FAIRS AND FESTIVALS UPON US

After quickly soaking in ML's Album of the Year win, we were right back out on the road. No rest for the weary. We left Thursday night for a run to Camdenton MO, Little Rock AR and Fort Worth. Camdenton was a very odd show. We headlined a show at an amphitheater there and, to be brutally honest, we're not quite ready to headline amphitheaters much less in Camdenton MO. The place held 14000, we had about 3000. It was a humbling experience to say the least. And the promoter was about as bright as my new black Justin boots (thanks Lisa). ML did get some hang time with Ashton Shepherd, a new artist on Universal that she's really into. Nice girl, country as all get out.

We rolled from Camdenton to Little Rock where we were headlining Riverfest, a big multi-stage festival located (you guessed it) on the river. We found out early in the day that Better Than Ezra and One Republic were playing the stage across the river from us. I'm a HUGE BTE fan and have liked what I've heard from One Republic. About 3 pm, our stage manager finds me and tells me that the Tour Manager from One Republic knows a bunch of our guys and wants my number. I passed it on and, sure enough, it's the guy who used to be out with Emerson Drive. We did a couple dates with them early on. Nice dude, lives in Nashville. He's getting ready to leave on an 80-day run to Europe with Coldplay. Man, I'm glad I was nice to that guy. Talk about gig-stepping, that guy took a leap.

After the show in Little Rock ML had some firneds/family in town and they wanted to go to a local bar. I was worn out and Tony volunteered to escort the ladies (of course he did!). They walked over to the piano bar and snuck in the back door. After hanging a couple hours, it was time for bus call. Here's what Tony told me about the events of the late evening...

"You know, I've got a lot to learn. I've wathed you get police escorts out for ML's bus where they put a car in front and a car behind and escort you to the interstate. And I've seen you get three of four cops to walk her thru an audience. But, when I ask for a police escort I think I need to be more specific on my needs..."


Yes, folks. That is an equine escort. Tony asks for an escort back to the bus and he gets two cops on horseback. I guess if ML was bothered by fans the cops could have the horses swat their tails at them. And I'm sure that two 700 pounders (the horses, not the cops) didn't draw much attention to the 5 females and the one guy with the giant mohawk moving briskly thru the crowded area. Wow. Tony, kudos to you on a job well tried.

On Sunday we did downtown Fort Worth for Wolfdance. It was hotter than hell, damn near 100 degrees. No backstage, no dressing rooms, no catering, nothing. Total brutality, and if it hadn't been for the 15000 people that showed up to sing every word it would have been a disastrous evening. But, as it stood, it ended up being probably the best Texas show we've ever done. But I've never been more relieved to get on a bus at the end of the night and fall asleep. I guess I need to get back in the groove of fairs and festivals.