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September 2001
Greetings and salutations: It's been a while since you've heard from me, a lot has been happening! I left home on June first, and I've been on the road ever since. I hope my apartment building is still standing. I hope Karen hasn't changed the locks. I hope Los Angeles hasn't fallen into the ocean. I'm actually beginning to miss the place. A little. My new CD, Like It Or Not is out. Some really nice reviews are beginning to come in, and sales are great. As this is the last day of my 2001 summer tour, I feel it's a good time to reflect upon the manner in which I've spent my summer vacation. Here's a few of the highlights:Day 2: After a gonzo 2 day drive from L.A. to Omaha, NE, I arrived five minutes before showtime at the Omaha Blues Society benefit concert. I got a towel and a shot of Jack in a plastic cup as I took the stage. I got a standing ovation as I left the stage. Day 9: Played the annual Indigenous Jam in front of over 8,000 people at the Mac-Dome in Omaha. Serious fun. I also got to play in the back-up band for Sun Records rockabilly legend and walking rock & roll history book Billy Lee Riley. We ended up having breakfast at two in the morning at Denny's and he told me everything I ever wanted to know about Elvis, Jerry Lee Lewis, Carl Perkins, Johnny Cash, and Sam Phillips. A really special night. Day 12-34: Karen, the cats, and I enjoyed an extended stay in New Orleans, where I discovered that I am not cut out to live in a third-world country (like the bumper-stickers say: Louisiana - Third World & Proud Of It!). We sure had a great time, though! While in town, I played a few shows at the wonderful Palm Court Jazz Cafe in the French Quarter, learned how to make a killer Mint Julep, and discovered some really great new bars. One of them, The Hideaway, had a banner over the bar proclaiming: happy hour at 5pm & 5am!! Need I say more? Day 36-37: Played a set at the Grey Eagle in Asheville, NC. The audience was wonderful, but the club's $100 piano began to disintegrate about halfway through the show. After the gig, I got in the van, chased two No-Doze with a cup of stick-to-your-ribs diner coffee, and drove 14 hours straight to Albany, NY. Upon arrival, I played a set at a private party and got thrown in the pool fully dressed. It's a long story. Day 40: CD Release party at the Bitter End in NYC with Chris Glenn and Dave's True Story featuring a very pregnant Kelly on vocals. The house was rocked, and at 2am, when it was all over, I walked five paces left of the Bitter End, up a stairway, and had a late dinner at a sushi joint that was open 'til 5am. Damn, I love New York! Day 49: Played before a live studio audience at WJFF, Jeffersonville, NY - the world's only hydro-powered radio station. Day 50: Karen flew in to NYC to do a couple of gigs with me. We stayed at The Plaza on Central Park South. Had dinner at Vince & Eddie's on the Upper West Side. Went back to The Plaza. Everyone should stay at this hotel at least once in their lifetime. A very fine evening. Day 51: The Riverhead Blues Festival on Long Island. Played with the whole 8-piece band. Jake Jacobs, Renee Safier, and Karen Nash all came out from L.A. to do the gig. The crowd numbered well over 3,000, and included the broadest cross-section of humanity I've ever seen at a festival - bikers, yuppies, truck drivers, executives...It really rocked! Can't wait to do that one again. Day 55: CD Release party in Boston. Played a great show with the band, horns and all, at Johnny D's. Jake played drums again, and Lou Ulrich, who was in my first serious band when I lived in Boston in the 80's, played bass. I hadn't seen Lou in 11 years. Day 58: Opened for Modern Man at the Towne Crier in Pawling, NY. Modern Man includes as a member George Wurzbach, who wrote "Einstein", which I do a cover of on my new CD. Day 72: Returned to NOLA by way of Clemson, SC for one last hurrah and an in-store CD-release show at the Louisiana Music Factory. It was pouring down rain, but they had a few cases of Abita Amber on hand, so we had a crowd anyway. Day 78: Shared the bill with a-capella group DaVinci's Notebook at the Minstrel in Morristown, NJ. It was so sold out that there were people sitting outside the building, watching the show through a window. I sold just about every last CD I had on me. After the gig, we all went for dinner. After a few cocktails, DaVinci's Notebook was persuaded to serenade the other diners with a rendition of their song "Enormous Penis" - you should have seen it... Day 81-83: Nonstop four-day editing session in Nashville with singer-songwriter-bookwriter-editor and former hippie-wildman Mike Williams. I've finally taken the plunge and turned my road diaries into a full-fledged book. I think you're going to like it. Day 84: Partly Funny With A Chance Of Fame show with my pal Carla Ulbrich at Eddie's Attic in Atlanta. Much fun had by all. Day 92: Played the Kerrville Wine & Music Festival in Texas. A dark, ominous cloud hovered above during the entire set. I told the crowd that I had a feeling the rain would start coming down right after my set. I played the last chord of my encore, waved to the audience, went backstage and boom! the heavens opened up. It was almost as if I'd planned it. Day 94: Drove from Kerrville, TX back to Nashville, TN, 900 miles, in one day. Continued editing session with Mike Williams. Now I'm on my way home for a short, well deserved rest. Lots of shows coming up, though - hope to see you at one of them! Love, Bob
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