Tonight at the Coffee place

I had the Daily Grind Short Pump gig again. Tonight went a bit crazy. The trio showed up a tad late and their PA wasn't hooked up yet. So I rushed back home to get my keyboard amp. I'm lucky I did because when I got back they were totally acoustic. Their PA wasn't working. They were nice kids though. I think maybe 19 or 20 at most. Their girlfriends came along with them.

So anyways, I had a better audience tonight than in the past at the Daily Grind. The weather I think was the main reason. I did some new tunes like "Fat No More" and "Never The Same", and of course, "Lindsay". I think they seemed to like it. So anyways, I did ok under the pressure. The manager is super nice and might like to have me back as a regular.

Gretch and I went downtown to get a sandwich at the Shockoe Beanery. Had a delicious chicken curry wrap. It was a nice today but a tad cooler. I had a dream a few nights ago that I was in St. Petersburg , Florida. It looked like heaven on earth. So I think it was a heavenly vision.

Some times I take for granted how beautiful God's creation is....

But on this beautiful balmy Spring day, I was reminded once more. It was indeed a lovely day. I decided to take some more photos of our fair city. So I parked along Franklin St and walked down . I could see the dogwoods and magnolia trees are blooming. Big white and peach colors. Everything looks so great in Virginia this time of year. Its not too hot and not too cold. You can enjoy it. Although today, it was in the mid 80s which was a bit higher than normal for this time of year. I enjoyed getting out. The sun on my face. The wind in my hair. And the sound of people blasting loud rap music from their cars.

Well, you know what I mean.

Nacho Mama's Mechanicsville

I was feeling kind of sickly this evening (I think I ate too many Rasinettes) but I made it over to Nacho Mama's in Mechanicville. I just did a quick 20 minute set. The nice thing is the acoustics were amazing ! I really didnt have to put much effort in it at all as far as the singing goes. I also was lucky that someone brought a nice PA. I thought it would be Harry Gore out there, but it was this Duo. I didnt get their name, but they were real nice. And so I stuck around for another hour to hear them. I had this kind of bloated headache feeling so I didn't stay too long. I was kind of relieved that they were there to take over. I don't think I could have played long tonight. There weren't more than a dozen people in the place, but they seemed to like my songs.

I missed church this morning, though. I have to repent about that. And the needle on my phonograph broke again. Anyways, its a delicate piece. Can't use automatic with it.

Did a lot today ......

I went to Agee's bicycle, and got myself a new bike. Its a Diamondback. I think it was a good deal too. Only 200$ And then I picked up an LP I ordered for Patsy Cline Sentimentally Yours. It was a rare find and is in mint condition. I called the manager at Ukrop's on Three Chopt Rd, and he is all set to have me play there in April. I'll be playing the cafe. They have a lot of University of Richmond students that come in. They had live music there before, apparently, and it went over well. I'm not sure those U of R kids will dig my music (4 years ago, they refused to play my brilliant "Songs By Meade Skelton" on their radio station), but its worth a shot anyway.

I took my bike for a ride around The Fan and it works. It seems to hold my weight okay. I went to Barnes and Noble tonight on Libbie Ave and put in my application. They're not hiring, but I decided to anyway. Although, I really don't think I'd like to work there. I need some more money in for my Nashville tour and the upcoming record I want to make. I do plan to make a limited release of my new album on vinyl. I'm sure someone out there can cut me a nice deal. I'm going to make this album totally analog and record it on reel to reel tape. I decided I really prefer that over digital. Its gonna be 10, maybe 12 songs. I'll need a pedal steel player, a bass player, a drummer, and a guitar player.

I got my hair cut today

Finally. I got it cut at the Byrd Hotel. Its very nice and old fashioned there. It wasn't super short like last time. They left more on the top. They had this one 90-year-old man in there that came in for a shave. His nurse brought him in. He was all hunched over and they had to speak up a bit so he could hear. One of the barbers wasn't much younger than he was. But he had on that old school white coat and bow tie.

I went to Carytown and left posters at PLAN 9 for my show next week. I also stopped by For The Love Of Chocolate and got 2 Irish truffles. It was a nice sunny day. I got a response from Ukrop's. The manager is keen on my live music idea and wants me to call him. No garuntees, though. But its a nice idea for people to have music while the shop. I can do "Shopping For Love". One of my latest tunes.

Country Singer Killed

I saw an article about Buck Jones being killed. He was hit from the back when he was walking down the interstate to get his car fixed. It was probably a drunk driver. Up 'til now I haven't heard of him, but his music sounded pretty neat. I think I might buy one of his albums.

My gig this past Friday at The Daily Grind went ok. I played with Gerry Laverty. He's a real folk singer. I didn't have much crowd because of the lousy weather. But the owner is very nice and I'm playing there again on the 30th. Today I didnt do much except for going to the bookstore. They aren't hiring but I picked up an application. I'm sure glad its getting more like Spring, though.

c

Ooops, I missed church again...

I hate when that happens. I was all set to wake up, and then I was just so tired I had to get an extra hour and it wound up being three hours later. So I didn't get up 'til noon. But thats early for me some times.

Yesterday, of course, was St. Patrick's Day. Gretchen and I wanted to eat at O 'Toole's across the river, because they had live music. Even bagpipers. But its not a very big place, and it looked right crowded. So we tried Sine' Irish Pub downtown. There was a line a block long to get in there. Finally, we just settled on a non-Irish restaurant Davis and Main. We had corn beef and cabbage anyway, though. (I do realize its Irish, but not the popular Irish dish everyone thinks it is). Davis and Main wasn't as crowded. I was getting in touch with my Irishness. Of course, I am somewhat Irish (among other things), and I was wearing my green colors. I stuffed myself a little with the corn beef and cabbage, but at least its good for you. I also had 3 cup cakes.

My nutritionist looks like Anna Nicole Smith....

I went to see the new one today at Ukrop's. And so I could see her from the back as I came in that she was a blonde. And she turned around- and she looks just like Anna Nicole Smith, or at least her twin. Not only does she look like her, but she sounds like her. She has that high soft voice. I expected her to say "Trim Spa, baby!" It was really amazing.

Now, of course I get very nervous alone in a room with any beautiful woman, but now the woman has to look like Anna Nicole Smith. And normally I'm not even into blondes- but wow ! And so its a tad embarrasing because we were talking about my weight the whole time. But she's a professional. It was just uncanny how much she is like Anna Nicole Smith. So it was like having Anna Nicole Smith go over my diet with me.

I went to see this band called Antelope at Gallery 5 here in town. Had very good time. They are a super neat band. Kind of avangarde, but not too noisy or anything. I met Billy from Buck Gooter and his girlfriend there. Before the show we stopped at a restaurant for a cup of coffee. I enjoyed the show. Its in an old fire station thats now an art gallery. They didn't play all that long. Some the bands before them were not my taste. I talked to Billy a lot about booking outside of Richmond We may do some shows again at the Little Grill. The night was very relaxing. The weather was almost balmy, and I bought a record from Antelope. I felt a bit out of place with all the super hip people there. But it was nice. I haven't been out to see a band in quite awhile.

Spring is in the air !

I'm so glad we're finally getting some warmer weather. Its been very cold winter but the past few weeks the temps are back where they should be. We could hit near 80 this week. That's my kind of weather.

I sang a solo yesterday in church. My allergies were bothering me pretty bad, though, and I had some trouble hitting those high notes. It was a tune called "Worth Calvary". I wish I could write songs as good as that one. But anyways, at least I'm improving. This new stuff I'm getting is sort of a mix of contemporary, inspirational, and country music. Its a lot different than the Alt-Country/Rockabilly stuff I was doing before. But I think its where I should be going.

In terms of getting stuff recorded, I'm thinking of doing so later this month. I'm still on a tight budget and that's where another part time job needs to come in.
But hopefully my booking agency can get me some more gigs too.

You're Very Richmond If....

Local papers Style Weekly and Richmond Times-Dispatch ask Richmonders what makes them "so very Richmond".

Here are a few popular answers.

You're very Richmond If......

-Your last name sounds like a first name

-Your idea of diversity is inviting someone from Chesterfield county to your dinner party

-When there's the slightest mention of snow in the weather forecast you high tail it to Ukrop's

-Before insulting someone you always say "bless his/her heart"

-You refer to events as before/after The War

-You've been to "The Mosque" but you sure aren't Muslim

-You have at least one family member that's been commited to Tucker's.

Why is the Lord testing me so ! ???

I have had such a crummy time lately. I am not losing any weight, I don't have enough money to do the creative projects I want to do, and I feel like my music career is going nowhere fast. I don't feel very good about myself at all. And I know I shouldn't be mad at God for this. Its Satan who causes the misery. I am not a selfish person by any means. I am not motivated by greed. Thats the thing. I just wanna be able to sing for a livin', and not be such a porker. If I was just a tad overweight like I was 5 years or so ago, I could live with that. But I am at least 70 lbs overweight, and everything I do is a chore. I know God has big plans for me, and I know eventually I will lose weight. Its just (and to quote Tom Petty) the waiting is the hardest part..

I dont wanna be rich, just live nice.

R..I.P Patsy

On this day in 1963, Patsy Cline died in a plane crash near Camden, Tennessee. She was on route from a benefit show in Kansas City, Mo, for a disc jockey who was killed in a car accident. Also in the plane on that fateful day were country stars Hawkshaw Hawkins, Cowboy Copas, and Patsy's manager Randy Hughes.

She was born Virginia Patterson Hensley, on September 8th, 1932, in Winchester, Virginia. Although she spent most of her life there, she lived all over the Shenandoah Valley, and other parts of Virginia. Towns such as Elkton, and Scottsville also try to claim her. A lot of the folks in Winchester weren't that nice to her. Called her a lose woman. But obviously , they were jealous of her talent. She was no angel, but she wasn't a devil either. She just wanted to sing. She was about 20 years ahead of her time. She had a great voice that can never be replaced. A timeless voice.

So, cheers to you Patsy. You're up there singing with the Lord's angels. Yodeling in Hillbilly heaven.