HOME!

Good news everyone! we're home safe and sound!  We have some fun stuff coming up this week that I think we'll keep a surprise for now and I can't wait to get back on the air and zoom with ya. 

The last week was a real PUSH!  After London, I did an in-store at Rough Trade records. I was maybe more nervous about that then the big shows, as it was to be me filling an hour on acoustic guitar.  Thank God, Ellie was all in for coming and singing a few of them with me, which helped a lot. I didn't know if anyone would show, as no one told me if anyone bought tickets and I was wondering if I'd exhausted my supply of audience the night before. I felt this way until about 20 minutes before I began when someone came up and matter of factly was like, "uh, yea it's packed down there."  It went really great, albeit with some stops and starts and blown lyrics. But then i got to sign a bunch of records and say hi to a lot of people which was nice!  It can be a little exhausting saying the same thing to people and i try very hard to just relax and be thankful and grateful as long as people do the same. I've long since avoided going out after the shows and meeting and greeting. Mostly because I'm just really spent after the show and need to rest my voice... But also, I realized: you're drunk, and I'm not. hahah. That often makes for an awkward encounter. But if there are stragglers at the end of the night, I sure don't mind a pic or an autograph.  it's usually all very nice and I appreciate the ones who stick around to say hi! 

Then it was over to Bristol for a really great, packed house in an old church that from what I can remember was a great show!  Definitely one of those days where we landed at the venue and did not leave backstage once. Too beat, too cold out... recovery from 2 days in London.  

Then Nottingham- a blur.  The venue was called Rock City.  Great show, I can only assume.  Along the way we stopped at the nicest rest stop I've ever been to -  we stocked up on good bread, cheese and veggies and had a nice homemade lunch when we landed at the venue. 

The next morning we had to leave at 6am to drive all the way up to Glasgow Scotland. I was worried as a little cold was spreading in the group. We all blearily loaded into the van and kinda konked out.  

Amazingly the drive seemed to fly by and everyone was feeling pretty good when we arrived in rainy, Glasgow. But the backstage was not ideal - A vast network of dark rooms, unheated and gloomy. We just kinda stuck it out, knowing it was gonna be a good, sold out show and there was a day off coming.  And it was a VERY GOOD SHOW. 

The next day began Phase II: which meant saying goodbye to our trusty van drivers Johnny Ray and Patrick and becoming an airport band...  We are a traveling circus of 7 people with about 17 pieces of assorted guitars, cases and luggage to check in. It's a long, slow process that JP masterfully orchestrates, but it also dependent on a good, experienced check in representative which it always is not.  This part of the world seems to make it as easy as possible though, with efficient services, FREE luggage carts (yea) and generally good, helpful attitudes.  It seems like a giant pain the ass and soul crushing but upon reflecting on it, I realized that even during those annoying times, I was having fun, keeping it light and just enjoying the company of the band. 

In Dublin, we had a night off and walked around, enjoying some nice weather and took it easy. I bought some new jeans for my big morning TV interview which of course as you know, took all of Ireland by storm. 

The show in Dublin was one of the best: Great room, good sound, incredible audience...  

Then it was off to Norway - another flight, a night off, where a couple of the young promoters took us to a restaurant that was great but too fancy and there was a bit of a misunderstanding on who was to pay! 

Great shows in Scandinavia, maybe a tad on the too polite side... a highlight was our cold plunge in the sea after a sauna. It really was an incredible experience. 

Too quick in Stockholm but a nice night - top level crowd. 

A walk about in Copenhagen made me feel like we were thrown into a Utopian future world where everything is perfect and cozy.   I had an expectation that this show would suck, but it didn't! 

Rounded it all off in Amsterdam which blew my mind. What a gorgeous city. Forget the pot silliness - it's just an impossibly cool place to walk around. Endless winding streets of shops, cafes and... LIFE bubbling around the gorgeous canals! 

Again, I thought this show would be a downer, but it was packed and full of life and we were on fire. The crowd was with us the whole night. 

 I scheduled a full day off after the last show so we didn't have to rush off and get up early after the last show. (i'll tell you about our night out after the last show later this week on the air!) So the next morning we took a boat cruise around the canals, after a late night of a little too much to drink and feasted on wine and cheese and crackers while our lovely tour guide gave us the history of the city. It began with the Anne Frank house and a history of her life and demise.  I sure came close breaking down. 

Man I wanted to kill a Nazi with my bear hands after hearing that shit. 

(not pictured: Vic, who skipped the cruise - he was in recovery mode) 

All in all a lovely, hard but fun filled tour - Peace and Love and thanks to all who came out, laughed at my stupid jokes, squatted down and cheered us on!  

I can't wait to get back out and do it in the USA this summer! 

-T