Upalooza, Volume 10: Around the Bend

(Quick housekeeping note: this will be the last post of the tour series.  Next week, we'll resume the usual features, starting with August's Fan of the Month on Monday, August 9.  Song of the Week and the Mailbag will follow, so be sure to send your questions in for the Mailbag.

Finally, look for another blog on Wednesday with a big announcement!)

Hey August!

I often begin blogs with a statement like, "I'm writing you from Milwaukee, but I could be anywhere..."  The truth is, I couldn't be anywhere.  I could only be in this little room in this little town north of Little Rock, because that's where I go when I need a nap. 

I need a nap.  The last show of the tour was Wednesday, July 28, and after a few extra days in Memphis, I'm now back where I started, unpacking my car, unloading my head.  Before we get to the Memphis show, let's check the scoreboard!

The Final Tally:
--23 days
--10.5 shows
--16 states
--2 countries
--1 traffic citation (Baltimore can take my $90 c/o Avon Barksdale.)
--3,894 miles driven
--$36.50 spent on toll roads
--12 tanks of gas
--0 guitar strings broken
--1 guitar pickup broken
--19 Fruit Roll-Ups eaten
--4 local breweries sampled
--2 BBQ joints sampled (1 good)
--9 couches, 3 beds, and 1 backseat slept in
--1 really annoying cold
--45,912 kind of annoying stomach aches
--Countless CDs played
--1 new mix created ("Hot Rocks: Summermelt My Summerface 2K10")
--Lots and lots of memories

Memphis Favorite Moment:
The Memphis show was done "in the round," meaning three songwriters trade off songs onstage.  We played two rounds.  During the second round, a guitarist (Josh Roberts) accompanied us onstage, backing our songs.  To call him "really good" is like calling Usain Bolt "pretty fast."  I didn't know before I started playing "Shine" that he was accompanying all of us.  Two chords in, and I heard that baleful, Tuesday's Gone-ish riff pick up behind me, and my almost started laughing mid-lyric. 

So.  Much.  Fun.

Seriously, I could've covered "The Itsy Bitsy Spider" and Dr. Roberts would've turned it to gold.  Next time I just might do that.

Memphis Least Favorite Moment:
My guitar being lame.  Rose acted up during sound-check, eventually needing a slip-in pickup for the show.  Few things worry me more than guitar issues (which I realize is a crazy thing to say/type).  It's the comfort level of getting onstage, plugging in, and knowing what your instrument's going to do, every time.  When a guitar's on the fritz, it's hard to get comfortable. 

Memphis Road Weirdness/Funsies:
I actually heard this sentence in passing (I won't say where): "Give him hell 'bout it...his little brother got a DUI this morning.  On a go-cart."

More Memphis Road Weirdness:
I saw my fifth "sunny rainstorm" on this tour, but this time it lasted an hour and flash flooded some major roads in Memphis.  At one point on Poplar Ave, the water came up to my car's door.  Now that I think about it, I have no idea how Ruby got through that without hydroplaning into Mississippi.  Maybe she's special.  Maybe she's the Batmobile.

In My Stereo (Most-Played On Tour Edition):
Artist: Tom Petty.  I don't know what else to tell you: there is always a time for "Free Fallin'."  There is always a time for "Time To Move On."  And Mojo is, in its entirety, a summertime driving album.  Regardless of time or place, all I wanted to hear was Tom Petty. 

Album: Band of Horses, Everything All the Time.  Still enjoying Infinite Arms, but Everything... makes 70 miles disappear in 5 minutes. 

Song: Lucero, "I Can Get Us Out of Here Tonight."  Between the number of times I played that album, and the number of my mixes it's on, I had it on steady rotation for weeks.  No, it never got old.  Yes, I now own a jean jacket.

In My Rearview (Prettiest Stretch of Road Edition):
I saw a ton of gorgeous country.  Some nominees:
--The "Land of Giants-esque" farmland of ON-401E (western Canada), with its constant hills, oversized farms, and perfectly manicured land.  Everything in Canada--even the sky and grass--looked freshly painted. 
--The Americana-soaked US20E (western NY) leaving Buffalo, winding around the Catskills. 
--Honestly, all of Washington, D.C.  I might be the only person alive who still loves driving in DC.
--Nickajack-lake stretch of 24W between Chattanooga and Nashville.  Remember "The Great Valley"--the idyllic place the dinosaurs try to find in The Land Before Time?  No?  Well, this is what it looks like.

But the winner is:
64E/77S, West Virginia into Virginia.  I realize that some/many of you have never been to West Virginia, and I realize that, to most of the country, it's kind of a forgotten state.  "What's there," people ask.  "What goes on in West Virginia," they seem to say.  I'll tell you what's in West Virginia: some of the prettiest country anywhere.  It's insanely beautiful.  It's "park, take some pictures, and wish Jennifer Garner was there to propose to" beautiful.  It's "this is where God battled Satan and William Wallace should've died" beautiful.  It's unspeakably great, as is all of Appalachia.

But here's the best part: you're thick in a stretch of mountainous highway and suddenly the road leads into the side of a mountain.  You're in a tunnel for a few miles.  The road winds around and you see a light in the distance.  You get closer and the sky starts to open up.  Straight ahead is an absolute postcard of Appalachia: a chain of monstrous blue-ridged mountains in the distance, a manicured valley in the foreground, blue skies, green grass, white clouds, and a giant sign that reads, "Virginia Welcomes You." 

Oh, snaps!  Take that, West Virginia! 

West Virginia and Virginia: constantly locked in a border war for "which state looks more like heaven." 

What I'll Carry:
I got a Mailbag question that I'll answer now: "From the whole tour--the month on the road, all the shows and new places--what will you remember most?" 

Great question, and I can't think of a better way to end the Tour Blog.  I'll remember:

--Taking cheesy self-portraits under the Arch and watching locals laugh at me.
--The left-arm trucker tanburn I got in Illinois.
--Using an Indian's photo ID to break into a Grand Rapids building.
--The golf clinic I interrupted in Canada because I needed a bathroom.
--The man in Buffalo who blows bubbles out his window all day, every day.
--Listening to The National's High Violet and almost falling asleep in rural New York.  Listening to R.E.M.'s Monster and waking back up.
--Having a "virtual experience" with Adam Richman of Man v. Food.
--The day I drove through six states and one concert to get to a party in DC.
--The party I got to in DC.  Being so tired when I got there I briefly fell asleep standing up in the kitchen. 
--Jazz in the Garden with an old friend and a few new friends.  Sweating through my jeans like a stuck pig hooker in church (yep, those exist).
--Seeing the Milams in Belle, WV.  I always remember that.
--Popping Cold-Eez like Jolly Ranchers on the drive to Atlanta.
--Blasting It Still Moves in the Georgia/Alabama mountains at midnight, the first cool breeze since April outside my car.
--Playing the last note of the last song (Big Star's "Thirteen") in Memphis.  Feeling at ease for the first time in weeks.  Feeling at home for the first time in months. 

Mostly, I'll remember you.  If you've read this blog, checked this website, come to a show, bought a CD, burned a CD, or told a friend, I'll remember you. 

If I met you in the last month--maybe pre-show in Grand Rapids, maybe post-show in Atlanta, maybe anytime, anywhere great music fans come out to hear something new--I promise I'll remember you, and I'll see you again soon. 

And finally, to my friends who put me up and whom I put out, I can't thank you enough.  Because of y'all, the last month isn't so much a series of memorable moments but one great, delirious, smiling blur.  It's been great.

Let's do it again.  How's October?

Upalooza, Volume 9: Last Exit

Greetings from Nashville!

Picture me in my self-constructed postcard, standing on Broadway: honky tonks to my left, girls in skirts to my right, Batman building behind, donning spurs that jingle jangle, Elvis statues in the foreground, Texas-style BBQ smoke in the air, and giant neon pink lettering that reads: "Nashville: Wish Your Dreams True, Dream Your Wishes Real, And Try Our New York Deli."

I kid!  I kid because I care, and I'll readily admit it: it feels good to be back.  Good like an old pair of  pajamas.  Good like meatloaf.  Good like a 2008 Civic.  Ahh, ze romanze!

We've got plenty to catch up on, so let's get to it...

Knoxville Favorite Moment:
Getting to debut another new song, "Hey, Hollywood."  I only try out new things when I feel really comfortable, so I have to thank everyone at Preservation Pub for being so cool.


Knoxville Least Favorite Moment: 

Unfortunately, I was only in for six or seven hours.  The good news is that's not long enough to have a least-favorite moment.  Knoxville: you pitched a no hitter!

Knoxville Road Weirdness:
Getting requests for "Bob Dylan, right now," and "Edie Brickell, pre-Paul Simon" in the span of ten minutes. 

More Road Weirdness:
You know when a summer shower appears, rains, and disappears so fast that the sun's out during the whole storm?  I've now seen four of these on this tour.  A few pictures of sunlit raintimes, one from West Virginia, one from Knoxville:

Knoxville Starbucks Trivia:
From the chalkboard inside the Knoxville Hilton: what state has the longest coastline?  (Hint: a group of Texans insisted that the answer is Texas.)

Atlanta Favorite Moment:
Asking on Facebook where I should eat in ATL and getting directed to a rib shack the very moment I drove past said rib shack.  Serendipity!

Atlanta Least Favorite Moment:
The actual ribs.  Sorry, y'all--I wanted to like them.

Atlanta Road Weirdness:
Leaving town (at 11PM), I took the backroads and highways into Alabama.  I'm (to a fault) not easily scared, mostly because I'm clueless.  But I will say this: when you're driving on Alabama mountain backroads in the middle of the night--and you're listening to The National--every car that appears is either 1) a serial killer or 2) a cop or 3) a serial killer cop.  Sans-mountain-view, not a fun stretch of road.

More Road Weirdness/Funsies:
Maybe it was coincidence, maybe it wasn't: I stopped for gas in northern Georgia and saw people wait in line at Exxon while an empty BP sat next door.

More Road Weirdness:
I've tried the "Pomegranate" 5 Hour Energy.  It's good--better than "Orange"--but "Berry" remains my favorite.  What kind of berry, you ask?  Awesomeberry.  From the berrybush in a berrybushandtree orchard.  Colored "berry" color.  And used frequently in "berry" pies, shortcakes, and fruit roll-ups.  "Berry": proving yet again that "fake and generic" trumps "real and specific" every time.

Nashville Favorite Moment:
So far, I have to say simply stepping onstage at 3rd & Lindsley and feeling at home.  One of my favorite things about touring is the daily newness: new town, new venue, new fans and friends, etc.  Every place is a little different.  But after three weeks of newness, familiarity is invaluable.  Just stepping onto a stage I've played before, knowing what sound I'd get, knowing how the room feels, seeing familiar faces and friends in the audience...it was a huge sigh of relief.  Thanks for making me feel at home.

Nashville Least Favorite Moment:
Driving behind this guy. 

Nashville Road Weirdness:/Funsies
Nashville's always had good signage, especially on the church marquees:
--"Fear Not God Is With Us" (Fear, not God, is with us?)
--"Visitors Welcome, Members Expected"

But the signs these days are especially fun/confusing/weird.  To wit:
--Outside Rosepepper Cantina: "Food, Drinks, Vibe."  I'll have a half order of vibe, please.
--And this, at a cozy new spot in my neighborhood:

Props to the place for being an awesome watering hole, but "Pub Beer Garden"?  Words mean things, and these words mean different things.  I want to open a "Tavern Cafe" across the street.  Or maybe a "Cantina Bistro" next door. 

"Saloon Lounge."

"Taqueria Trattoria."

"Pizzeria Tea Room."

Okay, I'm done now.

"Parlor Club."

Seriously, I'm finished.  Last one:

"Fro-Yo Steakhouse."

Just like that, I've got my fantasy football team name!  And you thought that was a waste of time.

More Nashville Funsies:
Here's a little sampling from the Nashville concert.  I closed with "Melanie," off the new album Up.  Check 'er out!


In My Stereo:
Creedence Clearwater Revival.  Like, a lot.  Like, almost exclusively.  As in, "maybe too much."  As in, I might get hospitalized for "Fogerty overdose."  Which would be the most "bitchin" cause of death imaginable, other than "dropping dead while bowling to 'Slow Ride' and wearing a denim jacket with dragons on the back."

Also, I've done more nighttime driving recently, which means the playlist has expanded.  Beck's Sea Change might induce naps/mopey wistfulness during the day, but at midnight in Appalachia?  Perfecto.

In My Rearview:
Summer.  I just looked up and it's nearly August.  Which means a matter of days until I'm in a random "pub beer garden" and an NFL preseason game is on TV, and I cry public tears of joy.  I really can't believe how fast July's gone by.

Up Ahead:
Catching up with favorite people/places in Nashville, then one of the ugliest stretches of I40 imaginable, all leading me back to Memphis for the last show of the tour.  Cannot wait.  Refuse to wait.  I'm going now!



Three days, not much longer,

CM

Upalooza, Volume 8: Gonna See My Friend

It's been a long, long, long time coming, but I'm back in Tennessee.  Before we get to the highs, lows, and mediums of the past several days, I'd like to present....

A Day In the Life (Of a Touring Musician with Too Much Exxon and Not Enough Energy): July 15, 2010

7:03AM, Brooklyn:
I wake to the sound of vuvuzelas.  I don't know how, or why, or from where, but there they are.  If going back to sleep is an option, I'm picking it, then again, then again...

8:14AM, Brooklyn:
Going back to sleep isn't really an option.  I gots places to be.  Like Philadelphia, tonight, for a show, and DC, later tonight, to sleep.  But right now I'm in Brooklyn, and I'm pantless.  One thing at a time, Chris.

8:15AM, Brooklyn:
Pants: check.

9:45AM, Underground:
On R train, somewhere between earth and hell, somewhere between Brooklyn and Manhattan, on my first of four modes of transportation today.  My car is in New Jersey, chilling, and I'm coming to get her.

10:13AM, Manhattan:
Walking from Times Square to Pier 79.  I have a guitar and messenger bag strapped to my back and an overloaded suitcase lagging behind me.  I am hitting every tourist in New York with my travelwares, and everywhere I go I am in someone's way.  Also worth noting that I look like a tourist right now, which is to say if this were an average day for me in Manhattan, I would hate myself. 

The walk is between seven and thirty blocks, takes me between fifteen and ninety minutes, and the temperature is around "hellish."  Also, the world smells like garbage and I'm already exhausted and Pandora just assumed I want Wham at this moment.


I don't want Wham at this moment. 

On the bright side, I am wearing pants.

11:54AM, Weehawken, NJ:
Reunited with Ruby and pointed South for the first time in weeks.  Sun?  Shining.  Springsteen?  Rocking.  Caffeine?  Coursing through my veins like a nuclear missile of happiness.  Toll roads deter me not: I'm a new man.

12:32PM,  Somewhere in Pennsylvania:
I've seen three states in the last hour.  Little do I know that I'm just getting warmed up.

1:54PM, Ardmore, PA:
Hello, understated strip malls!  Greetings, luxury vehicles!  Howdy, cougars in expensive sunglasses!  It feels great to be here.  Thank you, thank you, thank you for having me. 

4:04PM, Ardmore, PA:
A squadron of kids just surrounded me in Starbucks.  Here's what actually happened: I'm typing an email on my laptop a back corner of Starbucks.  Nine teenagers enter Starbucks, bypass the "buy stuff here so you can be in this place" section, race to my section, pull up chairs, aggressively form a circle around me, and then do not talk to each other.  They just sit, all staring at me while I pretend to type something of substance, rock out to the earbuds, and ignore them. 

If I get attacked here, will a cougar in expensive sunglasses come to my rescue?  Start the Audi, honey.

5:13PM, Ardmore, PA:
Hey look!  An apothecary!  Next door to the tannery, and the blacksmith.

8:01PM, Milkboy Coffee, Ardmore, PA:
About five minutes before my set, and I'm chilling at the venue, which is a large independent coffee house with great sound and a really nice staff, and my body says, "hey, you're kinda tired, maybe take a nap," and my head says, "you've gotta be kidding me."  My guitar says, "let's do this, compadre," and my voice says, "mic check," and we're off and running. 

The thing about show days is that all physical needs are deferred until after the set.  Tired?  Sleep after the set.  Hungry?  Eat after the set.  Need to catch up on work?  After the set.  Driving to DC?  After the set. 

The problem about show days is that, as you can see, these post-set needs aren't congruent.  How are you driving to the next city and napping at the same time?  Semi-successfully, at best.  I'm about to find out.

9:41PM, Ardmore, PA:
I thank the kind folks at Milkboy, apologize to the other artists for being "that guy" who skips out early, and head toward DC.  I am that guy.  Ugh.

11:06PM, Somewhere, MD:
The guy in the Tiger Mart had a Southern accent.  We've officially reached that latitude.

11:28PM, Baltimore, MD:
Wahoo!  I love driving through/past major cities without stopping, especially cities like Baltimore that are unassailably cool and tied to a pop cultural benchmark (The Wire).  Somewhere out there, Jay Landsman is getting some pit beef.  And Snoop's on the prowl.  And a "McNulty" type is looking for a drink or six.  Ah, the blurred lines between reality and fantasy and....

11:29PM, Baltimore, MD:
Yep, I'm getting pulled over. 

11:37PM, Baltimore, MD:
The bad news: you can't switch lanes in a tunnel.  The worse news:  I didn't see that sign.  The worst news: I switched lanes twice, directly in front of the cop, because I didn't know I was breaking a law.  The good news: the cop apologized when he gave me the citation.  So, I've got that going for me.

11:59PM, Washington, DC:
Getting close to my destination, which is a party near DuPont Circle.  I've got directions, I've got gas, I've got caffeine, I've got my obligatory ticket out of the way, and I've got OK Computer blasting out the moonroof.  Spirits are high.

12:03AM, Washington, DC:
My directions have led me to a place that looks like a set for the first Ninja Turtles movie.  The only things missing are giant rats, smoke fuming off the street, and the foreboding tones of an synthesized oboe.  I don't know where I am, but I'm guessing this isn't the party.

12:19AM, Washington, DC:
This is the party.  Turns out the party is 1960's themed, and everyone's dressed like a combination of Don Draper (1962 theme, you know) and Colonel Sanders (lots of ex-SEC fratboys).  I didn't know about the party's theme.  I'm wearing what I always wear, which is to say I'm "appropriately dressed."  I meet my buddy, who is an ex-SEC fratboy himself, and we have a big ole time that leads us...

12:43AM, Washington, DC:
To the roof!  Where an impromptu GlamourShots photo session happens, along with the requisite "whoo's!" you'd expect, and where I finally collapse with a dum-dum in my mouth.  This means it's time to go "home."

1:06AM, Washington, DC:
But not yet.  Because I'm now the ride home.  Which is great, because nobody should risk driving  at this point, but it's not great, because my car's small and there are now five people in the backseat.  If you've ever seen Ruby, or can envision Ruby, five people cannot fit in the backseat.  Three people can't (really) fit in the backseat.  Five people in that backseat, even if they're on their best behavior, is de facto dirty. 

1:51AM, Washington, DC:
There is a couch.  I aim for it.  I fall.  I hit it!  Success! 

Lights out, Washington.

So, that was one Day in the Life.  Six states, four modes of transportation, nearly 24 hours, one show played, one party attended, eighteen gallons of caffeine consumed, and one very great (short) night's sleep.  And to think it all started with a vuvuzela...

Meanwhile, there have been four Days in the Life since then.  Thankfully, they've been filled visiting with friends, seeing family, and driving through some of the prettiest stretches of country anywhere.

And now I'm in Knoxville, I'm back in Tennessee, and I'm waiting to play a show tonight.  It's a little sweaty, and plenty hot, and it's tiring, and exciting, and it feels strangely familiar.  It feels a lot like I've been here before.  It feels a little like home.

I'll close with some photos from the past 4 days, which say more than I'm fit to at this point.  Suffice it to say the last four days with friends and family has been great. 

What have y'all been up to?

Buona sera,
CM

Upalooza, Volume 7: Go

Hello, Philadelphia! 

Er, Ardmore.  Or maybe Bryn Mawr.  I'm not sure where I am, but I'm almost positive it's Pennsylvania.  I paid somewhere between two and fifty dollars on the Jersey turnpike getting here.  So, I won't lie to you, Philly: this better be good.  Thankfully we're off to a great start: sunny skies, a friendly Starbucks, and Bryn Mawr sounds like a Star Wars city. 


While I kill time before rocking the Mainline tonight, let's recap NYC's highs, mediums, and subterranean lows.

NYC Favorite Moment:
This right here.  I've never driven to the city before, much less entered from Jersey, so the whole "park-and-ferry" experience was brand new to me.  At 4PM Sunday--after a long day of driving--I finally parked at Weehawken's Port Imperial, toted my bags through the heat, boarded the ferry, and boom!  There she was.  Right where I left her. 

Maybe it was just fatigue from a long week of traveling, maybe I'd missed New York, maybe I was excited for the show and anxious to see friends, maybe I was high on Jersey fever (catch it!)--either way, that skyline never looked so good. 

Other Favorite Moment (I know "favorite" doesn't work this way):
Playing a benefit concert for Nashville flood relief in Brooklyn meant, for a night anyway, NY's Tennessee contingent came out in full force.  First, it was great to see so many people raising money for Nashville.  But second, it was a nice dosage of home far away from home.  Just a really fun night.

NYC Least Favorite Moment:
Getting from that ferry to my friend's place in Brooklyn took another three failed subway rides, two cab rides, and cumulative two hours in the heat and rain.  If I was spent at 4PM, I was officially useless at 6.  I aged a year in those two hours, and (I think) grew a beard.  Fine, mustache.  Fine, stubble.

Unfun.

Road Weirdness:
Post-show bowling.  For the folks outside NY, Brooklyn Bowl is a new-ish venue in Brooklyn that's half swank music hall, half campy bowling alley.  The venue's really remarkable (awesome sound, cool staff, nice atmosphere, etc.)--but I caught myself trying to pick up spares minutes after I finished my own set and thought, "this is a little bizarre."  When you hear the phrase "Lane 9 wants some CDs," you know it'll be a good night.

And to answer your question, I bowled somewhere between a four and a four-hundred.

More Road Weirdness/Funsies:
I camped out at the Park Slope Starbucks on Monday to catch up on email, per usual.  I put my headphones in, pulled up some Tom Petty, hit shuffle, and got to work.  About an hour (alright, three hours) later, I felt a tap on the shoulder: a woman stood next to me, arm in arm with a woman in scrubs (i.e., her nurse).  The woman said, "you like Tom Petty?"  Forgetting that I was listening to Petty at that moment, I gave her a puzzled, "yes...?"  She smiled, and said, "I heard your headphones and wanted to tell you how much I enjoyed it--he's my favorite.  Have a great day."

In case anyone was wondering, Tom Petty crosses all divides/heals all wounds/takes all cakes. 

In the Rearview:
New Yawk.  Typically, having time to kill in New York is one of my favorite things.  But in the last week I got used to the "drive six hours, play a show, wake up, do it again" daily routine.  Having a few days to stop and settle in New York was fun, but it kinda slowed my momentum.  Turns out I'm a fan of "one-show-one-state-per-day" schedules.  Turns out I love "breakneck paces." 

Holy hell--I just realized something.  Combine the "grueling pace" preference and my "meager" rations, and I know what this trip has become: the Oregon Trail.  The video game, that is.  I'm playing as myself in a real life, musical, East-coast version of the Oregon Trail.  If I shoot twelve buffalo, ford a river, and get typhoid, the circle will be complete.

Up Ahead:
Philly tonight, DC after, then on to God's country.  I've hit my northern-most point.  From here, it's all south-bound.  Which is to say, it's all downhill.

Oh so swiftly,
CM

Upalooza, Volume 6: Pushing Paint

We're coming to you live from Park Slope, Brooklyn, home of Huxtable brownstones, baby strollers, jort cutoffs a gogo, muzzled lapdogs, and enough snuggly vibes to make me wish it was December.

Alas, it's mid-July, and I'm finally planted for a few days back in New York.  And boy howdy, it feels great.  Maybe it's the awesome weather (what I call "awesome" most people call "sub-Saharan-hot").  Maybe it's the distinct, "football's not THAT far away" feeling I woke up with this morning.  Maybe it's just being back in a familiar place with ample time.  Maybe it's the insane amounts of caffeine sprinting through my veins.  Whatever--it's great to be back.

This morning I had the opportunity to go through my pictures from the road thus far, and thought I'd pass along some favorites.  If one is worth a thousand words, then this slideshow is worth at least a few hundred.  I'm not sure.  I've never been great at math.

Enjoy!  And if you have any from the road, send them my way: chris@chrismilam.com.

The Gregory Uhlmann Trio!

These fellas played after me in Chicago, and easily made my day.  Imagine you're me: you're tired, you've driven all day, you're in one of your favorite cities, you just finished a set, and you can't tell if the night's winding down or starting up.  Now three teenage jazz stars play everything from Joni Mitchell to their own gorgeous compositions.  You hear that baleful sax, the rattling drums, that smooth Telecaster, all three listening to each other more than themselves, bouncing around and reacting, filling the room, putting the perfect cap on the day, putting my whole world to bed.  Lights out, Chicago. 

Tailor-made CM bandana, courtesy of Grand Rapids!

Supernice and creative folks in Michigan. 

I stopped off right after I crossed into Canada, because I wanted to look around, greet the locals, receive my complimentary polar bear and case of LaBatt, etc. 

Instead, I found a kids' golf camp at a sleepy public course.  I know what you're thinking, and the answer is no, they weren't putting with hockey sticks.

And back into America--specifically, New York.  For what it's worth, the Canadian border officials are way scarier than their American counterparts. 

In Canada, I answered 25 questions about who I am and what I'm doing here.  In America, the guy asked what Arkansas was like and inspected my trunk for illicit Fruit Roll-Ups. 

Both ordeals ran much faster/more smoothly than I anticipated.  I have a heightened appreciation for border officials now, which is to say, "I now realize border officials exist, and appreciate them." 

But seriously, hands off the Fruit Roll-Ups.

 Sunset in Buffalo. 

I kept taking pictures like this, because so many residential areas in the city look a lot like idyllic middle-class Americana, circa 1953.  Oak-lined streets, white two-story houses, window boxes and perfectly square front lawns, little old women watering flowers, dogs barking (always one street away), etc. 

I half-expected a visit from the milkman.

You read that right, folks: Roast Beef Sundae.

My friend took me to the Taste of Buffalo food festival on Saturday, where you could sample a lot of local restaurants, walk around, enjoy the weather, and watch America inch ever-closer to its impending national coronary. 

But I'll be honest: if I gotta go, I'd rather die of a Roast Beef Sundae heart-attack than, you know, old age. 

Weird statues by Lake Erie.

And that buffalo's strange, too.  Ba-dum-CHA!

I took the scenic route through Western New York, which is to say "Google Maps directed me on some highways rather than interstates."

Supposedly this shaved 17 minutes off my trip.  In reality, it was just an excuse to drive through some really pretty country in the early morning hours, listen to the Allman Brothers, and yell "howdy, neighbor!" at people who don't know me.

At one point I stopped for gas at an Exxon and asked where the "olde pie shoppe" was.

Home again, home again! 

The view from "kinda-Jersey," crossing into midtown from Weehawken.  I was one of three people on this particular ferry, which made me feel 1) slightly guilty and 2) really awesome. 

Also, I kept imagining Lost scenarios if this ferry somehow ended up in the South Pacific.  The other two passengers didn't speak English, so I kept thinking weirdness like, "I hope he's a doctor," and "they'd better know how to fish," and, "why are they on the lam?" etc.  Meanwhile, I'm traveling with a guitar and Chuck Taylors, so I'm obviously Charlie, the drug-addled, non-contributing Artiste of this ship.  Well no, NO I'M NOT.  And I'm not going out that way.

I was happy to get off that ferry. 

Even happier to be home...for a few days, anyway.

The colors blend,
CM

P.S. SHAMELESS PLUG ALERT: I know, I know, but it's important to me.  Tomorrow's show in Brooklyn is a benefit for Nashville flood relief.  If you can make it, please do.  If you can't, tell a friend.  If you live elsewhere, consider making a donation.

Event info here.
Tickets/donations here.

Brooklyn Bowl
July 13, doors at 6PM, music soonafter
Chris Milam (I'm first), Dive Bar Dukes, and The Weight.
***ADMISSION IS FREE!  Donations are obviously encouraged and greatly appreciated.  Please come out for some music and a great cause.

Upalooza, Volume 5: Off He Goes

And we're back!  Coming to you live from New York City, via Buffalo, via the highway, via the long and lonesome trek across The State Proper, en route to that glittering mad mess, Manhattan.

Coming to Buffalo, I expected a hard-scrabble place with plenty of nice people, Rust Belt growing pains, hot wings, and cold beer.  One concert, one food festival, one driving tour, one walking tour, one Frank Lloyd Wright house, and a few nights laterhere's what I found:

Buffalo Favorite Moment:
How about the homeless fellow who speaks exclusively in Mark Twain quotes?  How about the "Edgehill Bubble Man" (exactly what it sounds like--a guy who blows bubbles out his apartment window all day)?  How about the wings, my God, the wings?!?

Instead, I'll go with this:getting to catch up with an old friend for a few days.  This tour has also doubled as a series of reunions for me--I've gotten to see some of my favorite people in the past week.  I only wish I had more time with them...

Buffalo Least Favorite Moment: 
I forgot to recharge my Flip camera, so there might not be any video from Buffalo.  Lame, Me.

The Upshot:
Some of you have already written to say you like the new song, "From So Far Away" that I debuted in STL.  Thanks so much!  I expect to play some more new songs in this upcoming shows, so stay on the lookout.

I have to say, I fully expected to play Up-heavy sets, with a few covers and old standbys mixed in.  But y'all have been so generous and engaged, I've felt comfortable enough to experiment with some brand new material.  That's not something I usually do, and I totally owe it to how great the crowds have been so far.  So, thank you!

Canadian Road Weirdness:
To get from Grand Rapids to Buffalo, I drove through Canada.  I sidled up to the Michigan/Canadian border with:
--Arkansas plates
--A Tennessee drivers license
--A car that's not registered to me
--A permanent residence in New York
--A route from Grand Rapids to Buffalo

Let's just say the border official treated me with equal parts "real suspicion" and "mild amusement."  When I explained that I'm a musician on tour, she asked, "what's in your trunk--groupies?" 

Oh, Canada!

More Canadian Road Weirdness:
Canada's highway signs are hilarious and friendly.  They seem to say, "be cool, man..I don't want to give you a ticket...help me help you."  To wit:

"Fatigue kills.  Take a break."  Naptime, Canada!
"Tailgating kills.  Leave some space."  I'll remember this at future tailgates.
And my favorite is the sign that breaks down fines by speeding.  Wondering what your reckless driving will cost you?  Just refer to the chart.  Twenty kilometers over?  $95.  Easy--thanks, Canada!

Thankfully, those signs reminded me that I'm driving in km/hour.  For the first fifteen minutes in Canada--wow, was I speeding.

Road Funsies:
That drive through Canada is beautiful.  It's picturesque farmland: red barns, white silos, deep greens, huge blue skies, rolling hills of rowed crops, perfectly straight and growing tall. 

And I only hit three moose!

In the Rearview:
The Midwest, and all of its infinite friendliness.

 Full Of It:
I'll say this: Buffalo eats well.  Not "breakfast bowls of chicken wings" well, although there is that option.  I caught the Taste of Buffalo food festival downtown, where had a little of everything.  Then I went to a fund raiser hosted by my friend and my friends' friends (here's the organization's site--Buffalo ReUse).  They built their own clay oven, where they bake their own bread, where they make their own pizzas, where they roast their own veggies, and where I had a little of everything.  I left full of tasty goodness, and many thanks. 

On the Horizon: 
A stay in NYC, and a concert in Brooklyn to benefit Nashville.  Got that?

In the Stereo:
Drive By Truckers, Southern Rock Opera.  When summer weather's this good, only "bitchin" music will do.

The Downside:
As fun as it is seeing each city, revisit old friends, and meet everyone at the shows, I'm always moving.  It seems like yesterday I was in Arkansas, but a month since I was in St. Louis.  I'm losing track of the days, and have lost all sense of time.  I woke up this morning and had no clue where I was.  It's a weird feeling every day: I'm sad to say bye to friends, but excited for the next stop.  I always feel a little guilty stopping just long enough to say hello, then goodbye. 

So, thanks again to everyone along the way. 

Parting Shot: 
It's been a month since I left NYC, but it feels like a year.  Looking forward to seeing y'all--and staying a while.

In the strongest wind,
CM

Upalooza, Volume 4: Leaving Here

Ladies, gentles, gentleladies, and crass individuals alike:

I need a nap.

I don't need a nap so much as a nap will happen.  A nap is inevitable, in the way that sleep is inevitable, and depending on when it happens to me, the nap might last hours, or it might last minutes, but either way I'll wake up with a beard and a question and the beard will be disgraceful and the answer will be, "yes, you're late for sound-check."

Let's get caught up, shall we?

Chicago Favorite Moment: 
Handclaps during "If You Don't Love Me By Now"!  And not bare-bones handclaps.  We're talking Jack-Black-In-High-Fidelity handclaps, eighth notes and all.  What a musical town.

Chicago Least Favorite Moment:
Leaving Chicago, there's a 21-mile stretch around Gary, Indiana that is among the worst stretches of road I've ever seen, heard of, or could have ever imagined.  It's out to get you.  There were between three and nineteen toll roads, there was endless construction, no gas stations, no rest stops, 40mph zones, and signs everywhere that threatened imprisonment for speeding.  I'm positive Indiana's a wonderful place, but those 21 miles are like the worst amusement park ride in history.  And you have to KEEP PAYING to ride it.

Chicago Road Weirdness/Funsies:
A gas station marquee that said, "LEBRON OR BUST."  Fight on, Chi-town.

Chicago Miscellani:
How about this cover of Big Star's "Thirteen"? 

Grand Rapids Favorite Moment:
Playing "Memphis Queen."  There are plenty of older songs that I enjoy playing, but last night "Memphis Queen" felt brand new again.  I usually have a sense of how a given performance might go, but I live for those moments when a song--especially one I've played so many times--jumps up and surprises me. 

Grand Rapids Least Favorite Moment: 
Driving towards the venue and seeing a biker bar immediately before it, with a thousand Hogs parked out front.  I thought, "I need to learn some George Thoroughgood, or I might die here tonight."  I then realized my venue was a few doors down--whew, right?  Then, halfway through my set, a few of the bikers stopped in for a drink and caught a few songs.  One of them--big beard, leather jacket, built like a linebacker--walked by the stagefront after "Edge of the World" and said in a haggard baritone, "man, you got a pretty voice." 

The lesson: I'm always wrong.

And cheers to everyone in Grand Rapids for being so great. 

Grand Rapids Road Weirdness/Funsies:
Breaking into a MSU med school building?  Seeing landmarks from American Pie?  A sign (re: the late Michigan football coach/legend Bo Schembechler) outside a interstate pie shoppe that read, "HONK IF YOU MISS BO--Love you, Coach"?  Tough call.

But one of my rules of life is:
"Anytime someone offers you an energy drink packaged like this--and its instructions insist on microwaving to an "authentic 98.6-degree temperature"--that's officially the weirdest moment of the day.

So I'll end on that high note, brace for Buffalo and its wings, and check back soonly.

Meanwhile, let's start a debate: anyone know where to get the best wings in Buffalo?  What are your favorites?  Will any NYC folks put their local favorite up against a Buffalo landmark?  Any folks from other cities on the tour willing to compare? 

I've got a few days in each town and would love to do a taste-test.  Give me some of your favorites and I'll see if I can't settle the debate.

In a matter of days,
CM

Upalooza, Volume 3: Last Exit

Today's drive from St. Louis to Chicago was eventful, if "farms, clouds, construction, and Chris listening only to Boss Springsteen" is an Event.  Also events: eating nothing but Fruit Roll-Ups, losing sunglasses, and wondering at what latitude Exxon becomes Mobile.

At what latitude does Exxon become Mobile?  These are questions I wonder whilst giving a quick round-up of St. Louis:

Favorite Moment:
A little boy in the audience danced during "If You Don't Love Me By Now."  Then he went to sleep.

Least Favorite Moment: 
A birthday girl's request for a Talking Heads tune went unanswered, because I didn't know it.  I lose.  Lame, Me.

Highway Weirdness:
In Arkansas, there are signs that say, "Hit A Worker: $10,000 Fine and Lose Your License."  In Ilinois, those signs say, "Hit a Worker: $10,000 Fine and 14 Years Jail Sentence."  And what I want to know is this: what judge decided, "a worker is worth exactly fourteen years"? 


More Highway Weirdness:
Outside of St. Louis, in the midst of construction, I entered a stretch of road named "Paul Simon Highway."  I started to pop in Graceland, but Boss growled at me.

In the Rearview:
Don't tell them this, but Arkansas might have the best sunsets.  Missing those.

Down the Road:
Tonight at Uncommon Ground, which I'm stoked about.  Last time I was here, it was in February.  I had to park a mile from the venue and lug my merch box in the driving snow.  When I hit the door, two staffers hugged me, gave me blankets, and carried me to a snuggly chair beside a crackling fire.  The only thing missing was a pipe, tweed jacket, and bread pudding.  I thawed out, played a few hours later, and had a blast.  Really looking to UG tonight--sans snow.


Weather's Here, Wish You Were Beautiful:
One of my favorite things about intimate shows--and last night's show was intimate--is the opportunity to try new things.  I debuted a new song last night called "From So Far Away," and will end with the YouTube video below.  I'm not 100% sure it's done yet, but it sure was fun to play.


"From So Far Away"




More soon from Chicago!  Til then...

Grasp and hold on,
CM

Upalooza Volume 2: The Waiting Drove Me Mad

I can tell you one thing: this could rapidly become "Chris's Starbucks tour of the eastern US."

And for all the hipsters out there: I got a gift card and there's free wireless.  And I like the chairs.  And I have a Pavlovian response to the way Starbucks smell.  And, alright, fine, I like Starbucks.  I really like Starbucks.

I've had some coffee today.  I hurry up to wait.  And wait.  And wait.

Anyway, I'm typing this from a Starbucks in a swank section of St. Louis that I stumbled upon after trying hard to get lost, and failing.  Everywhere I go, I see the Arch.  I accidentally went to Illinois, and still saw the Arch.  It's everywhere.

Soonly I'll head over to Pop's Blue Moon for tonight's show.  In the meantime I'm walking the tightrope between "caffeinated enough to piledrive a rocket" and "caffeinated enough that I'll never be able to sing again."  Guess which side I'm on?

Anyway, a few pictures from the road so far.  Enjoy, and check back soon!

Bow your head, tie on the feed bag.  Let us pray.

The view from Illinois.  Whoops!

I Am Giant.

Makes you want to sing some Mellencamp, don't it?  Nope?  Just me?

If you're thinking, "Chris, why the quizzical look?  You're at the Arch!" 

Word, but first: you missed the picture I took popping Cristal with Nelly and the St. Lunatics.  Totally different.

Second, I'm only responding to the Arch.  It's staring at me like I DID SOMETHING to it.  Look at that thing!  Just leering over my shoulder, following me to Illinois.  What gives? 

I like St. Louis--I always forget how much until I'm here again.  It's laid back and friendly and scenic in a "lots of railroads" kind of way.  Which I like a lot. 

Anyway, I'm looking for some new driving music for the trip tomorrow to Chicago.  Any suggestions?  Any places I gotta explore in Illinois?

Let me know!

Until then...

Finally here and I'm a mess,
CM

Upalooza Volume 1: Out of Reverse

Happy independence, Blogophiles!

As I write this, it's July 4.  Tomorrow, the Summer Tour 2K10 starts.  Because the tour promotes my new album--Up--I'm calling this tour Upalooza.

This time tomorrow, I'll be in St. Louis, sound-checking at Pop's Blue Moon, getting ready for a nightful of music.

This time next week, I'll be back in NYC, or possibly Brooklyn, enjoying a brief haitus before the next show.

This time next month, I'll be back home.  It'll all be over.  I will have played a dozen shows in twenty-three days, traveled innumerable miles, visited two countries, more states than I can currently count, met hopefully many new friends and fans, and reunited with my first, greatest, and forever love:

Ruby.

I'll post here early and often with updates from the road.  I highly recommend subscribing to the feed to get the latest.  As this is the first of VERY MANY Upalooza volumes, let's take care of the essential business and set the stage for the musings to come.  Enjoy, as I have a conversation with myself!

Chris, where can I find all the tour updates?  I don't just mean details for each show--I mean a fully interactive experience, where I can read the latest blog, see photos and videos from each show, drop you a line, etc?
I'm glad you asked, Chris!  Why, you can find all of that information at the newly re-vamped Tour section of the site. And, again, feel free to subscribe to the blog here.


Chris, is it true that you love your car in ways you've never loved a human?
All too true.

Chris, what if I want to RSVP to a show and invite friends?
I would toast your initiative and direct you here, to Facebook, where all things originate.

Chris, I'm bored at work.  Where can I find some past blogs from the road? 
All past "On the Road"-tagged blogs are here.  But here are a few favorites:
My LA trip January, 2010: Part 1, 2, 3, and 4
My letter to Nashville, October 2010 here.
My NYC trip, November, 2008:  Part 1 and 2
A Day In the Life: Nashville to Chattanooga, Matchstick Tour February 2007 here.

Chris, what time does Blockbuster open?
Chris, why do you still go to Blockbuster?

Chris, I heard you're giving out free copies of the new album to especially active fans.  True?
True!  Come early, tweet about a show, bring a big crowd...you name it.  Touring is all about word-of-mouth--your great recommendation to a friend means 100X more than my crazy promotion.  Help me spread the word and I got a merch-pack with your name on it (the actual name on it is "Chris Milam," but you get my gist). 

Chris, what's your favorite colour?
Ooh, British spelling!  Let's go "bournt sienna."

Chris, what show are you most looking forward to?
All of them, Chris.  All of them.  Especially the cities I've never played before.  But definitely the ones I've played before.


Chris, is it true that you spent twelve hours burning CDs and reorganizing your car's music collection? 
Maybe.  But yes, definitely.

Are you proud of this?
Very.

Chris, you're not coming to my city.  When are you coming to my city?
Soonly!  There will be another major tour in October, some weekend stints throughout the fall, and plenty more in 2011 (including the West coast).  Hold on--I'm coming!

Chris, do you take requests?  
Absolutely!  What you got?

Then go pack, for crying out loud.
Roger that, Chris.  My God, you are wise.

Finally, you didn't answer my question.  I have Upalooza-related queries.  What do I do?
Drop me a line, homey!  I'm an ear.

Tune in next time, when I stop talking to myself and leave shameless plugs somewhere on I40....

(Oh, and bonus points for each person who can identify the song I'm quoting in each Volume title.  For example, "Out of reverse.")

Want to be everywhere,
CM

P.S. Anyone have a food/drink recommendation in STL?  Any good BBQ in town?  Let me know!