Road Back Home

Jar of pickles? You tell me. We found them in the back alley behind Preservation Pub. It was our first stop this week-end. In between the stops? Well let me see, mp3's, DVD's, cell phones, laptops, blackberries, XM radio, splitters for the headphones and McD's to go. It was good to get there and do what we do, MUSIC! Live and loud! We got reacquainted with old friends and made some new ones along the way. Mr Mac in Cookville calls everyone George. He's gotta mean well. Dan in Black Mountain has got his hands full with the Town Pump. Val, thanks for the good food. The whole Delbert thing was an experience. Those guys are all good. Rocky on sound, you too. Vaughn, you gotta send me some of those AFKAS pics. And to Chris, WH!
Ok, I've got most of the pics posted. Check 'em out. AFKAS has got a couple added to his "my space" and his Flickr album. It was good to get out again, but better to get back home.
Congrats on the release Billy Gibson.

October 26

A couple of comments before we get going. If you're headed to the gulf coast toward Alabama, the sign to Hi-98(just south of Hattiesburg) is gone, Katrina hid it somewhere. I know this by personal experience and confirmed from others(it adds about an hour to your drive if you go all the way to Gulfport).
I've been hit with a ton of comment spam, so I've added word verification. Sorry, but I'm tired of the junk coming my way. Nuisance! Ok I'm done, back to business
What's happened on this date, hmmm:
2004, Elvis Presley came top of a list of the highest-earning dead celebrities. $40m.
2002, Jessica Simpson, married former 98° member Nick Lachey. WHO CARES!
1991, Ozzy Osboune broke his foot on stage at a gig in Chicago. Another Who cares?
1974, Barry White scored his only US No.1 album with 'Can't Get Enough'.
1963, Bob Dylan played a sell out concert at New York's Carnegie Hall.
1963, Born on this day, Natalie Merchant, 10,000 Maniacs
1953, Born on this day, Keith Strickland, The B-52's
1951, Born on this day, Bootsy Collins, bass player, James Brown, Parliament, Funkadelic, Bootsy's Rubber Band

Why said? and...

Whose birthday is it anyway?

Where's AFKAS?

I know it's somewhere on the trip to Gulf Shores, but where?
Yeah that's Stephen, thinks he can outplay AFKAS.

AFKAS went on to PR for the Shrimpfest. Unofficially becoming the event's spokesman. He's a man of many hats. What a ham!

Here he is hanging back stage with the Wes Loper Band.
Not a ham, just a downright groupie.
Thursday you'll find him and Dani at the Shanti. Friday night we'll be downtown at Isaac Hayes. If you bought an entertainment coupon book this year (05-06), there's a 2 for 1 dinner coupon.
Just wanted to share some more photos. See ya this week-end.
So really, Where's AFKAS?

Shrimp Fest

Oh man, what a week-end! Had such a blast, I almost forgot the back pain. That's us pictured with Ron Kutter in the VIP tent after playing Saturday. On Friday, we ate some great gumbo brought in from Lulu's and on Saturday it was BBQ and boiled shrimp. What a treat!
We drove in on Friday and played an hour later, whew. Bushed, we didn't stay to hear alot of music, but met the band backing Kim Carson, The Casualties.
Checking into our condo for the week-end was a nice surprise. Found out we were on the 10th floor over looking the gulf. Needless to say, we all checked-out early for the night since we'd been on the road since 4am. The place was packed Saturday. We met the guys from Foxy Iguanas and AFKAS snuck in some pictures with the Wes Loper Band. Did you check out the web cam I mentioned earlier? Or even the pictures Dave posted along the way? Those are some candid shots. The one below with Dani was shot with his camera phone.
Gotta send some thanks out. Ginger Parnell, your crew really treated us great. Rick, thanks for getting us there and back in one piece and the daily devotions. And thanks to our roadie, Justin, who was a big help to the band. Zack you're the king of "6 degrees of separation".
Don't forget to visit the photo album. AFKAS was there too, and he has his own pics.

National Shrimp Festival

Here we go again, another road trip. We're headed to Gulf Shores, ALA this week-end for the 34th Annual National Shrimp Festival. When you go to the Festival website, there's a web-cam you can control. You gotta check that out! Along the way, Dave should be posting photos on his moblog site. Oh yeah, I've replaced my old camera so I'll have some pics on our return.
Wet Willie is playing Saturday night and you know AFKAS is looking forward to getting his picture taken with Jimmy and Jack.

The guitar and mandolin have new strings(D'Addario's that is), got extra 9 volts, ibuprofen's packed, phone's charged up and I'm ready to go. See ya on the flip-flop.

I Know Bo!

Check this out! Yep, that's me and Bo Diddley. We got to hang out w/ Bo and his band after Saturday's show. We had great seats, side stage just a few feet from him.
Oh yeah, we played a couple of times too. Friday night we played our acoustic set on the country stage. Then Saturday afternoon we went early, checked out Don Butcher's Band, met some pirates, followed AFKAS around, hungout in the back stage trailer and invited Sue Ann to sing back-up on a couple of tunes. On stage sound was mixed great so it gave us all a boost, Dani did a great job & Zack was on fire. The Bay Days people treated us like royalty, from the stage crew, security, catering and even the crowd was responsive. It's just odd to me to be signing autographs.
Meanwhile, back on Earth...
Our trip home lead us back through Black Mountain, NC again. While there, one of our trailer springs snapped. That extended our drive home another day. Unload the trailer, load another, get up early, get springs fixed, unload rented trailer and load ours back up. Finally back on the road Monday noon and home after dark.
News to come...
AFKAS is working on his blogging adventures(site up soon).
Photos should be in sometime Wednesday.
Don't forget The Shanti Thursday and Isaac Hayes Friday night.
Vaughn, thanks for the camera batteries!!!

ROAD TRIP!

Packing up and looking back on last week-end. Our acoustic stuff is startin' to gel. Performing w/ the guitar feels good again. We're going to stop in at the Shanti on most Thursdays, but check the calendar 'fore you just pop in. Got a new crowd down in Holly Springs. It gets us going when ya'll join in like ya did. Sunday night, downtown Memphis, that was a loud crowd. I saw some familiar faces in the front row Cat. Thanks for the write-up(sept 6th). I love those outdoor gigs. And that's why we're packing up. Headed to Hampton, VA. Yep, outdoors. Gonna stop in Black Mountain, NC on Thursday night and play Town Pump Tavern. I don't have any idea 'bout this place. That's alrite, they don't know us either. I'll send some pics.
Did I say outdoors? Good, 'cause Friday we're at Bay Days and Saturday opening for Bo. Oh, You know Bo.
We had a blast up there last year. Those people are really good to us.
It's going to be about a 2000 mile turnaround. Gotta love these road trips. Not good on the back, but here we go.

McA's City Cafe

Dave and I chillin' between sets. We were at City Cafe in Holly Springs. Small venue and brick walls make acoutics a challenge, but the intimate setting helps loosen the tie for cuttin' loose on a jam.
I joked about a road trip, but it makes for a late night after teardown and the drive home.
If you haven't met Dave, you gotta check out the "floating head"!

Thanks to ya'll who made that trip!

City Cafe

Holly Springs, here we come. Friday night we will be at the City Cafe. Soul food, catfish and music! City Cafe is located across the street from the court house on the S.E. corner of the square. If your coming down 78, take the second Holly Springs exit and go north to run into the square. If your traveling south from 72, Hi 7 comes to a tee at the square. Click here for a map you can zoom for print.
We get started at 8:00 and will stay for 3 one hour sets or til ya'll leave.

Back from Tulsa

That was a treat. The people of Bixby are great and Oh yeah, the ribs. We dug into some Texas Roadhouse ribs after the show. O, the show, 2 hours worth. We played on their new amphitheater in the park. Dr Jay joined us on "Call me the Breeze". We closed on "Stormy Monday" w/ a great response. Kathy Ivy, you were great. Looking forward to next year already 'cause we've been invited back.