November 26, 2011 - The days are rushing past like a truck down a freeway at night. Surreal lights like ancient spaceships floating down rivers of asphalt... Time slipping by, but full, so very full. Two lives really it seems - Egypt and the music. Now for the music.
The music tour began October 30 in Manchester, UK according to my good friend Martin. Played a song there for his magnificent wedding (accompanied there by the vocals of my girlfriend Sarah Sledge). Then it was back to Anchorage for the official kickoff at Side Street Espresso November 5 and again on the 8th for Arctic Entries (as the featured artist). From there it was to Cairo (see below) where I played for friends at the home of Naguib Abidar and then to Dallas, Texas for an amazing house concert at the home of Randy and Denise Renter - two Kerrville friends who made me feel as though I was always at home. It was an electric evening with Kerrville friends Jerry Earwood and his wife and Scott Ausburn (his photos of the event are on my Facebook page) along with many others. There Randy and Ron Isaacson connected me to the work of the late Karen Holt and her touching work around abuse, and Bill Nash joined me for a song circle to close out the evening. Truly Magic.
Dallas was followed the next night by the generous hospitality of friends Mike and Carol Wofford who opened their magnificent house in Oklahoma City to friends and neighbors as a fundraiser for the Food Bank of Oklahoma. The evening was a different as I could have hoped - a unique dynamic mix of people that made me feel as though music truly was our common language. The evening went late, not just with the music but with conversations that stretched all of our boundaries. Absolutely electric. After a week break in Florida with Sarah and her parents, I'm on the road again. Today in Knoxville where I am hosted by friends Thomas and Kathie Tallant. Another great evening? I'm counting on it....