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snow in buffalo

I woke with trepidation and as I looked out the window I was greeted by a world of swirling whiteness. Snow. Lots of snow. My friend Gary Colvin’s worst nightmare. Gary is our point man in upstate NY. Our “closer” if you will. He gets butts in seats. Back in the late part of last year, when I told him we wanted to make an “early spring” run up to his part of the world, he warned me that spring starts on March 21 for a reason. He’s been worried about snow for months now, thinking that a blizzard would ruin all our fine plans. As someone who doesn’t get to see a lot of snow anymore, I found the wintery whiteness beautiful. We checked the Buffalo weather and discovered that even though it’s only 45 miles down the road, the snow was already done there and the roads were clear. So, once Gary got the snowblower out and the driveway cleared, we were on our way to our late afternoon show at The Sportsman’s Tavern and Music Hall.

A stop across the street at Joe’s NY Style Pizza satisfied my appetite for real east coast pizza and got everyone interested enough that we decided we’d come back after the show and pick up some wings to take home. I mentioned Joe’s in my Mystiquero blog from our Northeast trip last summer. It was still really great.

For me, crunching around in the snow was great. We’re in Buffalo. It’s supposed to be winter. The Sportsman’s is in a state of change as they work to enlarge the place and while they’re not quite done, there’s a new stage and the room feels really good. Once again the “Closer” did not disappoint. We had a nice little afternoon crowd and a great time playing. Brian and I swapped songs back and forth and backed each other up on electric guitars. We got some folks up dancing and I think everybody had a few drinks and a good time. I love this town and I love this bar.

And now it’s time for the headlong rush back to Nashville. Then for me it’s on to Ruston, LA and finally to Gruene Hall for a show with my favorite band………

Posted 09 March 2011 † billsmall § food § from the road § music § mystiqueros § singing ‡ Comments (0) ° Tagged: , ,

Giant Beers and BBQ

Brian and I left Ithaca, NY last Thursday in a hurry to get up to LeRoy, NY and see our friends Gary and Christy Colvin. Our show at the Shop in Ithaca was, well……  let’s just say lightly attended;-) So we cut our set a bit short and headed up the road. A few Labatt’s and a good sleep later we went over  to Rochester for an 11 am radio appearance on WRUR’s Open Tunings with Scott Regan. Scott is a true music lover and plays great stuff on his show. For the better part of an hour we talked and played songs. It was one of my favorite radio spots to do so far. We got some good comments from folks at home who tuned in on the web and then it was time to head out for the first beer of the day, and food too.

Our plan was to hang with the Colvins on Friday night and enjoy a bit of down time before our shows on Saturday and Sunday. I always like to stick to good local beers that I can’t get in Texas when I’m away and while Gary drives to Pennsylvania to pick up cases of Shiner Bock I wanted to hang with my old friend Genesee. You really can’t get anymore western New York State than that. So Gary makes a beer run and brings back the biggest beer I’ve ever seen! It was majestic.

We knew that our NY friends had planned a pre show dinner for us and a group of friends and fans on Saturday. To be honest, when they said we were going to a Barbecue place, I was not excited. I mean come on. I live in Texas! and I just spent time in Memphis! I figured I had my BBQ ground pretty well covered. Live and learn they say. As we approached the old train station building on the bridge over the rushing Genesee river that houses Dinosaur BBQ Brian and I noticed that if nothing else the place smelled right and man was it hoppin! Packed with people waiting up to an hour and a half for tables, we were lucky that Gary had made a reservation for our large group way in advance. Looking at the menu they used the word “Texas” to describe their BBQ. I was skeptical but very hungry, so I got a 1/4 rack of ribs and some brisket with Cajun corn and rice and gravy for sides. Wow. The brisket was better than many places I’ve got in Texas. Sacrilege I know, but it was perfect. Moist, Juicy, just enough fat. The ribs too were excellent. Smoky with a great caramelized crust on the outside and falling tenderness off the bone. The sides were the real thing and it’s not often that you can find mace choux and rice and gravy that will pass cajun muster. And since I’m traveling with a cajun…….

The only problem with my fantastic meal at Dinosaur BBQ is that I ate it all and was way too full to play a show! However, the show must go on. Brain and I managed to waddle our way through set up and I learned that a little whiskey helps in digestion. Our show at the Abilene Bar was was great fun. The crowd was fun and I’m looking forward to heading back that way this summer with the Mystiqueros.

Posted 08 March 2011 † billsmall § food § from the road § music § singing ‡ Comments (0) ° Tagged: , , , , , , , ,

nyc drive-by

NYC……

We pretty much planned a drive-by gig in New York City. I’ve learned too many times what a logistical hassle it can be to play and stay in the big apple, so we got a room outside the city. Driving up from DC was easy and short of all the pushing and shoving of gear to unload the jeep into our Jersey hotel room it was an ok day. Of course you have to factor in the short sleep, slight hangover and not wanting to leave DC at all ;-)

We played a short set at Lakeside Lounge for free beer and 6 people and had a couple of friends show up right after we got done. I had a dear friend in town on business and we all trooped over to the west village to meet at one of my favorite places in the whole world, Bistro Les Ami at the corner of Spring and Thompson. Great meal, great friends, a bit of wine…. sorry no pictures or food descriptions this time. Suffice it to say that it was a fine night.

Brian and I ended the day in Ithaca, NY making our way to a number of the fine bars located near the square. We enjoyed a meal at the Blue Stone which I really dig for their bar and their stickers… notice the initials. It was a balmy 17 degrees as we hopped from bar to bar. We should have run from bar to bar, I might have been warmer.

After another day where the temperature never rose above 31 we’re camped out with laptops and coffee at The Shop. We’ll play a short set here in about an hour and a half and hopefully have a few people stop in to check it out. The we’ll get in the car and head up the road to Rochester and sleep before our radio appearance tomorrow. Suddenly it sounds funny to me to “appear” on the radio. Clearly I’ve been sitting here too long.

Onward…..

Posted 03 March 2011 † billsmall § Everything ‡ Comments (1) ° Tagged: , , , , , , ,

5 Days in DC

And I didn’t want to leave…..

If you told me 2 years ago that I would end up having a home away from home that I didn’t want to leave in Washington DC, I would have seriously doubted the claim. However, the Mansion has turned into just that. Our time in the District last week was really great. Both of our girls came in for the weekend and we started off with a well attended and fun show at Shamrock Music Shop in Purcellville, VA. Owner Scott Kinney has ties to the blockbuster movie and series of books, Diary of a Wimpy Kid (he’s the real life big brother of writer Jeff Kinney), and is a down to earth good guy. I don’t think he really knows what a great performance space he has above his store, but hopefully he has a better idea of it since Brian and I rocked the place. We did a nice 90 minute set then an encore, and as it was the first time we had ever done a full show as a duo, I’d say we won.

We played a house party in Alexandria on Saturday night and Brian got to see lots of old friends from when he lived in the area. We also managed to taste one of the best Chicken Pot Pies ever at the Daily Grill on Saturday afternoon. Come on, you knew there would be food involved…..

Sunday was such a beautiful day that Julie (my girl) and I decided to get outside and see some sites. It was her first visit to DC so we headed for The Mall and the Lincoln Memorial, The Vietnam and Korean War Memorials and the Washington Monument. It was a beautiful early spring day in Washington. We had a nice crowd for our show at the Mansion on Sunday night. The energy of that place is really beautiful. I had a great time. We did the show with no p.a. so it was intimate and cool. We had old friends and new in the audience. A girl I went to school with in NJ many (many) years ago showed up and her boyfriend offered us a private tour of the Capital building for Julie’s birthday the following day. Once more I was struck by the incredible opportunity of being an artist at the Mansion.

The rain on Monday drove us indoors and we headed to the National Gallery for Canoletta and Gauguin exhibits as well as a beautiful lunch in the Garden Cafe. Dinner and Martinis at the mansion and then off to the capital. I’m sure I visited the Capital when I was a kid, but the majesty and history of building was no doubt lost on me. The artwork alone is overwhelming. I could have stared at “The Apotheosis of George Washington” on the ceiling of the rotunda for hours. Next time I visit I’d like to get up close to it on the catwalk. We stayed up too late listening to music and I knew the morning would come too quickly. And it did.

Time to pack the guitars and head off to our next stop, New York City. I put Julie on a shuttle to the airport and Brian and I had to leave. It was hard. I was ready to cancel the next two shows and spend a few more days at the mansion, but the show must go on…….

Here’s another poorly shot video for ya. I cut my own head off, but it sounds pretty good. It’s Brian and I at The Mansion…….  enjoy

Posted 03 March 2011 † billsmall § creativity § from the road § music § singing ‡ Comments (0) ° Tagged: , , , , , , , ,

travel daze to o street

Many miles have passed. I’m on a couch in my favorite little sitting area at the Mansion on O street. I love it here. As always we were made to feel very welcome when we arrived and I got a kick out of watching Brian’s head keep turning at all the things there are to see here. Winter seems to have taken a day off in The District today. The sun is out.

When I left off, I had just arrived in Nashville from my quickly becoming legendary five day run with Jimmy Davis in Memphis. I mostly just slept my first day in Nashville, but once I was rested a bit, Brian and I ventured out to catch up with my good friend Bruce Dees. We had Bruce meet us for lunch at Bro’s Cajun Restaurant. You may have seen Bro’s on Diner’s Drive-In’s and Dives on the Food Network. I did and I was very interested in the stuffed pork chop they featured on the show. You knew I was going to talk about food a bit didn’t you?

Anyway, it’s a pork chop stuffed with pork! Slowly barbecued and doused with a homemade BBQ sauce, served on a bed of the best dirty rice I’ve ever had. I ordered black eyed peas and green beans as my sides and wondered when my plate landed in front of me if I would even get close to finishing. It’s a lot of food, but it’s so good that it’s hard to stop. I ate well past when my lunch compadres finished. I’m usually a pretty slow eater anyway, but I was determined to get as much of this glorious food in me as possible without feeling gross. The chop is moist and the sauce is tangy with the pork shoulder stuffing coming out as the star. Underneath became a mishmash of dirty rice and black eyed peas, all seasoned perfectly with a little bit of heat coming through every now and then in true cajun fashion. It was a great lunch and the next time I’m in Nashville you’ll know where to find me.

Brian and I had to hit the road by 6 am on Wednesday to make our WDVX radio appearance in Knoxville, TN. WDVX hosts and broadcasts live a daily Blue Plate Special lunch time concert from the Knoxville visitors center. There was a nice crowd of 40 or so and we shared the hour with the very talented Ben Carroll. Truthfully I was fairly delirious all day. Up at five and movin with 4 hours of sleep is a bit unusual for me ;-) I’ve been hearing about this show for a long time from both Jimmy and Walt. They’ve both been guests more than once and love the show and host Red Hickey. Brian and I both enjoyed listening to Ben Carroll’s performance and spent a little time sharing road stories and small talk. Then it was time to get moving again. The road won’t wait and we had many miles to go…….

Brian checks out the tub in the Presidential Suite

Posted 25 February 2011 † billsmall § creativity § food § from the road § music § singing ‡ Comments (0) °

Folkies, Stax and the Morning After

When last I left you we were headed out to the Marriott Hotel in downtown Memphis to spend some time in the swirling vortex that is the Folk Alliance Music Conference and play a song or two for a late night showcase. When we stepped into the bar, because where else would we go?, we all immediately saw old friends from Texas and elsewhere and we may have spent a large portion of the evening hanging about and helping the Marriott lobby bar run out of all their bottled beers. Then it was decided that since it might take awhile to get all the way up to the 17th floor for our showcase in the musician packed elevator, we began our ascent into the weird, wild and strangely wonderful world of the late night hotel hallways of Folk Alliance.

It’s hard to explain. Performances in every room on 3 floors. Hallways jammed with people coming in, going out, loitering, listening, networking, laughing, talking, playing singing and shushing. I got to enjoy a few minute of Austin’s own Betty Soo in the Jenni Finlay Promotions Room and then WW, Jimmy and I got up to do our 30 minutes and Brian joined us for our closing version of Big Shiny Cars. We made another stop in the Memphis Music Room and played for beer and then  found that we were all a bit overwhelmed with the swimming, swirling music madness so we hightailed it back to Casa Davis and spent one more night staying up too late and talking.

After a good sleep in, for me at least, we embarked on our last day in Memphis. The plan was to visit the Stax Museum and then go back to Gus’s Fried chicken so Walt could experience the beautiful fried goodness. Stax was amazing. There’s a 20 minute movie they show at the beginning of the tour and it was moving and cool. The foundation they have there does great work with kids and you really get a sense of the sheer talent that converged on that spot in Memphis in the 60′s. The museum is really well done and it will take me another visit or two to fully digest all the information they’ve compiled there. It’s all about american soul music. It’s also always more fun to visit places like this with Jimmy as he was lucky enough to meet and spend time with many of our soul music heroes in his life growing up in Memphis.

Gus’s was packed at 5:30 on Sunday. We should have known. Walt will have to wait until we come back this summer to get all up in some World Famous Gus’s. After a beer and some grub at The Blue Monkey, we headed back in midtown to Neil’s for our evening with The River Bluff Clan.

The last time we played Neil’s there were three people and the sound man there for our show.This time, the place was packed. It’s good to hang with the River Bluff boys. Just like last Thursday at Murphy’s, we got to sit and listen to them burn up the bluegrass for a set and then Walt, Brian and I joined in for the second set. Fun. Magic. A perfect way to end my Memphis stay. Friends new and old playing music together and people digging it.

I pulled myself out of bed after very little sleep, yes we stayed up talking again, and Brian and I packed my car and headed for his house in Nashville. It’s going to take more than the little nap I managed this afternoon to have me feel caught up again. Food, beer, world class musicians, great welcoming warm people……  I love Memphis. Thank you for a great week.

Now we rest up and get ready to head to DC for the weekend.

See you on the road.

Peace

Here’s a little taste of the mighty River Bluff Clan…. terrible video, sorry…

Posted 21 February 2011 † billsmall § food § from the road § music § mystiqueros § singing § songwriting ‡ Comments (0) ° Tagged: , , , , , ,

Memphis Chicken and a Well Placed Espresso

When I first talked to Jimmy (Davis that is) about coming to Memphis and playing for a week I let him know that my alterior motive was food. Mostly barbecued pork and fried chicken. It is Memphis after all. My first afternoon here we re-visited Central BBQ in midtown and I fell hungrily onto a pulled pork plate that I remembered from my last visit here. Still fantastic. So yesterday I had to get my other food group covered. As many people have told me, the place to go is Gus’s World Famous Fried Chicken in downtown Memphis. By the time we arrived I was really hungry, having been thinking about eating for awhile and taking a drive through various parts of town with Jimmy as tour guide, I was ready to eat. Joining us was a singer/songwriter friend of Jimmy’s, Kathleen Haskard, who’s in from London for the Folk Alliance music conference and also played an opening set for us last night at The Otherlands Coffee Bar.

I ordered an unsweet tea, and as usual the iced tea here in Memphis is really good, and a 3 piece dark plate. Kathleen had the forethought to order us some fried green tomatoes and fried pickle spears which came out quick and started my fried food frenzy. They were hot and fresh and had this perfect chewy crusty goodness on the outside. When my plate arrived it was actually too hot to eat right away. The smell was amazing and the slaw and baked beans held my attention for a few minutes while my chicken cooled enough to dig in. Perfect brown, crispy, spicy crust and hot, juicy, steaming inside. Amazing. So right and so good. Enough spice to heat you up just a bit, but not too much. Exactly the way fried chicken is supposed to be.

Then we were off to the Buccaneer Lounge where we had a couple of beers and got to hang with a Chef Fitz and a few of his famous Cookin Hookers band that I got to see play in that very room last year. Good fellows all and many a groan and grunt of appreciation when we told them we just had lunch at Gus’s.

We then arrived at The Otherlands to set up and wait for Walt and Brian Langlinais to arrive from Nashville. I had some time before the show and with the three piece dark and the beers making my eyes droop and my brain fuzzy, and since I was at a coffee bar, I ordered myself a lovely double espresso. I learned long ago while playing the 12:30 AM to 4:30 AM slot on Bleeker Street in NYC that a well placed espresso can make all the difference. I found a quiet place to sit, and while Kathleen Haskard’s voice drifted through the air, I sipped my coffee and got my head together for another night of music madness in Memphis.

We had a full house at The Otherlands and for me it was like coming home having Walt and Brian onstage with Jimmy and I. We ran the night like an “in the round” and each took our turns playing songs with everyone joining in to play and sing. I had a great time singing with some of my favorite musicians in the whole world. It was family and it was cool. The crowd was attentive, and as always in Memphis, sending lots of love back to us all night long. And they sent us beer too! Shiner Bock no less! Drinking Texas beer and playing music with my Texas compadres. A good night indeed.

Ok, I’ve already had BBQ again today and it’s time to rest up before we infiltrate the Folk Alliance Conference tonight.

Onward……

Posted 19 February 2011 † billsmall § food § from the road § music § mystiqueros § singing § songwriting ‡ Comments (1) ° Tagged: , , , , , , , ,

Murphy’s Bar and Uncle Tony’s String Band

Back at Murphy’s Bar last night. I wrote a bit about it last June when WW, Jimmy, Ray and I played with steel guitar ( and every other kind of guitar it turns out) wizard Eric Lewis for a rousing, rabid, Memphis crowd. It was awesome. I should have known,  but I really had no idea what I was in for last night…..

Uncle Tony’s String Band. Jimmy Davis (guitar,vocals),   Tommy Burroughs (mandolin, guitar, vocals), Eric Lewis, (guitar, vocals), Harry Peel, (drums) and Tony Sneed (bass). All but Eric are original River Bluff Clan members. For the uninitiated, River Bluff Clan, is an amazing americana band that came together in Memphis after Jimmy left the pop, MTV days of the late 80′s. From time to time, they still get together and do what they do……

So I sit at a table in the bar and the boys launch into the first song. All I remember thinking was, holy s..t! I’m going to have to play the second set with these monsters! They fired up into a bluegrass heavy set peppered with just plain ridiculous pickin from Eric on guitar and Tommy on mandolin and/or guitar, not to mention the singing. Now, I’d only played with Eric on Steel before, but flat pickin guitar is where he lives, and Tommy only played mando and guitar. He’s known as a fiddle player! I can’t say enough about it. It was fantastic. But, since it’s really all about me ;-) , when they took a break, I had to go outside and give myself a talking to cause I knew I’d have to get up there and give them my “A” game.

I was generously welcomed onstage for the whole second set and many transcendent musical moments followed. The audience knows and loves these guys and couldn’t have made me feel more at home. Have I mentioned that I’m starting to love this town? They like music, that’s for sure.

After playing with the Mystiqueros for 5 years, I can be pretty picky about bands, but I just found out why Jimmy fits in so well when he comes to Texas…..  He plays with a bunch of badasses! I wish you coulda been there or that I could express my pure joy and listening to and sharing the stage i=with these incredible musicians. We get to do it again Sunday with Walt Wilkins joining in. Walt gets to town today and we’re playing a show with Jimmy tonight. More music, more fun, more Memphis comin right up.

I tried to take some video with my phone last night but I drained my battery and it sounds terrible….  sorry, I’ll try again.

Posted 18 February 2011 † billsmall § creativity § from the road § music § mystiqueros § singing § songwriting ‡ Comments (1) ° Tagged: , , , , , , , ,

The SideCar in Memphis

Memphis…..  I’ve written about you before and now I’m back for more….

I arrived road dazed and stiff from my drive. Dallas to Memphis is a long haul, but worth it. I pulled up to The Sidecar Cafe just as the February sun said “see ya” and was greeted by about 100 motorcycles. My host for the week and friend, music partner, Mystiquero, brother, Jimmy Davis came out and ushered me and my car to the “backstage”.

Now, I knew that the Memphis Tigers basketball game was about to begin and I wouldn’t see Jimmy again until the game was over, win or lose. What Jimmy didn’t know was that there would be a parking lot full of bikes. So, once the game was over we played a first set full cover songs and nonsense to the rumblings and mighty roars of departing road iron.

Did I mention that the evening’s line up was me, Jimmy and Michael Hearne? No? Well, it was my honor and pleasure to stand up and play with those amazing men. Hearne is a monster player, writer, singer and a pretty good dude too. He joined us on the MQ’s Walt’s Across Texas Tour last September and got his Mystiquero certification. (which has no real benefits, but no responsibilities either)

Since the Tigers pulled out a win in the last seconds of the game, our small but mighty crowd was in high spirits and for our second set we dove in to our respective song books with both feet, hoping to at least entertain each other, which we did. And then, as so often happens in Memphis, the night got even cooler when Keith Sykes showed up and graced us with a few songs. Sharing the stage with Keith and Michael was a blast. Wish you could of been there. I won’t soon forget it. We did a pretty cool version of Keith’s song “Long Monday” which you may have heard John Prine sing.

So, I think I’m off to a good start here in Memphis. Tonight I’ll be sitting in with Uncle Tony’s String Band and there’s lot’s more music, friends and fun to be had this week.

Here’s a version of Keith doin “Long Monday”…. of course it’s cooler with me and Michael ;-)   -peace

Posted 17 February 2011 † billsmall § Everything § from the road § music § mystiqueros § singing § songwriting ‡ Comments (0) ° Tagged: , , , , ,

BS on your chest

And we’re off…….

After a half day of running around and a little procrastinating about leaving the house, the girl and the dog, (I mean who would want to leave this face for 3 weeks?), I took off for Dallas to stay with some friends and cut off a few hours of driving time to Memphis. I pulled in to Love and War in Plano around 7:30 to meet my friend Brannen from Secondwind Promotions and pick up the first ever Bill Small t-shirt! Yes I have my very own shirts for this crazy run up the east coast of our beautiful nation.

Last year I finally learned what so many of my young contemporaries seem to have known for a long time….  If you want to make money on the road, you need merchandise. Selling Mystiquero shirts out gas in the van and food in our mouths on more than one occasion last year, and hopefully these fine shirts and my cd’s will help bring me safe home back to Texas in March.

If I have any left when I get home, come find me and get your very own.

On to Memphis…..

Posted 17 February 2011 † billsmall § Everything ‡ Comments (1) °