December 21, 2010 - Following a "blood moon" eclipse, solstice and the return of the Sun. All full of portents these days. Crisp and clear in Alaska and a House Concert to announce locally. Steve Bacon and Andrew Norsworthy are in town so we have elected to put on a House Concert at my place next Wednesday, December 29th. Songwriters in the Round with limited seating, fine wine and a suggested $10 donation to keep those guys in guitar strings... Steve will be joined by Kendra Kinsey.
Over four months later
December 10, 2010 - Over four months later - no entries as I slipped back into a bit of politics and found myself in Alaska at home for the better part of the year. I'm traveling now - in Edmonton, Alberta. On my way to Baltimore and a private gig for JMATE. I wanted to do the drive again - freeing my mind up for music. Seeing the barren wilderness of the Alcan (pictures to follow), listening to the quiet, steady rhythm of the road. Its all a bit releasing and I watch out my window and feel life change - as it so often does. From here I head through Saskatchewan then down at North Dakota, across Minnesota and Wisconsin Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, Penn, DC then Baltimore. From there I return (by plane - car stays in DC for a bit) to Anchorage for the holidays then back out in January for music and contracts in January before returning again to Alaska in February. Not sure where this year will find me, but looking forward to the feeling of change I have begun to sense....
Three months later
July 28, 2010 - (Three months later - no entries for The return to the states, New York, DC, Anchorage, Carson City, NV., Kerrville Folk Fest (another marvelous year there), Wyoming, Anchorage again, Austin, Carson City again (my Mom lives there... so I try to get there when I am driving), Oklahoma for WoodyFest, New Orleans, DC, Omaha, Nashville and Memphis (in Nashville as I write this). Its been an amazing time and I am too far behind to say everything, but there are things to share - AT&T and I phones, for example, are useless on the road to conduct any kind of meaningful conversation in the west. No service being the operative and of course the dropped calls - seems they built the I phone antenna (I do not have a 4, just a 3) s that it does not quite meet the range of AT&T cell towers (see picture below). It sucks and I am beginning to believe those adds about coverage - not AT&T's. But enough of that digression.
Music is going reasonably well, and I continue to do a bit of my old day job as well - Juvenile Justice training as I travel. I've seen some amazing things lately - sunsets and sunrises, often sleeping in my car, feeling the roll of the road beneath me... The quiet of night.... Good music... surprising friends... and just time to think, which I may do too much of. Its been a good journey, but tomorrow I pick up my Huss and Dalton in Staunton, VA (finally repaired) and head back to Alaska in my trusty Toyota. Yes, a good journey, but as all do, this one finally reaches its end. Need to pocket a bit more money, see my friends in AK, my house, my books. A sense a season changing, time changing, the future emerging. Its a good day to drive...
Latchemere
April 29, 2010 - (2nd entry) I took this photo in the Latchemere (Battersea Park Road, London) a few days ago - it reminds me of an old painting. I was in the pub a few times and these three are always at the same table doing a crossword....
I thought I might never get back on line
April 29, 2010 - I must admit, for a while there I thought I might never get back on line and do an entry. Much frustration with the old Mac which was prompted by something now known as the "black screen of death" which meant I lost my ability to see anything on my computer. Mac claimed it was user error and not covered despite the fact that the exact same thing is found all through the Mac forums and they said without an original receipt I could not get a refund on my Apple Care - so this is my way of saying a none-to-fond thank you to them. If their platform was not so good for music, I said... and then when I get a new Mac and tried to migrate the website software I ended up with nothing but disappointment - that and the migration of e mails - how about a warning to all of us that you changed how e mail extensions end? and that it means they just come up blank when you migrate? or that address books don't smoothly move over? Well after days, and days, and days, here we are: an entry finally, most addresses (not all) restored, most e mails (not all) restored. Outside of a guy named Abe, nothing but disappointment from Apple support.
Well enough of the rant. Back in the UK now after three weeks touring in the states - very successful gigs in Boston, Worcester, Portland, OR, Brookings, OR, Austin (as part of Paul Barker's SXSW deal), and Anchorage, AK. Spent three weeks in Juneau working on some education issues (successfully) and visiting old friends Mark, Catherine, Arlo - my Godson - and Maddy, Shari P., Chris, many others and new friends too: Aurah and Mike, Michael, etc... A little time in Michigan visiting Matt and Louisa (check out his new book "Barolo" - I loved it!), and now here. Many new songs and hope that all of this will become an album soon (as soon as I can afford it, that is!) Heading back to the states in early May for time with friends and family before Kerrville - (including former Alaskan and now New Yorker, poet Keith Keith K. P. Liles, who's own book, Spring Hunger, is also a great read!) Hope to see you all down the road! (picture from Brookings below)
Hezikiah Stone
March 6, 2010 - First gig at Hezikiah Stone's (see below) went well! It was as though Tim and I had been rehearsing this past seven months. The Burren 8:30 pm tomorrow. Had the good fortune to catch the Leonard Cohen Live at the Isle of Wight movie last night followed by good conversation and a stop for a drink at Richard's place. That is Richard Cambridge - a poet and performer. He swears we are cousins separated by time. Judge for yourself from the picture below. Good being back in the states, visiting friends and driving. Still a bit of jet lag... Distance is so weird...
Last day in the UK
March 1, 2010 - Last day in the UK for a bit - while Europe suffers under storms, London is actually warm and the sun is out. Some writing done, friends well met - now time to play a little music and do a little work. Head to the states in the morning then to the Boston area on the 4th to play at Hezekiah Stone's Coffee House followed by another gig on the 7th at the Burren in Sommerville - both as the Bone Collectors with Tim Mason. From there its to Oregon, then Austin, then Michigan, then Alaska. Busy March. In reflection, its been a good trip. I came here less focused and perhaps a bit adrift (I called this my "Year of Living Aimlessly") but, with new songs and a plan beginning to emerge for the new CD, I am, if not moored, at least under rudder control. I look forward to seeing folks along the road!
Manchester
February 24, 2010 - Manchester today heading to London tonight. Was in Edinburgh over the weekend visiting new and old friends - all a good thing, though no access to wireless - always a problem when the bars close at 11 - creates havoc for communicating with the states. Part of the journey was to identify studios for potential recording and had some success there thanks to my friends Ron Young and Linda Dewer. Also meeting up with new friends Simon Robinson (Robbo) and his wife Jenny - great time had by all though I did lose my favorite winter hat after 22 years... Plan on posting photos and maybe another soundtrack later in the day/night at Facebook. Having trouble on line though even here, so this entry will be short. But, before I go maybe someone knows why Scotland has three different currencies from three different banks all allowed to print their own money?
