A couple things that I can say from being on the road...
*Don't travel without a G.P.S.
*The food at the Queen City Diner in Allentown, PA will live with you forever and not in a good way. (BTW, would you really order calamari or something called Grilled Baby Beef Liver at a grease diner?)
*Just because you don't always see them doesn't mean the highway police are not watching!
*People in the south don't eat hummus.
*Chattanooga has some of the friendliest people in the world.
*I don't care where I am. I still think mullets and mutton chops are not cool.
*If grocery stores are really going to sell actual pig's feet and pig's ears, please make sure that it still doesn't have pig's hair attached to it in the package.
I'll post more thoughts later..
SL
Tuesday, March 31, 2009
The Rolling Hills In Virginia
Hypothetical scenario. Seven months ago you are hanging out with me at a New Mercy Morning band rehearsal. After practice you and I go out (with John & Jason), head to Applebee's, order the oriental chicken salad, and then in some conversation you tell me that in seven months I will be a solo artist on the road, going on my first national tour, and looking at the mountain terrain of Virginia at 4:00 am in the morning. There is no way I would have believed it.
But despite my doubt, there I was sitting in the front of a van that my road manager Ken was driving, watching the rolling hills of Virginia pass by as I head off to see my life's dream come true. I'm a touring singing/songwriter.
I was wearing my headphones listening to my MP3 player. The music was set to shuffle and anything and everything was playing. First a John Mayer song, then Disciple, then Wang Chung... wait, how did that get in there?
I was having some time just quietly thinking to myself about all of the things in my life that had brought me to this moment. I thought a lot about the old band, and my very dear friends in it. I thought about all of the day jobs that I really didn't want to do but did anyway 'cause I had to pay the bills. I thought about the church families I have been a part of and the folks at my home church of Still Waters Christian Fellowship.
I watched the scenery pass by and even in the gray of night, everything looked so beautiful. Every farm on every hillside looked perfectly landscaped and even the ones that were old and worn looked like a postcard shot, covered by the mountains and trees. I was in the south again. A place where my heart has never left.
At that moment, we drove down at a slope and I saw a breathtaking shot of mountain scenery, with beautiful farm lands, surrounded by lilac bushes and my MP3 player started playing the beginning of Copperline by James Taylor. If you have heard the song you might agree with me that the beginning is a very moving piece of music. Though I've never been to Virginia or Tennessee, I knew at that moment with great certainty... I'm home.
But despite my doubt, there I was sitting in the front of a van that my road manager Ken was driving, watching the rolling hills of Virginia pass by as I head off to see my life's dream come true. I'm a touring singing/songwriter.
I was wearing my headphones listening to my MP3 player. The music was set to shuffle and anything and everything was playing. First a John Mayer song, then Disciple, then Wang Chung... wait, how did that get in there?
I was having some time just quietly thinking to myself about all of the things in my life that had brought me to this moment. I thought a lot about the old band, and my very dear friends in it. I thought about all of the day jobs that I really didn't want to do but did anyway 'cause I had to pay the bills. I thought about the church families I have been a part of and the folks at my home church of Still Waters Christian Fellowship.
I watched the scenery pass by and even in the gray of night, everything looked so beautiful. Every farm on every hillside looked perfectly landscaped and even the ones that were old and worn looked like a postcard shot, covered by the mountains and trees. I was in the south again. A place where my heart has never left.
At that moment, we drove down at a slope and I saw a breathtaking shot of mountain scenery, with beautiful farm lands, surrounded by lilac bushes and my MP3 player started playing the beginning of Copperline by James Taylor. If you have heard the song you might agree with me that the beginning is a very moving piece of music. Though I've never been to Virginia or Tennessee, I knew at that moment with great certainty... I'm home.
Friday, March 27, 2009
Time To Hit The Road
Hey guys,
Well I'm leaving in two days to head for Tennessee. I'm going on my first national tour where I'll be on the road for 5 weeks. It may not be a 6 month long Third Day world tour, but hey you gotta start somewhere. My first gig away from the northeast will be in Sweetwater, TN at a Calvary Chapel. Back when I played in New Mercy Morning we were supposed to play there in 2007 but that never got off the ground. It will be a lot of fun!
I'll be keeping everyone up to date on my whereabouts on tour and the fun I'm having on the road. I'll be traveling with my road manager Ken Williams and in the second half of the tour John Ferreira will be joining me as well. Many of you know John from seeing him play congas at the local shows in Maine.
I want to just say a special thanks to all of you back home who have supported me through the years and especially over the last 3 or 4 months. This thing is finally taking off and it wouldn't be possible without your loving support and prayers. Stay tuned into the website for more updates.
Ciao for now,
SL
Well I'm leaving in two days to head for Tennessee. I'm going on my first national tour where I'll be on the road for 5 weeks. It may not be a 6 month long Third Day world tour, but hey you gotta start somewhere. My first gig away from the northeast will be in Sweetwater, TN at a Calvary Chapel. Back when I played in New Mercy Morning we were supposed to play there in 2007 but that never got off the ground. It will be a lot of fun!
I'll be keeping everyone up to date on my whereabouts on tour and the fun I'm having on the road. I'll be traveling with my road manager Ken Williams and in the second half of the tour John Ferreira will be joining me as well. Many of you know John from seeing him play congas at the local shows in Maine.
I want to just say a special thanks to all of you back home who have supported me through the years and especially over the last 3 or 4 months. This thing is finally taking off and it wouldn't be possible without your loving support and prayers. Stay tuned into the website for more updates.
Ciao for now,
SL
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