Slackin' So-Low.... yet not...

A big "word up to your muthas" to you and yours. I am in Albany, NY. Sittin' at a little coffeeshop here in town, listening to the locals put their talents on display at an open mic. The owner, Anton, was nice enough to let me open up the long open mic list tonight with an extended set as a featured performer, and it went pretty well. Met a few cool peeps, and got some good feedback.

I also sat down on a stool tonight. Haven't done that in a long while. I usually like to stand up and rock the best I can... as it turns out, I think it's still possible to rock sitting on a stool or chair. So my final conclusion is that it went pretty well.

This is my solo stint out east, labeled the "heading to Whitney's wedding in Maine" tour. Not many people know that, but I am able to plan my shows around my personal life sometimes, and what better way to make a LONG trek to Maine, than with shows on the way there (though not on the way back... boo hoo). By the way, the proper response to someone who says "poop" in defeat, is "pee." Nice to reciprocate, but also show that you are listening when a friend expresses a bit of angst.

So I wanted to mention that I met an awesome band the other night in Rochester, NY. They are called Tallahassee. #1, extremely polite and gracious upon first meeting/introduction. #2 Great musicians, great show. #3, their great manager, Dave, actually put me on the bill to open up, and then even had the nerve to pay me part of the door, as an extreme outsider. I bought their CD and it literally has been spinning uncontrollably in the Yela-ment since that night. It's really Rootsy Rock and with great production.

A side note about the band is that their manager, and possibly some of the band members are in a side project called "The Rabbit's Red Thread." and they are working on an album currently. Furthermore, they played a song during the Tallahassee set, which was so amazing and catchy, but I don't recall the name of it. The chorus has been stuck in my head since the show on Sunday night. Today is Thursday. It has even inspired me to write a little guitar lick which I hope becomes a song, even though there's no way to do their song justice even in an "influential" kind of way...

SO please go and check out Tallahassee . I will hope to set up some shows on the road with them if at all possible in 2012. Great band to be around, both personally and musically.

Well after two college shows since that show, and an opportunity to hang out again with a Couch-Surfing friend in Pittsburgh, I am here now in Albany (make sure you pronounce it right, Midwesterners = "ALL-Bany."

Tomorrow I'll hit up another little cafe in Vermont. I love New England in the Fall!

Then my friend's wedding. I hope my gift/check clears... I would have given cash if I owned any... don't get me started. I actually stiffed a couple of friends on a wedding check one time years ago. It's okay, I got them other more sentimental gifts as well, and they still talk to me... so whatever... get over it.

Another side note... I got a van. A real van... a conversion. When I was young, my dad would drive my brothers, and I and usually a couple of teammates out on long hockey trips (at least we thought they were long) in the comfort of his Chevy Conversion Van. This one is obviously for Music/Tour purposes, and through a personal loan from a friend, I was able to secure one at a pretty reasonable price. My only hope is that (aside from the thing functioning properly) we get a lot of miles on it, and that I book enough shows to warrant its existence. I know it will be comfortable and powerful enough. (Hell, I might even look forward to occasionally sleeping in it).

I am excited, though the transaction went down earlier this week when I was in PA. I was waiting final word that it was picked up and headed back to the confines of suburban Detroit... and I looked at my phone later in the night and just saw a text that read: "The Eagle has landed." So it was pretty funny. I dubbed the pickup "a mission," and it was accomplished.

So be on the look-out for a 1999 Ford conversion van coming through your neighborhood one day, with a suspect-looking rusted out (though patched up with sheet metal) trailer attached to the back, and a bearded, Jesus-looking fellow in the cockpit. Then, and only then, you will know that HighMay has arrived.

Bless you all, my children... and God Bless the Lions. I am firmly and regularly applying the Detroit Lions Honolulu colored, and coconut scented butter... just lathering it up.