Phoenix, AZ

Today started off just riding along. Normally, we'll get to the venue around 6-7am. THe drive last night was so far that we got to Phoenix around 3pm. Thank you, booking agent!
Since ou schedule was so cramped & it was 106º outside, we had a truncated workout. It was at least in the shade... still hot.
The Eat & Greet food was the best that Rusty has ever cooked in my opinion. He only had a few hours to prepare (instead of all day). It's funny how you can tell how good an artist is when they are under pressure.
The show tonight was equally as good. We finally found the groove over the past few shows... & like the last tour with The Wood Brothers & Casey Driessen, we got the right flow by the last show - which is tomorrow.
Tomorrow is much closer than last night's drive. Ready to crash. Take 'er easy.

Fresno, CA

I thought about this today. We NEVER leave the venue during the day. We have no reason to. We're well provided for. It's actually kinda nice... but it would also be nice to explore some of these places. When I was touring with Marshall Tucker I would normally be stranded at the hotel all day. I guess I could've explored with a cab but, at the time, I didn't have that kind of extra money. Oh well... this is just the way it is - for now.
Don't get me wrong - I had a VERY productive day. Wyatt & I are one line from finishing a song together. We started this song in L.A. 6 months ago. We both had to step away from it to let it slow bake. It's really great. I can't wait until it's done. I had phone interviews (AKA phoners) starting at noon. Around 1:15pm we started working out... in the midday sun, 100º Fresno heat, & I was worn from the workout beating I took yesterday. It was REALLY hard to come correct this afternoon with all of that against me.
I laid down for an hour until Eat & Greet. It was your normal fare today regarding those festivities.
The show tonight went well. We played another college basketball arena. This time the home of the Fresno State Bulldogs. Only two more with this line up. We had a LONG trip tonight. 10+ hours to Phoenix. Not looking forward to it. Looking forward to Phoenix though. Bring on the desert.

Reno, NV

After Red Rocks we stayed two days in downtown Denver with off days. I relaxed & worked out. I got pretty torn up on Monday night. We watched Monday Night Football. I had 10 shots of Jåger (in 5 hours). I was out by midnight. Tuesday was a workout & nice dinner to celebrate the new album release. This new album is huge for me... although I've been in successful albums in the past, I was intimately involved in this one - & we're anticipating some decent success. Yesterday was spent in Salt Lake City with yet another day off. I worked out, did laundry, & did some budgetary stuff on the computer.
Today was a normal kinda gig day. However, Jimmy & I tried to kill ourselves running 'stadium steps' at the arena here at University of Nevada. That was the first 45 minutes of the workout... then another 45 minutes of lifting weights & doing abs. It was as hard as I've EVER worked out. It's been a while since I've been sore... I know what awaits me upon waking tomorrow. HURT!
I did lay down & take a nap today. I also wrote a new song today (about 85% of it). It all matters how I want to arrange it. I may need a couple different variations of my 'B' section - so I may not be done. Then again, I may be done.
The show was great tonight. I hope every one had a good time. I know that I did. I'm done-tater. Now on to Fresno.

Morrison, CO (Fucking Red Rocks!)

THis is the pinnacle. I guess the equivalent to playing the Hollywood Bowl. Red Rocks is legendary, beautiful, breathtaking, sonorous, & the crowd is cool. It's been a goal for everyone in the band to play here. We finally did it. It was almost like we belong here.
I had a great day taking in the scenery, watching football, eating great food, & relaxing. The Eat & Greet was fantastic. Chef Rusty really showed off tonight. The pinnacle, obviously, was the show. Our set was 2 hours & 45 minutes... & an awesome show it was. Great setlist... great playing... great guests... great crowd. The drawback is that I'm tired. I feel like I've been beat with a sack of oranges. This dry weather is getting to me as well. I feel 2 quarts low. No matter how much water & Gatorade I drink, I can't seem to stabilize. Oh well. I'll figure it out... & I'm out!

Albuquerque, NM

I just don't know how to stop sometimes. I was up at 7:30am (mainly due to our driver's weaving). I started watching ESPN around 8:30am & then watched the Georgia game at 10am MST. Boy did they stink it up. Not quite sure if we'll even win enough ball games to play in a bowl game. After the game, Wyatt, Jimmy, & I worked out. We worked out in the dry, hot, sun... not to mention the altitude. It was very, very hard to continue. All day I've been "2 quarts low." I haven't been this dehydrated in a while.
Tonight was very much like last night. The show was good. I was tired. I don't think that it showed on stage... but I was definitely fighting it. Ready to crash but I don't want to do it too early so I don't get up at sunrise again. I am rather loopy though.

Lubbock, TX

Today was heavy & fun. I rode with Zac to Midland, TX. We visited & performed a school there. It was a special needs school with 37 kids. They won the Campbell's Labels for Education contest. It was very touching. The director showed us around the school. THe kids sang "Chicken Fried" to us. It was hard not to cry. I was really proud for them. We played 3 songs for them & answered their questions. It really touched me today.
Two hours later we showed up in Lubbock with an hour to spare before Eat & Greet. I took a shower & watched an episode of South Park. Eat & Greet was great. It's nice to have it indoors - especially after the past few months of heat. No matter how good the food is, it's hard to eat when it's 90º+.
Tonight's show was good. Almost an exact repeat of last night. We didn't have much time to address a new set list tonight... so I guess we jumped back into the same bathwater from last night. I've been playing through my wide panel tweed Deluxe. It's a little dark, but I love the vibe. Diggin' it fo' sho!'
Anyway, it's been a heavy day. Ready for a normal road day tomorrow. Workout, rest, etc.

Oklahoma City, OK

Crap. I'm straight up tired. We left Atlanta last night at 8:30pm. We were slated to get to the venue at 11am today. One of our buses broke down 3 hours away from the venue. We spent about 3 hours hanging on the side of the road waiting on the repair guys. So we we landed in Oklahoma City around 2pm. Just enough time to do sound check, shower, then eat & greet. We played the Zoo Ampitheatre tonight. We played here last year - but I've played here many times before.
This was our first show with these openers: Oliver Wood with a band & Robert Randolph & the Family Band. It was WAYYY different. I'm sure that once I get used to the new pace - I'll love it. Normally, I start playing within the first hour. This new show starts us around 9pm - 2 hours after the first note. It's just different.
I'm riding on Zac's bus tonight. Ready to roll & very interested.

Sonia Leigh (day 380+...)

I'll only mention the fact that 9 years ago today we were all confused & scared shitless. A lot has happened in the past 9 years. Hell, a lot has happened in the last 9 months.
I met Matt Mangano & John Hopkins at the studio today. We worked in two control rooms on tightening up Sonia Leigh's upcoming debut album. Oliver Wood showed up at 2pm & played guitar on 3 tunes. Love that guy!
John left around that time to attend Georgia Brown's 1st birthday party. Happy Birthday, Georgia!
After Oliver left, Matt & I retreated to The Albert in Inman Park for BBQ sandwiches. Good call.
I played an electric guitar track & a Wurlitzer track this evening. The rest of the night was spent listening & game planning for tomorrow. It's crunch time on this record as John Kelton will start mixing it on Monday in Nashville. Ready for this thing to be done since we started it on August 1st, 2009. Sheesh!

Sheesh!

Can't a man just have some time off? I had no internet access during the boat. I had tons to write about... but now that I have access I have nothing to write about.
To sum up, the cruise was great. There's been much debate if we should do it again. I say "yes." I had s much fun. Granted, I wasn't one of the folks up to sunrise every morning. That's just not how I roll. However, the time that I did have on the boat was amazing. I played with a lot of different bands & folks. I also got to play my own set on the boat. My Dad was also in tow for the cruise. He seemed to have a great time as well. Just like his son, he doesn't allow himself to relax enough. I think both of us got to chill out enough.
I'm relishing my last few days off before this next run. I actually will be finalizing Sonia, Nic, & Levi's albums before mix with Matt Mangano at my studio this weekend. Lots of work & lots of rest. A weird combination. Ready though. I want to purge those records. They're done & they're great.
Expect an update this weekend.

Leaving for Tampa

This time off has been refreshing. My Braves are doing well. Even though they're not expected to be great, my Dawgs start their season on Saturday. Ready for this boat. Lots of playing to be done. Lots of events. We're leaving Atlanta at midnight tonight for Tampa. Ready for the boat!