Greetings, songs sweet songsters. Alas…I feel remiss in not posting for several days. However, I’m afraid I’ve had no choice but to go into cyber silence. After roughly 6,000 miles, 10,000 feet, thirteen concerts, a few dozen car unloads/re-loads, twelve state-crossings, two snowstorms, one massive holiday-traffic delay and countless discoveries and observations, I suppose a songbird’s bound to break down a bit. The upside? When you’re following your bliss, you can go from Alka Seltzer Plus Cold & Flu medicine to a rich, hot cup of joe in just three days flat. Throw a quality visit out west with people you love into the mix, and you’re once again breathing free, singing in the shower and ready to hit the road to Tucson, where a magnificent house concert awaits.
As I’m indeed a car-pack away from today’s long drive, I shall close and invite you to take in the festival of photos and captions below. I hope you enjoy, I’m psyched to offer up another visual taste of the troubadour trail, along with some of the mesmerizing landscapes found inside these fine united states. Honestly, while I imagine that the western meds and hearty dose of quiet and calm I’ve been on for the past few days have helped me keep it together as I face the long road still ahead, I’m certain that the people, places and planetary things I’ve encountered over the past five weeks—most of which have touched and enlivened my soul and my song in profound ways—are the real reason I now head off to Nevada State Road 95 with a huge smile, and nary a sniffle.
Of course, said hot cup of joe made by said people I love, is a major culprit, as well.
Cheers, one and all! Salute! Al momento ed alla melodia di vita! I’m hopeful to post some more views and news sometime soon. Thanks for sticking with me out here.
Kansas. Pure magic. Period.
Fun part #3,523 of driving across the country: small business brilliance.
I thought this was a divorce agency until I got up close.
Oh, the ins and outs…
and ups and downs of life on the road.
Coffee is important to everyone. (“Coffee Caboose”, just outside of somewhere in the middle of nowhere, Kansas)
Thank you, Pueblo, CO, for the best latte a troubadour ever done laid her weary taste buds on.
Utah: n. the state in which you drive freaking closer to snow-capped mountains than you’d ever expect.
Who knew that a drive through Utah….
could make you feel so close to home.
Idaho: n. the state in which an attempt to order egg whites at Perkins leaves you feeling like a martian, but whose vistas leave you feeling like an eternally inspired humanoid.
Just amazing. Can’t get more amazing.
Oh hey look at that. Five minutes later, water and trees. Even more amazing.
One thing I’ve learned for sure out here on the open road…
it ain’t all sun and games, kids. ?!!
Performing at the magnificent Kiana Lodge, on Bainbridge Island, a ferry’s ride from dowtown Seattle. What an honor to participate in this remarkable event, “Art, Words and Music”, presented by Watermark Writers. My thanks to Jerry Libstaff for the invitation. And inspiration.
This is serious business, people, this whole original expression through song thing.
Okay, not too serious. That’s me with my partners in Kaina Lodge crime, the fabulous Larry Murante and Carolyn Cruso, new friends and old musical souls based out of Seattle.
I just loved performing in this beautiful venue.
A few totally blurry, but kinda groovy photos of my Seattle house concert. Taken by alt-folk troubadour goddess, Jean Mann, who I split this incredible evening of song with.
Ooooh yeah baby. Real art, like the best moments of life, (I believe) happens most often when things get unexpectedly crooked.
The City by the Bay which still has my heart by the lapels.
The De Young art museum in Golden Gate Park. Two words: Go there.
I was introduced to my new favorite visual artist, Edward Burtynsky, in the De Young. This is one of his photos, ”Manufacturing #17, Deda Chicken Processing Plant, Dehui City, Jilin Province”. His artist statement moves me to the core. Check it out!
San Francisco sunset. Sweetness defined.
House concert: n. best gig ever.
I’m having a miserable time.
Me with my dear friend of over a decade, Jon Dryden, performing in San Jose, at the home of his sister Susie and her husband Dave, whose hosting brilliance I bow to with molto gratitude. I spent four days with Jon and his fabulous parents in Santa Cruz, and in short, fell in love with this village by the shore. (more on that, and the freshest air I’ve ever breathed, and the sparkliest stars I’ve ever been calmed by, to come…) Jon’s piano playing, I was already deeply in love with. I have been since I first laid ears on his playing so many years ago, in NYC. This factoid will help explain why, when we performed a song together the following night, at the beauteous house concert hosted by his parents…
I about burst from joy at the chance to play a song with him. It was at once a true honor, and also served as a quiet, touching, reflection of the musical development I’ve made over the past decade. While my nerves and insecurities internally abounded as we kicked off the song, I must say, these foolish tendencies quickly subsided when Jon offered his tender, poetic response to my revealing of my anxious state; “Oh, shut up.”
