New Music Is ALWAYS Welcomed

Most of the time, I feel just behind the curve on what's new in the music world. I tend to be MONTHS behind on getting someone's latest album, or just borrowing it then not owning it till a year later - Then sometimes, I go in splurges, and just stack up the new music. This would be one of those cases for me. I have been in a music drought this summer, not really purchasing much music, I think with the exception of picking up SafetySuit, and The FRAY, . . oh, and the new Derek Webb, I didn't really add anything to my collection. While that list may already sound like a lot to some, it's a drop in the bucket compared with what is new, and what I *should* be keeping up with, since I tend to make a living in the same industry . . . I consider my purchasing and listening to as much music as I can as market research for me. I learn a LOT from other players, and artists.

In the last week, I have picked up a slew of new albums. I am thoroughly enjoying Imogen Heap's "Ellipse", Death Cab for Cutie "Narrow Stairs", and Kings of Leon "Only By The Night". I am digging all three of these selections. There is a good chance that by the end of this week I will also own MuteMath's New Album and I will also grab a copy of RadioHead's "In Rainbows". I know, I am WAY behind the curve on that one.

Let me know what you're listening to, what should I check out? I plan on checking out Kings of Convenience's new release this fall, as well as The Weepies. I can't wait till those two Albums drop.

My cute little boy

Here is just a little taste of the fun times we get to have while at home:

Summer Tour: Day 16 - Morning of and gig in Worthington, MN

SO it's early morning still (relatively for me anyways these days). I just finished up eating breakfast, one of the highlights of road life, free hot breakfasts, or continental, when you stay at hotels that is :). I am about to head down to the hot tub, soak a bit, then swim some laps this morning. I'll probably sit and read some more, drip dry a bit. I am thinking of heading out on a walk, perhaps going to the downtown part today, perhaps the lake even. I think it would be a good walk, and it would be nice to get out for the day.

Tonight we start the first show in our last run of five consecutive shows in a row, for this leg of the tour. We'll play from 8:00 p.m. until Midnight tonight here in Worthington, and then we'll head out tomorrow for Sioux Falls, SD, followed by two nights in Omaha, NE, and then one night in Lincoln, NE before we hight tail it back to nashville to rest up and re-gear for the Europe leeg of our summer tour.

It's been a nice couple of days off. I have enjoyed being able to lay around, soak in the hot tub, swim in the pool, read, and talk to my wife on the phone for long spans of time. I am excited about gearing up to play tonight though. We have had at least two radio interviews for this show, plus a ton of radio press, newspaper press and other advertising for it. In addition to it all, there's a meet and greet with the band this evening before the show, and then we kick things off pretty hard, and rock out the place.

Thanks so much for stopping by, and catching up on all things roadworthy. I am hoping to have internet over the next couple of days to be able to post more about how things are running. Until then!

Summer Tour: Day 15 - Day off in Worthington, MN

So today we had the day off. We slumbered late, and meandered throughout the town all day, and best of all, just did a lot of nothing. I woke up, grabbed breakfast, and then immediately went to the hot tub, a great place to soothe my sore muscles from days of playing and riding in the van. It was good times. I spent the morning talking to my family on the phone, touching base with some friends, and reading. The book I am currently on now is Wild Things: The Art of Nurturing Boys. I finished the two harry potters, and I finished the book, True Worship, which I HIGHLY recommend you reading.

For lunch, I went on a walk, and found a little place to eat on the other side of the interstate. Some of the other guys ate an an ethiopian restaurant, and some of the guys made it to downtown Worthington, to the thrift stores and the lake. I didn't go as far, I hiked back to the hotel, had some more hot tub time, finished up my laundry, and then read and emailed some more. I did end the day with a great meal downstairs at the bar, compliments of the bar owner herself. It was some good food.

So the day is closed, and it is time to get to bed, tomorrow starts the last of our day off time for this run. Chow!

Summer Tour: Day 14 - Travel day

today, we're driving. end of story. We have about 10 hours or so, to drive from Bottineau ND, to Worthington, Mn. The plus side is once we get there, we have tomorrow off. And then the following day, our gig is IN worthington, so we don't have to travel and play, just play. It'll be nice not to have make a 10 hour drive right before a show :) So there you have it, we'll be turning south, hitting Sioux Falls and turning east for the last little part of our journey. you can be sure that I am curled up with a book for a good chunk of the ride, I'll probably do my fair share of driving today, and who knows, I might even nap!



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Summer Tour: Day 13 - Travel and gig at The Dockside

And here we are again, back at our old stomping grounds up here in Bottineau. you might say, hey, that map looks a lot like yesterdays. well, it is basically the same route, the only difference is, we start at the bottom of the map and drive the top this time, instead of the other way around. but don't worry, if anything really fun or out of the ordinary happens tonight, I will be sure to let you know :)

cheers!


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Summer Tour: Day 12 - Travel and gig at The Lonesome Dove

So we're headed south today, about 5 hours, to Bismarck North Dakota. We've played the lonesome dove before, and it's a good fun time. The stage is very high up, and the drum riser, even taller, so I'll spend the night looking down on the folks in the bar as if I was on some sort of mountain. It's a ways up there. I'll see if I can get a picture of it so you can see what I am talking about. Until then . . . !!


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Summer Tour: Day 11 - Travel and gig at The Dockside

This morning, as we are all rubbing the sleep out of our eyes, we'll be driving about four and a half hours up to Bottineau ND. This town is right on the edge of our northern border. The lake we play at spills into both Canada and the U.S. The last time we played there, we took a pontoon boat and rode over into Canadian waters. It was a lot of fun, hanging out, seeing the wildlife, and just drifting along through the lake. tonight we'll load our gear in and back out, and then in a couple of days, we'll be back here again, slamming the tunes home for a second night, just not in a row. So if you want to see some international waters, and perhaps even catch a glimpse of canada, then come on out and hear us play !



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Summer tour: Day 10 - Travel and gig at Long Haul Saloon

We're pulling out of Fargo this morning and trucking up to Grand Forks, North Dakota. It's a short drive, just over an hour, so the travel part should be a piece of cake. No worries there. We'll be setting up our sound equipment again though, so it'll be another hardy load in, a killer show of course, and a late night hardy load out! So come on Grand Forks, if you're in the area, we expect to see you rocking out at the bar!


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