Traveling to Gigs

I enjoy traveling and seeing other parts of the country and the world. I have tried to do that every chance I get. Sometimes I get a lot of chances, sometimes not many at all. There are times when I combine some travels with performances, and that can be a lot of fun as well.

Saturday we traveled up into Tennessee for a program. Not a long distance, but a few hours from home. There is often some benefits to traveling some distance to a gig. We have the opportunity to discuss things concerning our music and plans we may have. There is also time to brainstorm, listen to CD's of other artists, work on singing new and old songs, and at times to listen to one of our own shows to see what we like and what we want to work on.

On the trip Saturday, we talked quite a bit about several aspects of our music. All the time there were CD's playing. Sometimes we let the music be background, then a song would come up that we wanted to concentrate on. One somewhat humorous thing that happened along with that was as we crossed into Tennessee. Just before reaching the state line, we were listening to a Norman Blake CD and he changed songs just as we were getting to the line. The song he started was "Columbus Stockade Blues" and as we crossed the line, he sang 'wish I was back in Tennessee'. He was wishing and we were there.

The traveling is enjoyable, or at least can be. Of course, the best part is getting to perform music for an audience that wants to listen. As Doc Watson says, 'it is like a warm handshake multiplied by all the people applauding'. I like to think it is a mutually beneficial activity. I know I benefit from it and feel better for days after a good program.

See you down the road.

Nelson

April Snows

The snow came during the evening and last night, and still it snows a little this morning. There is something about snow that is alluring to me. It makes me happy, it makes me melancholy, it makes me feel alive, and it makes me think. Spring snows are a quickly vanishing act as well. The ground is so warm that they melt quickly here.

Saturday night we played for a group outside. We were in our shirtsleeves and quite warm at 8:30 pm. Then last night (Monday) we played for a group inside with the snow falling outside. The weather has been just a little volatile in the last couple of days.

I enjoy winter and summer. I love fall, and love spring almost as much as fall. This is a time to get the picking juices going for a season full of picking and performing. I hope you have a great season and we get to see you somewhere down the road.

Nelson