From North Carolina to Los Angeles to Seattle and Beyond
It’s been a good year for me traveling all across the nation. I haven’t had much time to post often here, but I’m home for a couple of days and thought that I’d share some new things with you.
As many of you already know, I’m doing an increasing number of House Concerts. This type of performance is quickly becoming my personal favorite way to do music live. People attending these shows are walking away saying what a great time they had, asking how they can do one at their place, raving about the music, and talking about the stories behind the songs, and noticing how different it is as compared to going out to a bar or other venue to hear music. I think it is a growing part of the future of live music.
Everyone does it a little differently, but most folks will invite people they know and like, people who will become friends, to share the evening with family and neighbors, bring pot-luck food, (most times, it’s really great food!), and some will even build a stage for the performers, even though it’s not really necessary.
Setting the stage in place over the pool!
The performers usually try to work off some of the pre-show stress in their own particular way. I usually just enjoy chatting with the people as they come for the show.
Excersize does help one relax!
Sometimes the hosts will manage seating for the guests and sometimes, folks just bring their own favorite lounge chair, camp chair, raft, beach towel, bean bag, well, you see it can be just “anything goes”.
At one particular concert at Tom & Terri’s home, Rob Mehl and I worked off the pre-show jitters by writing a song. We had been talking about the idea for the song for a little while, so it came together pretty quickly.
Working on a new tune with Rob Mehl.
It’s called “Native Tongue”. I really love it. I wrote another tune while out on the road doing House Concerts. In fact I finished it at one of my host’s home before a show and then played for them. That was cool! That one is “Workin’ Vacation”.
The photos I’m sharing with you are out of chronological order, so if you were at one of the shows in Washington, Oregon, or California, you may know the story on the time line.
For most of the shows, we only had a little time to spend with our hosts. Everyone is ALWAYS so warm and gracious, in welcoming us into their homes, in introducing us to so many wonderful folks, and making the time that we did get to share something for all of us to remember always. I’m looking forward to doing it again this weekend with Sunny Jim White. We’ve been talking about a couple of ideas and while we’re doing our show at the storied Venice train depot, we are going to take a little time before and after the show to try to write a couple new tunes.
Now and then, when time allows, I like to take the opportunity to prepare a meal for our hosts, something that I totally enjoy doing, but don’t get a chance to do very often. I usually make one of my favorite dishes for everyone. When the weather allows, it is great to enjoy an al fresco dinner a la Chef Hugo! I can always tell if I did well, there’s not much conversation going on at the dinner table!
Next, we’re getting ready to take off for Kentucky, St. Louis, Illinois, Iowa, Minnesota, and points nearby along the “Frozen Gringos Tour”. I’m really excited about this trip, especially since it’s the first time, Jeff Pike and I will be out touring together.
For now, let me close this little dialogue with a word of gratitude to YOU folks who hosted our shows. My whole-hearted Thank You goes out to: Ken & Laurie, The YARD, the Atlanta Trop Rock Alliance , Jim Whaley, Ron & Cindy Verhei, Cheryl and Todd Mc Chesney, the Key Northwest PHC, Chris & Andrea Sloan, Ashland Coffee and Tea, Queen Anne’s Revenge, Fish Tales, Tim Loudermilk, Terry Higgins, Nick & Sheila Padgett, Eddie Pickett, Ed & Teresa Mason, Captain Stan, The Saltwater Cowboy, Shurl Gates, Cliff & Jennifer Miller, Steve & Kathy Knutsen, Bill & Melinda Kivinski, Danny Hatch, Jim Grosby & Suz Trolinger, Kris Tyner, Amanda Witzens, Anne Marie Wotkyns, Fred Koorey, Russ & Susie Hudson, Rob & Olga Borsdorf, Bob & Rachel Smersh, Phil & Kathy Pompeo, Jim & Belinda Davis, Darwin & Lana Peck, Shannon Thatcher, Laurie Sexton & Jim Roman, Mie & Merry Gerzma, Brad Manard & Kathy Mullen, John Sherwin, Jill at DOWN SOUTH, Marty & Cheryl Montgomery, Cheryl & Norm Kayser, Hog’s Breath Saloon, Smokin’ Tuna Saloon, Wendy Peat, Ken and the good folks at “Team Innovative”. These folks are listed in chronological order. Thank you, thank you, THANK YOU!
I hope we get to do all of them again next year!
There are more photos posted on the Face Book galleries.
Best Wishes, Hugo
