Off into the wild blue yonder
It's a beautiful Saturday morning here in Sterling, VA. Yesterday I met up with the lovely Heather Mae, we did some instrument oogling and playing at the awesome Takoma Park music mecca, House of Musical Traditions, and then practiced until the cows came home! (And really I mean until Heather's parents made a ridiculously yummy send-off dinner.) I can't even begin to tell you how excited I am for this tour with Heather... we're joking around that I'm going to "Americana-ify" her music and she's going to add some ginger-pop-soul nto mine. (We'll be headed to a bunch of places in TN, NC, and VA - and then I've got a couple of solo dates in Baltimore - so if you live nearby, or know folks who live nearby, let 'em know we're coming!) This is the first tour that I've brought two instruments on... and so far, so good! It feels like I'm a big kid in the music world, but I don't know why carrying around two istruments is doing that. OH! That reminds me of a cute little thing that happened when I landed at BWI airport in Baltimore - I headed over to the car rental facility (to go up to Philly for a few days) - and the gentleman who greeted me was this fellow named Evan. This dude was a hoot, let me tell you - I mean the first thing he said to me was, "I'm sorry, but we don't have any more cars." I thought I was going to have to go and get my boxing gloves to secure me a vehicle, but as I was mentally preparing for this, he blurts out "oh, no no no, just kidding!" I really wanted to tell him that it wasn't funny, but I didn't have it in me, as he was so endearing. Within the next 30 seconds, he determines which case-bound instruments I'm carrying and requests a song. Now usually people say that and they don't really mean it, so I just kind of shake it off with a smile and the moment passes... but this guy would have none of that! Evan again, and more adamantly, requested that I play a song... on the BANJO! Wheeee! And so it was, we had a really sweet little moment of picking right in the middle of the car facility at BWI. I even played him a new song that's going to be making it's debut on this tour... Anyway, it was pretty great. He wanted me to keep playing... he'd probably have me play until the end of his shift if he had his way, but alas, I was ready to hit the road for Philly. Alright, back to the now. Heather and I are about to pack the car for a nice little 8-hour drive down to Knoxville, TN where we kick off this "Warm Up Your Winter Tour" in style, for all the world to hear, at WDVX's Blue Plate Special at noon. (You can tune in from anywhere in the world from their website.) For the full tour schedule and gig details of where Heather Mae and I and some friends will be playing, check out the Shows page. That's all from me for now... I hope to see you soon! Hugs, B
