Subdudes Texas Tour

Oh what a feeling! I love the Subdudes music so much. It is an important part of the fabric of my life. I have mourned the break up of this band more than once. Celebrated reunions more than once. Even mourned the passing of an original member recently. Still, there I was opening their Texas -House of Blues shows. Nice! That's my idea of a perfect bill. I was so happy! Still am.

The House of Blues venues are real first rate rooms! Beautiful theatre setting, great stage, lights & sound. Cool crew members who were eager to help. Just a great experience overall. I loved the opportunity to introduce myself to a bunch of subdudes fans who didn't know me before. The shows were amazing. Great sound, great energy- beautiful!

One thing that hit me as I stood in the audience during their set was that I have said goodbye to this band before. I've suffered through the breakup of my favorite band & mourned them. The first time in 1996. Then they got back together in 2003 or 2004. Then they broke up again in 2008. Now they're back together again in 2014. This was going to be the end of the line again but they have decided to move forward and play select shows. Awesome!

The strange feeling happened as I thought about their breakups. I remembered a dream that I used to have that my granddad was still alive. In the dream I questioned the situation. How could this be? Didn't he die? He was so sick but here he is- wow...he must have gotten better! So, there I was rocking out to my favorite band (again) and I thought- wait a minute. Didn't they break up? I thought this would never happen again.  Weird!!!

California Tour with Marcia Ball

What an amazing tour! Marcia and I have been friends for a long time but you really get to know people when you spend a bunch of time in a car together or share hotel rooms with them. She is so down to earth, cool & easy going! I already knew that but it's confirmed extra double now! 

The shows were amazing! Superior venues, great audiences, first class treatment from a top notch staff at every venue. We were treated so well! Thank you Freight & Salvage/Berkeley, City Winery/Napa, The Palms Playhouse/Winters! Thank you KPIG and The Krush KRSH for having me the radio! Ice cream Monday with Bill Bowker at The Krush was a blast! It was wonderful sitting in with Jenny Kerr & Phil Milner in San Francisco & staying the night with them in Jenny's lovely SF home! Cool seeing my friends whom I lovingly refer to as my Arkansas cuz'ns Blythe & Julie. I loved seeing Bryan Beck & The Fabulous Judy in Napa! I loved watching them dance to Marcia Ball!  My friends Donny & Lynn came to the show in Napa also. I got to stay with them a couple of days later and sit in on a blues jam hosted by Donny w/ featured guest Terry Hanke. One of the best surprises was a little gig that popped up last minute in Hyampom, CA. I took the gig without many details because a friend of mind was hooking it up. I just went on faith. It was a good move on my part! First of all, the drive was a drive if a lifetime! So amazingly incredibly beautiful. OMG!!!!!!!!! I had NO IDEA!!! Wow! Wow! Wow! Crazy beautiful! The people in Hyampom turned out for my show! I didn't see many houses so these folks must've come from miles around. Very nice folks. A lot of young, soft spoken, intelligent men! I met several from Texas! 

I want to go back! I LOVED IT THERE and not just because of all the young, polite, intelligent men- although that is a bonus! LOL! Just kidding!

Yay California, I love you!

Nancy Sinatra Tribute at the State Theatre

Can't even believe how much fun I've been having! Lets see...the Nancy Sinatra tribute at The State Theatre was a hoot and not just because of all the fabulously talented folks or that Tiny Dancer made dresses for us or even that I was excited to debut my knees in Austin (I wore a short dress!). Guy Forsyth sang a duet with me. He is so fabulous! It was super fun and memorable occasion because my friend Samantha Hazlewood (daughter of Lee Hazlewood - writer of "These Boots Are Made for Walking") flew down for the event! She was here less than 24 hours and we had some serious fun! After the show I took her to an after party at Deep Eddy Cabaret and then on the the Continental Club for Heybale and then upstairs to the gallery for some impromptu Ephraim Owens! What a night! I introduced her to Earl Poole Ball and he told her some stories about hanging out with her dad in California in the 70s.