Feb 8, 2010
Day 4 Part 1
11:47 am
Is it still Groundhog Day? I am starting to feel like Bill Murray. Another morning in a budget hotel spent sleeping next to Black Matt in my zebra print Snuggie while Danny and Milk fight over the stiff, cold hotel covers. The cleaning crew began banging on the door almost an hour ago, signaling it was time to wake up. They had already come by our room on two separate occasions because check out was at 11, but we vehemently professed that we were getting up and leaving soon. Remember when you begged the Moms for 15 more minutes of sleep before getting ready for school only to fall back asleep for an extra hour of Zzz’s and wind [sic] up being late for first period?
Tour is very reminiscent of those years. Each day begins and ends in a similar fashion, but the biggest challenge is accepting the monotony of this adventure and learning something new every day. It’s not easy spending such a long time away from loved ones but the key is to remember why we are here. I have had fans tell me the sweetest things and give me the harshest critiques in the same breath, and that’s the beauty of sharing yourself and your art with others. The bond forged between musicians on the road is closer to a brotherhood than anything else, as we trade war stories, health tips and remedies for homesickness. I miss the good old days, but it is a good day, this is the evidence.
Feb 9, 2010
Day 4 Part 2
2:46 am
Add Smashville, TN to the list as we destroy another city and check a new frontier off the map. Seems we brought the storm with us, as tonight was the first time in ten years that Nashville got that much snow, but that didn’t stop the tried and true RJD2 fans from coming out and having a good time. Once again, Happy did his thug thizzle and got the audience’s palette prepared for what was to follow. I can’t help but to sing along and dance to Happy’s music because it’s just that–feel good music. I hope he can join us and sit in on a song one night before the tour’s finished. All the dudes RJ has playing with him are so legit and such fine musicians, it’s extremely humbling to be invited into their inner circle and hear their appreciation for what we’re doing, as if I’ve been doing this my whole life.
I wanna do this for the rest of my life. I think. Before the gig, we had a moment to stretch our legs and roam around Nashville a little. Matt hasn’t been feeling well and opted to stay in the van to get some peace and quiet while Milk, Danny, and I went searching for trouble. As we bar hopped down Tourist Row, I wondered if anyone else had noticed it was still daylight outside. We ducked into a couple places that had live music and no patrons which was sad, but the music was so authentic to the region that it provided the perfect soundtrack to our pre- show journey. Each spot had its own history and legacy, and it was very motivating to be performing in a town where so many have made their mark. We went into Ernest Tubb’s shop and got a quick lesson and a Patsy Cline t-shirt. My girl loves her and if I’m playing in Tennessee, I gotta represent for the most instrumental female vocalist of the Nashville Era. The crowd appreciated my gesture and Milk shouted out some names of country music stars that have been influential in our music.
The show was a success which meant a lot to me, given the respect they have for music in Cashville. There were people hooting and hollering after each rhyme and losing their minds during the musical breakdowns. I wish I could say my music is that intoxicating, but unfortunately the number of kids I heard bragging about being under the influence of MDMA, or Molly as they called it, denounced my assumptions. After the set, I got such a warm reception that I almost blushed but I’m too dark for all that. An older gentleman named Gil, who owned a brewing company, exchanged information with Milk and said he’d be sending some cases of his best draft to our house. He also had some kind words for me as Gil said the energy on stage reminded him of when he saw Rage Against The Machine at a protest rally in D.C. Not so much the political agenda as much as the passion and poetry he expressed seeing in me, as well as the virtuosity of the musicians creating my backdrop. Whoa, talk about a compliment! He also bought one of my last LP’s and a KB hat to show his support. Another middle-aged gentleman named Big John purchased a CD and even asked me to autograph it for him. He wore double demin and explained how he went to high school with 85 percent Blacks but was a death metal-head who had worked at the venue over 15 years and had never bought a disc until now. That’s props! Wait till Part 2 of the RDJ2 tour video is uploaded to YouTube and you can see all the names that have graced the stage at Exit/In and you’ll understand how big of a statement that was for Big John to buy my record.
Matt was focused, as usual, on tour managing duties and had already made reservations at a nearby hotel and was waiting for us in the van. We loaded out just as the snow fall turned to rain fall which made lugging gear that much more enjoyable. Checking into the Comfort Inn around 3 am only to check out at noon is kinda bogus, but it’s comfortable compared to the van and serves as our home away from home. For some odd reason, Milk hadn’t spent enough time in the E-150 and chose to sleep in the van, ignoring the below freezing temperatures. I went out after him and tried to reason, but at that juncture in the evening he wasn’t hearing it so Danny finally got his own twin bed and he didn’t even get under the comforter.
Nice Life.
Good Night and Good Day,
KAB
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