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…..

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

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…..

The answer is yes, though my blogging here my say different. I split my blogging time with my band the Mystiqueros, and no I haven’t posted much up there recently either. January is generally the slow time for traveling musicians such as myself and I’ve spent the month catching up and planning the year ahead.

So what’s happening next?

Well, in a couple of weeks I’ll be taking off for Memphis and parts east. First, 5 nights of shows with my pal Jimmy Davis in Memphis and then 2 weeks up the east coast with Brian Langlinais. DC area and upstate NY mostly. In the meantime, a few gigs around Texas with the band, and some nice acoustic shows too, as well as purchasing extra long underwear and warm things for my trek north.

I’ll be blogging my way across the country so stay tuned. I’m really looking forward to speanding some time and making some music with Brian. Here’s a little video shot by our budy John Muzyka in Dallas this past fall. It’s a little shakey but it sounds pretty good.

See ya on the road…..

Lindsey managed to capture this song “We’ve All Got Our Marks To Make”, written by Drew and Walt Wilkins, in such a simple and fun way. I hadn’t heard this song before, and I really like it. I don’t get to see Drew play very much. That’s part of the working musician thing, you don’t gee to see your friends play very often. I got forwarded an email with a link to this video. It took me a few days to sit down and watch it. Worth the wait.

It may not be the next “Thriller” video, but it’s fun, creative, it sets a mood for the song that I really dig, and as far as I’m concerned Drew is right; Lindsey is and 11 year old super-genius.