Jul21
The day after tour I flew to Colorado and spent some time in the mountains near Winter Park with my family. It was a lovely trip accompanied with many hikes, time for thinking and even time to work on some lingering design projects that I couldn’t get done at home. Near the end of our trip I had a chance to play a few shows in Colorado. The first was in Denver at a beautiful place called the Meadowlark. I recommend it for summer shows. They have a glorious outdoor stage and patio with lots of green plants and red lights. Don’t worry, it doesn’t remind you of Christmas at all. I met some great/interesting local Denver musicians including a few fiddle friends of Kimber Ludiker, a friend of mine from Spokane who now resides in Boston. It was nice to know once again how small the world of music is!
Next day I went up to Ft. Collins back to Everyday Joes. A place I played with David Bazan back in April. It wasn’t quite as nice, but I guess I was spoiled opening for someone like that. This show was much more subdued. The room is so big and the audience spreads itself out as much as possible. But by the end of the show it had filled up a bit and there were some really kind folks hanging out. Matt Roberts and Megan Burtt both played amazing sets. It was great to connect with more local talent in Colorado. There’s a lot of creative artists in that area and unique venue settings.
I was given this awesome mug with my delicious cup of coffee at the show in Ft. Collins. I thought it ironic to my basketball fanatic high school years! ha.
Next up was a trip through the badlands of Wyoming. I’ll write about that one soon! show friday with Cave Singers. They are the best…don’t miss it!!!! Empyrean, 8pm.
Jul13
Unfortunately, I had to take a flight to Colorado before I could download the pics from my camera on my computer from the last couple shows. I’m pretty sure I got some good one’s from the House of Paine show and will post them as soon as I get home in a couple of weeks. But the show must be recapped. It was extremely memorable for me and the night that followed was hilariously in contrast.
I met Tony Kevin a while back through my friends, Garage Voice. He soon after told me about this house gathering that he frequents called House of Paine. It’s just the house of a family with the last name Paine. They have a garage that’s being renovated and host dinners, music and intentional hang out times for anyone who needs or would like a place to go. They are wonderfully hospitable and kind. We had a homecooked meal and felt so welcomed. The show was out in the garage with coffee and cookies. The atendees were silent and transfixed on the music the whole night. Tony played a set and blew me away. It was such a treat to hear him finally! I took the intimate setting to do a quieter new song totally unplugged with Caleb singing some beautiful harmonies. It was a real treat to play for all the folks that came and I can’t wait to just go back to visit and hang out.
Thanks to Tony and the Paine’s and everyone else who helped put on the great night.
Next day we trekked to Sandpoint, ID to play at the Downtown Crossing. Let me just say, it was a hilarious night. The bar was absolutely packed, there were people smoking joints on the patio, folks were hooking up right and left and we just made the best of it. Without a band I probably would have been in tears by the end of the night, but they kept things fresh and got people dancing…somehow. Drunk people will dance to anything I guess…even Down the Line. HA. I did pull out my Bonnie Raitt cover of “Give it up or Let me Go” and we jammed an extra five solo sections because people were so into it.
We sleepily made the drive home and then spent a day chilling in Spokane before our last show. I sliced one of my vital guitar playing fingers while cutting potatoes, but it didn’t affect the awesomeness of the tour finale show. The show was great fun and I was really sad to say goodbye to everyone. I wish the tour had gone on longer.
To my dismay, I only got 2 hours of sleep and had to leave early the next morning on a plane to Colorado where I am now spending a week with my family in the Rocky Mountains. It’s beautiful up here and I’m looking forward to a few shows in the area this weekend. Denver is on Thursday at the Meadowlark, and Friday in Ft. Collins at Everyday Joe’s where I got to open for Mr. David Bazan last time. Missing Spokane, but enjoying the beautiful mountain landscapes and working a few new songs.
Jul11
So, I wrote up a whole blog full of over analyzations about touring and playing shows and how to get people to come to shows, because those are the only things I could think of to write about. But instead of posting that, I decided to not bore you with my internal music business struggles. Some other time maybe.
Portland was sweet. Mississippi was great to play at with the band and Ezra Carey headlined the show which was awesome. A friend introduced me to his music about a year ago and I’ve been trying to put a show together with him since. It was great that it worked out and I really enjoyed his performance.
In Seattle we played at the Comet Tavern, one of the cities most famous dive bars. Rightly stereotyped, it’s pretty disgusting and awesome. The feel of the night was great and we had lots of enthusiastic listeners. Scott’s set rocked even harder than usual, which I didn’t think was possible. Shenandoah Davis opened up the show with her fantastic piano chops and the Beautiful Clarks closed things out with a stripped down but still rocktastic set. Overall it was a really fun night and a unique Seattle experience for me. I’m used to the quieter venue spaces like the Sunset Tavern or the Qcafe. Such a different feel at the Comet.
We even had a ridiculous photo shoot in the bathroom to show how divey the place really was.
After Seattle was Marysville at the House of Paine and then over to Sandpoint. More about those two shows coming up! Spokane is tonight and may be my last full band show for a while. Widower, from Seattle is playing also. Should be a great tour finale show. Hoping all of Spokane isn’t out at the lake!!!
