February 2015 Tour is complete!  

Wrap-up below.

  Terri Sadler's porch in OKC, 2/14  

Highlights:

• Incredibly low fuel-prices throughout the country
• Engine kept running strong in spite of a blown head gasket
• Watching Super Bowl in Longmont, CO, with cousins
• Radio conversation with Jimmy "America's Songwriter" Webb on The Radio8Ball Show minutes before my first show in Denver
• Re-visiting awesome friends in Colorado, Oklahoma, Texas, Nevada, Oregon, Washington, etc.
• New friends! (Alabama, Tennessee, New Mexico, etc.)
• Amanda Williams' 4-day Hillbilly Culture Songwriter Retreat in Monteagle, TN
• Rapping with Rev. Camo Davi in Nashville
• A Valentine's Day show gift from Terri Sadler, in OKC, of a carved heart with my daughter Stevie's named burned into it crafted by Camp Bosworth
• Two "new" used pair of acquired quality footwear: Adidas sneakers and Redwing boots (thanks Rebeca!)
• Swimming across the Rio Grande to kiss a rock on Mexico's shore while a pair of Mexican vaqueros swam their horses across to our side--a sublime moment without borders
• Las Vegas, NV, mystery vacation: Oscars, Persian food, Latin radio, chihuahuas!
• Soaking in desert hot springs in Texas, Nevada and Oregon
• Mystical sauna experience in Vanessa Renwick's Dirt Bird 
• No wrecks, illnesses, injuries, cancelled shows, lost or stolen items



Photo Credit: Jamie Harmon / Amurica

• Reunion with Stevie in Missoula

Factoids:

• Top-earning show and bottom-earning show were both in Oklahoma: OKC ($820) & Tulsa ($47)
• I picked up only one hitch-hiker--this fellow: http://chrisroad.com
• "Rumi" (my 2003 Subaru) surpassed 222,222 miles during drive home
• Divorce official, Feb. 4th.
• The only inclement weather I encountered during the whole tour occurred while leaving Montana on January 31st and returning to Montana on March 2nd (both traffic-stopping blizzards)
• My pillow case sales equaled my fuel costs . . . wow
• Rumi quit running three days after tour ended

Statistics

• 6,650 miles driven
• 15 shows in 15 towns
• Average fuel price: $2.15 per gallon
• $2,800 earned from door
• $1,700 earned from merch (CDs, DVDs, pillow cases, zines)
• Average income per show: $300
• One-hundred-fifteen pillow cases sold at $5 each

Appreciations:

EVERYONE who came out to see a show; everyone who took photos and videos to share on Facebook and Instagram; everyone who spread the word about the shows and brought friends, everyone who fed me, housed me, encouraged me; everyone who bought merchandise.  The Roxy Theater for hiring me back upon return.  Jack Metcalf for facilitating a last-minute pillow case silk-screen work party on the day before I departed.  Hana and my parents, Mary and Rob, for taking loving care of Stevie while I was gone.

I'd especially like to thank everyone who created shows for me at their houses, friends' houses, personal venues, or friends' venues.  Your generosity and enthusiasm made setting up this tour incredibly easy and it kept my time and finances solvent.  Not much could be more valuable to a nomadic troubadour like me than that.  You totally rock!  I love you!

Xo, Chris

My next four shows:

Feb. 19 - Lubbock, TX.  Click HERE for show details!

Feb. 20 - Albuquerque, NM.  Click HERE for show details!

Feb. 21 - Las Vegas, NV.  Click HERE for show details!

Feb. 26 - Portland, OR.  Click HERE for show details!

I am a highwayman . . .

Tour is under way and goin' swell.  Denver and Grassy, Alabama, packed 'em in.  Tulsa only had about 8 or 9 in attendance, but I had fun.  I'm in Nashville now staying with my long-time brother Mr. Camo "The Human Beatbox" Davi.  I'm hoping he'll add vocal percussion to some of my raps at tomorrow's private show in East Nashville tomorrow night.  (Email me at rappincowboy@gmail.com if you want to attend.)

This last weekend was spent in Monteagle, TN, at Amanda Williams' brilliant songwriter retreat.  I've known Amanda since she was a spunky teenager.  It's very inspiring to me that she's now a burgeoning Nashville hit-maker and songwriting teacher.  Garth Brooks just co-wrote a sly, sexy song with her for his latest album (which has already gone platinum), MAN AGAINST MACHINE called "She's Tired of Boys."

Speaking of hit songwriters, I had the good fortune to speak with "America's Songwriter," Jimmy Webb, on the radio last week.  I'd called during Andras Jones' Radio8Ball show to ask Mr. Webb a question which was--in typical Radio8Ball fashion--answered by a random selection of one of Webb's compositions.  As fate would have it, the chosen track was Giles O'Dell's rendering of "Highway Man" which I feature on  my 2006 indie rap record  RETURN TO THE BLACK HOLE OF OUTERSPACE.  I sing Waylon Jennings' part, Giles sings Kris Kristofferson's part, Andras sings Willie Nelson's part, and Calvin Johnson sings Johnny Cash's part.  Webb spoke of the genesis of "Highway Man" and, after that, Andras, Jimmy and I tried to tease out the answer to my question, which was: "If 2014 was the year of the break-up, what will 2015 be?"

You may hear the complete podcast here--it's a very good listen: http://www.radio8ball.com/2017/09/20/jimmy-webb-with-chris-sandman-sand/  (What you won't hear in this clip, however, is some edited-out yip yap at the end where he says:  "Hey man, I'm gonna catch up with you . . . I'm gonna follow you." I hope he does.)

I had lunch with another noteworthy songwriter today--Jonny Fritz.  Tomorrow he joins Nikki Lane for a northern midwest tour.

As for me, it's "westward ho" on Friday the 13th when I drive to Memphis for a performance at Amurica, then Valentine's Day in Oklahoma City, Dallas the day after that, and on and on until I reach the coast . . .

Thanks to Jack Metcalf & serendipity I silk-screened 100 fresh pillowcases yesterday!

Now I am officially ready for my tour which starts tomorrow morning . . .
First stop:  Denver, CO.

Here's how my February tour is lining up:

Feb. 2 - Denver, CO - Groundhog Party! 7pm
Feb. 3 - Tulsa, OK - Shadrienne's, 7pm
Feb. 4 - Grassy, AL - Driskell House, 7pm
Feb. 5-8 - Monteagle, TN (songwriter's retreat)
Feb. 9-12 - Nashville, TN (potential recording)
Feb. 13 - Memphis, TN - Amurica, 8pm, $10
Feb. 14 - Oklahoma City, OK - Sadler's Saddles, $10, 7pm
Feb. 15 - Dallas, TX - Semrad Central, $10-$20, 7pm
Feb. 17 - Marfa, TX - Buck'n'Camp's Camp, $10, 8pm
Feb. 19 - Lubbock, TX - The Hedgehouse, $10, 8pm
Feb. 20 - Albuquerque, NM - Baker-Dowd Crowd, $10, 7:30pm
Feb. 21 - Las Vegas, NV - Harley's House, $10, 8pm
Feb. 26 - Portland, OR - Doverlaff Tiki Lounge, $15, 6:30pm

Mar. 1 - Olympia, WA - TBA

FYI, I tend to post more music-related stuff on my Rappin' Cowboy Music Facebook page than I do here.  Please check it out!

Email me at rappincowboy@gmail.com with questions.

Tonight I'll be opening for The Best Westerns at The Top Hat Lounge in Missoula, MT!












Info here:  http://tophatlounge.com/event/the-best-westerns-2547/

NEWS FLASH!

The award-winning, comedy documentary about me--ROLL OUT, COWBOY--was released on Video On Demand (VOD) this morning at 6am PST:  http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20141231005032/en/Creative-Schemes-Entertainment’s-Award-Winning-Documentary-Roll-Cowboy#.VKQ0tEujNuY

Jonathan Miller of WBEZ Chicago calls ROLL OUT, COWBOY "a portrait of the artist as a pure product of America" and describes Yours Truly as "a fresh sonic breeze blowing in off the Great Plains."   Nice!

Creative Schemes partnered with Film Break to facilitate the release on six VOD platforms: Amazon Instant Video, Google Play, PlayStation, VUDU and YouTube Movies.

Tonight--New Year's Eve--I'll be joining one of my favorite singer-songwriters, Hermina Jean, at Blue Canyon Kitchen & Tavern in Kalispell, MT.  Show begins at 8pm.

Hey, everybody! If anybody would like to host a house concert for me, I'd appreciate it.  It's fun and easy. Here's a two-minute tutorial:

Cold chillin' with RUN-DMC in Jackson Hole, WY, last year.

Here's a great little article about tonight's show at The Roxy Theater in today's Missoula Independent by Kate Whittle!  Local stars such as Caroline Keys, Jeff Turman, Matt Tipton and rapper Tahj Kjelland will join me on stage.  It promises to be a rockin' affair. 

Hey kids!  Guess who'll soon be coming to town?  (Hint:  he sees you when you're sleeping and knows when you're awake.)  Yes, it's that creepy, old white dude they call San . . . dman the Rappin' Cowboy!

Indeed, I've got a big February-March tour in the works.  Stay tuned for details!

Also, this Thursday (12/18) at 9pm I'm having a farewell concert at The Roxy Theater:  Missoula's Community Cinema!  I've been employed at The Roxy for almost two years, so this is a big deal for me.  ROLL OUT, COWBOY, the award-winning, crowd-pleasing and, at times, cringe-inducing documentary about my "weird existence," will screen first at 7pm.

Details here:  http://www.theroxytheater.org/films/roll-out-cowboy-live-music-show/

Everything is changing in Sandland.  Everything.

I won't go into the gritty details, but many of my old songs are proving grimly prophetic.

For instance:

"Storage unit 209, that's where I store everything that's mine . . ."

There's a fine line between prophetic and pathetic, though, so I reckon I'll leave my paramnesiatic litany at that.

Here's a newer song with more immediate insights--"Hard Lessons."

Jeepers creepers, buddy, it's been nearly a year since my last blog post!

Here's the latest:

Country-music cousin Jonny Fritz, from Nashville, is in town for a week of gigs with myself, The Best Westerns, Caroline Keys and Jeff Turman.  We just returned from playing the Yaak Wilderness Festival--a five-hour drive north of Missoula.  2014 is the 50th anniversary of the Wilderness Act.  I dig the wretched wild-country and wish to preserve it infinitely. My song "Horse Graveyard" was a hit given it's commentary on the state of things.


After the Fest Jonny and I were invited to stay at the remote cabin of wilderness author Rick Bass.  Instead we opted to return south so we could float the Flathead River early the next day with Hana and our Olympia friends, Zena and Amy, who are passing through on the tail end of their honeymoon.

Jonny and I arrived at Grammy Deb's chicken farm at 2am and covertly crashed in her bunkhouse.  Eight hours later, after a hearty brunch, we all floated.  Jonny swims like a fish and runs like a wolf if you didn't know.  There's more to this story, but I'll leave it at that.

Stevie, by the way, is now two-and-a-half-years-old. I'll post a picture soon.

The rest of my week is filled with shows and adventure.  I've attached a winning poster made by my pal Matthew LaRubbio.  It lists upcoming tour stops.

Also:

Jonny Fritz interview in this week's Missoula Independent: http://missoulanews.bigskypress.com/missoula/real-mccoy/Content?oid=2063115

The Best Westerns gorgeous new LP: http://missoulanews.bigskypress.com/missoula/country-fix/Content?oid=2063110

I'm now out the door to take Jonny to a barbecue at Shooting Star Saddlery.

I've been pouring all of my creativity into The Roxy Theater during weekdays and into family life the rest of the time.  Music has been on the back burner, for sure.  Might stay this way a while and become a bona fide hiatus.

No problem, I tell myself.  I'd be in good company.

Wallace Stevens, at my age, took ten years off after publishing Harmonium.

Muhammad Ali, in his prime, took a three-year (forced) hiatus.  I just watched a doc about him last night called The Trials of Muhammad Ali--one of the best docs I've seen in a while.  We'll be showing it at The Roxy in September.

Courage.  Power.  Humor.  Patience.  Love.

What I'm trying to say is, tomorrow's show at Jefferson County Fair may be my last for a long time.

Main worries:

1.  What about all the new songs I've written that aren't recorded?  I'd record two new albums if I had the money and time.

2.  What about all the songs I've recorded that aren't released?  Many.

3.  What to do with all my merchandise?  People only buy my CDs, shirts, and pillow cases when I play live shows.

Goal:  Write a book of travel adventures.

Here's where I'll be all weekend:  http://redantspantsmusicfestival.com/chris-sand/.  My set is tomorrow at 6:15 sandwiched between Todd Snider and Robert Earl Keene.  On Sunday it's Merle Haggard.  Can't wait!

Nashville

Greetings from Music City, USA!  I'm on the ninth floor of the Hotel Preston, contemplating joining an open mic that's taking place downstairs.  I've grown to loathe open mics, but . . . I'm goin' down.  Maybe I can make a friend or two.

Two hours later:  I sang three songs to a rowdy crowd, then strolled outside to smell the sweet scents of southern summer.  With magnolias and fireflies and the near-full moon, Nashville is magic this time of year.

I'm here this weekend for the Nashville Songwriting & Music Business Conference.  My songs are getting heard and appreciated.  Amanda Williams, who runs the show with her partner Todd, is teaching us the business of song peddling.

I first met Amanda when I lived in Nashville in 1998-99. She's an excellent songwriter who has written hits for Garth Brooks and George Jones. Here's an R-rated song of hers that you might enjoy -- "Asstastic"!



****

I flew to Nashville a few days early, hoping to visit several friends who live here--Jack & Kitty Norton, Jonny Fritz, and, in particular, Camo Davi.  The former three are touring, so I've had lots of quality time with Camo. He lives next to the cooling waters of Percy Priest Lake--a real bonus on these 90+ degree F. days.

Camo was my first band member.  We started collaborating in 1995.  Three or four of my first CDs feature his harmonica, human beatbox, vocals, and more.  Here's an example: Until the End of Time.

Monday I fly to Seattle for the mother-and-child reunion.  We'll stay in Olympia for a week, then it's Missoula-bound and back to work. 

Stevie at St. Mary's Lake

My four-year transformation--from rappin' rural hermit to domesticated urbanite--is almost complete.  First came courtship, marriage, and daughter, along with a move from ND back to MT.  Then, six months ago, we moved into a four-bedroom house in the U District in Missoula.  All I needed was a job to pay the rent.

I can now report that I've been hired to work full-time at The Roxy Theater!  My coworkers and I are refashioning the space into an art house cinema.  More on that soon.

My life as a rambler is over for now. Such is fatherhood.  I still sing and play when I can, though.  A week ago I entertained a classroom of third graders at Hellgate Elementary.  Last night I played a campfire show at the beautiful Lazy Sousa Ranch.  Next week I fly to Nashville to attend The Nashville Songwriting & Music Business Conference.

I was once a sheep in wolf's clothing. Now I'm just a sheep.  The adventure continues . . .

My new job is Coordinator for the 36th International Wildlife Film Festival.  Tonight is our opening night! I'm truly excited about the next eight days of panels, parties, parades, and, of course, wildlife films.

It's thrilling to be part of a great team that combines creativity and community building. Our office space is above the Roxy Theater on Missoula's hip strip.

Here's our festival trailer:
IWFF 2013 (Trailer) from Marshall Granger on Vimeo.

The only bummer is that this job is temporary.  Hopefully it will lead to something full-time.

Tomorrow night I'll be playing my first show in months, and I'm looking forward to it.  My favorite Missoula band, Butter, will be headlining.

Details here: http://tophatlounge.com/event/butter-395/

I started a new job two weeks ago.  I'll write more about that soon.

Tweet!

A few of my "tweets" from the last week:

Gather in the lunch room at noon; the issue is whether we take over the factory and move to a worker-owned society or not. Please attend.

Old-time post cards were the original and best tweets. Found: "Dear Son, it is supposed to get cold here and I am low on wood. Love, Dad"

Bangtail Boneyard Broomtail Buzzard Bait Cayuse Crowbait Fantail Hammerhead Hay Burner Man Killer Ringtail Gut Twister Choppin' Horse Nag

La tierra está lista para sembrar. Ahora, vamos a regar de asiento.

10 Ways to Make Money in the Country: 1) fish pond 2) apples 3) goats 4) meth 5) squash 6) fur 7) poultry 8) melons 9) corn 10) asparagus

The stars are Her eyes, the grass and trees are Her hair, and the rivers are Her bloodstream. She is the heartthrob behind all hearts. God.

Passed my drug test! Looks like I'm back to driving a truck... not long-haul and not a semi, though, fortunately. http://treasurestatetree.co 

Remembering my Grandpa Bob Sand this morning: swimmin in Wolf Creek, ridin horses, herdin sheep. No rules, no utilities, no fences. . . 1919

Consensus is such that the factory is now owned by us. Who will b the delegate 2 discuss w/ the other factories how we coordin8 production?

Follow me here: https://twitter.com/rappincowboy

Who knew parenting would take so much out of a blogger?  Anymore I feel lucky to post anything, even a baby picture on Facebook.

Life is going swimmingly, nevertheless.  Daily I move more and more away from my solitary habits and toward the big community.  Wife, daughter, town life, house, nine-to-five job, regular meals.  No traditional church yet, but something similar perhaps.

Pretty soon I'll be completely unrecognizable as the skinny, rappin', truck-driving, bug-spray sprayin' cowboy in the movie.

It's for the best.

What I ache to do is write the real story.  Something almost anyone could relate to.

And maybe, when I find sufficient time, I will.



"Don't start me talkin', I'll tell everything I know . . ."

Coincidentally, Hana and I bought a king-sized bed today.

Happy 1st Birthday, Stevie!

Happy 1st Birthday to my wonderful daughter, Stevie Angela Kasm Sand!

Pre-party swimming at Currents.

She LOVES her birthday drum from Deb!

Thanks Deb Tomas for the decadent chocolate cake. Also in attendance, besides me, Hana, & Deb, were friends Evie and Joyce.

Moonshine & Dirt Weed!

Emails like this one are a good cure for the January blues.

"Hey Chris, AKA Sandman, AKA Rappin' Cowboy,  

Good to see you are still making music. I saw you perform back in the day at the Voodoo Room in Astoria OR. You had everyone in stitches--even a table full o' Republicans. Good times for all. 

Have you ever been to Johnson City, TN? Would you be interested in stopping by sometime? We could easily provide space for a house show if you are up for it.  

So, if you get an itchin' for some moonshine, hillbilly dirt weed, Bluegrass, and BBQ drop us a line or give a shout 423.xxx.xxxx!  

Best Regards,  

-J"

In the irreverent words of Woody Guthrie, "so long, it's been good to know ya"!



12/20/12 yo, 12/20/12 yo

We're gonna party like it's 12/20/12, yo

We're gonna get down with anyone, every one!

We're gonna party like Prince at the millennium

O'Hare to Heathrow, here come the party people

Fresh from the clubs, and the cabs, and casinos

Coulter's in the sauna with Obama and Clooney

We got Shiites & Sunni's reading Rushdie & Rumi

We got C-Lo & Tebow, in the gazebo

Like Buddha & Christ breakin' bread like amigos

Talkin' politics, Taylor Swift, and the ego

And how last Spring when Lin hit that free-throw, ohhh!

12/20/12 yo, 12/20/12 yo

We're gonna party like it's 12/20/12, yo

Live for today & forget about tomorrow

Buy another round and drown all your sorrows

Red Solo cup, fill it up with some beer, bro

Is that Ben Stiller?  What the heck's on his earlobe?

Looks like lotion.  But it smells kinda queer though

Rub it in your hair.  Dude yr such a weirdo!

12/21 now, 12/21 now

Winter's done come and you ain't havin' any fun now

No sun, no moon, just gunpowder

End of the dream for the turtles and the sunflowers

So let's party like it's 12/20/12, yo

Let's party like it's 12/20/12, yo

When you wake up you'll be livin' in a hellhole

Next to the Devil, he'll be yellin' on your cell phone:

"Can you hear me now, can you hear me now?!

Can you hear me now, can you hear me now?!"

So let's party like it's 12/20/12, yo

So let's party like it's 12/20/12, yo

So let's party like it's 12/20/12, yo

Live for today and forget about tomorrow

Hana and I will be moving into our house soon! Packing and preparing this week.

Hana & I found a perfect fixer-upper house to buy in Missoula.  We now need to find $30,000 for part of the down-payment.  I may need to sell my infamous Dunn Center, ND, house (pictured)--the one featured in Roll Out, Cowboy.

I bought this house for $1,000 in 2005 before the oil boom.

It'd be nice to make some money by getting a song into major motion picture.  I had a tantalizing bite with my dirge "End of America," but it appears to have slipped the hook.

I've begun looking for local work in Missoula.  My long-distance, long-haul trucking days are winding down.  So are my troubadour jags.  I'm a family man now.  I need a job.

Excitement + heavy feelings.

Endorsed by Mom!

Russell Means  (1939-2012)

Two mornings ago as I rolled through Watertown, South Dakota, I noticed the flag at half-mast.  I'm assuming that was for the controversial George McGovern (from Mitchell, SD, who died Sunday) and not for the also controversial Russell Means (born in Pine Ridge, SD, who died a day later).  I salute them both.

Another Dakotan I've come to admire--this one alive and well--is a rancher named Ryan Taylor who's running for Governor of North Dakota this year.  He's a fan of mine, too, I've heard; he likes my music.  Good luck, Ryan!

Tomorrow I head back home to Hana and the baby in Missoula.