July 20, 2018
Comfort Inn, Rochester NY
rm. 107
A quick post: We’re past the halfway point now, and I can see the home stretch ahead. I absolutely love getting out here and playing my songs for you, accompanied by a rhythm section I’d put up against ANYBODY(yes, I said that and I believe it)—not that music’s a competition, a race, a sporting event—but you know what I mean. I love these guys (Ron Eoff and Joshua Hunt), and I’m honored to have them on the bandstand with me anytime.
They’re pretty good drivers, too, hoorah—yesterday morning in Buffalo I was feeling about 200 times worse than I do right now, throwing things (neither far nor breakable, for the most part) out of frustration, usually at something irritating precisely because it WAS something so minor. Why the long face? (for some unknown reason . . . sleep deprivation? Fatigue? The ever-present feeling of failure when it comes to multi-tasking on the road? Some of each, right there side-by-side, I think.) This is not “woe is me”—this is, just . . . how it is sometimes. 13 shows in 14 days tends to make just about anyone a crispy critter–and I’m feeling just a little out of shape (and out of mind). But onward, and upward–
We’ve had great shows—the first three right out of the gate were incredible—lots of enthusiastic people, good vibes all around. And the shallower nights, the thinner crowds, well, it happens everywhere. Even in those cases, the venues were fantastic. I’m grateful to the venue owners/talent buyers/bartenders/servers for their kindness.
TONIGHT, Friday July 20, you can hear us at The Burren in Somerville, MA, downbeat at 7pm. And because of a scheduling conflict, our good friend and drummer/madman extraordinaire Marco Giovino will be sitting in on drums, filling in for Josh. This is gonna be fun! Hope you Boston-area folks can make it.
Saturday July 21 I’m so pleased to be a part of Swamp Stomp, in West Kingston, RI, on the bill with several old friends, including The Linemen, Paul Burch, and Jon Langford. Please check the online listings for schedule—I think we go on at 4:30 pm. Really really looking forward to this—thanks to Dan and Liz Ferguson for having us.
Sunday July 22 we’re playing an early show at Cafe Nine in New Haven, CT, the Sunday Buzz Matinee, hosted by Cygnus Radio! 4 pm.
Monday the 23rd we return to Rockwood Music Hall, on the lower east side of Manhattan, playing Stage 3, down in the basement—my favorite stage in that venue. Please come out NY! We had such a good time last time I was there—a full dang room!
Tuesday 7/24: Pearl Street Warehouse (Wharf Stage), Washington, DC! An early “happy hour” show, 5:30 pm. Great setting—really looking forward to this one—and we’ll be celebrating the last show of the tour! Briefly, before starting the drive home, to get rested and ready for:
Friday 7/27: Tilt and Shine RECORD RELEASE SHOW! At City Winery in Nashville. With Shannon McNally and Ben de la Cour each opening with solo sets, followed by yours truly, in quartet formation with the aforementioned Mr. Hunt, Mr. Eoff, along with Joe V. McMahan. Please get your tickets now, as there is limited availability! I will try to post the ticket link here (the hotel internet is broken, rrrrrarrrr)—but you can find it in the bandsintown calendar listing on my tour page (http://kg.kevingordon.net/tour).
Then on Sunday, July 29, we finish out the month with a big bang—returning to NPR’s Mountain Stage, in Charleston, WV!
Been a thrilling, busy, chaotic month—thanks to all of you who’ve come out to the shows, bought merchandise, supporting us and the venues who’ve hosted us. Sponsors–thank you for your patience–look for an update just for you from me in the next day or so.
Oh hey—we’re up to #52 on the Americana radio chart! Two weeks ago we were at #119; last week was #76. Thanks to all you good radio people for spinning Tilt and Shine—
The video for Saint on a Chain is almost done–watch for a premier very soon! Director Zack Richard is killin’ it!
More soon—it’s time to load-out of this hotel, so we can drive, drink coffee, play another show, then load into another hotel, eat, sleep, wake up, repeat. See you out there, my fellow Americans . . . .
Love,
Kevin
Full moon on the 27th in Nashville. “Tilt and “Moon” Shine,” hang in there Kevin! from themoongiant.com webpage, “Crops were nearing harvest and if the fields were tall and healthy, the farmers went out to celebrate with their favorite drink, a fermented mixture of honey, malt, yeast and water (an acquired taste). Today farmers might call it The Beer Moon, but back then the growers knew it as the Mead Moon.” might apply to musicians as well.