Reflections from the December tour
Caleb, Jesse, Reeb, and Russ are back in the west after our recent eleven day tour of the Eastern Seaboard. A big thank you to all of the fans we visited along the way for your continued and loving support.
Day 1: We found ourselves in Manhattan at the Hill Country BBQ. It’s quite the shock to go from my Portland garden home to the Big Apple in a mere eight hours. But we adjusted and got right into it. Our friend Tim Ryan met us on the highway in NJ and lent us his bass. We rushed back to the city (no traffic) and found parking right in front of the venue. Phew! Jesse Lége joined us on stage for a few songs. Jesse is a star and one of my favorite singers. After the show we visited the 11th Street Bar and found a cozy song swap happening so we grabbed a few pints of Guinness and joined in. We heard some great songs.
Day 2: We played at Bernie’s Roadside Lounge. 
A big thanks to Hub Hollow for hosting us and bringing out a great crowd. (I got to see my cousin Ali who i have not seen in years)
Day 3: We headed to Berryville, VA to play at the Barns of Rose Hill, a beautifully restored barn-turned-dance hall. En route to Berryville, we passed Nazareth, PA and were treated to a tour of the Martin Guitar Factory. Thank you Larry Barnwell for arranging a tour and letting us into some seldom seen back rooms. 
Day 4: We headed to DC to play at the Hill Country BBQ. We found it quite a bit rowdier than in NY. It was Saturday night and there was a birthday party at the show. Somehow I managed to sing Happy Birthday in the middle of Lonesome Road Blues. We visited Martha and David Dantzic and their newly adopted son Sammy. He is quite the little sweetheart. Day 5: We woke early and raced to Charleston, WV to prepare for an evening performance on Mountain Stage. 
We shared the stage with Billy Joe Shaver, Noam Pikelny, Matraca Berg, and April Verch and had an amazing evening. We even sat in with the house band at the Empty Glass (local dive) later that night. Day 6: We headed to Nashville, TN, but had the night off. We headed straight to the Station Inn to hear the Time Jumpers play. Rusty was the most excited and he filled us in on the history of Nashville session cats. An aged Jack Green, drummer for Ernest Tubb in the 60′s, graced the stage and gave a stellar performance of his hit, Statue of a Fool. 
Day 7: Still in Nashville. We toured the Historic Ryman Auditorium,
visited the Ernest Tubb Record Shop
, bar hopped, performed at the World Famous Station Inn with Todd Grebe and Cold Country. 
After the show, and led by the gracious Mike Bubb, we headed to WSM 650AM radio station at the Opryland Hotel to play a live set at 1am. Thank you Mike Bubb and Marcia Campbell. 
Day 8: Took us to Lexington, KY. We watched a very strange Santa Claus movie, Rare Exports, that was being shown at the bar prior to our set. The evening ended up being a great night, we played for almost three hours to about twenty people. Thank you to the patrons and staff at Al’s Bar.
Day 9: We headed back to WV to play a private party. After the gig we headed over to the Boulevard Tavern and sat in on the open mic. It was probably the worst sound I have ever worked with, but we went along with it and had a blast. Reeb and I switched off on drums (or plugged in acoustic guitar), Jesse played electric bass, and we all sang. Day 10: We headed to Charlottesville, VA and played a private party out in the country. Thanks to Brandon and Angie for hosting us and to Ted Pitney for arranging the show. It was a rocking house-party-honky-tonk with homebrew, fresh oysters, smoked venison (to die for) and deep fried fish. They know how to have a party!
Russ and Jesse both found cozy chairs,
and 
Reeb made a new friend.
Day 11: Still In Charlottesville. We visited Monticello, Thomas Jefferson’s estate. Nice digs TJ. 
After the tour we drove to Staunton, VA and played to a full house at the Mockingbird Music Hall, and were joined by Lake Street Dive for an encore. (I got to see three more cousins)
Day 12: Traveled home. I left my guitar and mandolin in Keezletown, VA. Ahhhh! Too far to turn back and not miss our flight from Newark. oh Sh…….! 
See you on New Years Eve at the Spare Room with Foghorn.
Happy Holidays,
Caleb
