Doug Spears: Blog

Notes from the Road – Clearwater House Concert 12-13-08

Well, after a great night’s sleep in the cool air of the camper Friday night I woke a little late and set to finishing yesterday’s Notes, slurping coffee and otherwise lazing about. My check out time from Sun ‘n Fun was 11 a.m. and, though they don’t usually enforce those things very tightly, I endeavored to meet that deadline. Hook up went without a hitch (sort of a pun there I guess) and I was on the road again.

Windy, VERY windy. When you’re hauling a huge aluminum box behind you it acts like a sail catching every possible gust and snatching you sideways. If I didn’t have the load levelers and sway bar on here I’d be swatting traffic in adjoining lanes like a flipper on a pinball machine. I’ve spent enough time hauling this behemoth over the years that I barely notice it anymore. However, my route this morning would take me over the Sunshine Skyway Bridge into St. Pete and I admit I’ve never towed the monster a couple of hundred feet up into gusting, swirling winds before (imagine that low ominous music that foreshadows trouble coming in your favorite TV show).

No worries, mate! Though the Bay was frothing with white caps the wind seemed to subside as I climbed the Skyway and I crossed without incident. In fact, the day was crystal clear and I quite enjoyed the view from the bridge as I made my way up one side and down. The old bridge exists only at each end these days serving as a very nice fishing pier and State Park. The old Skyway was a lot different than this new incarnation. The top span had steel grates on the roadway which let you literally look down at the water below and made your tires roar menacingly as you crossed. Seems like the incline up and down was steeper too. When I was a senior in high school here in St. Pete a few of us thought it would be quite daring and fun to ride bicycles down the Skyway. We were lazy, stupid teenagers so we never gave any thought to riding UP – naw, we loaded the bikes in a buddy’s van and drove to the top during a time we had assumed would be low traffic. Turns out there’s never traffic low enough for a moronic stunt like this. So, at the top we stopped the van, jumped out to sound of horns blaring as the swerved to pass, grabbed the bikes and pointed them downhill. If you’ve never ridden a narrow tired, butt busting ten speed bike downhill at upwards of 70 MPH – well, DON’T!! We made it without injury or citation, but only because Darwin apparently took the day off. Needless to say no one was hollering “let’s do it again!!”

I got to my new campsite, checked in, had a little lunch and decide on an afternoon snooze. I was out and sleeping hard when loud pounding on the camper door bounced me off the ceiling. A kind and well meaning neighbor had stopped by to let me know that the front left tire of the Expedition was flatter’n a flitter. Yeah, not talking low, leaking or on the way to flat – down on the ground like a dime store toy flat. Thanks goodness that didn’t happen on the road with the trailer in tow! Never having had a flat on this vehicle in the four years I’ve owned it, it took me a little while to figure out how to lower the spare which is suspended up under the year by a cable and get out the gear to change the tire. Some huffing and puffing, seriously dirty hands and a little quiet cussing and I was ready to go shower, change and make my way over to the show.

Rick Kennedy and Denise Adams and their curious assortment of dogs and cats live just off of US 19 near the Mainlands golf course in between Pinellas Park and Clearwater. It’s a nice house with a great room that serves very well for a house concert space – high ceilings and good, lively acoustics that make amplification entirely unnecessary. Rick has become a ukulele aficionado and I got the full showing of his various interesting and ornate ukes while Denise bustled about getting refreshments, etc. ready for the guests.

At the appointed hour we began – a small crowd, but if you judge everything in life in terms of quantity instead of quality you miss the finest there is. This was an exceptionally good group which, with only two exceptions, all folks that had not heard a full show from me in the past. So, I have several new members of the fan club and CD’s were bought by all!

I must confess that the centerpiece of the performance was Owen, Rick and Denise’s aged Pekinese, that toddled about seeking fallen crumbs from guest’s plates. Early in the show, as I was building the intro to “As the Crow Flies”, Owen (who apparently had snagged a few cheese puffs when no one was looking) yarfed under Denise’s chair and set them to frantically, yet quietly, cleaning the offending deposit from the floor. Now a kinder performer would have proceeded as if nothing had happened diverting attention from the small disaster, but NOOOO – I made it into part of the song. Owen, apparently feeling much better after ridding himself of the cheese puffs, wandered around behind me and sprawled on the carpet, squirming feet straight up in the air to the music, as I sang this soulful, introspective piece. Not able to avoid the humor of it all I converted “as the crow flies” in one verse to “as the dog lies” to a roar of good natured laughter. You just gotta roll with the punches!
Two set of music, great German chocolate cake and wonderful company. A great night and a wonderful way to close a house concert weekend. Thanks so much to Rick and Denise for hosting me and to my good friend Doug Purcell for setting it up.

Today I head on back home, but I may try to drop by Sweetwater Farms on the way for their open mic and performances. I have the directions, etc. but it’s a matter of deciding how to get the behemoth down there and parked, we’ll see. All the Best folks!

Notes from the Road – Mother’s Musical Bakery 12-12-08

Spent my day keeping out of the wind and occasional rain. I did run some errands to pick up a new sewer connection for the camper (now THAT’s exciting shopping – maybe I’ll do a reality show), topped off the gas tank at BJ’s to make sure I get all the way back to the really cheap gas north of Tampa on the way home, spent a few bucks in Kohl’s (one of Judy’s favorite stores) and then putzed around back at the camper. At 5 p.m. I headed out for an early dinner at Bonefish Grill (pretty good – longfin tilapia with mango salsa) then on to Mother’s.

I really didn’t know what to expect not having been there before. What I found was a very nice, cozy room with stage, sound, lights and gracious hosts, Jennifer & Dennis Brock and their three kids who pretty much ran the place themselves. The oldest (probably in his 20’s, a musician himself) ran the sound and the early set up. The youngest, a daughter, can’t be more than 10 and expertly took orders from folks as the tables filled. She’ll be running one of the big three auto makers by the end of next year and doing a MUCH better job of it. The middle son was a jack of all trades checking the sound coming through the outside speakers, delivering orders, anything that needed to be done. A very happy family and team!

Dennis Brock opened the show with some very nice fingerstyle guitar work and old folk favorites. Unfortunately I missed a good part of that because an old college friend came out to the show that I hadn’t seen in a few years and we slipped across the street to chat for a few minutes before I was scheduled to go on. But, I know that the crowd enjoyed it a lot.

At 8 p.m. I came on for two sets of my original tunes and stories. There was a table of regulars sitting right in front of the stage who warned me early on that they came in for dinner and a little music, but always left a 8:30, so don’t be offended. Well, when I finished my first set at around 8:50 they were still planted right there and even stuck around to talk a little in the break.

I had old friends and new friends (including new MySpace pals Mark and Heather who cruised down from St. Pete) in the audience and everyone seemed to enjoy themselves immensely. This is a cozy spot and one with real value to the local folk community. I hope this becomes one of the regular haunts for the FOFF crowd, the Sarasota folk club and ME! I’ll look forward to coming back again. Thanks so much to Carl Wade for setting the gig up for me!

Notes from the Road – 12/11/08 Sarasota House Concert

A few months ago I was contacted by Jo Legg down in Sarasota about performing for a “roving” house concert series in which she participates. It combines two social events – a supper club where a set group of friends meet monthly at a rotating host’s house for a dinner with the host providing the main course and the others bringing the side dishes, deserts, etc. The other facet is the house concert attended only by those who are members of the supper club. Each member of the club pays a fee which goes to the entertainer. It’s an excellent concept that I recommend highly.

The weather truly sucked in Orlando this morning as I made preparations to leave. However, the rain gods were kind enough to let me get mostly loaded before cutting loose. It was only in hooking up the camper to the car that I finally got a dose of steady pelting. I was on the road by 2 p.m. and, ironically, the rain stopped within 20 minutes of me getting on the road. But, I got $1.51 per gallon gas just before the I-75 exit north of Tampa – WOOHOO!! I guess this is the “little gas piglet tour” at those prices. Hey OPEC – Kiss My . . . oh . . . uh . . . harrumph . . . but I digress.

I’m staying tonight and tomorrow at Sun ‘n Fun just off I-75 in Sarasota – HUGE RV park and a lot of full time residents. This isn’t your State Park or festival type venue and even with my white hair and beard I look quite young around here. But, a very nice and comfortable place and I brought home with me so I’m all set. By a little before 5 p.m. I was on site, changed and ready to get some grub (they’ve got a restaurant on the premises that ain’t half bad and pretty cheap too!). Then, off to the show.

House concerts are my favorite type of show. It is basically just what it sounds like – a concert in someone’s home. They can be small, like this one at the Legg’s home (14 people) or quite large (50 – 100 people). It all depends on the available space, indoors or out. Typically folks attending the show pay $10 - $25. The show generally consists of two sets by the entertainer of 30 – 45 minutes each with a break in the middle for coffee, CD sales, etc. Smaller shows can be done fully acoustic (no sound system, mics, etc.), but some settings require a little amplification (provided either by the host or the performer). It is a very relaxed, intimate show that allows for a lot of interaction between the audience and the artist. And, it is always a treat for both since everyone is there to hear and appreciate the music. If you haven’t been to a house concert, research shows in your area and go – you’ll be instantly hooked. If you’ve never thought of hosting a house concert consider it. It’s simple and fun – if you’d like to know more about the nuts and bolts, let me know and I’ll point you to some great resources on the subject.

Favorite tunes in tonight’s show (though they LOVED them all, OF COURSE!!) seemed to be Yellow Butter Moon, Hemingway’s Hurricane, Sinner’s Song, Break Some Stones and This Old House. I played two sets of 30 minutes + or – each with a break in the middle for DESSERT!! Alas, I am dieting (sort of) in an effort to lose enough weight so that I cease having my own gravity, so I didn’t partake of the assorted chocolate and sugary edibles waved repeatedly under my nose. But, I drank some coffee (decaf of course) and tried to convince myself that the desserts probably weren’t that good anyway (since folks were taking seconds and thirds – might have even seen one fourth – I doubt I was right about the low quality of the fare). A terrific show with wonderful new friends.

So now I’m back at the camper sipping a little brown whiskey (but not snacking – NO SNACKING – ARGGGGGGG!!!) I figured I’d check in with you guys and let you know what I’m up to. Right now I’m up to tomorrow so time to get some Zs – Night night.

Notes from the Road SSAMC

Sunday, November 16, 2008



Brrrrr!!! This camper does a good job of holding the heat in, but since I didn’t have any heat (no power) it got a little chilly in here. I can feel a draft which probably means I left the outer tool hatch open which leads to the space under the bed – not smart. It was nice under the covers, but it took some self coaxing to get up and go make coffee. However, the gas stove under the coffee is providing some warmth so I guess it was a fair trade off.



I’ve got two more sections of two hours each to teach today. They are back to back starting at 2 p.m. and running until 6 p.m. I had such good attendance yesterday I’m wondering how many will show up today. But, first things first – coffee, a couple of hard boiled eggs, some whole grain bread and some cheese, the most important meal of the day.



I spent a while catching up on these Notes (as you could tell from my postings this morning) and then ventured outside. Crisp, cool, breezy and clear – a beautiful morning. Others with early classes were already hustling about gathering their instruments and heading to their class sites. I ambled over to the main clubhouse building and mingled with the group huddled around the much in demand coffee pot they had set up there. Since that’s the only place where electricity is available I took the opportunity to recharge my computer battery. I sat, drank coffee and chatted with Barry Brogan, Jim Davis, Jim Strickland, Lynn Wadley and various others who filtered in and out. I soon realized that with classes running from 2 to 6 I’d better get my camp broken down and the trailer hooked up to the truck before my classes so that I didn’t end up doing it in the dark. So I gathered my computer and headed off to take care of my chores.



At two I went over to area two (how apropos) where my class was to meet. Still chilly and breezy, I moved the chairs into a sunny area for more comfort. For a while I didn’t think anyone was coming, but suddenly they began to appear and I ended up with another good sized class. About half were folks from the previous day again (gluttons for punishment those), but the other half were new comers. We looked at sources for generating song ideas (one of my favorites is to read books of quotes, sayings and expressions – lots of good stuff there), examples of the use of language to set a scene and entice your listener, the use of narrative perspective (first person, third person, etc.) to give a subject a fresh viewpoint, etc. It was a really good discussion with everyone engaged and participating.



At four I headed over to area five (not as apropos) for my last class. Now, I’ll admit that I was expecting / hoping that no one would show up for that last class. The temperature was dropping with the sun and lots of folks were already clearing out – an early start home wouldn’t be so bad. But, a group met me as I was arriving in the class location comprised of the very talented and enthusiastic teens of the Amundsen (sp?) and Morris families. All weekend these kids have been coming to every one of my classes and it has been a special treat. We also had some “old veterans” joining us, Dennis Devine and Barry Brogan, along with a couple more first timers – another full class. For the benefit of the new comers I gave some nuts & bolts comments and oriented them to my hand out materials, but to make this section more entertaining I started having everyone play songs, either ones they had written or personal favorites by others. Wonderful music and great commentary on styles and influences from Dennis Devine. Just a great way to end the weekend – leaving early would have been a let down, whereas this capped the weekend perfectly. Thanks guys!



Charlie Groth, Carl Wade, Barbara Shaeffer, Doug Purcel, Dan & Diana Ost and a few others were headed to the Western Sizzler for a bite to eat before hitting the road and asked me to join them. A good meal was a good idea and I accepted. After some great conversation and a few laughs it was time to get on the road again. Trailer in tow I pointed the rig northeast towards home. See you soon!


Doug
Doug Spears
36 Interlaken Road
Orlando, Florida 32804
407-257-4242
dcsnole@yahoo.com
www.dougspearsmusic.com http://www.myspace.com/dougspears http://www.sonicbids.com/dougspears

Notes from the Road - Sunshine State Acoustic Music Camp

Saturday, November 15, 2008



Corrections and additions from Friday first – another of the early arrivers was Doug Purcell (how did I omit that!). Doug is at the camp every year and, as the reigning FOFF Prez, has an important role at the camp – FOFF provides a number of youth scholarships for these teen and preteens to attend. Whenever Doug and I are together we bill it as “Doug squared”, though given our respective girths it’s more appropriately “Doug rounded!” Doug has teamed up with Carl Wade and Barbara Schaffer to form a new trio, Triad. Watch for them – I think they may even include a Spears tune or two in their repertoire!



The weatherman had predicted a little rain on Saturday and, for once, he was right. I woke to a drizzling mist and low moving clouds. Now that sounds worse than it was. While our classes here are designed to given outdoors at designated shady spots around the grounds (notice the alliteration there), there was a plan B. There are cabins on one end of the area the SSAMC occupies with covered front porches and which are conveniently numbered 1 through 8 (corresponding with the designated outdoor class areas also numbered 1 – 8). In the case of rain we were to report to our correspondingly numbered front cabin porch and conduct our classes there – smooth as silk. Though the rain broke just as my first class at 11 a.m. was to begin, we opted to stay near the porches in case of a passing shower.



Before heading over to my class at 11 a.m., in consideration of any poor student that might end up down wind, I thought perhaps I should shower and remove the layers of sweat accumulated from the load up, travel, set up, night humidity, etc. of the previous day. Now, do not misunderstand what follows as complaint – any campground with bathrooms and showers of any condition are a luxury, particularly when your campsite has no water or power. Nevertheless, in the interests of full and truthful reporting, I should say that the showers were “assorted.” On the men’s side (I can’t report on the Ladies’ side as such behavior is not tolerated around here) there were three showers, kind of “locker room” style along one wall. Privacy is not a feature that is offered. The shower to the far right end of the wall was stone cold. Though it was still warm outside, it seemed as if this water was being brought in from some mountain beer brewing operation and there was no way I was dousing myself in that. The second shower dribbled (and that’s generous) a tepid stream that in order to get my head under I would have had to place my cheek (face!!) against the wall. You would have had a hard time rinsing your hands in it, much less a full fledged scrub. The last shower on the left had magnificent, paint removing pressure. However, where the first was stone cold, this one was scalding (hand reddening) hot. Yikes!! So after testing all three multiple times wandering around in nothing but shower shoes (OK, so you didn’t need that image I’m sure) I settled on scalding hot. Essentially I willed my hands to endure it while I splashed and spritzed the rest of me, soaped, rinsed and got out just before first aid for my fingers became necessary. I don’t think I’ll be doing that again tomorrow, odor be damned!



I was thrilled that my classes, both morning and afternoon, were well attended – a dozen or more in each segment. I was particularly thrilled to have at least one return student from last year (thanks Andrea!) and more than four of those teens and preteens I mentioned above. And, I ESPECIALLY gratified that about half of my morning class came back for my afternoon class as well! Too cool! We covered various aspects of songwriting including issues relating to basic tips and techniques, resources, generating ideas for both lyrics and melodies, rhyme schemes and more. The class doesn’t follow the outline necessarily, but molds to what those that are attending want to work on. I’m often unsure who learns more, them or me! I know I certainly enjoy it and have so much fun talking about one of the things I love most.



I finished up at 4 pm (after another more serious rain squall moved through) and made my way back to the camper to dump the guitar, etc. and check on the football scores. I got the Gaytor game (oops, sorry about that) and listened as they pounded SC in the swamp, while eating some stew, etc. sitting out under the camper awning as the temperature began to drop. The FSU game won’t come on until 8 pm, so I’ll probably miss that. Saturday night at the SSAMC is the instructors’ performance and Charlie creates a schedule starting at 7 pm. As it turns out, Charlie has scheduled me as the “chase act” – dead last. I don’t mind – it lets me hear all the others, hang out, chat, etc. So I coffeed up and settled in.



A lot of folks came in just for the show, including my dear friends Goody Haines and Shelly Eckert. This is a much loved event in the area and people go to some lengths to support it year after year. Expert sound was provided, free of charge, by Mike McNeil. It’s hard to imagine a better setting.



It is truly impressive the collection of talent that agrees, for little more than gas money (less than for some) to contribute their time and energy to this very worthwhile endeavor. The show was excellent top to bottom. Charlie always kicks it off with a few tunes and then we cycle through the entire faculty with 10 minute slots. There clearly were stand outs, but it does a disservice to mention some and not others as all were truly exceptional. The telling point is that the clubhouse building was filled and folks were sitting outside on the deck until the bitter end. I came on at nearly 11 p.m. and very few folks had left from the 7 p.m. start. After my two song slot (Yellow Butter Moon & Hemingway’s Hurricane, both of which will be included on my upcoming album), ably assisted on bass by Jim Davis, all the instructors gathered back on stage for the finale – “Keep on the Sunny Side.” A tremendous show all around!



Outside the temperature continued to fall under the bright light of a waning gibbous moon. A crowd collected outside the clubhouse and a great jam ensued with the teens and preteens front and center playing traditional tunes, newer stuff, originals – the whole gamut. Joe and Katie Waller, as always, were the unofficial jam ring leaders and, in their skilled fashion, made sure everyone was included and got to participate. I hung in for an hour or so, but soon I could hear my pillow calling my name. Back at the camper I closed the windows against the chill and snuggled up under warm blankets for a little reading and then lights out. I have two more two hour sections to teach tomorrow afternoon so the sleep is much needed. Wonderful sleeping weather! Night –


Doug
Doug Spears
36 Interlaken Road
Orlando, Florida 32804
407-257-4242
dcsnole@yahoo.com
www.dougspearsmusic.com http://www.myspace.com/dougspears http://www.sonicbids.com/dougspears

Notes from the Road – Sunshine State Acoustic Music Camp



Friday, November 14, 2008



Last year I was honored to be invited by Charlie Groth to teach songwriting in his Sunshine State Acoustic Music Camp in St. Petersburg. For 19 years Charlie has organized and hosted this camp for folks of all ages to come and learn various aspects of the acoustic arts at a very nominal fee – it is a true labor of love, not a cash cow by any means. Charlie marshals together instructors in guitar, mandolin, fiddle, autoharp, dulcimer, banjo, harmonica and on and on. It is a wealth of opportunity for young and old, beginner to advanced. Two full days of classes (typically 2 hours in length to give actual time to cover something worthwhile) take place at the Boyd Hill Environmental Studies Area in south St. Pete. Apparently I didn’t screw up too bad last year, because Charlie asked me back this year.



For this 19th edition of the SSAMC the date moved from its traditional October to the third weekend in November. That comes with two advantages – it avoids conflicts with October festival dates (Lake County for one) and it takes advantage of cooler weather, which is much appreciated by campers since there are no hook ups for RV’s here and the nights can be a bit hot and sticky in October. I got on the road Friday, camper in tow, and was on site by a little after 4 p.m. (Gas Hog Report: I bought gas just east of Tampa for $2.01!! I’m hoping to break the $2 barrier on the way home.) Lots of folks were already there – Joe and Katie Waller, Doug Purcell, Dan and Diana Ost (all the way from Austin!), Carl Wade (he was just setting up camp and then going back to get Barbara – you can’t rush the queen), Bill Perras (sans Eli – she’s still recovering from her surgery), Barry Brogan and more that I’m omitting due to forgetfulness. I got a great spot nestled in full shade under the oaks (with Joe Waller’s kind assistance) and within minutes was set up and ready to mingle.



The camp is a little smaller this year, the state of the economy to blame. Nevertheless, it’s a healthy and energetic crowd. One of the things I like so much about this camp is the number of youngsters here – about 10% of the students are teens and pre-teens. These aren’t the “aw mom, why do have to go there with you crowd.” They are the full blown, way into the music, want to learn something and play music well into the night crowd! There is nothing more encouraging about the future of our culture than to see a segment of our youth truly interested in the traditional folk arts and SO talented. That positive energy and renewal exists no matter who is President and no matter the state of the world in general.



Friday is just a get settled in, hear a little organizational speech by Charlie (Charlie, stick to the music old friend – speechifying ain’t your thang!) and then jam circles, song swaps, etc. Despite the later fall date it was still a bit warm and humid, though nothing like it world have been last month. Jim Davis, his brother and I slipped away after Charlie’s big speech to go grab a bite to eat. We ended up at Big Tim’s BBQ on US 19 only a couple of miles from the camp. Big Tim’s is a Pinellas County institution of more than 30 years. When I lived in this area we got take out from there at least once a month. Not in the best of neighborhoods, Tim’s is not big on ambience but the BBQ is first rate and on this occasion so was the company!



Back at the camp I dropped in on the main jam up near the clubhouse building and played along for an hour or so before heading back to the camper to review my materials for the upcoming classes. Last year I put together an outline for the classes which is stolen (with credit of course) from various songwritng books and seminars I’ve enjoyed over the years. While I had intended to rework it in detail this year, other things took priority and in the end I “spruced up” last year’s edition, adding some info and thoughts that have come my way since last year.



Ok, battery powered fan on, windows open, CONTACT!!! - ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ


Doug
Doug Spears
36 Interlaken Road
Orlando, Florida 32804
407-257-4242
dcsnole@yahoo.com
www.dougspearsmusic.com http://www.myspace.com/dougspears http://www.sonicbids.com/dougspears

Notes from the Road – Winter Garden Friday Music in the Gazebo, White Springs Music and Dance Fest and Gatorbone



Friday, November 7th – Winter Garden Florida



Man is this great weather for doing outdoor shows!! Though you’d think a cracker boy like me would thrive on the heat, I am a HUGE fan of the cool temperatures that we enjoy here in the Land of Sunshine from now until early March. I just love it!



The City of Winter Garden contacted me not long ago about playing their Friday Music in the Gazebo series and I accepted for Friday, Nov. 7th. I didn’t do my usual promotional job for this show because I wasn’t too sure what the circumstances would be. As it turned out, I should have been more diligent in letting folks know about it because it was truly a wonderful setting.



The Gazebo sits on Plant Street in the heart of the quaint and charming downtown business district. There are restaurants and shops (including my personal favorite wine bar – The Attic Door – Hey Lisa!) on both sides of the street. The Gazebo itself is in the park and fountain area in the center of the street so that traffic and foot traffic pass on both sides. I played a two hour show from 7 to 9 pm while folks wandered, shopped, ate at sidewalk tables or sat around the Gazebo and the fountain under a crystal clear sky in the cool night air. Families came with their kids, couples cuddled on benches and some folks brought chairs and gave it a “festival feel.” I felt something like an island in the stream as activity (cars and people) flowed by on both sides while listeners gathered in the “eddy of the current” in front of me as I worked my way through a pretty healthy portion of my original repertoire. A number of times I was “drive by clapped” as folks cruising slowly along in their cars with the windows down took in a song clip on the move. If the name “Sonics” weren’t already taken it would be the perfect moniker for this drive in (and around) musical revue. I look forward to being invited back and will be sure to let everyone know the next time – it’s a show you will really enjoy! It happens every Friday, so check it out and see who’s playing!



Saturday, November 8th – White Springs Music and Dance Fest



Ok, so after getting back home Friday night we crashed and then got up Saturday morning to get on the road for real. That meant unloading the sound gear from the night before (grunt, sweat, cuss), loading the camper with some clothes, coffee, etc., hitching up and hauling out for Stephen Foster and the first White Springs Music and Dance Festival.



Elaine McGrath, the Events Coordinator here at Stephen Foster Folk Culture Center State Park began planning this fest after she got such a good response from the “fall” edition of the postponed Florida Folk Festival last year. The weather makes this an irresistible time to be out enjoying music and the campgrounds and Elaine put together a great line up for this first effort which included Frank Thomas, Jim Carrick, Dale Crider, Tom Shed, The Dune Hoppers, Grant Livingston, Val Wisecracker, Lucinda Gale, Jerry Mincey, Chuck Hardwicke, Sunset Pete and Pat Barmore and, of course, me. Two music stages and a dance stage kept things lively from 11 am until 10 pm. As with most first time events attendance was a little light, but nevertheless strong enough to demonstrate that this is going to become a prime fall Florida event.



Again, the weather (I know, enough already about the weather) was absolutely perfect, high brilliant blue skies and temperatures in the 70’s and falling with the setting sun. I was on a brand new professional touring clam shell stage set up in the general location of the Azalea Stage during the Florida Folk Festival – right behind Bell Tower. Great lighting and sound – thanks guys! I got to meet several new friends who came out for this inaugural event and thoroughly enjoyed sharing my songs with the gathered crowd spread out across the leaf strewn grass as the pines and oaks cast long shadows in the setting sunlight . Thanks Elaine for including me in this terrific line up!



Back at the camper (in a new performers and vendors camping area) I got the firepit going and sat, flask in hand, of course, enjoying the night air and the sounds of campfire jamming. I wandered and listened a little, but instead of jamming I opted to sit and noodle on the guitar by my own fire pit just enjoying the night sounds and passersby. By 11 or so it was getting pretty cool so I put it all away and headed inside to get under the blankets and sleep well. Nothing like cool weather and warm blankets for serious sleeping!



Sunday – The First Gatorbone Concert



Sunday we pulled out of White Springs at about 10 a.m. and headed generally east and a little south out along highway 100 through the north Florida pine woods. Passing through Raiford we rolled into Keystone Heights and headed just north along highway 21 out to a little slice of heaven called Gatorbone – them home of our very good friends Lon & Lis Williamson. You may know them as the core of various stellar acoustic ensembles including VTW, the Driftwoods and, of course, Gatorbone. Out in the peace and seclusion of a 20 acre encampment on Little Lake Gatorbone, Lis & Lon have settled into a simple life most of us only dream about. In a rustic home that Lon has built largely by hand they play music, build exquisite mandolins and record both themselves and other artists like me in a growing home studio. And, most recently, they’ve added a cozy covered stage to the property, nestled up under the arms of a protective old oak that drape to the ground around its edges, where Sunday they kicked off what they hope to be a long and successful series of concerts.



Friends and family started filtering in around 3 p.m. Grant Peeples from Tallahassee kicked off the show with a few songs from his exceptional repertoire of original material and got folks settled in as the sun began to sag westward. Then Gatorbone took the stage a little after 4 p.m. There just isn’t a better group of musicians I’ve seen either in Florida or the southeast – maybe beyond. Anchored by Lis’ rock steady guitar and claw hammer banjo and Lon’s bass, they lay out a tight blend of Americana that includes both cover tunes and originals. Jason Thomas (who tours with the Claire Lynch Band) is immaculate on fiddle and mandolin. Gabe Valla is nothing short of stunning on guitar and mandolin. Add to that soaring vocals and harmonies and Gatorbone is simply mesmerizing. If you’ve not made a point to catch their show at one of the festivals or when they’ve played in your area you’ve made a serious mistake that I expect you’ll rectify soon!



After the show folks stayed well into the night swapping songs, trading licks on various instruments, devouring the food that everyone brought along to contribute and just generally enjoying the home place and the company. Things finally wound down towards midnight and Judy and I shuffled out to the rolling home away from home to crash. The temperature dropped down well into the 40’s and we slept well under the blankets in the remote peace and quiet.



Monday was a busy day at Gatorbone. We were taking advantage of the timing to work on my new CD, Welcome Home, which is to be released in the Spring. Jason Thomas is producing, plus adding his fiddle and mandolin. Lis and Lon are adding bass, banjo and harmonies to various songs and Gabe Valla is contributing some magnificent guitar pieces. The project is being recorded primarily in West Palm Beach at Ron Litschauer’s studio where I’ve done my last two CD’s. However, logistics. Jason’s schedule, the musicians who are appearing on the album (an exciting list I might add) and other factors are requiring that we record “remotely” at Lis & Lon’s and various other spots to get what we need. We worked a long and full day and made great progress. At one point poor Lis’ was “in the box” (the bedroom where the vocal mic’s are set up to record in isolation) doing harmonies while we sat out at the control board in the living room on headphones communicating only through the sound system. It’s hard work, but so much fun, particularly when you get to work with true friends who are such talented professionals. You can hear some of what we’re doing on my MySpace page at www.myspace.com/dougspears - check it out!



We had dinner – wonderful chicken enchiladas that Lis made from scratch (yeah, she’s a hell of a cook on top of everything else) and continued working until about 11 p.m. Then we hit the road again to get back to our busy, rat race lives here in Orlando arriving at a little before 2 a.m. Whew! I’m Beat! Gotta rest up and get ready for The Sunshine State Acoustic Music Camp next weekend in St. Pete. I’ll be teaching songwriting and will head over Friday afternoon – STAY TUNED!!


Doug
Doug Spears
36 Interlaken Road
Orlando, Florida 32804
407-257-4242
dcsnole@yahoo.com
www.dougspearsmusic.com http://www.myspace.com/dougspears http://www.sonicbids.com/dougspears

Well, I’m already home, showered and comfortable at 5:30 pm Sunday after a weekend at the Pioneer Settlement for the Creative Arts – the Barberville Fall Jamboree. This is a very unique, twice a year event hosted at the Settlement. It is unique in that all of the music performances take place in and around historical buildings that have been moved to and preserved on the site and are, with one exception, all acoustic. Only the Depot Stage (on the porch of the old Pierson train depot building) has microphones and speakers. It is a very rewarding environment for performers that can project their sound (both instruments and voice) in an acoustic environment. I love it because of the freedom you have when you are not tied to the microphone or the guitar cord. Your ability to move and connect with your audience is wonderful.



Before moving to the “blow by blow” I need to take a moment to thank Joe and Katie Waller who take on the enormous task of producing the music aspects of the event. This means booking all of the artists, scheduling more than seven stages, plus jam tents, workshop areas, hospitality, etc. This is not a high paying event for the artists - in fact, the budget for the event from the Settlement’s available public funding is incredibly minimal and playing this festival is a labor of love for those that can afford it. But, Joe and Katie and the great staff of volunteers make sure that the artists are well taken care of and feel appreciated, even if not well paid. Joe and Katie work tirelessly beforehand and throughout the festival making sure all details are attended to and the result is one of the best organized, most efficiently run festival programs around.



This year the settlement opened up a new camping area for the musicians with the goal of providing more space, shade and easy access. With that in mind, though I don’t usually camp at this festival as I’m only a little over an hour away, I hauled the camper over Friday afternoon and got in around 4:30 pm. The weather was cool and overcast as I turned into the grounds and began sorting out where I wanted to set up. A lot of folks were already there – Joe & Katie, Steve & Leigh Humes of Cold Harbor, Al & Cindy Scortino, Doug Purcell (our reigning FOFF Pres.), Jen Weidley and many more. I selected a shaded space that was not too easy to get into, but having lots of practice maneuvering the camper I was able to slide it tightly into a cozy, shaded spot next to the front gate. I was soon enjoying a cold beer and relaxing with friends as others, including Larry Mangum, James Hawkins, Lucinda Gail of the Makleys, with Asa, of course, Ben DeHart, Barry Brogan, Charlie Groth and many more that I apologize for not having enough brain capacity to mention by name here, came trickling in. Soon there was a campfire going and the new camping area was properly Christened.



Now I slipped away with Doug Purcel to grab a bite to eat, but it turned into a longer meal than either of us had expected. He was to meet Carl and Barbara Wade / Schaffer (Something Special) at a restaurant a couple of miles away on SR 40. We got to the place, got a table and began ordering for ourselves while Doug kept checking with the wandering Carl and Barbara by telephone to track their progress up from Sarasota – they weren’t making the progress they’d hoped and we (the Dos Doug’s) had finished drinks, appetizers, our meals, another drink, paid the check, left the tip and solved most of the problems of the free world before Carl and Barbara’s “Big Red” rolled into the parking lot. And, then we started all over again! Consequently, it was well after 9 PM before we got back to the camp and I was fading fast. I got the guitar out for a while and played in the shadows of the considerable camp fire crowd that had gathered, but I spiraled in before long and got cozy under the blankets in the trailer for some much needed shut eye.



I slept in late, first peeking out of the trailer at the gorgeous weather at about 9 AM. I wandered over the to Settlement to get coffee, etc. and was amazed at the number of folks – it was wall to wall people already! I don’t think I’ve ever seen a better Barberville crowd. After a cup of coffee and some sausage biscuits I wandered back to camp and sat with Carl, Barbara, Doug & Charlie for another cup of the good black stuff and listened to them preparing their material for the day’s performances. It soon occurred to me that I should be doing the same thing! So, back to the trailer, some water on the face and get at it.



My first set Saturday was in the Church at 1 PM. It’s my favorite stage there acoustically and I had a full house. What a fun set! I didn’t prepare a set list all weekend, opting instead to just play whatever I felt like at the moment. Since I’m working on the new CD I tended towards the material I’ve been recording and enjoyed getting to play those tunes in that environment.



Afterwards I headed over to the hospitality area for a late lunch. A difference for the performers this year was that instead of meal tickets to use at the food vendors, the volunteers prepared food for us in the kitchen of old school house building. Now, I heard some grousing that this was just a way to cut the cost of the music, but for me it was a welcome change. The food we had was better, healthier and served with a genuine smile! There was chili, vegetable stew, chicken and some killer desserts – I definitely approve!



My second set on Saturday was on the Family Stage adjacent to the school house and the vendor area at 3 PM. I came after the Cracker Tenor, Ben DeHart, a tough act to follow. Another fun set with a great crowd enjoying the beautiful day. Then, Miller time!



Back at the camp I wandered over to the Cold Harbor camp area and chatted with Steve, Leigh, James and others. Soon the guitars started coming out and the songs passed around as the sun started to fade. We all knew we’d get an extra hour of sleep because of the time change so folks were ready to pick long into the night. I took a short break at one point to get Leigh Humes to microwave a big chicken pot pie I had brought along (THANKS LEIGH!!!) which James Hawkins and I polished off between us. Then I brought out a bottle of Tulamore Dew (Irish whiskey for the more pure among you) with some cups and set it in the middle of the circle. There was all the Cold Harbor folks, including Pasco Pete, Larry Mangum, Steve Worrell, Tom Stevens, Barry Brogan, Ben DeHart, Grant Peeples, Joe & Katie Waller and more. Songs and great guitar licks and swapping guitars and laughter and, well, just all good things. Hours and the whiskey flowed by until well after midnight until it was just James, Leigh & Steve, Grant and me left. James, Grant and I decided to wander down to the RR crossing to get a close look at one of the frequently passing trains. We walked the tracks for a while chatting about this and that, but no train! Oh well, we walked over to the convenience store and got Subway Subs and ate them out on the grass still hoping for a passing freight. Still no train so back to camp and I hit the pillows around 2 AM. A very special night of friendship and music.



Now, Sunday turned a bit overcast and moist. My schedule included 3 sets: 12 noon in the Church, 1 PM on the Depot Stage and 3 PM at the Bridgehouse. The Church was full again, assisted in some part by a slow drizzling rain that drove some passersby in for shelter (hey, whatever it takes!). The Depot crowd was sparse as the seating area is not covered, but there were a couple of dozen die hards with umbrellas and those who were not deterred by the light moisture. By 3 pm the drizzle was heavier and the totally open air Bridgehouse “stage” (basically an uncovered spot under the oak trees) was rained out entirely. Back at the camp, those who had not started early in the morning to avoid the rain were folding up wet tents and stowing wet gear. I said my goodbyes, hooked up the trailer and headed home. However, the rain did nothing to dampen my spirits – this was a great weekend and one of the best Barbervilles of the many in memory. I’ll be looking forward to the Spring Frolic in April!

Back on the road, this time to Murfreesboro, TN for the Southeast Regional Folk Alliance conference on the campus of Middle Tennessee State University. The conference ran from Friday, October 17th to Sunday, October 19th. Here’s the recap.

As you may or may not know, Folk Alliance (the primary organization promoting and preserving folk music and dance in North America) is divided into regions. The conference for North America as a whole occurs in February of each year in Memphis. Then, in the fall the various regions (Far West, FARM (Midwest), Southwest, Northeast and Southeast) hold their respective conferences. SERFA (southeast) is the last region chartered and this was its inaugural gathering. SERFA includes a large geographic area - Florida, Georgia, SC, NC, Virginia, West Virginia, Kentucky, Tennessee, Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana, and Arkansas. The conference is an opportunity to network with artists, presenters, radio and media and for artists to showcase for presenters (venues, house concerts, folk societies, etc.) with hopes of booking shows. It’s also just a heck of a lot of fun!

We met on the campus of MTSU in Murfreesboro about 40 miles east of Nashville beginning last Friday at noon. MTSU has a major communications program which includes degrees in sound engineering and live performance production, so the facilities were really well suited for the gathering. The day (and the weekend generally) was spent in workshops on various subjects from guitar techniques, to vocal techniques, to songwriting, to technical information on recording and production, to promotion / booking / website management and on and on. Breaks and meal times were the networking / socializing opportunities. Then the evening to the wee hours were filled with the showcases both at MTSU and back at the hotel, the nearby Doubletree.

This initial conference was fairly small (about 100 attending), but VERY well organized, thanks to our President Kari Estrin and her “SERFA Six” (Denise Williams, Betty Friedrichsen, John Stoecker, Christine Stay and Charlie Dahan). It was a magnificent job and a terrific kick off for what I’m certain will be the strongest regional presence in Folk Alliance in coming years. I had the welcome chance to renew and expand old acquaintances and make so many new ones. Unlike larger gatherings where you only meet a fraction of the folks there, I doubt there were 10 folks at this conference that I didn’t get to spend time with in one way or another. I admit I was questioning whether the expense of attending would be worth it, but I was worrying without reason! Besides making some very promising booking contacts I got some great information from the workshops and feel part of an authentic, larger folk family.

I was particularly blown away by the level of talent present for the conference. As is typical for these conferences there were “official” showcases for artists selected by the SERFA committee, private or “guerilla” showcases for artists selected and presented by various groups back in the hotel from 11 pm to 2 am and a “fast pitch” showcase Sunday morning for artists selected, again, by the SERFA committee. I performed in three guerilla showcases and the fast pitch showcase. I watched a lot of performances in the course of the two and ½ days. My usual experience is that you see an even mix of weak, average and strong performances in these showcases. However, this SERFA crowd was strong across the board. While some were clearly stronger than others there were no performances that wouldn’t have been well received on any festival or house concert stage throughout Florida and the rest of the Southeast. I was quite impressed.!

So, “how do I get involved in SERFA?” So glad you asked! Start by getting on SERFA’s listserve at http://lists.serfa.org/listinfo.cgi/serfa-serfa.org and their Yahoo Group at http://launch.groups.yahoo.com/group/SoutheastFolk. Next year’s conference will be October 14 – 18 in Mountainview, Ark. at the Ozark Folk Center (www.ozarkfolkcenter.com) – put that on your calendar now!

See you soon!

Doug Spears
36 Interlaken Road
Orlando, Florida 32804
407-257-4242
dcsnole@yahoo.com
www.dougspearsmusic.com http://www.myspace.com/dougspears http://www.sonicbids.com/dougspears

Notes from the Road – The Gas Hog Tour 2008 – Day 25 – Homeward Bound

Sunday, August 3rd

The trouble with staying up so late for me is that I can’t sleep that late. By 8:30 am I was up and wandering. Lis had set out the French press for coffee, but I was not at all confident in my competence with the device. So, though my every pore cried out for caffeine, I sat on the back deck and began these notes. Lovely moring, humid but comfortable, and my body soaked up the awareness of being back on native soil. Before long Lon was up to let the Labs out (two big beautiful black Labradors) and he’s an expert at the French press, so my coffee jonesing was soon quelled.

Shortly thereafter the queen of the manse arose and, with refilled mugs in hand we went out to Lis’ “magical mystery garden” to the left of the driveway out front. Lon brought seed for the bird feeder and Lis instructed as to how to arrange it in the manner the birds liked best. Soon we had plenty of feathered company to entertain us as we sipped coffee and enjoyed the morning. Next I was treated to a tour of Lon’s workshop where he builds the finest mandolins you are ever likely to see (Lis refers to the workshop as the boy’s club and stayed behind at the house to attend to other matters). We looked at the various woods he has on hand and talked about his plans for certain pieces. Lon is building ukuleles too and has a couple of orders waiting. Plus he still does some guitar repair work – busy boy!

By this time it was already afternoon – time does fly when you are so in the moment, enjoying the company of good friends and soaking up life. But, I had the last leg to drive and get home to Orlando and Judy. So, reluctantly, I loaded my minimal gear, gave and got my goodbye hugs and, for the last time this trip pointed the behemoth toward the open road.

Lon and Lis had advised on an alternate route home away from the interstate, through the Ocala National Forest and I anxiously took their advice. Fisrt, I filled up the tank one last time ($3.73). Then I wound through Keystone Heights, dropped down past Interlachen and hit SR 19 right at the bridge over the Oklawaha / The Cross Florida Barge Canal. It was the ideal way to end the journey rolling along through MY FLORIDA, listening to Grant Peeples new CD “It’s Later Than You Think” (quick plug – BUY THIS CD, it’s outstanding!! Lon and Lis produced it, played and sang on it, etc. and Grant is a rare talent as a songwriter. If you want it straight from the gut, honest and true you’re going to love this album.). I cruised past Salt Springs, Juniper Run, through the forests, some of which remained black from fires of the past year and some of which had the brilliant green of new growth rising around the blacked trunks of the long leaf pines and scrub oaks. I ultimately emerged at Eustis on my true home turf in Lake county and then took 441 through Apopka into Orlando and home.

Judy had stayed over on the coast with our grandsons last night and I beat her back to the house, but our dog Aulie was there to greet me and Judy soon followed. I could have gone another week or two on the road, at least, but still there is no place like home.

And, so it ends, much like it started. As I drove the last hour back into Orlando my mind was, again, in quiet thought remembering places I had been, new friends and the treasured friends I’d been blessed to spend time with. I thought again of those I’ve lost, wishing I could share these experiences with them, but at the same time knowing they were there with me the whole time.

Gas prices are a bit lower than when I left, but still in the upper middle range of those I saw in this three week journey. I sold a lot of CD’s, (nearly 100 but I didn’t keep an exact count) and we’ll have to see how the books balance. I somewhat doubt I broke even, but I may have come closer than I think. It was a tremendous tour and I am so blessed to have the chance to do what I love, travel and share our Florida folk music with those not as fortunate as we that live here in the “Land of Sunshine and the State of Dreams.”

If you have missed any of these “notes from the road” postings (and are a glutton for punishment) they appear on my main website at www.dougspearsmusic.com under the “Updates” tab, in my MySpace blog which you can access even if you are not a MySpace member through my profile page at www.myspace.com/dougspears, and they are also posted on my Yahoo Group board at http://launch.groups.yahoo.com/group/dougspearsmusic/. Hope to see you soon!

Notes from the Road – The Gas Hog Tour 2008 – Day 24

Saturday, August 2nd

Having stayed up late solving all the world’s problems we all slept in a bit. But soon enough Hank’s two big standard poodles roused the household. With the large guest list Hank opted for breakfast out rather than rustling up several dozen eggs, etc. at home. Sandra Bullock was, unfortunately, still not home and sent her regrets for not being able to join us for breakfast and a big send off. We had a HUGE breakfast at a great local restaurant. The waitress was quite sweet – in my “up too late and up too early” condition as everyone ordered coffee as asked, melodramatically, for a BIG cup of black coffee. When the drinks arrived everyone else got the standard tan restaurant mug of coffee, but she had rustled around in the back and found me a really big blue mug for mine – very funny.

Any remaining world issues were adequately resolved over breakfast – peace, tranquility and prosperity will reign I assure you. Bruce and Laura said their goodbyes and left from the restaurant while the rest of us went back to the house. I showered quickly, loaded my guitars and other belongings back into the behemoth parked out front and finally managed to lumber away at around 1:30 pm. On to Jacksonville!

Now the plan was to go to Lis & Lon Williamson’s fabled homestead on Little Lake Gatorbone in Keystone Heights where I was to spend the night after our show at The European Street Café. Those of you that are more geographically attuned than I was in my still somewhat foggy condition have already thought to yourselves that I was going to pass the location of the show and travel some distance to the Williamson abode before turning right around and backtracking to Jacksonville. I was thinking that Keystone Heights was closer to Jacksonville than it was. When I put their address into my GPS I was shocked to see that instead of arriving around 4 pm, in plenty of time to change, chat, load guitars and head to the show in time to do sound check, etc., I would not get there until a little after 5 pm! Uh oh. I called Larry Mangum, our host for the show, who lives in Jacksonville and was on the road himself returning from the birthday gathering for Frank Thomas (HAPPY BIRTHDAY FRANK!!), to see if I could stop at his house, change and then just continue on to the show in the behemoth. Then I’d follow Lon & Lis home afterwards. You have to stay fluid on the road!

Larry’s got a great place in Jax just a couple of miles from The European Street Café and we hit the house within minutes of each other. I had a few minutes to poke around while I was waiting my turn in the facilities and perused Larry’s studio / office adorned with all of his memorabilia from his many great bands he’s fronted over the years. One really caught my eye – a picture of the Larry Mangum Trio with a young, suave Larry with a big, mod, swept back hair do, beard, mustache, hippie gauze white V-neck shirt, gold neck chain, etc. He looked for all the world like one of the BeeGees, no kidding!

We were at the show in plenty of time and I found a parking spot for the “touring coach” next door behind the ABC Liquor Store (how apropos). Lis and Lon soon arrived and we sound checked etc. as our crowd began to flow in. I have been looking forward to this finale show to the tour with Lis and Larry for a long time. Ray Lewis has done a dynamite job making a go of this series in Jacksonville. He has worked tirelessly and selflessly to provide a first rate venue for this music and we greatly appreciate his commitment – THANKS RAY! The room was at capacity when Lis kicked off the show with Florida Cracker Girl and for the next hour and a half we traded songs, jokes and stories. A wonderful crowd. What a homecoming! Thanks to all who came out!

After the show Lis & Lon led the way back to Gatorbone. It is necessary to clarify a little. Lon was driving and using the GPS to get him back to the interstate. However, Lis was in disagreement with the Lady on the Dash and directed Lon onto a different route. Poor Lon, getting conflicting directions from two women at the same time and ending up quite turned around. I actually pulled into the lead at one point with my GPS homing in and got us the highway so that Lon to retake the lead position. Wow, I’m dizzy just thinking back through it.

Out in the seclusion of Gatorbone we got out the brown whiskey. Lis whipped up some blueberry pancakes and bacon and we sat out under the trees behind the house to eat. Afterwards, drinks refreshed we walked down through the woods and sat by the lake listening to the night and chatting about all sorts of random stuff. Lis kept seeing falling stars, but it could have been the scotch – not sure. In the end we didn’t get to bed until about 3 a.m. Ah, the sleep of the well fed and the well satisfied. Tomorrow it’s one more tank of gas and home to my bride and Orlando.

Notes from the Road – The Gas Hog Tour 2008 – Day 23



Friday, August 1st



I got up at Bill & Barbara’s with all good intentions to be on the road to Savannah by 9 am. However, the hospitality and excellent company at the Derby B&B was just too wonderful to rush away from. After coffee out on the deck watching the humming birds Barbara served a magnificent breakfast that I’m sure knocked a little whole in the weight I had managed to lose on this trip. Though I hated to leave I had a long drive to Savannah (about 6 hours) and needed to get under way. So, well supplied with a large travel mug of coffee and a carefully wrapped stash of Barbara’s fresh brownies from the night before, I ground out of their driveway at just before 10 am.



The drive to Savannah was largely Interstate and not overly interesting. However, I always use that mindless driving time to work through song ideas in my head and sing anything worthwhile into a little portable recorder that I carry. A little beyond the halfway mark I reached Dublin, Ga. That area is where my grandfather Spears was born and raised. I had visited my great grandmother there once when I was very small, but still remember the cotton field, the old house, the outhouse (yep, still in use), etc. Though I really didn’t need gas yet, I pulled off and refilled, mostly just to set foot in that area again.



I rolled into Savannah (actually Tybee Island where my host, Hank Wiseman lives) a little after 4 pm. After being introduced to David and Nancy, Hank’s friends from the Asheville area who come down and help out with the monthly concert series, and getting the grand tour of Hank’s lovely home out on the Island, we loaded my gear into David’s car and went for a quick bite to eat before heading out to the show.



The Savannah Folk Music Society is a labor of love for Hank and his cadre of volunteers. In addition to an annual Festival, several solo concerts during the year and other workshops, activities, etc., they put on the monthly First Friday for Folk Music, a three hour program featuring three artists. There is a minimal donation for admission which goes to the Folk Society to support their various programs and the artists play for product sales only. However, the audience here has a long standing reputation as voracious CD consumers. When you consider that they draw a monthly crowd of more than 200 folks to these shows, CD sales can be quite significant.



On the program for the evening was Bill Shulman (a local favorite on a vintage Martin twelve string), followed by veteran national touring artist Bruce Piehoph from Greenville, SC and, concluding the evening, the guy with guitar calluses an gas pump calluses, Moi. A near sell out crowd, not more than a dozen seats available speckled through the audience in this great auditorium at a Presbyterian Church in Savannah – wonderful sound, lighting, large stage, etc. And a crowd that was there for one thing and one thing only – to hear the music, what a treat!!



Bill Shulman’s set really got the crowd warmed up with old favorites, some humorous numbers and a couple of sing alongs. I can see why Bill is so well liked and appreciated by his “home crowd.” Then Bruce Piehoph took the stage, and I mean TOOK it. Bruce is an astounding writer and presenter of his vast collection of original material that has filled 17 albums (that are still available) over a career of 40 years. This was Bruce’s third appearance at First Friday and the crowd responded to him like a returning member of the fold. Just an outstanding performance – I was privileged to get to see it, much less be saddled with the task of following it!



But, follow it I did and to a tremendous reception by this attentive crowd. Based on comments following the show from the crowd around the CD table, favorites seemed to be Teppintine, Yellow Butter Moon (a new song I’ve been playing this trip), This Old House, Sinner’s Song and Break Some Stones. Wonderful folks, including Sandy Branam, a renowned Savannah artist who produced water color paintings of each performer during their set! I’ll have a copy of that posted soon. I thoroughly enjoyed the performance and have been invited back which I’m looking forward to immensely. And, the CD buyers did their part in helping to defray my enormous gas bill for this tour. Thanks SFMS!!



Back at Hank’s digs on Tybee Island (Sandra Bullock is his next door neighbor – she sent word that she was so sorry to miss my show but was having babies and shooting movies elsewhere – NOT!) Bruce and his lovely bride Laura joined us and we sat nibbling snacks, swilling beer and comparing notes on mutual friends until the wee hours. As you might guess we solved most of the world’s problems and concluded we were all geniuses before the beer ran out. As a consequence of the long day I was physically and mentally incapable of completing these notes and left them for later submission. But as it turned out my last couple of days would be quite busy indeed –



MORE TO FOLLOW >

Notes from the Road – The Gas Hog Tour 2008 – Day 22, July 31st

I slept in this morning until almost 8 am. The soft patter of the rain and the night sounds of the trees surrounding my campsite made for a very peaceful snooze. However, I knew I had a lot to do today, a “day off” in that there’s no performance. Laundry, cleaning the camper, doing the dishes and doing internet promo work for the two remaining shows of the tour were all on the agenda. Again, COFFEE!!

The tasks described took the morning and into the early afternoon mostly because the internet work for the upcoming shows can be laborious and time consuming. There were also general emails to read and respond to, folks who were at the show last night to chat with when encountered, etc. It was almost 2 pm straight up before I put the Ford in gear and lumbered forth. The Lookout Mountain KOA was a wonderful stop and I hope to hit it again on a future trip.

The drive to Blairsville, Georgia, where I’m to stay with my good friends Bill & Barbara Derby, was an interesting route. The Chattanooga / Lookout Mountain KOA is actually situated just over the Tennessee / Georgia line in Trenton, Georgia. But to get to Blairville, almost due east, I had to first go north, back into Tn., then east into NC, then south back into Ga. – go figure. But, after Chattanooga (which was a madhouse traffic wise) it was a very pleasant drive. The route took me through the Cherokee National Forest along the Ocoee River. The Ocoee is dammed at several points by TVA projects creating some beautiful lakes and stretches of white water rapids alongside the winding state highway I traveled. Multitudes of rafting businesses had buses loaded with hundreds of white water adventurers lining the roadway either on their way to drop off a load at the upper end of the runs or to pick them up at the end. Plus, private vehicles were parked all along the shoulder of the road and folks were loading and unloading kayaks, canoes and rafts from their roofs not always mindful of the passing traffic mere inches from their bathing suit bottoms – more than once I thought I’d scored a tourist only to miss by the slimmest of margins.

In about a 2 ½ hours I rolled up to the driveway of Bill & Barbara’s new home. Barbara, ever the editor, wished to point out that in a previous blog I mistakenly reported that they used to live in New Smyrna, which I know is wrong – it was Ormond Beach not far from Chuck and Pat Spano. She also noted a couple of misspelled names, but who cares – you know who the folks were no matter how I spelled ‘em.

What a lovely place Bill and Barbara have here! Nestled into the wooded hillside is a cozy chalet styled tri-level home on two acres of natural privacy. I got the nickel tour and was thoroughly impressed with the new digs. I particularly like the high open ceiling in the main living area – the acoustics are wonderful as I learned after dinner when I got the guitar out for a little while.

Bill & Barbara Derby, if you don’t know them, are among the most devoted fans of both the Florida and national folk scene. They got “turned onto” this music a few years back and just can’t get enough of it. I am so fortunate to count them among my own fans and, more importantly, friends. Barbara initially announced (having read my daily blogs during this tour) that we’d be having rice and beans for dinner – I’m sure the stunned look on my face rewarded her evil little joke. I was quite relieved when Bill fired up the grill and brought out some huge chicken breasts – now we’re cookin’. I can tell you that the Derby B&B for Hapless Touring Musicians is a five kudo operation. It’s wonderful to be spending the night out of the camper with good friends.

I did play a few tunes after dinner just to stay ready for tomorrow night’s show in Savannah and we told stories, jokes and generally visited until it was time for fresh baked brownies topped with ice cream and coffee on the side – do I know where to crash or what?! Delicious! I’ve retired now to my suite to type these quick notes before I drift away to the sounds of the tree frogs outside. If you know Bill & Barbara I seriously recommend that you wangle an invitation to visit them up here. If you don’t know them, I’ll introduce you at the next festival – they still come back to Florida for a lot of them. I for one still count them among our Florida Flock, Georgia address notwithstanding!

Tomorrow it’s off to Savannah – more then.

Notes from the Road – The Gas Hog Tour 2008 – Day 21, July 30

First and foremost, happy birthday to my Daughter, Stacey!! Don’t be thinking you’re too big for the traditional birthday spanking!!

Though I stayed up late last night watching part of a movie on my computer, still a little wound up after a very enjoyable show, I woke at 7 am and set about the business of getting on the road. First things first – COFFEE!! While I sipped that wonderful cup of ½ hazelnut, ½ dark roast and half caff, I sent you guys my daily (or in that case semi-daily) missive. Then I put feet to shoes and hands to labor. Not much labor though. Traveling alone in the camper I do the minimum in terms of setting up and, consequently, there’s not much to tearing down. But I did take time to reorganize a bit and rid myself of the refuse of the last few hundred miles of driving (empty water bottles, withered banana peels, soiled napkins, etc.). Plus, “my adapted grand kids”, Aaron and Cody were up not long after I began, still in their matching Batman pajamas (complete with capes) and, along with their Boston Terrier, Chico, were right in the mix. I got finished with everything except unhooking the water and power and then went to shower and change. I had promised Aaron and Cody that we’d have our picture taken together and I didn’t want to look like the park vagrant for that. Mike and Michelle were so good to me the two nights I was there and Michelle sent me off well provisioned with a grilled chicken sandwich and a bag of cookies – nice, nice folks. Aaron offhandedly, in his best five year old impersonation of a grownup, “wondered if I’d like to go fishin’ sometime” and had I not had to be in Chattanooga tonight, I’d have taken him up on it. I hope I see the family again soon and will think of them often.

The drive south was reasonably uneventful. My route took me through the outskirts of Nashville before turning me southeast. Gas prices hovered in the $3.70’s, though I saw one station (too late to take advantage) that had regular for $3.49. There were a lot of trucks traveling I-65 and I-26 and, though the terrain was more forgiving and I got better gas mileage, the trucks were intimidating at times, particularly when they fly past you on both sides at once buffeting the trailer with their air wakes. As I was driving through the heart of bourbon country, past the distilleries of Jim Beam, Wild Turkey, Maker’s Mark and others, I was tempted to pull off and take a “tour” to calm my nerves. But instead I admonished myself “buck up little camper” and persevered.

I hit the Lookout Mountain KOA right on schedule at 2:30 pm. Coming in I could tell that the park was at peak slow – very few campers dotting the hillside park. It’s a beautiful place with lots of shade and well kept grounds. The owners, Brian and Allison could not have been nicer getting me situated and making sure I had everything I needed. Brian took me to the pavilion where I was to perform. It was small, probably 30 x 30, but covered and in a good location. Given the low occupancy and the size of the pavilion I made a command decision – in the tradition of Barberville and the River Gazebo at The FFF in White Springs, we’re doing this one all acoustic. Brian liked the idea completely.

I got my camper situated in a perfect site, fully shaded and right across from the showers and the wireless internet antenna. Then I did a little email work for upcoming shows, showered and had my preshow meal (but not beans and rice as I was mindful that the intimacy of this show might prove embarrassing if gaseous emissions pressed forth mid song). I then showered and went back to the front office to retrieve the left overs of the post cards I had sent promoting the show. Borrowing Brian’s golf cart I drove the park chatting with folks and making sure they knew the when and where for the show. Then, having hit all I could catch out and about I settled back in to get ready.

I love not setting up the sound system!! Just a table with my product, tip jar appropriately “pre-seeded,” a stool for my picks, water, etc. and a guitar stand. I had restrung my Collings and elected to go with just the one guitar and retune as necessary – keep it simple. At 7 pm sharp the folks I had met and handed cards to, as well some others that had been chummed up by Brian and Allison appeared with their chairs in hand and ready for an outdoor house concert. What FUN!!! Small kids were there dancing on the upbeat songs and starring wide eyed at this guy playing guitar and singing right to them. Adults swayed and tapped feet to the music, even singing along as they learned the lyrics. Stories and jokes and impromptu reactions and remarks – it was remarkable.

And so were the CD sales and tip jar proceeds. The crowd was never more than 20 people (including kids) and really only about 12 adults start to finish, but every single one bought CD’s ( mostly the give me all you’ve got type), signed my mailing list and generously hit the tip jar with non-ones. I talked to them about house concerts and a couple are anxious to stay in touch to set something up back home. It was just the best!!

In all this exuberance over how fun it was I forgot to tell you – it rained nearly the whole time!! These folks came in through the rain to have fun and boy did we!! I won’t soon forget this show.

It’s still raining now, though it has slowed to a drizzle, and I’m sitting under my awning enjoying the night sounds and the dripping of the water from the trees. Tonight I eschewed whiskey for wine, a nice pinot noir, and I hope you are suitable envious. I shan’t stay up so late tonight, the wine will see to that.

Tomorrow I’ll wander over to Blairsville, Ga. to spend the evening with Bill & Barbara Derby who recently moved there from New Smyrna. They graciously invited me to swing through on this trip and I’m taking them up on it. Looking forward to seeing the new digs and relaxing a bit. Then it’s Friday to Savannah and Saturday to Jacksonville – the home stretch. I’m not tired of the road, but I’m not adverse to getting home either. More tomorrow.

Notes from the Road – The Gas Hog Tour 2008 – Day 19 & 20, July 28 & 29

Let’s see, where was I??? Oh yeah, Berea, KY – nice little over night stop. Had very little to do to break camp so I was underway by 9:30. The original plan was to be in Louisville, KY (Shepherdsville actually) by noon with time to get the lay of the land and begin promoting for Tuesday’s KOA show there. However, I noticed that the brand new tires on the brand new axles I just had installed on the camper before I left were wearing very unevenly on the front set of tires, enough that I was becoming concerned about them making it back to Orlando. So, I checked the GPS and found a tire place near the Interstate and pulled off. After checking a number of things the tire guy (what are they ‘mechanics’, ‘technicians’, ‘rubber analysts’, what?) surmised that the front axle was slightly misaligned and was causing the rapid, uneven tire wear. Well, I have a warranty back in Orlando, so I didn’t want to have this guy do any serious work. I just had him switch the front tires to the back and the back to the front – let the other set wear for a while until I get home and can get this sorted out.

So, with my little tire sidetrack, plus a stop to get a prescription refilled, reload on water, gas up, etc. I actually didn’t pull into Shepherdsville until about 1:30 pm. Nice KOA park and they’ve done a nice job promoting the show. The real question here will be how many folks there will be in the park mid-week. Unlike Cherokee, NC this is not a high traffic tourist area and the park is not even half full as best I can tell. Nevertheless, there’s plenty of folks to play for if I can get them to toddle on over Tuesday night.

Now I had another issue to attend to – in Bristol, TN I discovered that one of my speaker cables is shorting out. So, I needed to pick up a spare. Once I got in my campsite I did a little google research and found a chain music store about a half hour away. I made the run to get that and a couple of other nic-nacs and got back to the campground around 4 pm. Wow was it hot!! In the high 90’s and they say tomorrow it’ll hit 100! I may need to get back to Florida to cool off!

I sought the shelter of the AC for a little rest before going out to scout the possible show sites. At about 6 I took a sweltering stroll in the late afternoon sun and determined that there was really only one logical spot that would be shaded at 7 PM on Tuesday and had available power for the sound system. With no rain in the forecast the fact that it is out in the open towards the front of the park should not be a problem. So the Tuesday night concert will be in the shaded grassy area adjacent to Site 309.

Dinner time – thick juicy pork chops with seasoned lima beans and broccoli – YUM! My next door neighbors have two little boys, Aaron and Cody, who have adopted me obviously concluding that no old guy in my condition should be left unattended. Cute kids.

Used some of my WV firewood that I stocked up with in Parsons before leaving there to build a small, warm night fire and picked some tunes. As usual, folks will always stop by to hear what you’re doing and I’d tell each one about the concert on Tuesday. Before I knew it 11 pm rolled around and it was time to crash. Too tired to even start my “NFTR” post so I just shut off the light and snoozed out.

Tuesday, July 29th

Eight AM, coffee, time to get to work promo’ing the show. Aaron and Cody invited me over for pancakes and bacon (courtesy of their folks Mike and Michelle Smith) and so I got my morning sugar and caffeine high going. I went on down to the campsite I’d selected for the show and set up my speakers and sound board (covered in case of rain) with signs promoting the “sundown concert” at 7 PM. I gave the front desk some additional postcards promoting tonight’s show for anyone who came through today and I put up a dozen or so additional posters in key locations (i.e., the bathrooms and pool area). At about 3:30 I’m going to walk the campground and hand out cards to anyone who’s around. Wish me luck!

. . . . LATER ON . . .

So now I’ve handed out about 30 postcard invitations and chatted with folks about the show. It’s still hard to tell what kind of turnout I might have. The heat is going to deter some, but that’s why I emphasized the “shaded grass” next to Site 309. I’m going to bring my super, duper, blow your shorts off, stage fan which should help me with the heat a little. Nothing left to do but get ready to play.

I’m going to have my early rice and beans pre-gig meal in a few minutes, then I’ll go ahead and do a sound check down at Site 309 (starting to sound like the scene of a paranormal gastric event of some kind isn’t it? OH NO, NOT SITE 309!!!!). I also plan to hook my iPod up to the system about ½ hour ahead of time and let the music help with the draw (hopefully). I’ll let you know how it goes.

MUCH LATER ON . . .

As I said in Johnson City, some days you eat the bear and some days the bear eats you. Well, that old bear meat is pretty tastey let me tell you! I had one of the best listening crowds and nearly the best CD sales of the tour – on a Tuesday night. The heat did get things off to a bit of a slow start, but two or three songs in I had a nice little group of 30 or so. The audience had shade right from the get go, but I was in the sun for the first 30 – 40 minutes. People kept filtering in and out and I had the usual “cheap seaters” sitting at their campsites and enjoying the music from afar. Though I’d rather have them in close, it creates some lighter moments when you get clapping and whistles from 100 yards away, to the left and to the rear, after a song – pretty comical at times. The sound system was carrying wonderfully out across this meadow-like spot and as the sun continued to descend it was really a beautiful setting. I had a symphony of crickets accompanying me (or me them) as the light turned soft in the trees. The crowd was terrific and I really enjoyed the show.

9 PM seemed to come too quickly. It was still light, but fading fast. I wrapped it up and the crowd showed their appreciation by buying CD’s and padding the tip jar. Four couples bought everything I had, both CDs and the DVD of my Octagon Arts show back in 2006. I chatted with the group, took an offered beer from one of those that had come best prepared, got hugs from some and had pictures taken with others. Great night.

So now I’ve had my wind down time sitting at the campfire next door with my “adapted” grand kids, Aaron and Cody, and their folks Mike and Michelle Smith. I learned something sitting there by the fire – the hub for UPS air is in Louisville. As we sat by the fire I noticed a real increase in air traffic on landing routes into Louisville. Mike said “well, it must be just after 11 because the UPS planes are coming in.” And boy did they ever! It was if they were landing single file with only a minute or so between them and we were right on the glide path – high enough so as not to ruin the peace of the fire, but noticeable.

Well, tomorrow Chattanooga!

Notes from the Road – The Gas Hog Tour 2008 – Day 18, July 27

My next show is in Louisville, KY Tuesday night, so I’ve got a couple of days “off.” My stay here at the Bristol KOA is up today and my stay in Louisville doesn’t start until tomorrow. So my plan is to head up to Berea, KY today and hit a cheap campground there leaving me only a couple of hours into Louisville on Monday. Part of the “master plan” with the KOA gigs is to stay for free as much as possible. The only nights I’ve paid for so far were the first night in SC and the four nights that Judy and I were in WV. In WV we paid less than $15 per night so that didn’t hurt the budget much. Between what I’ve saved on hotels and meals I’m still within range of breaking even on this tour, although last night certainly didn’t help. We’ll see.

Gonna have one last cup of coffee and get hitched up. I’ll add to this later on once I hit Berea.

Well the gas saga continues, but for the better. I was able to buy a few gallons today at an all time low for this trip - $3.59 – and that was in northern Tennessee before I crossed into Kentucky. Kentucky is generally higher in the $3.85 neighborhood, but it varies considerably from town to town, as much as .20 per gallon just a couple of miles apart. Very odd.

The day has been clear, sunny and hot. It was in the high 80’s to 90’s even at higher elevations. The drive from Tennessee was beautiful up through the Cumberland Gap crossing large lakes created by the dams of TVA projects on these graceful, dignified rivers. I stayed off the Interstates for the most part and took to the state highway systems where possible, all four lanes so good roads and easy driving. I was in Berea (say it like “tortilla”) and set up on my campsite by 3 pm. I had a serious sagging spell at that point and took a siesta in the cool AC.

I’m fixing dinner right now (back to beans, rice and veggies now that I’m batching it again – I cook fancier when Judy’s around, otherwise I just keep it simple) and then I plan to pick a little outside once the sun goes down, maybe work on the new tunes some more. Only four shows left – Louisville, Ky., Chattanooga, Tn., Savannah, Ga., then back onto home turf to finish up in Jacksonville with Larry Mangum and Lis Williamson. This tour has been a great adventure and a substantial learning experience. You can’t pay your dues as a songwriter and performer without doing the road thing and I hope to do more and more each year. It’s tiring, but so rewarding.

Someone left a pile of wood in the fire ring on this campsite – it was obviously started, but extinguished almost immediately. Probably rain. In any event, it let me get right to the fire without unstrapping my firewood container, etc. on the back of the trailer. I got out the old Martin and played a little, but my heart wasn’t in it. I really wanted to sit and watch the fire and get into my cups a little. Such a clear sky tonight with the big dipper right overhead. If it weren’t for the sounds of the interstate so close by it would really be beautiful, but the crickets are cranking it up a notch as if competing with the road noise. A few fireflies out, but not many. A black & white cat wandered up and, I guess, didn’t realize I was there because I shook the ice in my cup and the cat came three feet off the ground.

The fire is getting down to a soft glow and so am I. Tomorrow I’ll wander on up to Louisville, just a couple of hours, and start promoting for my show there Tuesday night. I think I’ll turn in – g’night.

Notes from the Road – The Gas Hog Tour 2008 – Day 17, July 26

The show last night here at the KOA in Bristol, TN (Blountsville actually) went well. This is a nice park and the folks here had put in some effort to drum up interest. While I had some of that “sit at the camper and listen safe from the CD sales and tip jar” stuff going on I still had a nice crowd under the pavilion and sold a reasonable number of CD’s – even the tip jar did well, so no complaints at all. I relaxed and had fun with the show, even throwing in “Port-O-Let” since there were no kids present at that time (if they were hanging out at the camper that’s what they get!!).

Though I missed Judy already I still slept pretty well. There is a lot to be said for hauling your own bed around with you. I’ve been very comfortable on this trip and it lets me know that more of this traveling lifestyle in the years to come will suit me just fine.

Today, as advertised, was cloudy with a misting, drizzling rain off and on. The good news is that it kept it cool. I sat under my awning and did computer work (even posted some pictures as you probably discovered at http://photobucket.com/DougSpears - go take a look) and worked on some songs, etc. It really was a very nice, relaxed, productive day. Around 4 I went and took a much needed shower (odiferous maximus – or was that a skunk?) then at 5 I headed out for my Johnson City show about a half hour away.

Now, the old saying goes that some days you eat the bear and some days the bear eats you. Well after tonight’s show I’ll be bear poop in the morning. The Acoustic Coffeehouse in Johnson City is a mainstay of traveling acoustic artists coming through this area. But it can be a difficult room as it is near a college and it is a “watering hole” (specializing in microbrews). Last year, though it was a weeknight with cheap beer and a lot of traffic right in front of the “stage” (i.e., the spot on the floor in the room where you stand) I did pretty well with CD sales, etc. However, this year it was close to the gig from Hell.

I got there early to reacquaint myself with the room, the sound board, etc. and have a bit to eat. I made some notes on song ideas, put together my set list and got myself mentally ready for what I hoped would be a well paying show given that I was featured on Saturday night instead of the mid week slot I’d had last year. I did not prepare myself for what was coming.

The first mistake I made was not knowing that there was a major music festival event in town this weekend, Belle Cher, and those folks that would ordinarily have come out to see me were elsewhere (as more than a few pointed out by email in the last couple of days). Two - Beer – they love their beer here – so do I for that matter, but REALLY!! Most folks chose to sit outside so that the sound of a solo artist on an acoustic guitar would not impede their beer drinking. Those that stayed inside were mostly polite, but largely disinterested. It was, sum and substance, a bar gig. I don’t do bar gigs anymore for this very reason – original music won’t carry the day and folks are not there to listen at all. So, while the tip jar did reasonably well (mainly because when the line for beer backed up they were standing right in front of me and I was singing directly to them – pretty hard not to throw some of dad’s cash in the jar when the old guy with the nice guitar is staring right at you!!), CD sales were abysmal and I just wasn’t having much fun. But, you have to admit, what other job in the world is there that a bad day is defined as one where you get to drink free beer and sing songs? Nobody EVER said this was an easy road to travel and you’ve got to expect some speed bumps here and there. Chalk one up to experience and move on.

So, after talking a while to the two or three folks that were actually listening and enjoying the show (and taking full advantage of my freebie privileges on the beer – if you can’t beat ‘em join ‘em) I packed up and wound my way back to the KOA (topping off the gas tank since I saw a $3.81 price along the way) where I’m sitting outside, listening to the crickets and writing to my favorite folks (that’s you guys). Tomorrow I’m going to head on into Kentucky at a leisurely pace. My next show is Tuesday night in Louisville Kentucky. Sleep well my friends.

Notes from the Road – The Gas Hog Tour 2008 – Diary Day 14, July 23, to

Oops – my post for yesterday left out the name of the falls we went to since I was having a senior moment – It was Blackwater Falls. Sorry for the gap in the info.

Spent the day looking at property around Parsons, West Virginia which is halfway between Elkins and Thomas (where the Purple Fiddle is) – 14 mountain miles either direction. At Parsons, the Cheat River joins with the Shaver Fork and the Blackwater rivers. The water is crystal clear and flows quickly in white water riffles over, around and between the rocky bottom and shores. In places the river is about more than 50 and in most areas is similar in the width to the Suwannee at White Springs when it is up to normal levels (not low like it has been for the past couple of years). The water is cold mountain spring water. It looks like trout and small mouth heaven. It’s popular with kayakers and canoes.

Parsons itself is a small, quaint little town, only about 1,600 residents. It is the home of Kingsford charcoal and sits below the great ridge of wind turbines north of town just before you reach Thomas – owned by Florida Power by the way. It’s the kind of place with one decent grocery store, a Rite-Aid pharmacy, a couple of gas stations and an assortment of small local businesses huddled around the late 19th or early 20th century style red brick courthouse, city hall, etc. There is one motel and it’s for sale. I’ve been told there’s not a single bar in town. A lot of churches however, mostly Methodist or other conservative protestant sects. While it might not sound like my kind of place there is an irresistible charm about it.

Judy had found a couple of listings in this area that interested her. We located one yesterday on our way up to Thomas. It was three acres on a small stream with a worn looking little box house and some outbuildings. Not bad and the price was pretty good, so it had possibilities. However, I wasn’t chomping at the bit to make an offer. The other listing we needed a realtor to actually find. It is two acres fronting on the Cheat River (192’ of river front) just on the outskirts of Parsons and we headed there today just before lunch time. As we rounded the corner on the road to the property the realtor pointed and said “there it is.” Ahead, between two attractive houses on similar large lots was the two acre parcel with tall lush trees along the river and starring back at us from the lot were five deer, four bucks with horns still in velvet, who were grazing peacefully in the drizzling rain. We watched the deer for a while (and I snapped some pictures I hope to share at some point) until they decided we were too curious and moved on away. Then we walked down to the river bank through the trees. This is it!! The river here is wide, 50 yards +, with lots of white water giving you the gentle sounds of the swift current wherever you are. There are beautiful trees and a sloping bank down to the water’s edge which is speckled with the smooth river stones of varying sizes that you prized so much as a kid. Though we looked at a couple more pieces of property today, we were smitten with this piece and went back to the realtor to make an offer. By the time I return to Florida I hope I’ll be under contract for this terrific piece of land which, even at the asking price, is cheaper than any subdivision 1/6 acre lot you’d find anywhere in Florida – amazing.

The trip back to our campground was an adventure. The realty office was in a little town called Belington and I asked my trusty, sexy voiced GPS to guide us home. Yeah, the same GPS that took me to the one car ferry in Virginia – OK, I’m a slow learner. We were soon turning up “roads” (i.e. two rut trails with some marginal gravel on them) until we were impeded from further progress by a locked iron gate and a no trespassing sign – apparently the blessed lady of the GPS knows no such obstacles and as I turned and headed back out the way I came she tersely advised “recalculating.” I was tired and really wanted to get back to the camper and relax, but we went one way and the next trying to get back out of the middle of nowhere and I began to think we’d be spending the evening huddled in the Expedition. Suddenly we crossed a narrow passing over a small creek that I recognized! We turned around and went back – I was right! We had passed the entrance to our campground from the other direction (no sign facing the National Forest, because who in his right mind would come that way)! Somehow we had passed over the ridgeline and down through the National Forest arriving at our campground from the well protected rear. I could swear I could faintly hear the GPS smirking derisively.

Speaking of National Forests, I learned today that West Virginia is owned 70% by the government as protected lands. Interesting.

Finally back to our campsite and the comforts of “home.” A little dinner (ham, corn roasted on the grill and asparagus) and a little dvd on the computer. See you tomorrow.

Day 15, Thursday, July 24th

Getting a slow start. The camper has developed a plumbing leak in the bathroom that I can’t identify yet and all of our towels have been used soaking up the water. I guess there’ll be no showers this morning.

I need to get into town today to get the brakes on the Expedition looked at – there’s a vibration I don’t like particularly when I’m having to haul the camper up and down mountain roads. We also need to get to phone reception so we can check on our offer on the property. And, I have some MySpace work to do promoting my shows this weekend and next. Lots to so – coffee up!

What a beautiful day – clear skies and the temperature has dropped into the 70’s. Eat your heart out Florida folks! Headed out to Elkins and on the way Judy negotiated via cell phone for the river acreage – and struck the deal!! All we have to do now is go sign the papers. But, first things first. That brake thing is really wearing on me – don’t want to put that off. We got into Elkins and found a repair shop that could look at it right away. No big problem, just as front brake job. We went and found some WiFi while they did the work so I could send emails to promote my Jonson City, TN show Saturday night. An hour and a half later and we’re on the road again.

We headed on to Parsons and decided to go by the property first to confirm this is what we wanted. One of our deer was waiting on us – a six point velvet buck – as if to confirm the decision. We walked the property again and talked about how we would orient the house. The sun rises over the river which will be the rear of the house and sets behind the mountains which will be the front. We got down in the river, not as cold as we’d expected though cool aplenty, and soaked in the beauty of the place. It really is everything we’d hoped to find.

So, on to sign the papers at the real estate office and WE’RE UNDER CONTRACT – WOOHOO!! What a great bonus for this trip!

We went on back to Elkins in search of WiFi (I had more promo to do) and to pick up a couple of things we needed. What a terrific day. Back at our campsite I got cooked dinner (grilled chicken with yellow rice smothered in tomatoes and okra and steamed asparagus, yum!!) then took a walk while Judy cleaned up. Down at the fishing pond a couple that lives close by were doing pretty good – six catfish (one a 22 incher) and a few bluegills. I was informed upon inquiry that last week the Misuses hooked at bass over six pounds. I was further instructed that the bass in question was not consumed as table fare, but was in the freezer awaiting proper display in a place of honor. I concur.

Tomorrow we get back underway by 9:30 a.m. so that I can get Judy to the airport in Charleston and then head on to Bristol, TN where I have a show tomorrow night. Judy’s already sawing Z’s as I type – think I’ll join her. Night!

Day 16, Friday, July 25, 2008

Up and at ‘em – gotta load up / hitch up the camper and get on down the road. Tonight I play in Bristol, TN (a KOA gig). But first I have to swing down through Charleston, WV and drop Judy at the airport. She’s had enough of me and is plying home while I finish out the tour.

I had to fill up with $4.09 gas in Buckhannon before heading towards Charleston – Ouch!! If I can just get across the state line into Va. I’ll be back in the lower prices. We hit the road at 9:30 and, with a couple of personal stops, made it to the airport by noon. Again, folks just look in consternation at this big rig rolling through the departing flights aisle – kissed Judy goodbye and kept on going. Going to miss her for the last 10 days of the trip here.

The drive to Bristol was quiet and uneventful. I-77 going out of WV is a toll road and the worst maintained one I’ve ever seen, very rough! $4.50 in tolls before I hit the Va. Line and I can’t imagine what they’re using the money for. Somebody’s stickin it in their pocket I guess.

As soon as I hit Virginia the gas prices plummeted. I was able to run the tank down to almost empty before filling up with my record low price for the trip - $3.69! On into Tn. Prices seem to hover around the $3.85 mark, still not so bad given the current situation.

I’m already at the KOA and have set up my gear, had a bite to eat and am chillin’ before show time. This is a medium sized, very nice facility and, the good news is its jam packed. It even looks like the management has been talking up the show too. The pavilion is small, but will still seat 40 or so under cover and many more in the surrounding grass area. It is right in the middle of the campground so I could have a lot of that “sitting at the camper and listening without coming over” stuff going on. We’ll see – wish me luck!

So, now you are back up to date and I’ll pick up again tomorrow from here.

Notes from the Road – The Gas Hog Tour 2008 – Day 13, July 22

The Purple Fiddle, Thomas, WV. What a great little venue. Located in the historic DePollo Store (circa 1890’s) this high ceilinged eclectic room is just a pleasure to play.

The weather cooperated for us after all and cleared by mid morning, though the ground around the camper remained quite slick and muddy (clay). I nearly slipped and busted my keester a couple of times. After showers and some guitar maintenance we loaded up and headed east along US 33 to Elkins where we stopped for lunch.

Now, last year when I came through I spent only a couple of minutes driving through a little part of Elkins and, for some reason, just wasn’t attracted to it. But, spending more time there this year I really like this small, somewhat artsy community. We had some lunch at a little WiFi café (hence, my posting yesterday) and I caught up on email while Judy perused the local real estate listings. She marked things of interest for later investigation and we headed on up through the mountains towards Thomas.

Halfway to Thomas from Elkins is a little town (1,500 people) called Parsons. It sits right at the confluence of the Black River and the Shaver Fork River forming the Cheat River. Judy had marked a couple of real estate listings in the area so we took a minute to poke around. Wow! The rivers here are gorgeous! We found some promising properties right on the river and are going to come back tomorrow to check them out with a realtor – I’m pretty excited!

On up to Thomas and, since we were running a little early, we passed on through and went to take a look at _________ Falls just a couple of miles beyond Thomas in Davis. Absolutely breathtaking! I took a few pic’s and, if I can work out the bugs in transferring them to my computer, I’ll post them at some point. For some reason the first batch of pictures (everything through Cherokee, NC) did not transfer correctly and appear to be useless. However, the pic’s I took at the Edisto and beyond are still in the camera so we’ll see if I can do better with those at some point.

The Purple Fiddle has changed a bit. John has built a new stage with complete lighting and great sound up in the front of the space by the street – the old stage was on the back wall near the bathrooms and the bar. His theory, and a good one, is that this location is better for the performers and increases the attention and draw from the street outside. In any event, it’s a terrific set up. We got settled into our room at the Fiddler’s Roost next door (part of the compensation) had a bite to eat in The Fiddle and then I went about setting up and doing my sound check.

8 PM – show time! Unlike last year I had decent crowd at 8 and it improved even more during the first half hour so that I had a healthy group for the evening. The Fiddle charges the patrons for the music (which goes to the musician) and with good CD sales and an active tip jar I had a good night financially. But, more importantly, I had a great time playing the show. The crowd was a “you can hear a pin drop” listening group and responded so well to the stories and the songs. It was another very memorable show. Judy took some pictures, but she was pretty dubious about how they turned out so we’ll see.

Gas prices have serious cut into the tourist traffic in Thomas this summer and John tells me that the financial picture is grim. If you know of anyone traveling this way be sure to tell them about The Fiddle and encourage them to put it on their route. This is a classic little venue that it would be a shame to lose!

After the show we chatted with some new fans, had a beer or two, packed my guitars and then settled into our Roost room. Though it was pretty warm until the sun went down the temperature is dropping nicely. With the windows open we can hear the river across the road and the occasional passing car or truck. Cozy under patchwork quilts it’s time to drift off. See ya tomorrow.

Wednesday, July 23

Rained again hard last night, but without the thunder storms and wind we had back in Buckhannon. Thomas is a good bit higher in elevation, 2500 ft. =/- vs. around 1000 ft. down in Buckhannon. It is cloudy this morning as well and we may get some more rain today.

The need for coffee and food finally drove us down the street to the Flying Pigs for a little breakfast – chorizo, eggs, toast – mmmmmmmmm . . . In a few minutes we’ll head back to the Fiddler’s Roost and pack up. We’re going to spend the next couple of days looking at little pieces of heaven (river property) in hopes of finding something affordable that suits our desires. I’ll lay off the posts for a day or two here, but will keep making entries so that I can do a catch-up post on Friday when I take Judy to Charleston to fly home. Then I’m on to Bristol, TN for shows there and in Johnson City. Stay tuned!

Notes from the Road – The Gas Hog Tour 2008 – Day 12, July 21

Lazy start – I’ve been up a while doing the email thing and other computer work. Judy on the other hand is snoozing away. Though it was cool outside last night we kept the AC on for “white noise” as the campground we are at is a little “close” in terms of the size of the sites and we could hear folks around us.
Didn’t even touch a guitar yesterday, but today I’ll need to restring and get ready for tomorrow night’s show at the Purple Fiddle in Thomas, WV. The Fiddle is a great, eclectic music room in north central WV and is a favorite stop for acoustic artists traveling this way. I played The PF last year and am looking forward to my return there. It’ll be a Tuesday night show (last year I was on a Wednesday) so the crowd may be unpredictable. Last year I had a really nice crowd (40+), though at show time there were only 3 folks in the room. After a song or two folks suddenly started flowing in, so I’ll see how it goes this year. With travel cut down by fuel prices and the economy I have to be prepared for a thinner showing. If you know anyone in northern WV, send them the info for the show – I can use all the help I can get.

So, on to WV. Took I-77 straight up towards Charleston (WV that is) and then turned to the northeast along US-19 to hit I-79. Time for gas and, uh oh, I’ve hit the high dollar part of the country. I was seeing prices of $4.20 and up after leaving $3.72 in Wythesville – almost turned around and went back. Finally saw one at $4.17 and put $50 in the tank (just less than 12 gallons) hoping to see better prices to the north. VERY DEPRESSED!!

We hit Buckhannon around 3:30 pm at wandered on past it on US 33 to Middle Fork River Campgrounds – the only camping in the area I could locate by the internet or GPS. It isn’t much, but it’s cheap – less than $15 per night – so what the heck. It’s in the mountains of West Virginia, has hot water showers, and is quiet (hardly anyone else here) so how bad can it be? I’ll let you know.

Went down into Buckhannon to pick up some groceries, reload on water, etc. Gas here is only slightly better - $4.09. I still think this is the coolest little town. I think the jury’s still out as far as Judy is concerned – we’ll see.

My Internet access is now very limited, so I’ll send what I can, when I can in diary fashion. Time to cook, more tomorrow

Tuesday, Day 13, July 22

Wow, thunder storms in Florida can be impressive and West Virginia’s are no small thing either. A serious one with powerful wind and rain hit us sometime early this morning. Wish I had tied down both sides of the awning on the camper – who’d have thought I’d get this kind of wind when I’m pretty well sheltered on all sides by either the trees or the mountain.

The rain is not helping my morning plans and if it doesn’t quit it won’t help my crowd for the show tonight either. Hmmmmm . . .

To Be Continued . . .

Notes from the Road – The Gas Hog Tour 2008 – Day 10 and 11, July 19 & 20

Ah Edisto – this is a magical place here in out in the backwaters of SC. We rose slowly with coffee and a light breakfast. Judy continued to nap while I ventured out. Very first thing I ran into Cary and Susan Taylor, old friends and essential members of Jack’s / Ronnie Cox’s band (Cary on bass and harmonies, Susan on banjo / guitar and harmonies). Truly kind folks and among my favorites in this crowd.

I went ahead and settled our chairs in a good shady spot and continued to chat with this one and that one. The morning comfort soon dissolved as the heavy, humid air around the river began to heat up. An occasional breeze kept it reasonably comfortable in the shade. We sat in a little group of Bill and Barbara Derby, Chuck and Pat Spano and, eventually, Paul & Tami. I had my old Martin out noodling with tunes and played requests from our group for a bit. Paul & Tami joined in and offered a tune or two. But as the heat rose the cool, black waters of the Edisto beckoned.

Judy and I grabbed available tubes and headed up river with Daniel Bolling, our songwriter friend from New Mexico. It’s a reasonable walk, about ¾ of a mile or so, to a spot through the woods where a landing has been built with a ladder reaching down to the flowing, dark tannic water. The water is a bit low (though not nearly as low as we’ve seen it in past years) making the entry (a rear facing sitting flop into your tube) a little precarious. I almost went over backwards, but made a nice save to keep from being the butt (pun intended) of more serious jibes on the float down. You’ve got to watch for submerged logs and stumps which in certain circumstances can prove an unpleasant snag in the below water line parts of your anatomy. In years past the river was low enough that in places logs were out of the water so that you had to scramble over them as the river pushed you insistently against them. Two years ago when we were here for Jack & Judy’s wedding the river had sandy shallows that left you doing a little “butt dredging” if you didn’t position yourself well in the current. But none of that on this trip – all obstacles submerged and / or avoidable. A wonderful float down (20 or 30 minutes) among the sweet gums and the cypress (and one overhang with poison ivy that needs to be avoided). Cooling and refreshing.

Back at the encampment we settled back under the trees and played some more tunes. Judy disappeared for a nap at some point (she hasn’t been sleeping well so this is her chance to catch up a little). Lon & Lis Williamson had pulled in as we were headed out for our float down the river and I soon spied them headed to the pavilion, instruments in hand.

Now Saturday night at these gatherings is the “big show.” Danny Harlow, a fanatic about “doing it right” sets up a full sound system that will accommodate as many as five players at a time with first rate mic’s, monitors, the whole schmere. Danny control,s the sound all night, even when he’s on stage, and does as well or better in terms of the quality of the sound as any festival you’ll attend. Then Jack sets a line-up of the artists on hand and, after the pot luck dinner at 6, the show gets underway at about 7:30 or 8 pm. There were, by Jack’s count, 125 attendees this year so the pavilion and the surrounding grounds next to the river were well packed with devoted fans of this music – what a treat!! It was still a little (ok, a lot) warm under the pavilion when the show started. There are ceiling fans, but instead of moving the air it was more like they were early mixers churning pancake batter – there’s some thick humid air on the Edisto. One attendee commented that she’d come out of the river yesterday afternoon and didn’t know when her bathing suit would ever dry out – November I told her with due dispatch.

Jack and the band kick off the evening with a few tunes, including a breathless . . . ummmm . . . out of breath . . . ummmm . . . well, I don’t know how she does it, rendition of Johnny Cash’s “I’ve Been Everywhere” by Susan Taylor – she forgot, nor slurred, nor skipped a single city at full speed while playing along with the band. And we flowed on from there.

Florida, as I mentioned before was well represented and Jack, serving as MC, commented and complimented throughout the evening about the strong and vibrant, though little known, folk community in our sunshine state. Steve Blackwell was mentioned along with FOFF, the concerts series in Tampa (that’s you Gloria), Orlando, South Florida, Jacksonville, etc. and the wealth of songwriters and musicians that hail from our home grounds. Hannah’s Whirl, Lis and Lon, Tom Shed and I all put on our best shows and had the crowding hooting for more from the Cracker Nation. Paul and Tami did us proud following right after Jack & crew; Lis and Lon graced us with their ever more prolific out pouring of originals (I don’t think there’s anyone I’d rather sit and listen to); Tom included Will McLean’s “Dance of the Sandhill Crane” in his exceptional 3 song set; and, I shared “This Old House” (the new version), got the crowd rocking with “Steam Train” (with a vigorous assist on mandolin from Danny Harlow) and, since Jack had mentioned Steve Blackwell, I ended with “Welcome Home.” This is a dream audience to play for – so energetic and totally into the music.

Now, the later acts came on towards midnight to 1 am. An old favorite of mine, Dana Kurtz (huge, powerful blues voice) has been joined in the past six months by young Mammi Mensch – a deep voiced young charmer with a soul heavily steeped in traditional music. They, and particular Mammi, just knocked me off my pins – oh my what talent!!

Then to finish off the night, one way or another, came Eric Swartz. If you haven’t seen this guy you need to screw up your courage and check him out. He is an outstanding vocalist, a magnificent guitarist, a genuinely honest and true soul, and, without a doubt, one of the funniest, most creative and evocative songwriters I’ve ever come across. I had heard just a little of Eric at Folk Alliance, but I had missed the boat – this guy is the real deal. His set, in which Jack joined when he could quit laughing, had you alternately sitting gape jawed, crying laughing and awed by what Eric was laying on you. If this guy gets within 200 mile of you, go see him. But, leave the kids at home – Eric’s style is brutally honest, direct and evocative – i.e., there are some words and images you don’t want popping out of your 12 year old’s mouth. But there is an honesty and commitment in what he does that will win over any adult, guaranteed.

The big show finished up at around 1:30 am. Being old and worn out as we are, Judy and I retired to the luxury of the camper and the AC. ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ.

Sunday, July 20, 2008

Slept in a little – finally rolled out at around 8 am or so. Since we didn’t crash until around 2 am that’s actually not enough sleep. But we took it easy getting up, having something to eat, etc. I got dressed and, first thing, broke camp (taking down the awning, raising the stabilizers, hooking the camper up to the car, etc.) so we’d be ready to hit the road soon. Then we went out to say our goodbyes. We usually hang out a while on Sunday, but this year (since I’m on tour) I wanted to bite off a chunk of the 8 hour drive up to north West Virginia where my next gig is. I took time, since I’d done the sweaty work, to take a plunge in the cold river water, cool down and bathe with the environmentally friendly soap I had brought for just that purpose – Ahhhhhhhhhh . . .

Time to go – goodbye Edisto and all you wonderful folks. Thanks so much to the Eubanks family that host us here for these gathering. Mary Lib is the “queen mother” of the gathering and her sons, particularly Neil, work hard all weekend to make sure everyone has anything they need. And, of course, the spirit of Gus Eubanks, Mary Lib’s husband, who passed a few years back, is with us always. You guys are the best! See you again soon.

Now the road with two of us is different – not better or worse, just different. We talked / gossiped a bit about all kinds of stuff. Then I turned on the iPod and set the cruise control. Judy settled into a Stephen King book she’s reading. I was vigilant about getting the maximum benefit from the lower gas prices in SC – drained it down and got 25 gallons at $3.77 just south of the SC / NC Border – woohoo!!

We headed north up I-26 and I-77 past Charlotte. As we got up around Winston-Salem the road grade began to increase and the Ford really started to work. As we passed Statesville and neared the Virginia border the mountains began to rise on the horizon and the views made it hard to keep my eyes where they needed to be. Into Virginia we crossed the Blue Ridge Plateau and then descended a little to Wythesville where I had decided we’d put in for the night. We pulled into the campground I had selected and I set the camper in place while Judy went to take a shower. I got out the grill and soon we were eating steaks with green beans and sweet potatoes (I eat more hardily when Judy’s about).

Tomorrow on to West Virginia.

Notes from the Road – The Gas Hog Tour 2008 – Day 9, July 18th

Off to pick up Judy in Columbia, SC and then head down for the Edisto gathering with Jack & Judy Williams and crowd. Enjoyed my stay in Cherokee and will miss the cool down in the hotter summer climes of rural South Carolina. I was concerned about getting out of the mountains on the gas remaining in the tank so, despite my resolve about gas prices beginning with a 4, I put five gallons in at $4.08 – ok, I stopped at $20 so not quite five gallons. I just couldn’t take it anymore with the sale amount numbers spinning madly while the gallons display just crept along.

Left Cherokee the same way I came, past the Harrah Cherokee Tribe Casino then on through Maggie Valley. I needed to be at the airport in Columbia at 3 pm, a 4 hour drive, and having left at 10 am I had plenty of time so to try to conserve fuel I set the cruise control at 60 and ambled along I-40 towards Asheville then took I-26 south towards Spartanburg. Just northwest of Spartanburg I saw a sign for gas at $3.76 per gallon – hot damn!! Jumped off and filled the tank ignoring those pesky admonitions about not “topping off” the tank. I got every drop of that “cheap” gas in there that I could.

I made another stop shortly thereafter at an Engles grocery to restock the fridge, etc. and then cruised on to Columbia hitting the airport right on time. I pulled up to the Spirit passenger area and Judy was waiting at the curb. Apparently a 24’ camper rolling through the airport there is somewhat unusual as folks were stopping and starring a bit. And, I think they were even more mystified when the comely Miss Judy sashayed over and hopped in the grungy looking rig driven by an old, bald, white bearded guy. Eat you hearts out boys.

As we neared Orangeburg, SC we hit some pretty serious rain – a real gully washer. But I could see that it was coming from the river and that likely it would already be past when we arrived. Sure enough it was dropping its last as we pulled into the family encampment on the Edisto. Our hostess, Mary Lib, met us in her truck and had us park along the entry road until she confirmed where her son Neil had planned to put us. We walked on over the river shore area to greet Jack & Judy and the other early arrives. They had roasted a whole pig, split in two, and everyone was greedily picking at the melt in your mouth tender pork. To hell with hellos, let’s eat!!

Lots of old friends here and Florida is well represented – Tom and Aimee Shed, Chuck and Pat Spano, Bill and Barbara Derby (they’ve moved to Georgia, but we still count them as ours) and Hannah’s Whirl, Paul and Tami from Tampa. Lis and Lon Williamson will pull in sometime tomorrow, so the Sunshine state is on board. Daniel and Ellen Bolling are here from New Mexico, Ronnie Cox and Eric Schwartz from California, Dana Kurtz from New York and so many others.

After eating some great food, Neil directed me to my spot right in the middle of things by the main cabin facing the river and we got the camper squared away. By then I was drenched in sweat so we changed into swim trunks and plunged into the icy waters of the Edisto – Ahhhhhhh. Jack and a motley crew had set off with tubes to go up river and make the mile and a half float down. We dropped our chairs in the shade, I fixed myself a libation and we enjoyed the evening breeze as the sun began its descent. Once the Williams flotilla returned, Jack grabbed his ever more worn and beaten up Martin and headed for the dock to get the music rolling. The dock was soon overflowing so everyone moved to the pavilion where a circle was established and we began to play old tunes of one sort or another on into the evening. Danny Harlow, brandishing fiddle, mandolin and tenor guitar, was, as always, the crown jewel in the arrangement adding color and texture to every guitar.

Judy and I cashed in early, around 10:30 and headed to the trailer. Lots more music tomorrow here on the Edisto.

Notes from the Road – The Gas Hog Tour 2008 – Day 8, July 17th

I’ll keep it short today – not much to report, a very laid back, chore day. I did dishes, laundry, cleaned up the camper (yeah, that’s right, I pick up Judy tomorrow in Columbia, SC) and did some minor repairs that I had been meaning to get to. I also pulled down all the posters I put up yesterday – since they just said TONIGHT!! wouldn’t want folks showing up and me not be there. Bad form that.

I did work some more on some new songs that are coming along. Inch by inch. I get a line or two and get stuck, move to the next song and get a line or two, then get sidetracked on a different idea. Ah well, no one said songwriting was easy.

I did my usual computer work sitting under the canopy of the camper looking up at the trees and listening to the sounds around me. Folks stopped occasionally to compliment me on the show last night and a few wanted to know if I’d be playing again tonight. I told them they were welcome to come back by after dark and sit around the campfire with me as I would surely be out playing a little.

While I was on the computer I made arrangements for some studio time to record the “Florida” album I have planned for release in January. It’ll be titled “Welcome Home” and will feature my specifically Florida material, new and old. I’m aiming to have those available for Christmas, so put that on your list for gift giving and getting!

Its early evening as I’m writing this and I’ll need to think about dinner soon. One great advantage of being in the camper is that I haven’t eaten out once since the first night when I stopped at Waffle House. I’m eating much better (healthier and less) than I would be otherwise and a whole lot cheaper. It takes about $100 gas the truck up, but I can gas myself up for mere pennies (potty humor, sooorrrrryyy).

I’m looking forward to the gathering with Jack Williams in SC. There’ll be a lot of music and folks I haven’t seen in a couple of years, as well as a number of folks from our far flung Florida folk flock (that’s Norm McDonald’s term right?). We’ll do a little river floating and just generally laze about in the Edisto River heat. It gets so hot there that, as one of Jack’s songs says, “I can break a sweat with just the thought of settin’ down.” That’s where getting in the water saves you. Then Sunday we’ll hit the road for West Virginia. I have a show up at the Purple Fiddle in Thomas and we are going to look for some property around Buckhannon while interest rates and prices are both low.

Ok, well, I’m thinkin’ rice with field peas and steamed mixed veggies for dinner. See you tomorrow from SC.

Notes from the Road – The Gas Hog Tour 2008 – Day 7, July 16th

Well, today was a road dog, take you fate into your own hands kind of day – and well worth it. For starters, I went up to talk to the manager about the location of my show. Their choices were (a) next to the pool under the game room which has a little raised stage or (b) under a small pavilion on the other side of the recreation area where do they do the kids activities, etc. However, between those two was a large bricked area with seating and a fire pit, but no cover or shade – but, high exposure / traffic. I had noticed yesterday that just at 7 pm the sun dropped behind the ridgeline to the West and, consequently, shade was not an issue. And, the forecast was for clear skies, no rain in sight, so cover was not an issue either. Therefore. I pitched doing it out in the open on the big bricked patio area (about 2500 square feet or more) – they were hesitant, but relented under my persistence.

That settled I went about promoting the show. I brought lots of extra blank posters and had wrote them as the “sundown concert TONIGHT!! 7 – 9 pm. I put those on all the restroom / shower buildings, on the walkways to the nature trail, etc – about 15 posters in all I’d guess. I also went ahead and set up my sound system, etc. midday so that it was visible and put additional posters on the speakers, etc. (I covered them with garbage bags, etc. just in case the forecast was wrong). Then, after I’d showered and gotten presentable. I walked the campground and approached anyone who was outside with one of the postcards that I removed from the front desk (I left some with the promise that they would attach them to the registration papers like the guys at Natural Bridge had done). I probably handed out 50 postcards, chatting with folks as I went, and ran into a dozen or so more who already had them from the front desk (they kept to their promise) and said they were looking forward to the show. So, would it make a difference?

Oh man, did it ever! I had a terrific crowd – festival stage like – and it expanded and contracted as folks came and went given it’s high traffic location. I put a lot of energy into the performance and fed off the energy coming back from the audience. That’s a show I wish I’d recorded! CD sales were excellent as were the gratuities in my big plastic goblet I put out for that purpose. If all the shows were like this then this would clearly be a financial success. Maybe I can see a system developing here for these shows?!

I met folks today from all over the country and one couple from the Netherlands who enthusiastically signed up on my mailing list and bought both CD’s and a DVD – everything I had. I also met two groups of folks from Florida and one from Orlando – in fact the young lady (probably 11) was clearly smitten, hung in for the whole show, went to her dad twice to get more tip money and signed up on my mailing list. As it turned out, she goes to the same elementary school that Tanner did near us on Edgewater Drive – the folks you meet on the road!

Anyway, things could not have gone better and I thoroughly enjoyed the show, the people and the night. I’ve built a little campfire and am sitting beside it in the dark to type this – excuse any typos please. There are campfires dotted here and there throughout the grounds and you here distant laughter, kids playing, a bottle clinking here and there and the usual sounds of the night. I see couples here, and not always young couples – some look my age – with 4, 5, even 6 kids. The older kids are helping with the younger ones and the parents are herding the broods firmly, but gently. I envy them. I love kids, particularly babies and toddlers, but I was never a patient parent and, consequently I think I missed out on a lot of what these folks experience on trips like this.

I can tell the sounds are dying out. People are heading off to bed or going inside to read, etc. I’ve freshened my drink (a little Dalmore – single malt Scotch, wonderful stuff and affordable) and I think I’ll sit here, watch the fire burn down and soak up the night. See you tomorrow.

Notes from the Road – The Gas Hog Tour 2008 – Day 6, July 15th

So, on to Cherokee, NC – a six hour drive west through Virginia, into Tennessee then South into North Carolina. A lot of up and down, the up being the toughest when pulling the trailer, but the down being of equal concern because the trailer also pushes when it gets gravity working on it. It was particularly “hairy” once I got off the Interstate and dropped onto the winding mountain roads through Maggie Valley and on into Cherokee.

Maggie Valley and Cherokee have both turned into a true tourist cliché. Maybe they always were, but when I was a kid coming up here with my folks it seemed a lot nicer and less cheesy. Now it’s like the 192 corridor between Kissimmee and Disney – an enormous Woolworth’s full of endless unnecessary plastic objects and “authentic” souvenirs mostly made in China. The tribes are exacting their revenge for our transgressions in whatever small ways they can. I passed the Harrah’s casino in Cherokee – ironic that we got the Native Americans drunk and stole their land and now they are getting us drunk and stealing our money. There is some symmetry in that, though far short of justice.

The Cherokee KOA is the biggest, most “plush” campground I’ve ever seen. The Raven River runs down one side and there are stocked trout ponds along the other. I don’t know how many campsites there are here, but if I had to guess it would be more than 300. There are 5 swimming pools! Now, personally I prefer the State Park type of set up when I’m really camping, but for what I’m doing this is looking pretty good. All of the RV sites are concrete pads with fire pits / BBQ’s and there are a lot of them. There are many empty spaces (which I would expect mid week), but at the same time there are a whole lot of folks here. I don’t perform until tomorrow night so I’m going to spend the day tomorrow “drumming up” my audience and doing the things that, in my humble opinion, perhaps the park should be doing already. There was some confusion at the front desk – they didn’t have me reserved for a RV site, though they had my promo materials out and obviously knew I’d be there. But, they were very friendly and helpful and got the whole thing squared away in short order.

It’s much cooler here than in Virginia – 15 degrees or more. I’ll be sleeping with the windows open tonight! I was all set up in my campsite by around 5 pm and then poured myself a little “welcome to NC” libation before walking around and getting oriented. The river is gorgeous, but then I’m partial to moving water of most any kind. Heck, I think water running off the roof looks good. But this is really pretty - quick running water, smooth stones, a little white water, etc. I took a few pictures and will post those at some point. I built a fire in my pit and went ahead and cooked some chicken on the wood fire which I ate with some black beans and collard greens – excellent! Then, with a little more Irish whiskey in hand, I got out the guitar intending to work on those new tunes that are coming along. However, as I was just warming up a fellow came by and asked if I wanted to pick a little. He went and got his banjo and dobro and we got to it. Before long we’d drawn a little crowd (all of whom I was certain to inform regarding my performance tomorrow night) and ended up playing until almost 11 pm. A lot of fun – Jason’s his name and he’s from NC about 2 hours away. So, I think the “drumming” is off to a good start.

The cool air is sifting through the windows and I can just hear the river in the distance. Yawn . . . see you tomorrow.