Monday, November 29, 2010

Hi from Anacortes, WA, where I'm staying a few days with good friends Bret Lunsford, Denise Crowe, and their daughter Louisa. I'll play a couple shows and record a song or two with Phil Elverum in his new studio.

This morning Bret and I hiked four miles to Whistler Lake, where we saw a bald eagle.

Yesterday I suffered a mild concussion after dizzily falling off a wildly spinning children's playground toy. Skinned my face from my forehead to my chin. Made me laugh.

Wednesday, November 24, 2010

A northwest November night with fresh raw oysters and homemade beer with friends. Tomorrow the REAL feast!

Monday, November 22, 2010

I hate to say this but I've hit a creative wall. I'm not inspired to write, play, practice, set up shows, or blog.

All I want to do is find a natural hot spring somewhere in Utah or Mexico and soak. That's what it's coming down to. Hot water. In the earth. That smells like rotten eggs.

The last show I played would be the absolute perfect one to go out on. Let me set the scene. I'm joined by my long-time drummer Garf. We're performing on the main stage of Capitol Theater in Olympia, WA. It's filled with hundreds of dear friends and their kids. My final song, before two encores, is "The Illness"--a depressing dirge about the end of the world. As we kick into it, dozens of children rush the stage with large red balloons and start dancing and frolicking with utter joy and abandon. It was surreal, and also very beautiful.

I ask myself, "what now"?

Tuesday, November 16, 2010

Weather report: Olympia had 55 m.p.h. winds last night and much of the town lost power. This morning we had an earthquake that measured 4.2 on the Richter Scale.

Today's highlight: installing new toilet.

Saturday, November 13, 2010

A few days ago Hana and I drove from Colorado to Washington, stopping at hot springs and thrift stores along the way. We arrived in Olympia with enough time for me to take a catnap before I drove to the airport to fly to North Carolina for the Cucalorus Film Fest in Wilmington. Once there, I was treated like a king--$200 Hilton hotel room on the Cape Fear Riverfront, catered feasts, and a rad driver who gave an informative tour of the city and Wrightsville Beach. Wilmington is beautiful, and I'd love to return.

The screening of Roll Out, Cowboy took place at Thalian Hall, which was built before the Civil War! Oscar Wilde, Lillian Russell, and Buffalo Bill Cody are some of the folks who have performed or lectured there. The crowd was enthusiastic about the film and asked many questions at the Q & A.

After the screening, I joined the Cucalorus Kickoff Party at The Soapbox. I did a 45-minute set to a rockin' fun crowd and gave out Sandman pillow cases to the dancers in front.

Thank you, Cucalorus Film Fest folks, for your southern hospitality and for a great time! I also want to thank Encore, Wilmington's weekly alternative publication, for promoting the movie and my performance at The Soapbox and for buying my plane ticket. Here is an excellent write-up they did for Roll Out, Cowboy.

Now I'm back in Olympia, and today ROC will screen at my favorite theater of them all: Capitol Theater. After the movie I'll do a half-hour music set with my drummer, Chad Austinson. I look forward to seeing many old friends, some whom I haven't seen in years!

Friday, November 12, 2010

Roll Out, Cowboy - a documentary is screening THIS SUNDAY November, 14th as part of the Olympia Film Festival at 1pm at the Capitol Theater! Q & A to follow screening with Director, Producer and myself. I'll be doing a live performance after the Q&A.

Wednesday, November 10, 2010

"It's not the maid's fault this place is a s**t hole."

This is Hana's response to me saying we shouldn't leave a tip at this morning's hotel in Ontario, Oregon. Most of the lights are burned out, the pillowcases wreak of nicotine (in a "non-smoking" room), the t.v.'s remote control is sticky and doesn't work, the sheets are dirty, and the shower doesn't get hot enough.

Fair enough.

Tomorrow morning I fly to Wilmington, NC, for the Cucalorus Film Festival!

Tuesday, November 02, 2010

Roll Out, Cowboy will be screening twice in Denver this weekend at Starz Denver Film Festival! This Fest is a big 'un.

I'll also be performing twice--once for the Festival's Kick-Off Event on Friday, and a second time at my friend Christy Miller's house, after Saturday's movie screening.

Rock on, Denver!

And congrats to the San Francisco Giants for beating the Texas Rangers to win the World Series today. I missed every game except for a couple I caught on the radio while trucking.

P.S. Kudos to Martine Workman who's co-creating the sweet "work-in-progress" movie poster you see above!

Monday, November 01, 2010

Paid advertisement (kidding): If you're shoppin' for holiday gifts or warm winter clothes, be sure to check out my sweetheart's stylin' Etsy page!

As you can see, it recently snowed here on Killdeer Mountain with gusts of wind over 50 mph! Now it is beautifully warm and the skies are blue true. Hana and I will be leaving rugged North Dakota on Thursday and be gone for five months. Many adventures to follow.