JUNE 10, 2008 – Lewiston, NY – O/F Trisha Yearwood
11:17pm – Mark Erelli and I are sitting on one of Trisha Yearwood’s tour busses – waiting to “roll out” as they say. We flew into Buffalo from Boston first thing this morning. Experiencing the worst turbulence I’ve ever bumped into. I actually grabbed the man beside me in the knee. “I’m sorry!” I said. He was too. Mark was across the isle from me – safely out of my reach. It only lasted a short, nerve-racking moment. Then we were on the ground and on our way to Lewiston to play here at the Artpark. It’s an amphitheater – set just across the Niagara River from Canada – 7 miles away from the Niagara Falls I still have yet to ever see. My parents honeymooned at Niagara Falls – so I don’t actually even want to go until my husband is with me.
The Artpark is a very cool place. Even with the humidity today and the down pour of rain shows then sun again – the temperature rounded out to a perfect early evening of music for us. The crowd was awesome tonight – all 4,000 of them. I don’t actually know how many folks were out there – but there were a lot of them. It was a free show, 6 bucks to park your car – unfold your picnic blanket and bring your family out to see Trisha Yearwood – what could be better?
In the “strange moments” department of things – I did have a mysterious stuffed 6-foot bison join me unannounced on stage for “Stealing Kisses”. I’m cool with local mascots running around during my set – but I’ve never had one actually jump up on stage and play air-guitar during one of my songs. The monitor technician Pat was ready to body-slam him back off stage at my request – but I figured it best to learn to love the bison. He looked more like a bear anyway, and it’s hard not to like a stuffed-bear.
JUNE 11, 2008 – Vienna, VA – O/F Trisha Yearwood
We are riding with the tour this week. So Mark and I picked our bunks on the bus and hitched a ride to Vienna with Trisha’s crew. I keep saying this only because it’s true – these are good folks – professional, sweet. They are taking good care of Mark and me. It’s a lot like being out with Faith and Tim last year. The tour is much smaller, and I’m not chasing around my kids – but the idea is the same…gypsy-family, music-lovers. It was a bumpy ride last night – but after that plane ride yesterday – anything seems smooth. We played the Filene Center’s Wolf Trap tonight. The most beautiful wooden structure I have ever seen. This venue is part of a National Park – so Mark, and I took a walk with our friend Lisa, who handles merch for Trisha. It was a short walk through the woods, I complained the whole time, and Mark was on his cell phone talking to his wife. I don’t think Lisa will want to walk with us again.
Our set went ok, but I had trouble tuning my guitar as usual – then I got nervous and started to talk too much. Then I forget what I’m talking about and usually the only way out of that is to say something embarrassing about my poor husband. I don’t remember what I said. Later, in Trisha’s set she mentioned to the audience how everything she says on stage ends up on the internet – especially when she talks about her husband. Luckily, I’m not at that point in my career – I’d be in a lot of trouble if I were.
After the show tonight, Trisha and her band left right away for NYC to do some early morning TV tapings in the city. I’m thinking they won’t get much sleep tonight – and tomorrow will be a busy, busy day for them. I’ve had those days and while you have to be thankful that you are having them – they are long and hard. Meanwhile, Mark and I were treated to late night Cheesecake Factory and Will Farrell’s Semi-Pro on the DVD player on the bus. I think I might have the sweetest job on this gig.
JUNE 12, 2008 – Westbury, NY – O/F Trisha Yearwood
I think we all slept better last night. It was a shorter drive (only about 5 hours) and the road was a bit less beaten up. We woke up in the parking lot of the North Fork Theater in Westbury, NY. It’s an in-the-round venue. Usually this means, artists-in-the-round – when 4 or 5 artists sit on stage and swap songs. Tonight it means we are on a circular stage in the center of a circular room and the stage spins slowly during our set. I’ve never done this – I’m thinking I should leave my high heels in my bag and wear my flats!
My nanny sent me a photo of my kids playing on the swing set in our back yard yesterday. It was 86 degrees and my 4-year old was in a suit and tie. He just wanted to dress up. Everyday is a show at my house. My personal comedians keep me more than entertained. I won’t write a blog after our set tonight because Mark and I are rushing to the airport straight away. We have 30 minutes to drive the 45 minute drive to JFK to catch the last flight back home to Boston tonight. I honestly don’t know if we will make the flight – but we are going to try like hell.
Next week is dedicated to writing again. I’ve been writing new songs most of April and May. Mark and I debuted a new one last night called “Take Me With You When You Go”. I think it went well. The crowd seemed to like it. Even though I had the lyrics written on a dinner napkin and taped to the stage. I wrote that one with Fred Wilhelm in my little basement Studio in Stoughton, MA last month. It’s one of my new favs.
