What.A.Weekend!

This weekend was great! Friday night, I went with my friend, Lisa, to the All Good Cafe for Steve Poltz. She came up from Austin for the show. First, their food is ALL GOOD! I had never heard any of Steve's music, but I liked the show quite a bit. The man has so much energy, he's like an 8 year old in a 48 year old's body. Well, a 48 year old that has a 25 year old's body, anyway. The guy doesn't look his age except for the grey hair. Lisa's good friends with him, so we talked before the show and he's quite funny. She told me he co-wrote "You Were Meant For Me" with Jewel, and it's true, which is way cool. This show was a lot of fun and I can't wait to listen to the cd from it. He has SASBAS, see a show buy a show, so he sells recordings of it, afterwards. The show got started around 9 and went until about 1 am, I was ready for bed by then! Somehow, I managed to back into a car while I was leaving (not one drop of alcohol that night) and while I was leaving them a note to call me so I could take care of the 4-5" smudge of a scratch, they came out. I told them what happen and that I was leaving a note, the guy looked at the smudge and shook my hand, said thank you for being honest, don't worry about it. Wow, what a nice guy. Thank you dude who I backed into for being cool about the smudge of a scratch on your bumper. And, good luck to you and your wife that are expecting in the next couple of weeks.

Bring on Saturday. I stayed at Heather's so I wouldn't have to drive home and drive back Saturday morning, if I had been able to sleep, at all, that would have given 1 1/2 hours extra sleep. We head down to Gruene for Adam Hood Saturday morning. We pack Heather's car in with me, Cori, Amy, Leah, and of course, Heather. We made it down to Gruene around 1215, not too bad since we didn't get out of Dallas until 830 and had a stop at the Czech Stop. Adam played from 1-5, with just two short breaks, what a great show. It was the perfect temp inside, which doesn't happen often in there, not to me, anyway. There were so many people at this show, I can't even begin to name them all....but I was so glad to see everyone I spoke to. After what was suppose to be a quick dinner at the Gristmill (it was not quick) we were on the road back to Dallas. Heather can always be the driver because she makes great time!

We get to Gilley's just in time to get a spot before Boland starts. Well, just in time to get to the spot my friends were already at before Boland starts. Of course it's always a great show when Jason Boland and The Stragglers are up there...the crowd, however, was not so great. I had a good time, but being knocked into repeatedly after being annoyed when I got there, it ended up being an okay show. And, by the time we left Gilley's, I was so exhausted, all I could think about was my bed...and that's exactly where I headed!

Sunday brought on the Clubhouse Concert benefit show with more people playing than I can remember. It was a great show, really they do great shows there, I hope they raised what they needed for another year and then some. I hope to make more shows this year. And, I REALLY hope that the ass sitting behind and next to us doesn't go to another show, or at least not one I'm at. He not only acted like a five year old asking me every two minutes if he was quiet enough, but made a big deal when I moved seats to get away from him. I'm sorry, Heather, that I stuck you with him. Then, he starts yelling Obama, and then Obama n-bomb...for absolutely no reason. And, acted like he didn't know he said it and wanted to know why we were offended. I told him he's an ass and it'd be best if he STFU, that didn't go over well...I really need to learn to not say everything I'm thinking ;) Later, he throws ice at me...this man child is well over 40 and throwing ice. Good job ass of a guy, way to be a civilized grown up at a quiet listening show. Why don't you and your loud mouth friends leave the quiet show to those of us that came to listen to the people on stage. Needless to say, I was annoyed and got a headache, I ended up leaving 30 minutes early. It's too bad, too...they were sounding great.

I'm exhausted after this weekend, but for some reason, I wanna go get a beer tonight.

Steamboat and stuff

Well, I’ve been back from Steamboat for almost two weeks and I think I’m going to see just as many bands here at home this week as I did while I was there. Here’s a little synopsis of my time in (and en route to) Steamboat.

I drove up there this year, and by drove I mean rode, I only drove when there was absolutely no chance of snow on the ground. I can’t believe I’ve always flown, it’s an absolutely beautiful drive, I’m so driving/riding from now on! I’ve even looked into a trip to CO during the summer, I can’t imagine how pretty it is, then. And, I’m glad Stephanie was there for the ride to laugh at all my cheesiness, I would have been lost without that!!

Since the drive is 17 hours from my house to Steamboat and we wanted to get settled and to the bar the first night to see the Texas game, we decided to go to Aspen before hitting Steamboat. We also decided to leave my house at 1030 pm Saturday night instead of 3 or 4 am Sunday morning. That was a great idea, we had a 2 hour detour trying to get to Aspen. We picked Stephanie up in Amarillo and were on our way. When we get to Aspen, we have time to eat dinner and head to the bar for Wade and Ragweed. What.a.show! It was great to see Ragweed with non-Texas fans, they weren’t the regular Ragweed fans, it was quite fun. If you haven’t heard me say this before, I’m not a fan of Ragweed fans. We had a little blip after the show, but that ended up with everyone okay and we were on the road to Steamboat around 10 the next morning. Also, Aspen is gorgeous, absolutely gorgeous. They have perfectly shaped trees with the perfect amount of snow covering the mountains. When I got to Steamboat, the mountains were just ugly in comparison to Aspen.

The first night in Steamboat is a just get settled and get ready for the music night, they don’t have anyone playing the first night. So, we got settled and headed to the Tugboat to watch Texas win the Fiesta Bowl (Hook ‘em Horns!!) and see a bunch of people that it’s been too long since I’ve seen. I won’t even try to list everyone I hugged that night J The days of music were all a blur, here are some, if not all, of the shows I caught while I was in Steamboat: Jason Eady, Stoney Larue, Micky and the Motorcars, Corb Lund, Band of Hotties…uhh..I mean Heathens ;), Adam Hood, Hayes Carll, Ryan Bingham, Jason Boland, MMC again, Jack (ohhh Jack,) and last but certainly not least Walt Wilkin’s and friends acoustic show on the last night. Jack played the outdoor show, like last year, but he came out in a tshirt and ski goggles, nothing more, nothing less. And, that’s Jack. Walt Wilkin’s had an acoustic show the last night where any of his musician friends stopped by and sat in. Just to name a few: Jack, Jason Eady, Bobby Duncan, Pure Prairie League (WAY cool,) Kevin Welch, Autumn Boukadakis, and more. Jack was just sitting in the audience (well, in the artist area) watching the show for a while, other musicians were, too…Gordy Quist, Wade Bowen, Fred Andrews, and so on. It was a very cool show. Actually, that show WAS Steamboat. I had said, at one point, I wish I hadn’t signed up to go, but I more than changed my mind while I was there. I need to go call and make my deposit for next year!

The drive back wasn’t near as bad as I expected, I figured it was going to feel like 50 hours, and it didn’t. We caravanned with Nikki and Amber for a bit. We finally made it back to my apt at 4 am Sunday morning. And, we were EXHAUSTED!! I didn’t move from my couch all day Sunday, really I stayed there most of the week, too, after work. This week, I’m finally feeling human, again.

I got all moved at the end of December, I still have lots of stuff that I need to organize, but I’m pretty much settled. I got tv and internet on Tuesday, THANK GOD!!! I’ve watched more SATC than even I can handle. I got AT&T UVerse, it’s great! I can set my DVR from the office, I don’t even have to be home. I love it! Well, I love everything except that it’s not working in my bedroom, don’t know why, it worked fine while the installer was there.

Like I said, this is a busy week for music. Last night, I went to the Granada for Adam Hood and Mike McClure. I’m taking tonight off. Tomorrow, I’m off to Dallas for Steve Poltz at the All Good Café. A friend of mine is coming in town for his show and she swears by him, so I’m checking him out with her. Saturday, I’m hopping in Heather’s car and we’re making a crazy road trip to Gruene for Adam Hood from 1-5 and then it’s back up to Dallas for Boland at Gilley’s. Sunday, I’m going with Heather, Cori, and Lori to the Clubhouse fundraising show. Lots of great people are playing this show, I’m looking forward to it.

Now, this concludes my longest blog…ever. If you made it this far, thank you! I’m going to try to keep this updated more often, it’s nice to just type.

*edit* I forgot some things I learned on the drive....for starters, the Smoky Mountains are in Tennessee, not Colorado. Also, cows in the snow are from now on to be called ice cream cows. And, it is a tough job be on lookout for bicycles in the snow ;)

2008 is over

obviously, and I'm going to try to do a year in review. I had a VERY busy year so it's going to take me a little while, but I hope to have it up soon.

I hope everyone had a great New Year's, mine was eh...but most of mine are, I usually sit back and leave amateur night to, well, the amateurs.

In case you haven't talked to me recently, I moved. I'm in an apartment in S Arlington, it's a two bedroom, now, so if you're in town and need a place to stay, I just might be able to accomodate you. I'm not settled in, yet, but all my stuff is there. Hopefully, I'll be able to find my winter stuff to go to Steamboat on Sunday! Oh yeah, I'm going to Steamboat, Sunday, YAY!! Well, we're stopping in Aspen Sunday night (yes, I say that because I think Aspen sounds soooooo cool!) then heading to Steamboat on Monday for the first night of MusicFest.

I've got a few things to get done at work before I head out until Jan 12...wow, that sounds like a very long time!!