Original music that is fresh, slightly off center, and never generic!

10-15-04 The Pathfinder is loaded, double checked my list, guitars, amps, mics, etc. We’re ready to go! We leave Taylorsville at 6:50 pm. The Irrational Fear “Closer to Daylight” Tour is officially under way. We headed for Memphis and got there about 1:30 in the morning. We stayed for the night in a Best Western close to Graceland.

10-16-04

Saturday morning we woke up early and decided to go by Graceland since we were so near. We didn’t have time for the tour, but we drove around the outside. We could see Elvis’ airplanes, including the “Lisa Marie.“ We parked in a drive in front of the house so we could take some video. Lynn insisted on shooting the storm drain that ran beneath the sidewalk, “Elvis’ sewer ran in this” she said. HA We saw some of his cars parked across the street, and we realized too late that if we had just driven a little father the night before we could have stayed in the Heartbreak Hotel! Darn it. As we drove out of Memphis we wondered - did Elvis have a lot of cookouts in his back yard - probably… Did he do the grilling… Lynn thinks yes - I think not.

12:17pm Mississippi - Lynn saw her first cotton field >>> YANKEE! I can’t say I’m to familiar with them even though my Mom’s family is from Mississippi.
Weather is fair - upper 60’s and getting WARMER!

Did anyone ever really play Parcheesi, or is it one of those game you sit around to look smart? Just a thought…

Arrived in Baton Rouge at about 6:00 pm and stayed at Rebecca's brother’s house (Lee, Trisha, David and Jennifer). Lee grilled the most outrageously good / huge steaks -- dinner was wonderful. After dinner we had a jam session in Lee’s rehearsal studio. My niece Jennifer came over (great voice), Lee, Ricco, Lynn and me. It was good for us to warm up before our shows and we had a really fun time in spite of it being a “Jam Session.” LOL (p.s. David who is 12 plays drums awesome, He’s learning the bass too, and has definitely mastered Iron Mann...)

10-17-04

Sunday; Played in the afternoon at the “Private Swanky Party” otherwise known as an official “Pig Party”! Lee and Trisha’s friends were so nice and gracious, the food was out of this world! It was at Jackie and BB’s house. BB is a great harmonica player. We really liked both of them very much. Our show was at the Wallow Amphitheater, and it went well. We were very well received. Our show in New Orleans tomorrow had fallen through. An audience member, Zack, really liked our stuff and invited us to play a short set at Snug Harbor tomorrow night at Charmaine Neville‘s show. Zack is the bass player in her band. Charmaine is Charles Neville’s ( Neville Brothers) daughter and is very big in New Orleans. Cool break!

TO NEW ORLEANS!! Sunday night. We arrived in the city right at sunset, got a little turned around but found our hotel without too much trouble. We were booked at the Frenchmen --we loved it! Very quaint, i.e. (small) -- really cool pool in the courtyard. And…it had a locked, gated parking garage -- very important with a truck full of equipment. We unpacked and headed down Decatur St. to check out the French Quarter. - Passed the Abbey (the gig that fell through) - We got about half a block before we stopped in “Coops” to eat and have some beer. The rest of the night we walked and window shopped. We love how everything here looks at night, the lights and the shadows. We will never get tired of looking at this architecture. This is definitely one of our favorite places in the world.

10-18-04

Monday: Woke up and had fresh croissants and pastries that were delivered fresh from the French Market to the hotel daily. We had planned on having beignets and coffee at Café Du Monde, but we ate too many pastries - HA. Went to the French Market and shopped and walked to catch the trolley for a ride down St. Charles Blv. -- The garden district. Hopped off for a beer then caught another trolley back downtown for Gumbo at “Mothers.” “Mother’s “ is a must on a trip to New Orleans, the best gumbo!!!! We were so tired when we finally got back to the Hotel room, and we still had a big night ahead of us…

Monday night we had lined up a short set at Snug Harbor -- one of New Orleans more upscale clubs. We were to play during Charmaine Neville’s show. Charmaine is Charles Neville’s daughter and all the Neville’s are New Orleans royalty! Zack (bass) and Raymond (drums) backed us up. Now we know what it’s like to play with truly professional musicians. These guys played our songs like they had been listening to them all their lives! Then Charmaine came up on stage and insisted we “sit in “ with her on a couple songs. Now anyone who knows Lynn and me knows that we don’t “sit in, or jam” with people very well, especially me, but we gave it our best shot. What a great experience! Charmaine was so great. We’ve never seen a performer with more energy, truly inspiring! She was very gracious, traded CD’s with us and even took one to give to the local radio station for us. OH yeah, did I mention the B52’s she ordered for herself and us. After the show Zack and Scott took us to the Maple Leaf to catch another band. We only were able to catch their last song, but ended up having a good late night conversations with some interesting fellow musicians.