I'm finally catching up on some sleep after our midwest run. As always, thanks to everyone who came out to see the shows. I know times are tough and money's tight out there, so more than ever, i'm so appreciative of your support. As tough as it is out there...supporting live music...ANY music...is a righteous thing to do. The right artist in the right venue on the right night with the right audience... can be transcendent. I've been on both sides of the footlights lately...and it never ceases to amaze me how moving live music can be...for the audience and the performers.

Speaking of which, I went to see a show the other night at The Beacon Theatre in NYC called The Speaking Clock Revue. It was put together by T-Bone Burnett, featuring many of the artists he's produced over the years, to help raise money for our public schools... and our children.
Elvis Costello was the emcee and sang songs from a new cd he just recorded w T-Bone. John Mellencamp sounded better than i've ever heard him, and Greg Allman almost made me cry (his new record produced by T-Bone is going to be AMAZING...mark my words).

I wasn't prepared for how much i loved Jeff Bridges, who sang songs from Crazy Heart and sounded fantastic. Elton John and Leon Russell closed the show with some amazing new songs from their beautiful new cd called The Union. It was Ralph Stanley though, singing Man of Constant Sorrow and a gospel song i'd never heard before, that stole the show for me. His voice was frail, but he and his guitar player of more than 20 years...a genius whose name i didn't catch...were so in sync with each other that it was almost other-worldly. No...it WAS other-worldy!  A newer bluegrass-oriented group called The Punch Brothers, featuring Chris Thile, were also amazingly good.

One of the best parts for me was seeing my old friends Jim Keltner and Jay Bellerose playing drums in the house band side by side throughout the show. Jim and Jay play together on my record Join The Parade, Jim was the drummer on most of Rainy Season and Jay was in my band for years. They're both so soulful and so brilliant in their approach that they actually make me laugh out loud when i hear them play!!! Do you know that feeling?

Anyway...i'm back out doing what i do as of Nov 4th in Seattle at The Moore Theatre. Lots of my favorite venues on this west coast run...and maybe even some special guests along the way (hmmmm!!!)...so be sure to come out and see us if you can.

Just finishing my Halloween costume as we speak. Trying to convince my 4 year old and my 7 year old to go as Simon and Garfunkel!!

-marc