We've been very kindly invited back to a scene from our early days. Our friends at the Pocklington Performing Arts Centre, who booked us for one of our first big shows opening for Sandi Thom a few years ago, have invited us back to play two days at the 8th Annual Pocktoberfest Music Festival held in Yorkshire, England on October, 28th and 29th.
We're very honored to be asked and very pleased to help contribute to the many charities this festival is benefitting.
Full list of performers and more info can be found at http://www.pocktoberfest.co.uk/
We were awoken by Alejandro's soft enthusiasm for the impeding day.
Let me repeat that...we were awoken by Alejandro. Alejandro was the first one up.
Incredible.
That just shows how eager we all were to explore places we've never seen. On our day off in Burlington, Vermont, we drove twenty miles west of the city to Mt. Philo. It was a misty sky, about 65 degrees. Perfect hiking weather. It started to rain when we reached the summit where we saw incredible views of Lake Champlain.
We hustled over to the Bolton Swimming Holes, another 20 minute drive. I certainly wasn't the first brave soul to bare that water (about 50 degrees warm,) but I did get in. So cold it takes your breath away. Literally. Didn't stop us from jumping off 12-foot waterfalls though.
What's the worst thing you can eat after barely evading hypothermia?
ICE CREAM!!!! Woooohoooo.
Ben And Jerry's Factory was right down the street. Delicioso.
What? The Gig? Oh, of course that was awesome too. We got to play at Nectar's, the birthplace of Phish (the spelling of which an homage to Mt. Philo's phonetics?) Amazingly, we hooked up with a local band, The Move It Move It, whose guitarist graduated from Miami in 2003. Small world, eh?
Sheerly for my future mental well-being, we're going to skip our (all-too-brief) sortie to Canada. Let's just say we didn't get in and sadly had to cancel the gig. Alright, I'm getting pissed off. Moving on...
Chicago was very very sweet. The nicest people in the world, great food and beer and the gig was really top-notch. The venue, The AceBar, was located near Lincoln Park, just a bit aways from Wrigley, and had this great in-house sound man named 'Grateful Gary.' Big Jerry Garcia fan and a super nice guy. A few of the guys disappeared into the city after the show and returned to the hotel in the morning. What happens in Chicago, stays in Chicago, right? Really can't wait to return.
We were honored to guest at BMI's 8 off 8th weekly event at the prestigious Mercy Lounge. A small showcase featuring the performing right's organization's artists, it was a fantastic experience playing on that stage with easily the best sound we've every experienced. Very beautiful city, even if you don't play country.
The last gig was of the acoustic variety at Eddie's Attic (birthplace of John Mayer's career) in Atlanta, GA. This one was a lot of fun!
The drive back was a very long and somber one. It's never fun to leave a tour behind. I want to personally thank all those wonderful people that we met in each city, who took care of us, showed us around, danced with us and listened. We're so happy to know you and welcome aboard.
We said goodbye to our ever supportive friends in Raleigh and set sail for Charlotte, only a 3 hours drive south. My high school pal Jesse Clasen's new side project, The Bear Romantic, invited us to open for them at Tremont Music Hall on Saturday night.
We were all excited for our first trip to Charlotte but apparently, we weren't the only new visitor. Locals told me that they'd never seen such a torrential storm in all their lives. The parking lot was a small lake and the thunder was louder than the mic'ed bass drum.
But people still showed up and the show goes on. We were really really having fun up there until we got to my favorite song of the set, 'Idiosyncrasies of the Resolute (track 4 off the new album)." I'm really able to lose myself in it and tonight, I absolutely did. The second half of the song is this big, chanting sing-along chorus during which I forget who and where I am. So I'm right in the middle of it and suddenly, I black out. Or think I black out.
But then I realize that all I hear is drums and the voice in my head.
Another second goes by and....Oh. The power went out.
Amazingly, about four beats later, the amps, mics....everything...boots back up instantly on the downbeat. We never stopped playing, the whole building just needed a quick breather.
******
The next day in Wilmington was really great. We blazed through another set, saw some old friends and met a lot of new ones. What a nice beach town.
Philadelphia was a little tricky. The room turned out to be more of a listening room (woulda been perfect for a solo tour) than a full-on rock band stage. So we adapted on the fly and made the best of it. Still saw some great folks.
Actually, this is the first tour I've done since I started the Living Room Sessions so it's always really cool to meet people who have reached out with support on the internet and put faces with screen names.
And New York was great. It's always great. We tried a new venue called Pianos which was a nice room. The heralded margaritas weren't bad either.
On Saturday, we played my friend Dave Chaitt's popular YouTube series 'Backyard Brunch Sessions' in Brooklyn with recent Glassnote Signing 'Givers.' They turned out to be really nice folks and we performed four songs in a stripped down set. Acoustic guitars, percussion and drums and an upright bass. You'll see the video pretty soon and when you do, you'll see first hand how much fun we had.
An off day in New York gave me a chance to catch up with some old friends and take my pops out for a Father's Day dinner. All in all, a perfect weekend on the long and beautiful road.
The CD Release Party was a smashing success, the albums getting praise from far and wide and we've just embarked on a 13-city tour. Needless to say...exciting times here.
Last Friday was really great. A lot of old friends came to support, say hi and pick up 'Name It What You Want.' We raffled away an iPad2.
Jenny, The Winner of the iPad
But Miami was only the beginning. Soon after, we took off up I-95 and (not too) soon made it to Raleigh, NC - our first of 13 cities, and one of my hometowns growing up. Folks there are some of the most diehard, supportive people a man could hope for. Eternally grateful for them.
Check out the full tour schedule here and come say hey.
