Coast To Coast #9: Crawling Back To You

Several years ago, one of my favorite bands released one of my all-time favorite live albums: Pearl Jam, Live On Two Legs.  The title's clever, because sections of a tour are called "legs," and because that specific tour was billed as something of a "comeback" for the band.  So, they were literally "live, on two legs" of their tour, and figuratively back on their feet. 

After one leg of the tour, you could continue the joke that a fatigued band only has "one leg left."  And now, back in Memphis, after 6,300 miles in a month, I've got no legs left.  I'm home, and I'm crawling.

But before taking a Van Winkle-sized nap, I should cap off the spring tour blog.  First, here's the final tally for the month of April:
--6,362 miles
--91.5 hours driving (give or take a minute)
--38 Fruit Roll-Ups eaten
--37 Fruit Roll-Ups enjoyed
--27 gas stops
--16 states
--14 5 Hour Energy shots
--4 days off
--4 time zones
--3.5 books read
--3 BBQ dinners (all in the same night)
--2 all-nighters
--2 tires replaced
--1 Dr. Pepper accidentally shoplifted
--1 trip to the laundromat
--1 minor car accident
--0 salads eaten
--0 strings broken (miraculous)

Also, I tried to keep count of these things and went cross-eyed:
1) Number of rest areas visited
2) Number of Cokes/coffees/waters consumed (see #1)
3) Number of fine new friends/fans I made on the road
4) Number of songs I sang

For those of you curious, the books I read this month, complete with a seven-word review for each:
1) Keith Richards, Life.  Twenty-two percent better than I expected. 
2) Steve Martin, Shopgirl.  Sad happy story or happy sad story? 
3) Bob Dylan, Chronicles Volume 1.   I re-read this, impatient for Volume 2.
3.5) Malcolm Gladwell, What the Dog Saw.  Proof he was awesome last millennium, too.

All month long, it seemed I was one day ahead of bad weather.  It stormed in Denver the day after I left; the same system became a blizzard hours after I left Omaha.  It rained for days in middle Tennessee right before--and right after--my shows in Nashville and Knoxville.  Not long after my last show in Memphis Saturday night, it started raining.  I'm typing this Tuesday afternoon, and the rain just stopped.  There's flooding all over West Tennessee.  The weather caught up to me, and it hit hard. 

So did the news.  One friend went Houston for a very specific and very scary health reason.  Two dear friends--married last year--happily discovered this month that they're pregnant.  Two more were married the first weekend of April.  And, sure, why not: the Memphis Basketball Grizzlies keep winning playoff games.  To bookend things, this happened May 1.  I came home to a stack of mail and a loaded DVR and a thousand little fires to put out.

It feels like I've been gone 15 minutes.  It feels like I've been gone six months.  I went off somewhere, and the earth spun without me (the nerve!).  If you look close, sometimes you can see it spin, and sometimes you can hear it.  I see it now--calls to return, mail to read, work to do, plans to make.  It's spinning alright.  But I'm back home and standing still, on two legs, or one leg, maybe none, or maybe just lying down for a while....

Soon, soon, soon,
CM

Coast To Coast #8: Running Man's Bible

It's a beautiful day here in Nashville, where I've got a little time to kill before the finish line this weekend: Friday night show in Nashville, Saturday night show in Memphis.  And then I take a nap.

Meanwhile, I wanted to take stock of the last several weeks on the road.  This month, I've seen a lot of things.  I've heard a lot of things.  And, often despite myself, I've learned a few things.  So, before I closed out the tour, I wanted to pass along some rules of the road, some helpful tips, some recommendations, and all the little things that made 6,000 miles-in-30-days a little easier. 

Here's the (abridged) Running Man's Bible!

Rule #3: The Gentleman's 77
Don't speed in New Mexico, Arizona, Wyoming, Idaho, and any other place with 75mph speed limits.  There's no traffic in these states, everything above 70 is a bonus, and you've got all day to get where you're going.  Cruise, enjoy the scenery, and wave at the cops.

Rule #28: The Continental
Don't pay for breakfast.  Ever.  If you're hungry, or think you will be hungry, and you're passing an exit with multiple hotels, stop.  Get a bag out of your trunk.  Look like the disheveled traveler you are.  Then walk right into the lobby of that Hampton Inn and take their food without hesitation or remorse.

Additionally:
--If you're there in the morning, you can enjoy the entire continental breakfast.  All major hotel chains will have one.  I prefer Hampton Inn's, because they've started packing to-go bags for guests rushing out the door. You'll recognize them as the paper sacks on the front desk.  Take one.  They're just more efficient.
--If you're coming at an off-hour, most hotel chains will still have some breakfast remnants available in the lobby.  Usually, a big bowl of apples and bananas, plus coffee and juice.  Hit that up.
--Don't expect much out of the coffee, anywhere, ever, but it is free.  Beggars can't be choosers.  
--In case you feel weird about any of this, I find it actually helps to talk to the folks at the front desk.  Then, and only then, will you realize how little they actually care about the final destination of their foodstuffs.  A few times, I've even bonded with the Front Desk Person enough to have a frank discussion about just this issue.  In one case, she took pity on me and made me a care package (thanks, Tiff).

Rule #28 (Article B): The Cookie Addendum
Know the cookie situation.  Several years ago, Doubletree Hotels began giving out complimentary cookies to guests.  Not packaged cookies, mind you--they bake fresh cookies a few times a day and keep them in a little warming oven behind the counter.  You check in, you get a cookie.  You pass by the counter and make friends with the concierge, get a cookie. 

You don't even know.  You DON'T EVEN KNOW!

I don't know what to tell you other than this: Doubletree Cookies are the Greatest Cookies in the World.  I know, I know: "...but my Grandmother Grammsie's 4,000 year old recipe!"  To which I say, FORGET your Grandmother Grammsie.  What?  You heard me.  Forget it.  Doubletree solved all the world's problems with this cookie.  Someday, this cookie will bring peace to the Middle East.  It's the baked-goods equivalent of Michelangelo's Pieta singing Beethoven's 9th while curing cancer.  The last time I ate one, I swear to God I saw a unicorn.

Needless to say, the other hotel chains felt some heat.  Now, many (including Hampton Inn) supply their own cookies, refilling a display case a few times daily.  They're not as good as the Doubletree Cookies, but, to be fair, 1) you're stealing and 2) absolutely nothing else in this world is.  Nothing.

Nothing.

Rule #61: Ask a Local
When in doubt, ask a local.  Always.  Need a recommendation?  Ask a local.  Biding time in a new town before a show?  Talk to a local.  Checking out at a gas station and notice that the cashier's friendly?  Take ten minutes and ask them about their hometown.

I always hear--especially among an older generation--that people are less friendly than they used to be.  Strangers don't help strangers.  Everyone's got their phone out and their earbuds in, and they don't interact with the outside world.  Kids these days, and whatnot.

And you know what?  That might be partially true, especially on the coasts.  But my experience is that this country's filled with friendly, decent people that still interact openly and honestly and unassumingly.  I can't tell you how many times I've had time to kill in a coffeeshop or diner or venue or bar before a show and suddenly found myself in a conversation with a local.  There are two things everyone loves talking about: 1) themselves and 2) their town.  All you gotta do is ask.

Rule #88: Rocket Fuel
It's a long drive: know your caffeine/sugar needs.  Oddly enough, I've gotten a staggering number of emails about which energy drinks/shots/etc I prefer.  If that sounds weird to you, that makes two of us.  But I guess I've become a de facto aficionado at this point.  So, here's my little breakdown:

--Coffee is king.  Unfortunately, I can't drink much on show days, because that much caffeine's hard on the throat.  Show days: one small cup in the morning to start off the drive.  Off-days: um, more than one small cup?

Of the gas station coffees, my favorite is Exxon.  Shell's alright.  Texaco and Phillips 66 always seem to have that lone glass pot with the orange top and the white styrofoam cups.  And I don't even know what an ARCO is, man.

--5 Hour Energy.  For long drives on show days, I take a 5 Hour Energy in the morning and one in the afternoon.  That's usually a good-enough coffee substitute.  My favorite flavor is "Berry," for what that's worth.  Which berry, you ask?  "Berry," man.  Go with it.

--Cokes N Stuff.  I've got an unhealthy love for 'Nilla Coke.  In rare, euphoric moments, I'll find an Orange Crush in a glass bottle, and the angels sing, and heaven rejoices. 

--Water.  I think drinking a lot of water gives you more energy, or something.  I either read that somewhere or just made it up.  Anyway, it's essential for the ole vocal chords, so I do it.

--Energy drinks (Rockstar, Amp, Monster, etc.).  I don't drink these things if I can avoid them.  I'm not prone to "crashing" after a lot of coffee or sugar, but these things make me crash, bigtime, which isn't safe behind the wheel.  Also, they taste the way a Japanese arcade looks.  Also, they make my stomach hate me, actively, for hours after consumption.  Other than that, they're awesome.

But, if I absolutely have to, if I've gotta make the Kessel run in less than twelve parsecs, I prefer Rockstar.  For obvious reasons.

(Editor's Note: Reps for 5 Hour Energy, Coca Cola, and Rockstar energy beverages can contact chris@chrismilam.com for endorsement opportunities.  Please include "Enabler" in the subject line.)

Rule #104: 3G in 3D
AT&T lies to you.  A while back, Verizon advertised their coverage map across America.  It was impressive, because it covered basically the whole country.  AT&T countered by saying their coverage includes "95% of Americans."  But that's different from "95% of America."  Because when you're driving between places, you still need a signal. 

In fairness to AT&T and the 3G and coverage maps, I rarely had an issue.  But what I noticed was this: hills are a problem, mountains are not.  Driving through the Rockies?  Full bars--huzzah!  Molehills in New Mexico?  Forget about it. 

The Golden Rule: The Soundtrack
It goes without saying that music is my top priority on any road trip, much less a month long trip across the country, twice.  If you're like me, you like to have physical CDs to play in the stereo.  If you're like me, you have three carrying cases full of CDs, plus two cases reserved for mixes.  If you're like me, you also keep your phone current with music and podcasts, ready in case you need a change of pace or a backup option if the stereo malfunctions.  If you're like me, you also burn additional mixes for each leg of the trip (e.g. "California Songs," "The Heartland," etc).  And, if you're like me, you give all of this a little too much thought.

So, here are a few notables--old classics, new favorites, etc--that helped me walk the miles:

Most Played Artist:
Teenage Fanclub, oddly enough.  I'm as surprised as you are.  It's also worth noting that I've revisited the entire Lucero and Pearl Jam catalogs, plus half the Beatles, and all of 60's Dylan. 

Most Played Mix(es):
Some of you might recall my 96X Anthology.  I've listened to all of it this month, too, though not in chronological order.  And if you think for one second that I didn't have a very accidental--but very real--"moment" with "Champagne Supernova" at dusk somewhere in Northern California, hi, I'm Chris, and we haven't met yet.

Most Played Song:
Probably something off the first half of the first mix I made for the road.  I made that mix for the Arkansas-to-SoCal stretch of road that lasted two days.  The mix was entitled "Spring Tour 2K11: No Rest For the Wicked," and its first half rocked me all month long.  Here's the track list:
1) Fleet Foxes, "Helplessness Blues"
2) Cage the Elephant, "Ain't No Rest For the Wicked"
3) The 88, "At Least It Was Here"
4) Sleigh Bells, "Rill Rill"
5) Vampire Weekend, "Holiday"
6) The Strokes, "Under the Cover of Darkness"
7) Dr. Dog, "Keep a Friend"
8) Monsters of Folk, "Say Please"
9) Rolling Stones, "Plundered My Soul"
10) Paul Simon, "The Only Living Boy In New York"

From there, it transitions into a much more mellow, pensive listen.  But that A-side kept giving me an energy boost when I needed it.

Favorite New Discovery:
My Morning Jacket's new single, "Circuital."  I can't stop listening to this, and I couldn't be more excited for the new album in May.
Honorable Mention: Chris Bathgate's "In the City."

Favorite Old Rediscovery:
Bob Dylan, "I'll Keep It With Mine." 

MVP:
Marc Maron's free podcast, WTF.  For those who haven't heard him, Marc Maron is a longtime stand-up comic.  He hosts a podcast where he talks to other comics about comedy, their careers, their background, and anything else that comes up.  He's one of the best interviewers I've ever heard--because he's often interviewing longtime friends and peers in the comedy world, the conversations are unpredictable, raw, and very candid.  They're fascinating.  You can read more about his podcast at this NYTimes piece.

Anyway, my friend Will recommended the podcast to me, and thank God he did.  About halfway through the month, I started getting weary of my CD collection and tried out WTF.  I'm telling you: a good podcast can make an 8-hour drive go by in a hurry.  Really fun listening, and great company during some rough, weary stretches of road. 

Other podcasts I've enjoyed (all of these are free, and you can subscribe on iTunes):
The BS Report (Bill Simmons, aka The Sports Guy)
Adam Carolla Show
NPR's All Songs Considered (which introduced me to Chris Bathgate's "In the City")
Firewall & Iceberg (TV critic Alan Sepinwall's weekly pod)

Obviously, there's much more to the Running Man's Bible.  But that's a start.  If you got any rules to add, let me hear them.  I'm always anxious to make the road easier.

Here's to glory (and survival),
CM

Coast To Coast #7: Down South (Parts 1 & 2)

If you've read this blog for any length of time, you've probably learned a few things about me.  One of them is that I love Fruit Roll-Ups.  Another is that I don't sleep very often.  And if you've read any of my tour blogs, you know I've patronized half the Starbucks in America.  But WHY, you ask?  Why not get a slice of each city's flavor by going to its local coffeeshops?  Why throw money at a giant corporate monolith when there are charming Mom-and-Pop stores all across America, yearning for--and deserving of--my business?  Why not support the little guy, David and Goliath and underdogs and free markets and America and slingshots and all that jazz???

Because Starbucks are everywhere, they're cheap, they have free wi-fi, and they're consistent.  If I'm at home, I'm going to the local place.  If I'm on the road, all I want is a Starbucks.  I know what I'm getting.  ESPECIALLY if I've been to that Starbucks before.

Back in July, I found a Bux in downtown Knoxville near the Preservation Pub and camped out before showtime.  It's part of the Hilton here, adjacent to some hotel bar called the "Orange Martini."  I had a coffee and typed up this blog entry, which was a Day In the Life-style post about one day of travel from NYC to Philly to DC.  And now, nine months later, here I am again.  Same town, same Starbucks, same table, same drink order, same amount of time before the show, and (sure, why not?) same post!

A Day In the Life, April 21, 2011:

12:11AM
You're not going to believe this, but I'm awake.  I can't sleep.  How far is it to Knoxville again?  When should I leave in the morning?  Oh yeah, they're on Eastern time--I'll lose an hour.  Do the math, Chris.  Carry the nine.  You got this.  I should leave somewhere between 8AM and 2PM to arrive in Knoxville for the show.  That gives me plenty of time to sleep.

I should read something.  Reading sometimes makes me sleepy.  What is available to read?  Shopgirl, by Steve Martin.  I like Steve Martin, and I like shopgirls.  Let's do this.

2:34AM
Dammit Steve, your novella reeled me in.  Curse you and your heartening, understated romance! I'm even more awake now, and I'm almost done with the book.  Tomorrow's going to be a long day.

Check that: today's going to be a long day.

6:29AM
Who is calling me???  What disaster, natural or otherwise, could justify a call at six-twenty-oh-nevermind.  It's my alarm.  But why in God's name did I set my alarm for 6:29AM?

Now I've got the unenviable task (perhaps you've been here) of remembering--still half-asleep--what early morning event I'm supposed to attend.  I'm jogging my sluggish memory, and I'm getting nothing.  There are two options in play:
1) Something of tantamount importance (breakfast with the governor? running a half marathon for charity?) is happening early this morning.
2) I'm an idiot who set his alarm for 6:29AM for no reason.

You already know.

9:03AM
That's a little more like it.  Let's get moving, onwards and upwards and towards Knoxville!

Thing #1 on show days, whenever possible, is warming up the ole vocals.  I say "whenever possible," because sometimes I have company/am a guest and don't want to disturb folks with crazy noises.  Today I have time for a quick warm-up. A very quick warm-up.  Then I need to hit the road.

10:57AM
That warm-up went a little long.  I started playing songs and got carried away.  The bad news is that I've probably exhausted my vocal chords.  The good news is that 1) it was fun, and 2) I've still got plenty of time to get to Knoxville.  It's a short drive.

1:35PM
Somewhere on I-40E between Nashville and Knoxville.  In the three weeks since I left Tennessee, spring totally sprung.  It's not just green, it's downright tropical around here.  Trees are overgrowing, grass and shrubs are trying to take over the highway.  It's like one of those History Channel shows depicting what the world would look like post-humans, year by year.  Nature is taking over!  Someone get a weed eater!

2:00PM
I try to minimize caffeine intake on show days, because caffeine's rough on the throat.  This means I'm occasionally driving 8-12 hours to a show, starting at dawn, without coffee.  Hence, my love of 5 Hour Energy shots.  Because today's drive is so short, and I started so late, I thought to myself, "I don't need caffeine!  Vocal chords: you're welcome!"  And what I'm trying to say is this: I was wrong, I need caffeine, and my vocal chords will not thank me when I drive headlong into the Rainforest That Eastern Tennessee Has Become This Month. 

3:55PM
Boom!  Eastern time.  I love Eastern time, except for its TV schedule, the way it affects my sunrise/sunset expectations, and how it often cuts my travel days short.  Otherwise, it's the best.  Glad to be back!

Now seems like a good time to update some tour stats:
5,714 mile
16 states
12 5 Hour Energy shot
4 time zones
4 shows left, 3 weeks down, 2 more to go
1 minor car accident
1 show canceled
0 speeding tickets

I'll post more stats soon.  I've kept insanely detailed records of things like how many Fruit Roll-Ups I've eaten and what my favorite Starbucks was.  These are the things you (maybe?) need to know.

5:07PM
Brings us back (roughly) to the present.  I'm back at my hotel lobby Starbucks in bustling downtown Knoxville, chatting with an impossibly friendly barista about the weather.  This month, I've seen some new places, and I've certainly driven through a lot of the country.  I've learned a lot.  And if I've learned nothing else, I've learned these two things:

1) America is beautiful, and it's filled with good folks.  Don't let the ugly and the mean tell you otherwise.
2) The South is awesome.  It's good to be back.

6:58PM
I've moved into the "Orange Martini," because it has places to plug the laptop in.  Rock and roll!

Lots of show days, especially ones where my drive's reasonable, are very hurry-up-and-wait.  I rushed out this morning to beat some traffic and bad weather, only to get here and have hours to kill before a late showtime.  My favorite days, weirdly enough, are those where the drive is long and showtime is early.  Just pull up to the venue and plug in (e.g. Portland a few weeks ago).  As you've probably gleaned, I'm not big on "waiting around."

So, I'm here, biding some time before it's time to load-in.  Then, it's time to sound-check.  Then, it's time to open the doors.  Then, it's time for the show to start.  Then, it's time to actually start the show.  And now it's becoming clear this post will have to be a two-parter, and all of those times will have to come in Part 2.  The day's only half done, and I've got miles to go (and shows to play) before I sleep.

In fact, 5,714 miles so far.  Still no sleep.  I'll see y'all soon.

(Editor's Note: There was a break in the action while Chris did some more things.  Now that he's done more things, here's Part 2!)

7:31PM
I always get a kick out of someone catching me changing clothes in my car.  It's the same weird gene that makes me shave one day later than I should; I like laughing with people laughing at me. 

Anyway, this isn't a non sequitur: a crowd of sorority girls just caught me changing clothes in my car.  They might think I'm homeless, but not carless, and not without several neckties. 

8:28PM
Tonight might be the night I meet everyone in Knoxville.  I've been at Barley's Taproom for thirty minutes and I think I've met the entire staff and half the patrons.  I'm not gunning for a record or anything.  Barley's is just full of friendly folks.  And one insane bachelorette party.

The bachelorette party is a table-full of girls (maybe 8 of them), sitting down, occasionally screaming in unison.  Which is good--you obviously want gals at a bachelorette party to have fun.  I'm trying to figure out, though, what prompts their screaming.  If zany hijinx are happening at this table, I can't tell.  I don't even see rounds of drinks coming to them.  They're simply sitting and talking and occasionally screaming, "WOOOOOOOO!"  Maybe there's a high-stakes poker game I can't see. 

I really hope they're still here when I play.

10:02PM
They're still here!  Sadly, I think they've mellowed a bit.  I was really hoping to have fun with them.  Their mood has shifted from "devil-may-care-exuberance" to "boozy introspection."  Of course, they're still screaming "WOOOO!" from time to time.  But it's different.  It's different.

10:58PM
Just finished the set!  That was fun.  Usually, I don't try out brand new songs (especially if they're not 100% finished) unless I feel really, really comfortable.  I did, and I did.  Hope to bring y'all a video or two of some new tunes I'm excited about.  Thanks to the folks at Barley's for being so fun and game for anything.  As always, it was really fun singing for y'all.

11:16PM
Oh No Oh My!  I've been looking forward to hearing these guys all tour long.  I know this band because I have many friends in common with singer/songwriter/multi-instrumentalist for Oh No Oh My, Tim Regan.  He's been in a lot of bands I like, in both Memphis and Austin, including Snowglobe, Antenna Shoes, The Pirates, and Oh No Oh My.  He's like a Dave Grohl for indie rock, right down to the subtly hilarious between-song banter.

And they're awesome live!  This is going to be a good night.

Midnightish
Talking to some really nice UT students who came out to the show.  Always impressed by the college kids I meet on the road--they're way more active/engaged/into new things than I was.  I basically majored in "Beatles-And-Football."  And minored in ping pong.

Anyway, they were kind enough to garnish my beer.

12:37AM
Here's a weird story:

As you may know, I have a friend named Matt Woods.  Matt has worked as a singer/songwriter in Nashville since I met him in 2004.  We've played many shows together, we've lived together, we've shared an enthusiasm for Donnie Jeffcoat, etc.  He's great (for an Auburn fan) and I'm proud to call him a friend.  Now...

Last summer, I was touring through Knoxville and saw a sticker in the bathroom.  It caught my eye, because it said "Matt Woods."  But when I looked closer, I noticed the website was for www.myspace.com/therealmattwoods.  In other words, there is another Matt Woods, also a musician, based out of Knoxville, who may or may not be more real than the Nashville Matt Woods (NMW).  So, I texted NMW the picture and said something like, "Looks like you've got competition," and he texted back something like, "Shut up, Jeffcoat."  End of story.

The infamous sticker.

So, now I'm talking to the manager at Barley's and she tells me her boyfriend's a musician.  I say, "oh, what's his name," and she says, "Matt Woods."  And I reflexively yell, "You mean THE REAL MATT WOODS?!?" The same.

She hands me TRMW's new record, and we have a good laugh about the Matt Woodsesesses in our lives.

Now, as someone who has lived with Nashville Matt Woods, and someone who has spent ten minutes with the highly diplomatic girlfriend of Knoxville Matt Woods, I think I'm uniquely equipped to finally, at long last, bring both sides together and TEAR DOWN THIS FIREWALL!  Think about it, fellas. 

1:12AM
Wide awake and a half tank to burn--now is obviously the time to drive to Nashville.  It's a weird, semi-troubling fact that I'm more awake to drive now than I would be at 9AM.  I'm a night-owl anyway, but (as I've written before) it takes several hours to relax after a show.  Might as well spend them driving to the next destination.

1:59AM
Stopped for provisions (read: caffeine, fruit snacks).  Something really weird is afoot at the Kingston Exxon at 2AM.  I can't explain it, but it might involve meth.  Let's ride, Ruby!

1:12AM
What?  Haven't we been here before?  BOOM--back in central time.  How should I use this extra hour, courtesy of time zones, their creators, and (sure, why not) God?  I'll listen to my favorite mix I've made for the trip and reminisce about the very recent past: 

The 88, "At Least It Was Here"
Ahhh, Albuquerque!

Sleigh Bells, "Rill Rill"
California, the times we had!

Fleet Foxes, "Helplessness Blues"
Reminds me of that time with those people!  And that place!

That was fun.  In all seriousness, I've jumped into a lot of new music and podcasts on this trip.  Many of them have single-handedly kept me awake and entertained through the hours and hours on the road.  I'll do a big round-up of all my favorites in a future post. 

2:07AM
It'll be nice to be in Nashville tonight/this morning.  I'm actually getting a little tired.  I can't remember the last time I was here.  Christmas?  Some random football weekend last fall?  I do know this: it seems like every time I re-visit Nashville, it rains.  It's like I moved and y'all got a monsoon season.  Or, a permanent dark cloud hovers over my car when I enter Davidson County.  One or the other.

I will say this: it's great to get back on a familiar road.  As much as I love exploring, it's been a long month of new places and new roads--it feels good to throw away GoogleMaps for a night.  It's nice to, at least for a few hours, know exactly where you're going.  I could drive the last ten miles of this trip in my sleep.

Not that I will, mind you.  I've still got three hours left on that 5 Hour Energy and enough caffeine in me to launch a spaceship (caffeine does that, right?).  I'm tired, but not sleepy.

And there's that groping Nashville skyline.  There's the Batbuilding.  There's my turn, winding north now around the loop.  And there's my exit, coasting right into the east side, in the shadow of the football stadium.  Just a few minutes now.  There's the 5 Points, and 3 Crow.  And--should've seen it coming--the rain on my windshield.

Feels like I never left.

Give you all I have (and a little more),
CM

Coast To Coast #6: Don't Come Around Here No More

Let's start with the bad news.

The bad news is that the DC show was canceled.  The DC show was canceled due to what I can only describe as "sudden venue nonexistence."  I wish there was a short version of the story I felt comfortable sharing, or a long version of the story that was interesting, but you know everything I do.  As of like 2PM yesterday, that venue doesn't really function as a music venue anymore.  But, what of the shows they'd already committed to booking and hosting?  And, why?  And, how?  And, I repeat, WHAT?!? 

Exactly.

But I'm glad we're talking about it, because this is what aging politicians like to call a "teachable moment."  What, and whom, are we teaching?  I don't have a clue.  But come with me anyway.

This is a teachable moment because it's a nice little slice of life for a touring musician.  Many of you have thoughtfully, kindly, written asking "what's life like on the road?"  I try to answer that question many different ways in these blogs.  And I try to focus as much as possible on the positive things, because that makes up 99% of life on the road.  I love pretty much all of it.  But, yeah, that 1%.  The 1% happens when months of preparation get derailed by something weird or lame.  Like a car breaking down.  Or another artist taking all the money and running (hasn't happened to me since 2006, thankfully).  Or a venue suddenly deciding not to exist.

And sure, there's the initial confusion of, "wait, what's happening here?"  Then, there's the disappointment of, "crap, I really was looking forward to the DC show."  And then, if you're like me, you get back to work.  You chart out Plan B.  You adjust.  You make the most of it.  Which is what I'm going to do.  Tomorrow morning I'll wake up with a list of things to do, and I'll get to work.  The next blog from me will be all about being back on the road, fun shows, fun people, and things going according to plan.

But right now...I'm stuck.  I got the cancellation email yesterday, after driving towards DC.  The next show is Thursday in Knoxville.  Going anywhere else would be a monstrous waste of gas/time/energy/5 Hour Energies/CDRs for mix-making/etc.  So, I'm stuck.  I'm stuck for a few days in a problematic place with very little to do. 

And sure, obviously, there are a million worse problems to have.  But since I'm stuck, and I'm bored, and you're (maybe) bored, and we're both HERE anyway, I'm going to do something I rarely do: I'm going to type for a while.  This is me, rambling.  This is me, masturbatory, incontinent, and without an editor. 

Strap in.  Last time this happened, it ended up in the NYTimes.

First thing's first: I'm cool with the DC cancellation.  I was obviously looking forward to playing a show in DC, and am disappointed I won't see the DC folks this week.  But there will be other DC shows in the near and distant future.  All will be well.  No big deal.

Second thing's second: I'm cool with being stuck here for a few days.  It'll be nice.  A time of reflection.  A time of meditation.  I was driving 8-10 hours a day, anyway.  I needed a break.  This is good.  This is a forced, much needed timeout.  Besides, it's really not bad here.  I'm probably the problem.

Kansas City was fun.

Third: I just bought the new Foo Fighters album.  What do y'all think of it?  I've listened a few times now.  The new My Morning Jacket single got me so excited about new music that I inexplicably spent the remaining $12 of iTunes giftdom on the new Foo.  "I love everything Dave Grohl does," I thought.  "This record is reportedly their best since the Colour and the Shape," I thought.  "Wahoo, new music!" I thought.  Now I'm thinking, "I shouldn't have spent $12 on this."  But I could be wrong, you see!  I probably just need a few more listens.  Trust the Foo.  Trust the Grohl.  Besides, the $12 is gone.  Besides, what else was I going to spend it on?  Ultimately, I'm cool with this purchase.  I really am.

But fourth!  How about that MMJ single?!?  I love them so much.  I love them so much that I can wait another six weeks for that album to come out.  I don't need new music now.  I can wait.  I can delay gratification.  It's unreasonable to expect to fall in love with a new album every four months.  Artists are only human, after all.  Where's my new song?  Where's my masterpiece?  How many songs have I written this week?  How many albums have I put out?  It's cool.  I can dig, man.  The Jacket will rock me in May, and I will get back in the studio soon.  I can delay gratification.  All good things come in time.  Patience is a virtue.  I can wait.

And fifth: how about those Grizzlies!

Sixth thing: the last several days of driving, playing, writing, and catching up on miscellaneous work have afforded me the opportunity to "beard."  This means I haven't shaved in a while.  I haven't shaved in four or nine or twenty days, or somewhere between.  I look special, but that's a good thing.  It's good to try out new things!  Like grit-staches.  Expanding one's look is essential to self-growth.  It's important to experiment, to branch out.  I know what it's like to walk through life as Kevin Federline's embarrassing cousin.  I've felt the looks, and I'm cool with them.  I've heard the snickers, and I've laughed too.  My grit-stache gives me peace.  It gives me perspective.  Everything zen.  Life, man!

Seventh: I know what some of you might be thinking.  "Chris, you are a very plan-oriented person.  You like moving, you like crossing things off to-do lists, and you are happiest when working at a breakneck pace on something you love.  So I'm a little worried right now, because I don't know what happens when you're forced to stop.  It seems to bother you."  And to that I say, "do I SEEM BOTHERED TO YOU?"  I'm cool with this, I really am.  Sure, I usually don't take well to intermissions.  But that was the Old Chris.  That's Chris of Yesteryear.  New Chris can sit still while the world turns.  New Chris has a new middle name, and that middle name is "Forced Haitus."  New Chris's nickname is "Chill Zone."  He specializes in "Unspent Energy."  In college, he majored in "Looking Good While Doing Nothing."  Old Chris would've gone crazy in this situation.  But I am cool with it.  I really am.

VIIIth: Go Grizzlies!

And besides, look how the sun shines!  And a fragrant wind rustles through the new leaves.  The world is green and lush again.  Strangers grin while pretending not to see each other on the street.  Hear that noise?  That's music wafting through the air, sent from heaven itself, or a boot-repair store. Spring has sprung.  The squirrels sing.  The world rejoices.  The midday sun shines.  It shines on the children crossing the street, interminably stopping traffic with their laughter and their...vibrant gameplaying.  It warms the cockles of the hearts of the herds of feral cats that roam these sun-baked streets.  It casts a twinkle in the eye of the barista asking regulars to repeat their order, and again, and again. 

And in a day or two, it'll be time to move again.  There will be a next show, Things To Do, fun shows, fun people, productivity, motion.  And for now, there is nothing to do and a bunch of nowhere to do it, and I am COOL WITH THAT.  It's a beautiful day.  Look at that sun shining through the window, onto my shoulders, past my computer, and onto the painting of Boba Fett holding a rabbit oh Jesus Christ have you ever wanted to beat someone with a rockingchair?

Stop!
CM

Coast To Coast #5: A Face In the Crowd

I've finished the first leg of the tour, and I have a few days off before D.C., and I'm trying my best not to stop.  If I stop, I might take a nap in Kentucky and sleep through next week's shows.  Rule #1 When Touring: never, ever, ever stop.

So, I've filled the day off with things to do.  One of those things was to empty out the camera and Flip from the first leg of the tour and post some pictures and videos. 

So, while I regroup a little, here are two new videos from the Portland concert.  And, for the running photo gallery of the tour, click here. 

Enjoy!

(Side note: I know I still owe you one more YouTube Concert.  It's coming, I promise.)

Live from The Woods, Portland OR - April 8, 2011

"Edge of the World"


"Shine"


Another place, another town,
CM

Coast To Coast #4: Love Is a Long Road

...And we're back!

I'm writing y'all from a Starbucks in downtown Denver.  I'm listening to the new My Morning Jacket single (!) on my headphones and trying not to make a scene in public.  I'm failing. 

Last we left off, I was in Seattle, waiting for my car to get new shoes at Firestone.  What have I done since then?  Driven.  A lot.  I've driven through Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Utah, Wyoming, and now Colorado.  I've seen mountains, I've seen snow, I've seen (I think?) Badlands, and I've seen buttes.

(Pausing for giggles...)

I was tempted not to post today, since I've done nothing but drive hundreds of miles in the interim.  Where's the action?  Where's the intrigue?  But then I remembered that driving from show to show is about 90% of touring.  I drive, I listen to music, I try out new podcasts, and I think.  Outside the 45 minutes I'm onstage, that's life on the road.  To keep a tour blog and not talk about driving endlessly would be a little silly.

From the outside looking in, it might look a bit more romantic.  "You get to see new places!  You get to meet fascinating strangers you'll never see again!  Kerouac, man!"  And all of that.  And, to be honest, there is that.  I do see new places, I do meet interesting strangers I'll likely never see again, I do chat up locals in strange locales, and I love exploring off the beaten path. 

But that all happens when you have spare time.  

When you're driving upwards of 12 hours between shows, trying to squeeze in some rehearsal, hanging out with your hosts and friends in each city, getting to the venue early for load-in/sound-check, waiting til the end of the night to get paid, packing/unpacking/repacking each morning, etc...the day fills up.

Add onto that the fact that I'm like most independent artists: I still do pretty much everything myself. 

For example, I'm my own booking agent.  This means I'm still booking more gigs while I'm on the road.  I'm not only filling out this tour but already setting up future tours.  I'm juggling anywhere from 15-50 correspondences a day to keep the shows coming.

I'm my own tour manager.  Once a show's booked, it's gotta be properly advanced.  Checking with the venue to make sure all the promo material 1) exists and 2) is accurate.  Teaming up with the venue to cross-promote shows online (e.g. the venue inviting their fans to the Facebook Event for a concert, etc.).  Contacting the sound guy at each club to give him my rider (i.e. what I'll need onstage).  Coordinating promotion with the other artists on the bill.  Reaching out to industry folks in each city.  Etc.

And while I'm lucky enough to work with a great publicist, I still do a lot of press work.  Inviting folks from print media, radio, and the blogosphere to each show?  Sure, but first you gotta make the press release, and you've gotta send it to them at least 4-6 weeks in advance of the show.  So, another 10-30 correspondences daily for a little press campaign.

Of course, I run my own website.  I design it, and I'm responsible for every bit of its content.  So, when I get a free minute, I'm updating it daily with new pictures, concert videos, and (obviously) tour blogs from the road.  Not to mention adding/changing show information, adding news to the homepage, etc.  

Finally, I'm touring solo.  This can be a good thing, because it gives me more flexibility in the schedule and the budget, and because playing solo is really fun.  But this can also be a bad thing; bands are great company, and feed off each others' energy on the road.  To be honest, touring solo can get a little lonely.

So, why on earth would anyone sign up for all of this?  Because I LOVE IT.  I love every moment of it.  I love the good and the bad, the magic and the tedium.  When I'm not touring, I get antsy to hit the road again.  When I am touring, I'm always anxious for the next stop.  It's a blast.  And when you've finally advanced the show, and you've done all your promotion, and you get to the city, and you've  found a rare moment to warm-up, and you've loaded-in, and sound-checked, the house lights go down, and you finally get to say, "Evening, I'm Chris Milam," and hit that first chord...it's all worth it.  At that point, there is no outside stress, no additional job to do, no directions to search, no emails to return.  I finally get to do what I love: sing you some songs. 

Then, there's the feeling after a set, when I get to meet folks.  Anytime someone introduces themselves, says they loved the set, grabs a CD, says they're sending friends in the next town to the show, etc...there's no feeling like it.  It absolutely never gets old.  For the 30 minutes or 3 hours of showtime, I'm the happiest guy in town.

Whatever town that is.  Wait--where am I again?

Some things are never enough,

CM

Coast To Coast #3: It'll All Work Out

Here’s the bad news: it’s 9:31AM Sunday, I’ve got 513 miles to drive, and I’m sitting in a Firestone lobby with car trouble.

Here’s the good news: everything else.

Last we left off, I was about to sound-check for the Portland show.  The Woods--a converted funeral home--is seemingly run by only twentysomethings who 1) really know what they’re doing and 2) really enjoy doing it.  Most venues are owned/operated by an older crowd, and most places are a little relaxed when it comes to prepping for shows.  The Woods gets after it.  They’re fantastic. 

The show itself was a blast--anytime I can play for open-hearted music fans in a good-sounding room, I’m happy.  Met some really nice folks after the set, too.  Hope to see y’all again soon.

Travel notes from Portland to Seattle, a drive I made after the show Friday night:

--Growing up, I had an inkling that people in/around Seattle were 15% smarter and cooler than everyone else.  Here’s Exhibit Q: there are signs around Olympia for Sleater-Kinney Road (Boulevard? Can’t remember...).  Sleater-Kinney, some of you might know, is the Washington-based punk punk.  They’re “riot grrrl” icons, frequent tourmates of Pearl Jam, etc.  And, evidently, folks in Olympia love their punk bands enough to name streets after them. 

--I passed signs for Aberdeen.  Aberdeen is the little logging town where Kurt Cobain and Krist Noveselic grow up and, by all accounts, it’s pretty bleak.  I don’t know.  I didn’t go to Aberdeen.  But I will say this: I stopped at a Rest Area near Aberdeen, and was a little scared for my life.  You know the scene in the horror/disaster movie where the unwitting victim in the middle of nowhere hears the wind suddenly stop blowing, lights in the stark room flicker, a single light from the ceiling inexplicably swings, etc?  I pissed in that scene, and got the hell out.

--No rain!  But the traffic/construction/cops-with-radar-guns don’t stop.

The cool thing about these post-show drives to the next city (in the middle of the night) is that I’m always wide awake.  It takes me several hours after a show--if ever--to relax.  Usually, I spend that time as a useless ball of energy, hanging out at the venue, talking to friends, etc.  Even if I go to bed, I can’t sleep.  So, I love it when I can put that adrenaline to use, driving when I’m at my most alert.  Those are always fun trips.

By the time I got to Seattle, I was just in time to collapse on a good friend’s floor.

Six Hours In Seattle (10AM-4PM):

Step 1: Wake up.  Make sure it’s chilly and wet outside. 

Step 2: Have really strong coffee. 

Step 3: Walk around.

Step 4: Go to a record store.  Notice that the first album displayed at the front of the store is--you guessed it--Pearl Jam’s Vitalogy.

Step 5: Go into a local bakery.  It’s warm, and it smells like childhood.

Step 6: Take a goofy picture by the Pacific Ocean. 

Step 7: Free-sample your way through Pike’s Marketplace.  Pay for some food, at some point.

Step 8: There is a store in the market that only sells wind-up toys.  Go there and wind everything up.  Be an instigator.

Step 9: Gawk at a street performer savant who solves rubix cubes in seconds while hoola-hooping.  Remember that Seattle has the highest proportion of geniuses of any American city.  Wonder if they’re all weird, too.

Step 10: Thrift stores with 90’s nostalgia leanings. 

Step 11: Book stores with Howard Zinn leanings.

Step 12: Find stronger coffee.  Talk about spirituality just loud enough that adjacent tables can hear you and feel uncomfortable.  Scoff, and say things like, “but that’s so Western!”  Is that the sun?  Go outside, quick!

Step 13: Free-sample Japanese fro-yo.

Step 14: Take pictures from scenic overlooks.

Step 15: And...stop.  Or, if you’re my tourguide, bake a cake, then ride a bike for several miles.

Seattle is awesome.  From the show last night, my limited interactions with locals, and just getting a feel for the place, it seems like a mixed-bag.  For example: the lineup Saturday was 1) a confessional female singer/songwriter, 2) ME, and 3) a blues-rock trio.  All playing at a punk rock club/coffee bar.  Everyone’s a little different, but that makes everyone kind of the same.  Anything goes.  Come as you are.

One fun note: I started the set with a brand new song, “All I Need.”  Hopefully I’ll be doing more of that, and can some videos posted on YouTube soon.  Sometimes, debuting a new song feels dicey if it’s still being worked out.  Last night, “All I Need” felt great.  Really looking forward to y’all hearing it! 

One late night sushi run and a hopped curb later, I’m here at Firestone.  They tell me the things I worried about (alignment, “demolished under carriage,” etc.) are okay, but two tires were nearly bald.  They’re putting new shoes on Ruby as I type.  In other words, it was lucky that I hopped the curb--it prevented a disaster!

All jokes aside, I have no idea how that off-roading didn’t bust a tire at the very least.  Ruby is a fortress.  God, I love her.

And love her I will, for another 513 miles. 

When it mattered most,
CM

Coast To Coast #2: Higher Place

There are many different types of shows.

There's the "Everything That Could've Gone Wrong--Including Locust Attack--Went Wrong Show."

There's the "Everything That Could've Gone Right--Including Backstage Engagement To Minka Kelly--Went Right Show."

There's everything in between, including the "Good, But Not Memorable Show," the "Grinding It Out Through Illness Show," the "Homecoming As Glorified Excuse To Party and Trade Songs With My Favorite People Show," the "Fun, But Playing At the Wrong Venue Or For the Crowd Show."  The list goes on.

I'll be honest: Wednesday's show at the Hotel Cafe in LA wasn't in the "Minka Kelly" category.  Don't get me wrong--it was much closer to the "Minka Kelly" category than the "Locust Attack" category.  The room's one of my favorites to play.  It sounds like heaven, and the staff's great.  The crowd was very nice and complimentary after the set, and I made some new friends and fans.  All the external stuff went well; I just felt off.  Maybe it was first-show-of-the-tour energy, maybe it was singing-too-much-in-the-car throat fatigue, maybe both, maybe something else.  I didn't really get settled until the last few songs of the set.  Hey, it happens. 

I remember when Pearl Jam released their Binaural tour concerts for individual retail.  I bought the CDs for the two shows I attended, plus one more that had a really unusual setlist.  That happened to be their first show of the tour.  Halfway through a pretty sharp set, Eddie apologized to the audience for catching the first show, saying it was their misfortune to hear the band "rehearsing," working out the kinks.

Am I comparing myself to Pearl Jam in this scenario?  Sure, why not.

Anyway, after the set, I was still feeling a bit off.  Then, I checked my phone to find a few voicemails and texts from friends asking how the set went.  I saw a few tweets pumping up the show.  I met some folks in the crowd and handed out some CDs.  Later that night, I read an email from a friend saying she's enjoying the tour blogs.  Another email--from a venue booker across the country--offered me a gig and implored me to "drive safe."  Then I spent the rest of the night getting a late dinner and catching up with two old friends.

By night's end, I certainly didn't "feel off."  So, what I'm trying to say is this: thank you.  Y'all are rocketfuel.

Meanwhile, back on the road...

The good and bad thing about the drive up California and into Oregon: it's gorgeous.  This is good because it makes for a really scenic, fun, interesting drive.  This is bad because, at some point, you start driving through all those pretty mountains, and then there's a snowstorm, and steep hills, and sharp turns, and semis on the side of the road, and trucks kicking up ice onto the windshield...and this goes on for 150 miles. 

By the time I stopped in Medford, Oregon, I was so tired and my eyes so fuzzy that I felt drunk.  I had a phone conversation with my brother that I hardly remember before falling asleep in front of a Utah Jazz game. 

One night and another 270 miles later, I'm in Portland, Oregon!

Here is what I know about Portland:
1) This song, which is completely awesome, and playing in my headphones as I type this sentence.

2) It has one of the most star-crossed sports franchises of any place not named Cleveland.

3) There is a new show called "Portlandia," which people seem to like and not like.

4) A lot of good music has come out of here in the last 5-10 years: Blitzen Trapper, The Decemberists, anything Carrie Brownstein (Sleater-Kinney) does, etc. 

4) Everytime I told someone I was coming through Portland, their immediate response was either:
a) "Ohmygod, I LOVE Portland!" OR
b) "Ohmygod, I want to go to Portland!"

So, this city's got a great publicist.  Or, it's just awesome.  Or both.  After a quick loop of downtown and a few hours hanging out in the very-walkable-super-trendy-yet-relaxed neighborhood of tonight's venue, I'm leaning towards "just awesome."  One thing I've already noticed: people here are folksy.  Not faux-folksy in a "we demand you spell it S-H-O-P-P-E" way.  Really folksy.  Landscapers tip their caps to passersby.  Baristas look you in the eye.  Everyone seems at ease, and nice, but also like they could be dropped in the woods and have a cabin built in thirty minutes. 

And, in a twist of quirkiness straight out of "Portlandia," tonight's show is at converted funeral home that rapidly became one of the city's best music venues.  And, naturally, it's called The Woods.

Can't wait to play again.

How's your week going?

Coast To Coast #1: Running Down a Dream

As I type this, I'm sitting at a tiny table drinking coffee.  It's overcast outside, but it feels perfect.  If I walk out the door and look north, the Hollywood sign stares straight at me.  The table next to me currently hosts a crazy tarot reading.  In other words, I'm in LA!

And, good grief, I am happy to be here.

At 6:15AM (Central) Monday morning, I left Conway, Arkansas in a driving rainstorm.  At 5:11PM (Pacific) Tuesday evening, I arrived at my friend's Hollywood casa.  Let's break everything in between down really quick:

Miles Traveled: 1689
Ounces of Coffee Consumed: 80-1200 (approx)
Average Speed: 70? (approx)
Hours Driven: 24
Gas Stops: 7
States Seen: 6
Hours slept: 5.5
5 Hour Energy Shots Consumed: 4
Rolling Stones Albums Rocked: 2.5
New mixes created for this particular drive: 2
Muffins Stolen From a Hampton Inn: 1
Speeding Tickets: 0 (Knocking on wood...)

As for the states themselves...

Arkansas:
Arkansas rocks.  It's pretty, and the people are really nice, and non-Arkansans sometimes forget about its existence.  There are few things I like more than great places that the outside world occasionally ignores. Basically, the state's PR campaign: "Come to Arkansas! Or, if not, more for us!"

I was really excited leaving Monday morning.  I hadn't driven/ridden across the southwest since I was nine years old.  My family spent the summer of '94 in Los Angeles--we lived in Northridge just a few months before it became the epicenter of that year's earthquake.  I remember listening to a TON of George Jones in the car, and seeing so many dead armadillos in Texas that I asked my brother if any armadillos were still alive.

Anyway, the drive through Arkansas gave me the only patch of rain for the trip.  Memphis and Nashville readers: you know the crazy tornado-storms you got Monday?  That's what I drove through at 6:30AM.  But, by the time I hit...

...Oklahoma...

...the sun was up and shining.  I'll say this for Oklahoma: it's got a big backyard.  Big sky.  Big horizon.  Big clouds.  Shell stations the size of K-Mart.  I did a lot of quality thinking in Oklahoma.  Here are some of my notes:

--I'm 1/16 Cherokee.  Is that enough to get VIP treatment at an Indian casino?

--Why is it that every time I glance into the car beside me, they're already looking at me? 

--Heard inside a Shell station outside Oklahoma City: "I could literally eat a whole cow."  How often do people mean "literally" when they say "literally"?  8% of the time?  3%?

--I saw real, live tumbleweed.  Tumbleweed!  Before this week, I wasn't sure it existed. 

--Music rec for driving through Oklahoma: My Morning Jacket, "Rollin Back."

Texas:
On I-40W, you only pass through the top peg of Texas (where Amarillo is).  So, a relatively short trek.  Still, I found time to listen to two full Lyle Lovett albums, some requisite Willie, and count three dead armadillos. 

By this time, Ruby (my car) and I were settled into a nice groove: sun shining, tank full of gas, veins full of caffeine.  That's when the wind started.  Holy Lord, the wind.  I heard later that it was up to 60-80mph at points.  I tweeted that it was like driving through a Blur video.

Then, I had a minor scare.  Here's my list of the worst things that could happen to my car:
1) Anything that prevents it from moving.
2) The stereo breaks.

I went to pop out Lyle Lovett's Pontiac, and "eject" didn't work.  Not one day into the tour, I was faced with the prospect of driving cross-country--twice--without a stereo.  I panicked A LITTLE.  Only after stopping for gas and (I guess?) letting Ruby cool down did the stereo work again without a problem.

Music rec: Lyle Lovett, "She's Hot To Go."  Just make sure you can eject the CD.

New Mexico:
As soon as you cross into New Mexico from Texas, the speed limit jumps to 75mph and you gain an hour.  It's rejuvenating.  Also, the landscape immediately shifts from "plains" to "prairie/desert."  New Mexico is really pretty in a weird, almost-cartoonish way.  Picture the way an early Mario Brothers video game might represent a "prairie."  That's exactly what New Mexico looks like: the late 80's video game parody of itself.

There aren't a ton of gas stations on this drive, especially not Exxon/Mobil's.  I have an Exxon card which, you know, comes in handy when you need to get gas and an Exxon is nearby.  The bad news: I found exactly one Mobil in New Mexico.  The good news: it was pretty awesome. 

Billboards started appearing for this Mobil about 100 miles away.  Ten miles out, the billboards came two-at-a-time, every mile.  For the last few clicks, the billboards simply do not stop.  Keep in mind: this is a gas station, attached to a Dairy Queen, attached to a large gift store that sold kitschy "desert things."  That's the whole place.  It's advertised like a new Vegas casino.

Anyway, the Coke (glass bottle!) I bought there was delicious and the cashier was exceedingly nice.  She pointed me to the restroom with map-maker's precision, and maternally suggested I wear a jacket.

Also, staying the night in Albuquerque is nice.  I can assure Breaking Bad fans that nothing meth-related happened to me.

Music rec: Monsters of Folk, "Say Please"

New Mexico, Arizona, and California:
From New Mexico to Arizona to California, the landscape shifts from "prairie" to "desert" to "pine tree-lined hills" to "straight up mountains" in a big, awesome way.  It's a really fun drive.  There's also a ton of it.  To wit:

America!  Take that!

Music rec: Kings of Leon, "Arizona" and Phantom Planet, "California"

I won't bore you with the final 10 hours of the trip.  However, I will bore you with this: there are two hours when you cross into California, before you hit Barstow, where there is nothing.  There was maybe one gas station.  There is one road, no turns.  One range of mountains visible in the distance that (somehow) never gets closer.  There are no other cars, no gas stations, no place to rest.  Just straight, desolate, stark, wind-torn desert, straight with heat lines hovering above the road and mirages in the distance.  I'm pretty sure the devil appeared to tempt me three times, and I'm pretty sure I resisted.

Pretty sure.

Anyway, by the time I hit the 101, I was never so happy to be stuck in standstill traffic.  As I've mentioned before, I love LA.  I love the Hotel Cafe.  And I've done nothing for two days straight but store up all my crazy energy, sing along with the stereo, and count the minutes til I play again.  Can't wait to let it out tonight.

See ya then:
April 6, Hotel Cafe
7PM (sharp--they run a tight ship), 21+

And I'll blog again real soon from the road, complete with pictures and videos from the shows.  Stay tuned!

Working on a mystery,
CM

Coast To Coast: Spring Tour 2K11

More dates TBA soon!

Okay, real quick:

Today kicks off my spring tour.  I'm calling it Coast To Coast, since I'm playing shows on both coasts.  Clever, yes?  As you're reading this, I'm already somewhere on I40-West.  Maybe Texas, maybe New Mexico, maybe all the way to California...who knows?

So, what does this mean?

Blogging:
Tours mean running tour blogs.  I'll be posting regularly from the road--sometimes a lot, sometimes a little.  To stay up, you can subscribe here.

Facebook/Twitter:
I'll be tweeting and posting pictures on the regular.  Find me on Twitter and Facebook for all the in-betweens.

YouTube:
I'll be posting video clips from the shows and funny stuff backstage, so be sure to subscribe to the YouTube Channel.

Shows:
If I'm playing near you, come say hey!  If I'm playing near a friend, tell 'em what's up.  With touring, a little word of mouth goes a long way.  Y'all have been amazing about spreading the word in the past, and I can't wait to see so many of you again soon!

Here's the show schedule (more dates to be added, so check here for all the latest):



See y'all soon!
CM

New York, New York, New York (Part 2)

I’m writing (again) from an airport gate.  I’m drowsy and drained, waiting to board my flight to Memphis, and the bottom of my jeans are wet.  The bottom of my jeans have stayed wet since I landed Thursday, the unhappy byproduct of some weekend “nor’easter.”  What is a nor’easter?  Something that blows Chicago-on-steroids winds and keeps your clothes damp.  New York had a cold this weekend; it was gray and seemed angry.  But this morning is clear and sunny and cool when the breeze comes.  It’s perfect now, and I’m leaving.

In My Ear(buds):
Stereophonics, “Since I Told You It’s Over.”
Seemingly every song on this album (You Gotta Go There To Come Back) combines a somber verse with an oddly uplifting chorus.  For me, they all connect. 

Billy Bragg & Wilco, “Remember the Mountain Bed.”
Every time you think you have Woody Guthrie pegged, he blindsides you.  Proof yet again that Guthrie wasn’t just a master lyricist; he was a poet.

Delta Spirit, “Bushwick Blues.”
Brooklyn in my ears, Brooklyn on my mind.

Pearl Jam, “All Those Yesterdays.”
A song that should be sad, but somehow isn’t. 

Favorite Show Moment:
Getting to debut a brand new song, “Never In Love.”  As with this big new batch of songs I’m finishing, it’s not 100% done.  But there’s three reasons I always love playing a new song out for the first time:

1) You don’t know what’s working (and what isn’t) until it’s live.  Something weird happens to a song between rehearsal the show--it takes on its own life.  The same thing you felt comfortable doing in practice suddenly becomes unnatural.  Lines run too long.  Lyrics feel cumbersome to sing.  Live, in the moment, in front of a crowd, the song has a way of working its own kinks out.

2) The audience is always right.  If they like it, they’ll tell you.  If something’s working, they’ll show you.  It’s a great, unspoken dialogue.  All I have to do is sing and listen.

3) There’s no better way to spice up a set.  As much as I love playing songs off the first three albums, the experience of performing them gets familiar over time.  But with a new song, anything can happen.  It’s fresh, and exciting, and you don’t know when you start where you’ll end up.  I love that feeling.

I hope to post a live video of “Never In Love” in the next day or so--check the site for an update.  In the meantime, thanks again to the NY crowds for being so cool and receptive to new things.  It’s a joy playing for y’all.

Favorite Non-Show Moment:
Coming through security in LaGuardia, my guitar case had to be inspected.  I carry a small bottle of guitar polish with me, and I guess they wanted to check it out.  But the guy who went through the bag introduced himself, told me he’s played guitar for thirty years, and talked to me about how airports don’t handle instruments as well as they should.  He asked if I’d learned the hard way not to check a guitar (meaning it almost always gets damaged either in inspection or in transit), and I told him, yes, actually I have learned that the hard way.

I thought I was the only one who was wildly protective of my instrument, and anxious when I travel with it, and nervous when folks at the airport inevitably handle it.  It was great to deal with someone who understood, and went out of his way to help. 

Least Favorite Non-Show Moment:
For the year I lived in NYC, I never really had any subway problems.  Trains arrived on time and took me where I meant to go.  Now, between new trains, schedule changes, re-routes and weekend schedules for maintenance/etc., I don’t know how to get anywhere.  It took me between one hour and three days to get from Columbia to downtown.  At one point I thought I was in an epic poem.  A badly lit, subterranean, wildly unglamorous epic poem. 

In the Rearview:
New York (again). 

I think something’s wrong with me.  When people live somewhere, then move away, then come visit, they usually feel a familiarity of place.  They emotionally reconnect to that place, picking up where they left off.  Familiar sites, sounds, and smells trigger a gale wind of memories.  Nostalgia abounds.  They remember the old times while experiencing the new times and feel at home again.  It all comes back.

But something’s wrong with me.  I don’t do this.  Don’t get me wrong--I adore New York, look forward to visiting, and relish my time here.  But I don’t pick up where I left off.  It’s not the next chapter of a larger novel.  Each stay here is its own isolated short story, independent of the last.  Walking around the East Village, passing familiar haunts, I don’t feel, “there’s my bar,” or “there’s our place.”  There’s no ownership of New York, at least not for me.  There’s no owning it at all.  It’s just a mad majestic jewel that stands before you, exists without you, laughs alongside you, and you take it as it comes.  So, I take it as it comes, never feeling that feeling of “mine.”  New York’s never been mine; that’s partly why I love it.

Up Ahead:
Memphis (again).  I’m going home to a little white house in midtown, and I’m going to write some songs.  My front porch is sitting there in the sun, the chairs empty, the place familiar, comfortable, smiling at me.  It’s been perfect weather in Memphis for almost a month now.  There is no nor’easter.