The last couple days have been pretty busy and full of music and fun - just how I like my days. The weather for most of it was decent - not as hot as it was about a week ago - and in fact last night we had some rain in the LA area - which wouldn't have too bad but I was at a show last night at the Autry Museum which was outside - so some adjustments had to be made, but it all worked out in the end. In just over 3 weeks I'll be taking to the roads once again - and I'm looking forward to it.
Since I've returned back to Southern California, I've been mostly relaxing and enjoying some down time - and not having to travel for hours in my car. I've also been cooking a lot, which is good way for me to settle down and focus on something other than music and that i feel almost as passionate about. Last week I smoked some ribs and a whole chicken. It took about 5 hours and it came out really nice. Then a couple days later I made a tri-tip and some chicken breast, with grilled squash, and an arugala salad with Persian cucumbers and roma tomatoes. Over the weekend I made pizza - 3 of them - and we had those as leftovers for the following couple days. Tonight I think I'm going to make some salmon, mashed potatoes, maybe brussels sprouts - and something else. I'll figure it out when I get to the store.
On Sunday I had two shows to play, which I was happy about since I've had about a week and a half of not playing. The first was at the Grand Ole Echo at The Echo in LA. My friends Kim Grant and julie Richmond organize this show and it always a good time. It starts early on Sunday afternoon - doors open at 5 and it's over at 9pm. It's also free and all ages. So it's cool to see people show up with their kids. My family has shown up before and the kids run around and dance and get into it - it's fun to see. This time I played out on the back porch as it's called - there's a patio out in the back - where it used to be for smokers, but this season they've made smoke free and people have to go to another place to smoke. There's usually a good amount of people that show up - lots of friends from the Americana scene in LA, and I was happy that today a lot of people came around. It was mostly because Tony Gilkyson was playing on the main stage and former LA resident Mike Stinson was back in town for the first time since moving to Houston, and was going to join Tony onstage. So it was nice to see everyone.
After that set I had to pack up my gear and get moving to my next show over at the Cinema Bar. I had asked Michael Ann and the Missouri Rebels to open up - and they were already going when I got there to the bar. They played an awesome set - and then I got ready to play. Matthew was going to be playing drums again for me and I was happy that we had a good crowd there - although since the bar is pretty small, it doesn't take much for it to look crowded. We played two rocking, bluesy sets - and found a nice groove - and before I knew the night was over and I packed up my car and headed home.
Last night my friend Amanda had an extra ticket to see the Low Anthem at the Autry Museum, so I decided to go - and I'm glad I did. At first when I got there, it was drizzling, and as we went inside we saw that the stage was set up outside. So we watched the 2nd of 3 bands finish their set, and hoped that it didn't rain too much more. The Low Anthem took to the stage and started playing. I saw them a few years ago back in Nashville and was blown away. Then it was just a 3 piece and was amazed as the band members switched positions - rotating from guitar to bass to drums to pump organ - to various other instruments: trumpet, clarinet, dulcimer. This time there were 4 of them and it was just as awesome. But during the set the rain really started coming down and after a few songs, they were told the power was being cut - so they moved and took their instruments and played in one of the covered hallways - all acoustically - and it was incredible. They all jumped from instrument to instrument, they all sang beautifully, and the songs rang out perfectly from the hallway corner. The crowd was totally into it and it was an impressive set - especially since they had to move to that setting. Afterwards they hung around and talked to whoever wanted to talk to them - and I was so glad that I was able to be there.
From there I went back over to the Cinema Bar to catch Mike Stinson, who was doing a last show in LA before driving back to Texas. It was packed, and felt like the old days when Randy Weeks - who Mike used to play drums for - would play on a Saturday night. It was cool to see the place full of friendly faces, everyone enjoying the triumphant return of Mighty Mike Stinson. His band, which were all Texas guys, who I had seen in March in Austin, played wonderfully - although I did miss Tony's playing, but they had their own sound and it was anther great show - that I was very glad to have seen.
This week I'm going to be doing some cooking and trying to get some more shows on the schedule - and continue getting things ready for the trip in June. I also have the Kickstarter fundraising project up and running - so if you can please help and support my next tour.
thanks,
yours truly,
Jeremiah
Kickstarter Fund Raiser
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