and in closing (shutting this blog down).

What was this blog? It was intimidating as hell at first but I just kept telling myself it was a personal journal and that and encouragement from Dennis and Vicki (sis and bro-in-law) the first week or two, then close friends Austen Adams and Leann Phelan helping hugely by saying that it was not so bad (also giving me helpful tips along the way) got the ball rolling. I'm not a writer and because of that it usually took me close to 3 hours per paragraph to do and amateur-ish as it would end up sounding it still took that long.... For example, I've re-written this dang thing at least 4 times now.
The blog and trip did a good thing for me. It taught me an old lesson that I've forgotten many times now which is that if I go the hell out there and do something JUST based on a "gut feeling" which is what it was, that it'd push me in the right direction. The quote ("learn to love music again") was kind of an excuse and something to stand on or hid behind at the time cause when it came down to it, I just needed some time to build back a little confidence in myself again. I was in a "bad spot".
 This blog and the people reading it pushed me along everyday to get up, get out, meet people and see and experience things...and I did that. I met some REALLY amazing people. People that I will never, NEVER forget and memories that I'll take to my grave with a smile. Listening to Walt Wilkins's "I Chose This Road" as my soundtrack, I met a beautiful, beautiful "Cowboy poet"/friend (Walt Perryman), Tony ~a fascinating ex-marine who bartend-ed~, a coupla really kind west Texas oil workers, an amazing hall of fame writer (Sonny Throckmorton), a great new friend in Jim Lane, a brilliant kid who writes and sings his ass off through the eyes of the disabled (Chris Hendricks), another new friend Rita Ballou (a kind, sweet person though she'd HATE me writing this sweet stuff about her), Lee a fellow "tent" camper (while in Lafayette,LA) who's goal was to "motorcycle" around the world (Godspeed if you ever read this :)), The Paulin Brothers, an amazing man and "wall builder" for the right reasons Tom Hendrix.  Hell, me and Jim Lane met a another truck "head-on" at 60MPH and I also met a SWAT team at my motel room door in Spartenburg, SC.
 I really loved every mile that I traveled. In Texas (outside of the cities) there was not one part that I did not love entirely. West Texas for some indescribable reason was my favorite looking back. The swamps of Louisiana, the flat freshly plowed fields of the Mississippi delta, the hill country of upper Alabama. Georgia, from the mountains to Thomasville to Savannah. "The Piedmont" that runs all the way from Western Alabama to Virginia. Virginia from the "Library of Congress"(close enough) all the way down to the "The Carter Fold".
 Thanks to all of the people who've kept up with me and given me their financial and emotional support. I hope some of you have found a little joy, some music, a laugh or if nothin else a "where's Waldo" moment during a break in your day. I expected to "endure" large parts of the trip but that just never happened. I never "hit the wall" thankfully. Paul Kennerley told me from the beginning that the driving would do me some good. It did. This trip also helped me get closer to my family which  I'm SO grateful for. Their e-mails and texts on the road really helped me.
Nashville became a dark cloud to me that I couldn't get out from under. Publishing and record companies and peripheral businesses (as we know it) all "going to hell in a hand basket". Finding SO much good music, good music people and music business going on "outside of the bubble" made me feel SO much better about the business and "brightened my skies".
I'll close this last blog with an e-mail from a great friend and brilliant writer. I get this e-mail one day while I was out driving between one dry, flat place and another. THESE are the things that kept me going sometimes:

....But, beyond it all I have always hoped that you find the peace, the meaning you seem to be searching for.

I hope you don’t over look the little things- because that is always what all of the big things are hiding behind.

I hope you turn a corner and get a little lost in the eyes of some poor unfortunate girl that has as little regard for hats as you do.

I hope you find that this town with all of it's frustrations and blindness is still an amazing place where dreams can come true.

I hope you remember that you are never too old to dream.

I hope you stumble across the notion that maybe it's only going to make as much sense as you care to give it.

I hope you stumble and curse and mistake and cry and do something crazy.....

I hope you accidentally mutter a prayer one night and find a great big God hiding behind a little answer.

 love you, buddy


Thank you Craig and EVERY one-a-ya' :), ~"Onward and upward"~ S


P.S. thanks also to Jennifer Carrington, Jenny Bohler, Mike Provencher, Reid Scelza for their input and help with this. I'm grateful for your help.
P.P.S.S.  Thanks again Steve and Sarah :)

"Snow" shows but 2 nights and 678 miles to go!

Library of Congress

another of the Library of Congress

Ari Hest

Great little pub (Galaxy Hut) in Arlington during the snow storm

WELL between nursing a cold and the snow cancellations, I've not really seen much in Arlington. There was the odd open mic where only one writer showed up. The show that had 5 bands and ended up being only a couple at Jammin' Java and a couple of other things that's not worth the mention. If nothing else the snow was beautiful. Surprised that they cancel as much as they do because of snow (9 inches the day before). Thought they would be a little more use to it. Though there was one show that I caught last night, Ari Hest. NY singer/songwriter who played at the The Barns At Wolf Trap outside of Arlington in Vienna, VA. Beautiful old barn looking building (or at least the insides looked like that). Holds about 300 people and was mostly full of his fans. He's been on a 'major" before and continues to tour and release his music via many avenues (it seems). For example, he did something interesting you may have heard about a few years ago, he wrote and released (via-email) a song a week for 52 weeks and sent them to his fans for a 1 time fee. Pretty interesting and innovative. He IS a really great singer and really good songwriter. He got a a random person from the audience to do a duet with him at one point. That was a cool idea. :). Check him out. That's about it and sorry I've not found more up here but it's just bad timing (except for the "State of the Union" thing :)). Countdown. 2 nights and 678 miles left to go.

"Barns at Wolf Trap" Looked more like a barn inside.

"Jammin Java" was not on this night :( Snow shortened shows

Hackensaw Boys, Gid Tanner and the ending of a "temporary life"

Seeing as I can never figure out when bands are gonna start (even 6 months later) I missed the opener last night in Richmond, VA. The National itself is a BEAUTIFUL old theater. Holds about 1500 people according to their website. Can't find much history about the place online but I'm sure it's there somewhere. The Hackensaw Boys have been around for a few years and their music made me wanna go back to my hotel and learn more about the damn roots of American folk music. They really did a great job of representing a style of Americana music. Not in the generic term but real American music. Music's like reading to me, the more I listen the stupid-er I feel. One of the earliest Opry stars and Hall of Famer's, Gid Tanner, is from my hometown of Dacula, Georgia and I don't know ANYthing about him other than just general info. That's embarrassing (being in music so long) but what I've been reading up on today. I'm gonna put up a vid when my computer will allow me (upload speed at this hotel is terrible :() . The crowd really dug the show and this is their home base.

Capitol Ale House-I want one of these in Nashville!!!

I've got one week left of this "temporary life" before I head back to Nashville and get down to the details of starting a new direction. I've laid awake many a nights thinking about it all and wishing that I coulda been happy where I was at (at Universal) but I just couldn't do it and it slowly ate away at my self esteem, creativity, passion and my work ethic. 17 years was a good run that needed to end and had run it's course. I'm ready to work my ass off on a new course or build one if need be. :) Hitting the road for northern Virginia, then the "Carter Fold", THEN home.

Charlottesville, Virginia

ROCKIN chili at Bizou.

"Bizou" on Main St.

Twisted Branch Tea Bazaar

James Harris Moore

Meredith Watson

I feel a little tricked when I hear a really talented singer/songwriter and then find out that they come from a family of writers or in this case a son of one. So I'm thinking this young kid is a helluvu writer last night at this writer's night I stopped by (on my way to something else)! I finally did talk to him for a minute and found out that his father was a writer in Nashville. James Harris Moore was raised in Nashville. As much as Nashville can drive me up the damn walls at times, it can also make you a little more critical as a songwriter (or as a listener in my case). James was nothing like "country" but his dad (Hunter Moore) was a successful songwriter a few years back at Welk Music Group (bought by Universal, my ex-employer). Of all kids I've ever been around, regardless of their musical styles, they can really have a "leg up" in songwriting just being raised around it. Anyways, I'm gonna pretend that's not the case and put up a "flip cam" of the kid ("Cemetery Gates") 'cuz he's really talented and he's moved here to find his own way :). Seems to be a good fit for him and he definitely can stands on his own merits. Also, Meredith Watson played "covers" (or that's all I heard) and she was a really gifted player and singer, too. The place itself was an upstairs coffee shop or Twisted Branch Tea Bazaar as it was called. Nice little place (see pic)! This whole night I was headed toward The Southern a few blocks down "Main" to hear a little bluegrass. Btw, VERY well done main street/shopping area. "The Southern" was a beautiful little venue in the basement of one of the old buildings. Smart design in "The Southern",  in that they put the bar in another room with closed doors so it could make for a great listening room as well as a regular bar when you have a louder band. I got there late (got to talking at the "Tea Bazaar") and missed the opener. The band that I did catch ended up not being "my thing", though they played some great old bluegrass and country standards. Maybe it was bluegrass for the younger generation and I AIN'T exactly fittin into that category anymores. The other pictures you see was of my lunch 'cuz I LOVED it! The chili at Bizou was mighty hot and damn tasty! You get treated to the pictures if nothing else but if only you could eat a picture! Enjoy or ignore. Hey, the snow keeps missing us over here! :( S

P.S., Levi Lowrey's playing in EVERY damn little bar that I visit or have visited (playing the Southern this coming Saturday). I'd bet he's yet to be funny. O.K., he's kinda funny.

Fightin The Good Fight @ the Ashland Coffee and Tea

Isn't this a GREAT picture of BJ & Kay?

Clockwise from the bottom left: Carter Redd, Tess Fisher, James Lester, Anna Harrington, Ross Severin. 

Sunday's through Tuesday's are usually the open mic or songwriter nights and last night I stopped by Ashland Coffee and Tea about 15 miles north of Richmond, Va.. Kay Landry (running sound) and BJ Kocen (hosting) have been running the writers night for going on their 3rd year (think they said). The place sits on railroad tracks of this beautiful little town (or seemed to be driving in) where you can watch the freight and passenger trains pass by. Not being raised around "passenger trains", I have this fantasy about riding cross-country on one, maybe one day. The coffee house itself reminded me of a bigger version of the Bluebird. Nothing fancy but a clean and middle america typa restaurant (if that makes any sense) with ceiling fans, carpeting and autographed pictures on the walls of various singer/songwriters. I saw about a half dozen writers get up on this "Songwriters Showdown" night. It's writers that sometimes have their 1st experience with performing in front of a crowd (or so it seems). There was a middle aged lawyer (dressed as such) that got up and played REALLY good guitar and sang a song about "Lines on Our Hands" and when he finishes he asks the small crowd "what do you think, is it finished yet?" somebody hollers back "Yeah, it's kinda weird, I like it!". A shy girl (Tess Fisher) get's up and sings what she called song #3. It was only her 3rd time ever performing. Most of the songs I heard were not something written with commerciality in mind, they were about their personal experiences. Regardless of what I thought or think, these people have bigger balls than I will EVER have sitting out there passing judgement with my little camera taking shitty pictures. Hell, I could never make 2 lines rhyme and even too damn lazy (and chicken shit) to try. Anyways, BJ and Kay really love what they are doing. They say it's been really hard in the current (economical) environment but they're scratching and clawing and keeping it going. I just wanted to write about it because most of the people there was supporting their friends or performing. It's a great coffee house for writers stopping through. so check it out if you need a supportive and warm place to play. :)

Rollerpalooza 2011 at The Grey Eagle

Tommy Lilac Voltage IV &
Slim Suzy Lilac-Broken Lilacs

The band Lyric. Weird looking picture for some reason.

THESE guys were GR8 (with "Lyric")

Elkmont Place

Your 2011 Blue Ridge Roller Girls

It sounded a little off the wall and I went hoping to see the clash of "roller derby-ing" to a "battle of the bands". Nope, nada. At one point most of the "Roller Girls" (sans skates) did get up on stage but that was it. There were no fights, flips, body slams, trash talking, hair pulling or NUTHIN! This was basically your typical "battle of the bands" with the proceeds going toward the "Blue Ridge Roller Girls". The bar was nothing special. Nothing bad, nothing great. Functional. Old office building with low ceilings. I do like the fact that the bar is at the back and away from the music. My thoughts on the bands that I did see (for once something started on time and I was late). LOVED the duo Broken Lilacs but only got to hear "Slim Suzy" sing one song. She sang her ASS off but I was too busy buying beer, and working my way up through the crowd to get a flip cam of it (she then switched to drums and stayed). BUM MER! Anyways, really, really sweet guys (spoke to them a little) and they are moving to Nashville in the summer. For my Nashville buds, you OUGHTA hook up with them. He's a really talented guy and good singer as well but I kinda like her singing moreso (sorry) from what little I heard though. Anyways, it's worth your wild to see these guys if nothing else. It's not gonna be your "Corporate Country Music"(to borrow a line from Mr. Stuve). They are really big fans of old, OLD school country. Like PRE-60's typa stuff. There were various other artists and another group "Lyrics" (tough name to live up to) that I really enjoyed (Couldn't find a website, sorry but just putting in "Lyrics" Asheville don't really get you very far in a google search). I DID get a "flip cam" of them doing a great 70's cover song "Give Up The Funk" . Oh SHIT, they had a GREAT drummer and conga's player! The rest of the bands that I saw I just didn't care for. Then again, the last band Elkmont Place was a pretty talented rock band. It was young indy typa stuff that I don't exactly have much of an ear for anymore.I didn't stay for the results but they probably even won the damn thing. Goes to show ya what I know. Swear to god, I'm REALLY headed to Virginia now. Ya'll only got TWO more weeks of my shit and then I'll leave you all the hell alone (unless I'm looking for a job :)). You're gonna have to do your OWN damn blogs from here on out, S

Black Mountain music

White Horse Benefit

Red June @ Jack of The Wood 

I give my $20 donation to the benefit for the White Horse in Black Mountain last night. Walk up to the bar, NO 24oz. PBR's!!?? JUST when I've finally got used to the taste of that shit, they ain't got it!! Oh well, it did seem to be a good community event (for a good cause) to keep the doors open of the pretty large venue (especially given such a small town). They were even offering to sell shares of the club to people in the efforts to keep it up and running. Most music wasn't my thing (Uh, there was even a dulcimer player) but the last guy Levi Douglas was pretty impressive. Here's a piss poor vid of one of the songs (apologies). Levi clip . He's just moved to Nashville he said so I guess I'll be seeing more of him if he hangs in there. I'd suggest he live in EAST Nashville, though. Really, REALLY great creative and supportive community on the other side of the Cumberland. After that show I headed back to Asheville to a loud and crowded night at Jack Of The Wood . It's an Irish pub that's a local musician hang too or so I was told. A solid Bluegrass band-Red June. REALLY good fiddle player. When the Mando player sang, it was REALLY cool :). Too noisy to flip-cam though. :( OH, JUST hit me, there WAS a guy Robert Greer from Town Mountain who got up and sang. GREAT Country voice :) He sang an old Skaggs song "Don't Cheat In Our Hometown". I'm fixin to head out to a Benefit for the "Blue Ridge Roller Girls"! Seems only fitting to start the week at a Literary event and end the week at a "Girls Roller Derby" event. Hell, maybe they could use a "Merch guy"! I'm eager to please!

Folk Soul Revival

I had  found Folk Soul Revival online a few weeks back via my web/club/music surfing. I don't know how I had missed them (but I missed a LOT in the last couple of years). Well 2 days before the show I got to talking to a local around Asheville who let me know that one of their lead singers and writers Allun Cormier had tragically died in a house fire a little over 2 weeks earlier. This was their first show since the terrible accident. You could tell it was a REALLY hard night. I hope despite the tragedy of Allun that they stay together. Not very often do I see that kinda chemistry in a band. Then again, stuff that tragic could rightfully make anyone re-evaluated things.

 About the show (trying not to be inappropriate). You know, if I woulda walked in off of the street  (not knowing what was really going on) all I would have known is that I enjoyed the shit outta the show and they were really good! Loved their harmonies, singing, melodies and just their songs in general. I don't wanna or like comparing them to anyone else so I'll just put up a coupla vids that I flip-cammed (Sam's Gap & "Love In Lot 9"). If Zac Brown and Cory Smith can make the kind of money that they are making, these guys should do really well. From what I've read, they were from various other bands in the Bristol, Va area and came together only a coupla years back.
The Bar Emerald Lounge was another really great club downtown of about 200 with good sound, set-up and nice people working there from Vairameg (who books the place) to the bartender to the doorman! :). Oh and the bathrooms were ACTUALLY clean. A rarity among most clubs I've been in. Check them out (the band not the bathrooms) if they come through your town. I'll definitely be doing the same :) I'm pointed toward the direction of my LAST state, Virginia!

P.S. here's a REALLY good song that I found with Allun singing:  "Slide Away" . Wish I'd have known them before now. :(

Literary Trivia Night w/a lil Bluegrass & snow mixed in

Seth, Lauren & Stella. The Trivia guys :)

Some snowy Bluegrass at Wild Wings!

Isn't this a GREAT book store!!??

They look harmless from this pic, but I tell ya they were plannin my demise. All with a friendly smile.

"Oh, the weather outside is frightful"

On a cold as HELL snowy night in Asheville, I drove downtown to a BEAUTIFUL bookstore Malaprops . It was like Davis-Kidd in an old downtown building! I thought I'd check out my literary skills to kill sometime before a night of Bluegrass. Seeing as I'd only read 2 books before the age of 23 ("Amityville Horror" and "Old Man and The Sea"), I expected it to be a blood bath (with the crowd burning me at the stake for a grand ending). You know, it wasn't as bad as it coulda been. My one-man team name was "Observer". I wanted to use "Voyeur" but it didn't seem the crowd for that kinda humor. The sweet lady at the next table did tell me that "this shouldn't be too ego threatening" for me. I thanked her for her kind words of support. 1st question: The Author was a physician who worked with other logical forensics minded physicians like Goosenfelds (sounded like) & Sir Henry Littlejohn (humiliating last name) inspiring the development of his most famous character. Uh, I resorted to my SAT strategy of answering B if I didn't know the answer. Hell, that method got me a 730 (cumulative)! Seriously, a 730 and I REALLY tried. Anyways, for a minute or two there were some older people behind me who gave me one answer and a sweet cute girl who gave me another and between that, my "B method" (and trying to lip-read other players), I squeezed out a 3 way tie for second place! I'm lyin', I can't lip-read for shit but if I could've, I would've. Anyways (to make sure I use the word enough), it was a REALLY sweet couple and beautiful little baby Lauren, Seth and Stella who ran the "Literary Trivia Night". These are the bookstores that are dropping dead like houseflies with the evolution of the Internet, sadly to say :(. After that, I headed over to Wild Wings (woo woo!) for kind of a Bluegrass Jam night. This chain of restaurant's have had "live" music in almost every town I've been in (God bless 'em). It was between this show and a pop/rock band from Austin, Texas. With the really beautiful snow and the mountains and Asheville and everything I just could NOT do pop tonight for some reason. It was a pretty damn good band (especially being a jam) and my fave was the singer/multi instrumentalists Mark Schimick  . Spoke with him a little afterwards and it sounds like he plays in a bunch of different configurations to stay busy but the link above is his main one along with playing with Larry Keel. I started to go elsewhere but the slippery roads and the remembrance of sliding sideways at 60MPH two days earlier chased me to my hotel room. Plenty of music ahead this week :). "Oh the weather outside is frightful, but the fire (I wished!) is so delightful.... Let It Snow, Let It Snow, Let It Snow"

Catch as catch can

The Gravy Boys

Wylie Hunter & The Cazadores

Birds & Arrows "Born To Run" :)

Tomahawks playin some Neil Young

Local 506 in Chapel Hill, SC

So last night I was all looking forward to hearing this band after surfin the net and checking out the good bar schedules in the "Triangle" area. It was a bust. Let's just say that they kinda really sucked. On Friday, I did the same surfing and didn't expect much but had a damn fine nite! Started out at the Casbah over in Durham. I've blogged about that bar before. The band that I SO enjoyed there was the The Gravy Boys -(see vid clip at the top of this blog) . GOOD pickers and the best part was that most of the songs were of the 30's, 40's folk/country type."Depression Era" music. GREAT vocal and band arrangements. Though the music on their CD sounded good, seeing it "Live" was better. It's kind of a "show" that's REALLY fun to watch for their interactions with each other. Good change for me :)-I "flip cam-ed" a bit (Vid). Running late, I left there and headed over to Chapel Hill (Local 506) to catch the last 3 bands of  a "Neil Young Vs. Springsteen" night. It was 5 bands each playing 3 song either of Bruce or Neil, or that seemed like the concept. Fun as SHIT! Met a REALLY great kid (Georgia boy :)) who's band had played GREAT versions of "No Surrender" & "The River". Wylie Hunter's band is he and the Cazadores (though they didn't look Mexican). Seriously though, we got to talking about how hard work and busting your ass is the only way that you're gonna make it in the business (natural talent alone won't get you that far). Actually, it was him telling me that. Agreed, brotha. Seen WAY too much of that over the years. His writing's got a LOT of promise (from a CD he gave me) and I think in today's world he may be more likely to be more in the country vain if for nothing else than for his song's lyrical content. He's GOT good content and in the pop/rock world I don't hear a lotta that and listen to that genre more than country, nowadays. Maybe the pendulum will swing back the other way though. Hope he does good cuz he really seems driven and he IS talented and I think a good kid :). Of ALL things that night, Birds And Arrows (the kind people who told me about all of the local music happening's a month back) played 3 songs and for their last song they played "Born to Run". It's not exactly something you'd think they'd attempt or could even could pull off. Hell, they are a 3 piece: a cello, a Guitar and a drummer. When they started I'm thinking maybe their gonna do some cool NPR version or something to that end. Well hell. They faced the damn thing HEAD ON and rocked!!! It was fun (a little funny) and SO great (especially the breakdown/cello instrumental leading up to the last verse!) She was screaming her damn head off by the end. I mean how else could you do it. I just LOVE those guys. I "flip cammed" none of that show cuzz I hate to do that without getting permission :( The Tomahawks closed the show (coincidentally) with a great Neil Young song that I quoted last week. Probably the ONLY Neil Young lyric that's ever hit me outta nowhere "Keep On Rocking In The Free World" (don't wait for THAT to happen again). Unexpectedly good night :). Now headed toward Asheville...

This weren't no typical "open mic" night!

Because of Greg Gallo (thx dude!) I went to an "open mic" last night at Deep South in Raleigh, NC. It was NOT your typical open mic, and I've seen a few. Saw some REALLY powerful singer/songwriters! The guy running sound "Bullfrog"(Willard McGhee) was a helluvu guitar player and singer. He's a post Katrina (9th Ward, think he said) transplant from NOLA. Bullfrog hosted the night and sang his ass off to start things. Others that were DEFINITELY worth checking out were: Audrey Lee Johnson ("Why I've Come", REALLY good song but couldn't find it on her site :(), Eric Scholz and lastly was this guy Chris Hendricks. Chris worked his way up to the stage and sits down at the mic. Chris has Cerebral Palsy (or CP). One of my favorite cousins Billy Gunter has the same thing and though it doesn't affect so much of the mind (though it can), it can affect motor skills and other things with the body. My cousin's a brilliant guy, as well and taught me ALL of THE cool music as a kid. He was like my musical mentor. My 3 sisters WEREN'T with me suffering through Gary Puckett and the Union Gap, The Carpenters & Bobby Sherman. The only Beatles song we had was "Let It Be". It seems my mother thought it was a religious song (I never knew WHAT the hell it was). Anyways, what Chris sings about is what Chris deals with. As I've said before, that's what I've ALWAYS been "drawn to" in songwriters and what I've always tried to keep them focused on in spite what some people tell them. Chris is powerful not because he has CP but because of his insight with CP. If he didn't have it, he'd STILL be one talented Mofo! This was my favorite of his: "Affliction" . DAMN, this is a GREAT start to a GREAT new year! Happy New music fellas and fellers ;) S

I'll move abstinence from drinking to NEXT year's "NY's Resolution".

The Bullfrog ROCKED!-Video

As did this girl-Audrey Lee Johnson

'nother talented dude-Eric Scholz

P.S. The bar was a great bar that I'll talk about tomorrow (in addition to the owners). TOO much shit for one blog, though!

Largest "tissue to sink" ratio that I've found in all of my travels

Fav's so far from Raleigh area...

GREG HUMPHREYS

Big Fat Gap (Talented pickers!)

Lizzy Ross Band

I stood there wondering last night why this writer/artist that I don't really know (and still never met) e-mails me about all of the great things going on in Raleigh without once mentioning her upcoming gigs. She's a really talented writer/artist. They (Birds and Arrows) are trying to make a living themselves in a world that's become insanely harder to do. To be honest, I've been through this a ton of times before. Over the years Craig Wiseman told me to sign Tony Mullins. For that matter, Tony Lane to sign Dani Carroll, Anthony Smith to sign Chris Wallin, Walt Wilkins to sign Erin Enderlin, Jeremy Spillman to sign Jamie Floyd and Luke Bryan to sign Brent Cobb,etc.... Did I sign them all, no, but probably should have. Paul Kennerley (writer of plenty of #1's) would spend as much time (and really more) on promoting new songwriters than himself. Just between his mentoring of Gillian Welch and Dave Rollins and his help with Bruce Robison in the early days coulda been enough. Barbara Cloyd has sent me an embarrassing amount of (now) really successful songwriters and a couple I did sign (thank goodness). Why writers do it? I don't know. But why I've loved working with them? I know. Selflessness. They can ALL be some self centered bastards at times and hard to work with but who the hell ain't? I just know that my life has for the most part been what it's become (which I'm so grateful for) because of  their selflessness. Done. I just had to get that out there. All that (rant) to say...

Last night I went to the Local 506 in Chapel Hill, NC because of Andrea Connelly (as well as following up on another of her tips the night before). It was a really fun night with some damn talented singer songwriters. Big Fat Gap was the hosts. Greg Humphreys (Vid clip) and Lizzy Ross  (Vid clip) were my faves, though. Both good songwriters and great singers!!! Lizzy is a REALLY powerful and intense performer, as well! I'm gonna just post their damn videos (with their permission, of course). PLEASE watch and thank Andrea if you dig them (and please check out "Birds and Arrows", as well). All I had to do was to just show up and press record in one hand while holding my Bud Light with the other. :)

Dogwoods (amalgam of Mandolin Orange, Drughorse, Ryan Gustafson)

Thank you Andrea and hope you and Pete have a great Christmas, S

Some damn COUNTRY Music in Durham :)

John Howie Jr. & The Rosewood Bluff

Tonk

The Casbah is NOT your typical Country bar name nor is it really a country bar BUT I heard 3 bands there last night in Durham: Tonk, Fontana & "John Howie Jr. and Rosewood Bluff". I heard more steel guitar than I've heard since leaving Houston,Texas 2 1/2 months ago! It had not hit me until last night that I'd been seeing all kinds of Country-ish typa bands but none that were remotely old school in the more traditional form. I guess "Rebel Son" a coupla weeks back were kinda old school (on crack!), though. It was pleasing to the ears to say the least. I've gotten SO into looking for "what ever's going on" that sometimes I have to look back to "see what I've been seeing". Actually, some good players last night overall. 3 good steel players (in 3 different bands) and one being a damn fine all around player, Nathan Gold (playing both in Fontana and the John Howie band). Regarding the John Howie band (formerly of Two Dollar Pistols), he had a great stage presence and really, really good baritone voice. I can never hear the song lyrics but they sounded pretty damn catchy, up-tempo :), great energy and pretty solid. Gotta check out the site.... Checked it out, he sounds much better "live" but I love what he could record. He did say from the stage that they've finished a new record but "it's being held hostage until they pay for it". My fav song he played was "Bugler" an old Byrds song that I didn't know. GREAT song and fine selection & version! All this Country music kinda makes me wanna go back to Texas to hear me some Billy Mata :) Oh, the memories: Billy Mata At Anhalt Hall clip

Fontana

Speaking of Texas, I saw TWO great dancers! All I got was a shitty picture to show for it  (never claimed to be a Leibovitz). I spoke to them for a minute or two and no they weren't from Texas. They were local and DAMN nice people. I'm gonna post the shitty picture 'cuz it's all I got but a BIG thanks to Tommy and Wendy for lettin me take the pic and for the great tips that you shared with me last night. Keep on keeping on :)

Somewhere in there is Tommy and Wendy dancin'-Good GOD I suck at taking pix 

Levi Lowrey Vs. Clay Cook In Charleston, SC

After having a GREAT dinner at Trattoria Lucca (where you have NO idea what the hell you're ordering) last night with my fam, I stopped by the Pour House to see Levi and Clay humiliate each other between songs (mostly). I'm not partial but I gotta say that Levi won the humiliation contest. O.K., I am partial but start your OWN damn blog if you don't like this one. There are options. Anyways, they played for a small crowd at the Pour House last night in a DAMN cold Charleston, SC. I have to admit it was a pretty damn funny show (in addition to the great songs) and worth the money (cuz the bastard Levi wouldn't get me in for free). As you already know, I'm a HUGE Levi fan so I won't ramble on other than say that he ALSO co-wrote Zac Brown's new single "Colder Weather":). Anyways (have I said that already?), I put up a vid of "Wherever We Break Down". It's one of my fav Levi songs and I SWEAR his lips are moving. It's well hidden behind all of that beard. Never the less, it makes it's journey through all of that facial hair and actually sounds really beautiful once it's freed. I think he's gonna grow into the "cousin it" in 5 or 6 years. The ULTIMATE "facial hair off" between him and my friend Anders would be the bestest of contests! This bitterness of facial hair that I hold could be some leftover baggage for me. Seeing as the only place that I could ever grow any hair was on my mole that I've since had removed. :( You know, I really miss that damn thing. I'm on to do a little Art shopping today!

in this corner weighing in at 4 inches+ (maybe) is Anders Osborne!

Zac ain't EVEN gotta chance in HELL in this "face off". Please...!

The Goal (the one on the left)

P.S. LOVE the "Pour House". Another great bar to play (if I played, that is). Not so much a listening room but good sized open floor that rises in the back so if it's crowded it helps to see a band from farther away. Plenty of bar space too :)

The "Mole That I Miss" :( My only shot was a "mole beard".