I can imagine to anyone reading this blog that It looks like I'm in the states twiddling my thumbs - I can't argue with that, to a certain extent thats exactly what I'm doing, It's a promo tour which means as a band we get to play a couple of songs every couple of days, Imelda and Darrel have been rushing about doing acoustic stuff but for our part it's the waiting game, Promo tours are crappy but have to be done, I'm aware that sounds spoilt but nothing beats actually gigging.
In Denver now, 1 mile up in the mountains doing a very important radio show that I can't remember the name of,....Wow the people here are irritatingly enthusiastic about everything, very annoying, saying that, everyone had a great time.

SCARY SKIES!!!!

Wake up in New York, I'm starting to get used to this, Eggs Benedict and a bucket of Starbucks and I'm ready for the day of exploring, I found some great music shops around Bleecker street just off 7th Av south, notably The Music Inn, really quirky shop with very unusual instruments in, stuff I'd never seen before, I could have spent a day just working through the Ukes alone.
Pictured below is the famous Hotel Chelsea/Chelsea Hotel, I couldn't believe I actually stumbled upon this - many many many great writers, Artists, Actors, Musicians have lived in this building, Kerouac wrote "on the road" here, Arthur Miller wrote "Death of a Salesman" Dylan Thomas died here of pneumonia although I don't think that's any reflection on the Hotel, other notable residence: Charles Bukowski, William Burroughs, Allen Ginsberg, Mark Twain, Tennessee Williams, Leonard Cohen, Iggy Pop, Dee Dee Ramone, Johnny Thunders, Janis Joplin, Jimmy Hendrix, Bob Dylan and Tom Waits to name but a few, This was also the building where Sid Vicious murdered Nancy Spungen, although again no reflection on the Hotel...
Its been closed for the past year for renovations as it's been bought by a real estate tycoon, all permanent residence policies have been terminated ready for the swish new look Chelsea Hotel, It gives me a sinking feeling.

Dave, Trev, Tech overlord James and Monitor guy Rich kick back with a couple of cool ones - Hell yeah, high fives all round!

Tour manager Brent and Tech Overlord James just love listening to Daves colourful stories...

Off to Philadelphia where we were interviewed by Michaela at World Cafe Radio, She was lovely and had plenty of great stories to keep us amused, we then headed back to NY where we bid Tech overlord James goodbye for this trip.

Gotta siiiiiing, gotta daaaance......
A.M - Today we performed Inside out and Mayhem on the Rachael Ray daytime NY TV show, most eeeeexcelleeeent.
P.M - Darrel, Imelda, Dave and myself went to see The Artist at East Village Cinema, It's one of the most incredible films I've ever seen, I'm thinking it's movies like this and Hugo that will save the Cinema, Movies that are a must see for the big screen and not because of big stars or special effects that are easily transposed to DVD......just my opinion x

Arrived in New York in the pm, Trev, Rich, Dave and myself took a few nightcaps in The Taproom, twas a good night but could have done with a gig or summink!

I loved our little stay in Lexington, Kentucky, Big place with smalltown values and mentality, very cool proud people, I hope to come back, before I left I stayed up with my new friends -
Bookers, Elijah Craig, Eagle Rare, Russells reserve and of course Four Roses.

.....and here she is letting one go - *parp*

I think this is my favourite pic i've ever taken of Imelda, I don't know why, maybe it's because she's unaware but this looks like the Imelda I know....If that makes any sense?

Darrel and I made our customary trip out to find vintage Guitar shops etc, I saw some fantastic instruments, I'm after a Mountain Dulcimer for Wifey Saffron so she can pretend to be Cyndi Lauper but the ones I found were a tad on the pricey side, whilst Darrel chatted up the owner of one of these shops I thought I'd check out the unusual amps, I oggled one for a few minutes thinking Wowzers until I realised it was an air conditioning unit! I wouldn't normally admit to that but it even made me laugh!

Today we performed for the Woodsongs acoustic hour hosted by Folk singer, Tree-Hugger Michael Johnathon, It was a bizarre brilliant little show, we alternated songs with the amazing talents of fiddle extraordinaire April Verch - mind boggling, the whole thing was taped live in front of a packed theatre and then broadcast on over 500 Radio stations world wide - and televised. The show is COMPLETELY volunteer run and shouldn't work but it really, really does, a great atmosphere with great people.

Met up with Darrel and Imelda for Lunch which turned into Dinner which turned into a bit of a knees-up at a place called Cosmic Charlies to watch the fantastic Langhorne Slim, I've seen him a few times over the years and was great to catch him in Kentucky, I loved it, some great new material and a release date of his new Album of May 22nd - Ace! The only downer was the Soundman - he was rubbish and need to be beaten with a stick with a nail in it.

Ok leaving Vegas behind us we move rapidly on to Lexington Kentucky, The Horse Capital of the world which also boasts no fewer than 10 localised Bourbon Distilleries - Yay! Trev and I jollied into the downtown area where we sampled some local beers which turned my legs to Jelly and my brain to lead, once back at the Hotel I had a few Bourbons - Brookers, an 18 year old Four penny? and the last one I literally can't remember as I was by this time dribbling out of the side of my mouth and only comunicating by using movie quotes.

Late night Horror show at Ceasars Palace....

Ok, panic over, if you get away from all the oversized corperate fake glitz that Vegas is famous for - Downtown Vegas remains the same as it ever was, seedy, good bars, winners, losers, hookers and bums, a little like Erdington.
I roamed from 4.30 am (Jetlag) to 5pm, couldn't muster the energy to watch David Copperfield or the Donny & Marie show, In our Hotel/Casino Darth Brooks was performing so I also gave that a generous birth, just a few beers with Trev and hit the sack only to wake at 1.30am!!!! blummin Jetlag!!!!! we're doing a function tonight for Chanel, only 5 songs! then tomorrow we go to Lexington Kentucky, couple of nights off.