Full Circle......

So, I have been on a lot of stages in the last four years of this journey. From small rooms with 15 people listening, to big stages in cities like Baton Rouge where folks were spread out down city blocks listening and enjoying the music. I've been lucky enough to play lots of festivals and events that brought large numbers out to hear the music. It has been a journey that already leaves me with hundreds of stories and memories that none could take away. This morning in a conversation with my bass player, I told him that I now realize that this music journey really has little to do with the venues or the crowds that you see, but more to do with the experiences that each bring to you as an artist. If not for the early coffee shop gigs that I played four years ago when I started, I would not be able to stand where I am today. Music Degree or not, legitimate or not, those are doors that every artist worth his or her salt must walk through. For some, that is smoke filled bar rooms, for others, it may be talent shows or charity events but every artist has to walk through those doors. In many ways, those trips through those doors determine whether you have the drive to push on even though you find yourself in places that you may think you are better than. It is a challenge but one that I now realize helped me to get wherever it is that I am now. I have only started the journey and I have a long way to go but I can tell that the experiences have all been very valuable.

Last night, we arrived in NOLA at The Neutral Ground Coffee House about 9. Cary Riche and Clay Wilson made the trip and played the gig with me. We went in to check it out and it was big time retro with a cool vibe that was unlike any place that I had ever played. From beads hanging in doorways to Beatles Posters on the wall, it was all throw-back and very sweet. The walls were solid wood and there were folk instruments hanging all over the room. It is definitely my kind of joint. PA was already set up and the stage area was really nice with most of what you need just to plug up and play. There was a guy singing a Dylan tune when we walked in. Perfect!!!

Across the street from the Neutral Ground was Newman High School where the Manning boys all went and played football. There was a game ending shortly after we got there and lots of traffic around. We had an hour to kill before we went on so we threw my tailgate down where we were parked across the street and pulled out the acoustic guitars and started playing. We were doing a trio acoustic version of Paul Simon's Slip Slidin Away as people walked by and nodded as to say......"Very Nice". It was fun and a great experience all the way around. Our performance turned out great and we loved the place. I have two more performances scheduled there this fall and I am really looking forward to going back. BTW, if you are in the neighborhood, they also make a great Iced Latte.

While my mission to promote my music requires me to play big stages like the many events that we have booked this fall, I have just come home to realize that my favorite is a quiet coffee shop where people are zoned in on every lyric to your music as opposed to raising a toast to a great guitar riff or a good drum beat. There is a purity and an innocence about playing your songs on your acoustic in a setting like The Neutral Ground. When I started this journey, I did not know how special those settings were but after walking through the doors that I have, I really enjoy and appreciate it now more than ever. I have shows like the Neutral Ground booked in Ashville, North Carolina in November and I am really looking forward to playing them.

Having said all of that, we just got a call confirming that we will be the featured band at the Ponchatoula Chamber of Commerce's Party In The Pits this fall on October 16th. We also recently got named as the Featured Band at the Dutch Battle Memorial Ride and Gumbo Cook-off which will be held this fall in downtown Hammond. Both of these are big events with lots of promotion and exactly the opposite of last night's Neutral Ground booking.

Last night inspired my bass player, Cary, and he phoned me this morning with an idea that I really think he stole from me to start an Original Music Night somewhere in the Hammond, La area for singer/songwriters to play their songs. We would like to find a nice place to build a venue and a community of singer/songwriters and fans of singer/songwriters to come out on a monthly basis to enjoy great original music. We are developing the idea but I really like it and when I get the Weightless Release behind me, I will start working on this idea.

Ok, lengthy today but I had a lot to say. Hopefully you read it all!!! Our Release has been scheduled for next Saturday, Sept 11th, with Budweiser and LaCarreta of Hammond as our sponsors. I will blog in more detail about this event as the week progresses.

Have a terrific day!

Gregory