we chat on and on.

Finally I make it to bed! ehem, to the couch:)

From KFAN to San Antonio

First I have to pack the car again - well stuff it describes it way better.

Then I go downtown for a coffee and something to eat. I find a cute bakery and spend a couple of hours working on the computer

Then it’s time to go to KFAN for my interview with Robbi “Dawn” Dale. Right when I come ito the door I see alll this cool vintage Radio gear...

It’s one of the best Radio shows I ever had and Robbi is just darling:)

After that I get on the road to drive down to San Antonio where I play tonight. Finally the flatland becomes hilly:)

San Antonio is a beautiful city and the sun feels pretty good though it’s still colder than I expected.

I get lost and it takes about an hour before I find the venue - well, the place where it used to be. Luckily I find someone that tells me that it moved to the other end of town. I call up Delphine and she explains the directions - well she mixes up West with East and so I end up 3 hours driving in full traffic. It’s hard to keep positive because I’m exhausted and I invited all my fans to the wrong location. When I arrive finally there is no time to fix that and I just can eat a little before setting up. It’s a very cozy place but very cold and the oven doesn’t help at all. I’m going to share the show with Eric Balkey from Philly. He sounds great and I have fun listening.

There are only about 5 people there and I’m freezing my bud off. Delphine is very nice though and sorry for the circumstances.

I get out around midnight. By that time it’s really cold and I have to drive out of the city and find a Motel. I’m not in the best mood and tired and frustrated - This day was a sure ride! After 40 minutes driving around I find something. I realize that I starve but there is not much choice so I end up with the perfect soulfood for a day like that:)

Let’s see what tomorrow is like...