The god stuff

I get up and play guitar - that’s the way it always should be, instead of checking email and things like that...

It’s great to have some time without moving around and driving, I really enjoy that. We’ve invited James Lee and his Danish wife Evelina over for dinner and playing some songs. We grill some porkloin and I make Collard Greens and fried potatoes with it. That and good beer! Hmmmm. After dinner we start playing music

Evelina is listening and enjoying it...

We play till midnight and then our guests have to leave and drive back to Woodland Hills.

What a great night - more of that!

Bellissimo

I spend all day hanging low talking with James playing music. In the evening we drive to Woodland Hills where I'm a feature in Garret Swayne's Mainstreet Singer Songwriter Showcase. Alfred Johnson and me have 30 minute slots and then the open mic night starts and I’m going to meet some old friends. Here’s James Lee & Ric Taylor

Melinda is giving it all. She’s done a huge step up and it’s fun to see where it might go...

We stay until the end and then drive home to a couple of beers and a nice bottle of wine. Then I feel like it’s time for bed...

Goodbye to Myra and Hello to James & Melinda

We have to drive downtown L.A. to drop of Myra at Union Station. She’s got a 10h ride with the train back to Berkeley. I’m still fascinated with all the highways here.

I realize that I haven’t been downtown L.A. yet and get excited while driving 8 lane highways...

Union Station is actually easy to find. I’m a little sad to say goodbye to Myra. We had a great time and playing together was such fun - well, it’s just the beginning...

Then I’m off to Moorepark where I’m going to stay with m,y friends James and Melinda.

James takes me for a ride to a close by Ranch where he has a friend that is into boats and old cars (the ones that need a lot of hours to put into)
Here is part of James’ dream.

This is his buddy Russ (The Dude) with his new baby.

I love to see the inside and so we go ahead

Everything looks different from up here.

Meanwhile it’s time to go back and grill us some beast, I’m starving.

It’s good to be back here!

Sunday in Santa Monica

I think I didn’t sleep at all! Oh man, this is going to be hard. I jump up doa little kitty wash, grab my guitar and off it goes

It’s actually a little chilly before the sun comes up.

We arrive a little early and grab a cup of coffee on the way. This is my seconc time in that church and I’m looking forward to do the duo...

After the church we drive back to Redondo Beach. I’m surprised to see white mountain caps in the distance, I wasn’t expecting that so far South.

We’re starving so we drive down to the beach and grab a bite in a nice old Thai restaurant.

Oh was I looking forward to a cold one!

After that we go back to the little house and hang low all evening. I have to get Myra to Union Station in the morning and need to catch some sleep for sure.

Backstage Altadena

It’s just as pretty a day than yesterday and driving along the Bay is just wonderful.

It’s going to be about 5h - 6h down to L.A. if the traffic allows it. So we hang in there and just cruise along.

Finally we’re getting closer.

Bob is not there yet so we settle in and get everything tuned up. Then we have a little soundcheck.

The show is really well attended and we almost sell out - I’m soooo relieved because it’s my third time there. We sound great and blow them away! Some of my L.A. friends show up. Rosendo being one that supported me from the get go!

Here is another shot with some good friends of mine - it was so cool to see them come out and support us!!!

After the show we all hung out in the cafe.

Then we decide to go for a late dinner down the road. Here’s Larry in heaven.

Tonight we stay at my friend Samantha’s and Roman’s house in Redondo Beach. They both had prior plans and could not come, so we have to find the place ourselves. It’s going to be a couch and floor scenario for a couple of nights.
Here’s my humble bed - later I forget to close the valve of my matte and pretty much end up on the floor.

while Myra disappears totally in the couch.

It’s way too late and we have to get up short after 6 am to drive to the UU Church in Santa Monica.

The first Car booboo...

Well, this morning I have an appointment for the muffler & a new tailpipe. I got to get up at 7:30 am. Darn! it’s a long time since I got to sleep in...

After that I’m driving back to the house and have breakfast. Then we leave for Cayucos and Morro Bay. It’s a wonderful drive and I’m excited to be on the road. After about 4h of cruising we reach Morro Bay and drive on Highway 1 along the shore.

First thing we do is to take a stroll down to the beach and walk Judy’s dogs.

Then we go back to the house, it’s such a wonderful day

The house concert is at a neighbors home and we have a great performance. Too bad that I left the camera but, oh well, more to come.
We get back around 11pm ans sit until the wee hours and chat before the girls go to bed and I to couch.

Back in Santa Cruz

Tonight we’re back in Santa Cruz and play Georg and Veda’s GREEN HOUSE CONCERT. we get on the road early and as soon as I start the car I realize that the Muffler is done! It’s so loud! Oh well, whatever. Got to smile...

It’s a two hour drive and after we arrive I go and get an estimate - It’s going to be around $200 include a new tail-pipe. I make an appointment for the next day and drive back to the house to stuff envelopes - I have to send out about 20 CDs to various djs in the US, Australia, and Germany:)
After that it’s time to get ready and people start showing up. It’s a great concert and Myra and me sound very tight! After the show there’s party time, my favorite thing to do:)

Here are Jesse and Margo, both artists, she’s from Darmstadt so we chat a bit about old times in Hessen.

After everybody is gone I still talk on with Georg until the wee morning hours. Oh darn, I forgot that I still have to write some letters that need to go out with tomorrows mail...

The official first concert:)

Today Myra and me play our first concert together. Due to the cancellation last Saturday this is the also the first concert of the tour. After I get up and have breakfast I put away the bed things and get ready to practice.

Time flies and in the afternoon we go over to the place where the concert will happen. It’s at Myra’s old house on Asby Ave. It’s a real nice area of Berkeley and I remember taking walks there years ago

It’s a great space with good acoustics and I’m looking forward to the evening but first we rearrange the living room...

It’s a small turnout but a very nice appreciative crowd. My old friend Jon Jackson comes and brings some friends. There are also some more folks from Sweetsmill like Kevin Cloud and Will.

After that we drive back to the house and I crash almost instantly. I’m soooo tired.

Day in Berkeley

I get up late and Myra has already made some coffee. So we sit down and chat on

Then the pancakes

The kitchen looks just like the one I had in Frankfurt when I was in my early twenties. Wow, that’s long ago:)

They have this really cool picture of the Bushclan on the fridge - It’s during the New Orleans flooding.

Just kiddin’ it’s photoshopped - but then again it says all!
During the day Myra has to teach and I hang out with her housmate Jason and his friend Hava. I know both from Sweetsmill and we have a good time. Later on I practice a little and start writing a new thing. When Myra comes back we work on the program and after a couple hours I’m ready to put my guitar to sleep and go to bed or to chouch.

But not before I work my way through a Newcastle