Chapel Hill It’s always an honor when someone covers your song, of course, but there’s something especially cool about having it covered by a Turkish guy in Germany. [youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tQE3hVsWv9g&hl=en] He may have missed a bit of the English, but I really like his take on the guitar part — maybe a little more than mine. […]
Homeward Bound
I’m waking up in North Carolina this morning, and will be home tomorrow after one more workshop and show this evening. Had a wonderful show at UNC last night, where we raised some more money for PEG. This last week’s shows have raised about $1500 for projects in Guatemala, most of which will go to […]
Lil Abner
I’m home for a couple of days and enjoying it while it lasts. Last night Deanna and I went to see my nephew, Nate, in a high school production of Lil Abner. Nate played the part of a pumped up hunk that had been transformed from a scrawny kid by a potent herbal potion. The […]
This American Life
St. Petersburg, Florida Wow! So this is cool… MJ got an email today from This American Life and they want to license my song Ten and a Half for use on their TV show on Showtime. This American Life is some of the smartest and most fascinating stuff being broadcast these days, and I’m just […]
White Flour
Memphis, Tennessee People keep asking at shows where they can get a copy of my poem, White Flour. Christine Kane did me the honor of printing it on her excellent blog a while back, but I guess it’s time I added it to my own. By the way, I just got word that it will be […]
Don’t Call Us Saints
Lebanon, Tennessee Every once in a while I hear someone say something in passing that sticks with me for years, though I’ll never find the proper attribution. I think it was in an NPR interview years ago that I heard someone point out that as a society we tend to admire living conservatives and dead […]
Cherry Blossoms
Washington, DC Current Earworm (song stuck in my head): Ellis Paul, “Washington, DC, 5/91” Given all the traveling I do, you’d think I’d be a more skilled tourist. Like, for instance, if I were going to go to a major city for a few days with my wife for a little vacation, I might […]
Somewhat Less Impressive Travel Karma
The trip home today involves four flights, the second of which is the thirteen hour jump from Sydney to LA. After my great luck with the three empty seats on the way over, I paid my dues in the dreaded ‘middle seat’ on the way back, with a huge man in the seat in front […]
National Folk Festival
I’m headed home after the Australian tour, flying from Sydney to Los Angeles. For the last few days I’ve been performing at the National Folk Festival in Canberra, Australia’scapital city (nope, it’s not Sydney). I played this festival six years ago and made some good friends, and many of them were there again, so on top of all the great music and general festival fun, I got to spend some good relaxed time with some good relaxed people.
Bang On
Melbourne, Australia It’s a hot morning in Melbourne, which is nothing unusual, actually. Brisbane tends to be even hotter, but forty degree days haven’t been uncommon lately, and that’s 104 where I come from. I’m staying with my old friend Liz Frencham and her very cool beau Steve. Liz and I played a small festival near here […]