Pointing fingers and playing in cowshit

Yep, here's the set up.

My merch table for the night

We drive up to the Montana State Fair (and Rodeo) and sure as SHIT, there’s 2 flat-bed trailers for the band sat in the middle of a dusty Rodeo “arena”. The band was to load it up, get their "sound check" and pull out of that arena until the Rodeo finished.  THEN they’d pull it all back out there horse and cow shit and all, set up and play. Sounded interesting to say the least. You know, it ended up being great. Kids were incredible, it was ran well, sound was great and made some pretty decent money!

Things of note…

So you got a shit loada drunk kids at the outset of this Fair/Rodeo/Concert. One came over when I heard him ask his group of friends “who’s Jason Jones?” while looking over at my merch stand.  I tell them a little about how his singles doing,  new video, etc.. and we end up getting to talking.  Rich went to College Station,TX to visit a friend a little while back for ”Soggy Bottom” (Mud bogging, I think). Nice kid. That was the only place he’d ever  been  in “The South” he said (I told him he needed to visit the “Real South” sometimes like Georgia,Alabama, Mississippi (no “dis” to Rita, but Texas ain’t “The South”). Tid bit, Rich  LOVED  the Brantley Gilbert video “Kicking in The Sticks” (as do I!)  .He did NOT like the Aldean “Dirt Rd. Anthem” in comparison (me either).

I see an older man looking at the Fender that Jason has out on display with his single artwork (Of "Ferris Wheel") as the design on the body. I asked him does he play. “Used to until arthritis got too bad”. Jim said he had a Gibson that he bought in ’55. He played with his cousin in a Country band years back in the Baltimore area (where he was born). His cousin ended up dying at only 31 years old and he got watery eyed when he said that. Jim also mentioned that his Aunt Lorraine Beavers (guessing at the spelling) played some with Porter Waggoner (they’d grown up together). Seemed like a real sweet man.

Oh, congrats to Bogey (Talent buyer who’s in charge while we’re there). Bogey’s won an ACM (Academy of Country Music) Award this year. Say’s he’s gonna put it on a big ass chain and wear it around his neck (kiddin, of course but he did say it).

Finding myself liking a lot more stuff “out here” that people in the bizz don’t like as much. “Kicking in the Sticks” Brantley Gilbert for example. I loved it just like it was/is, because it’s different. It's real and edgy as HELL! Some thought it needed to be recorded and mixed “better”. Screw it, I LOVED it JUST as it was recoded, PERIOD. I get why Jason has a SHIT load-a people in his “signing line” but you gotta be out here to see that. I can’t really point fingers. I was in one of those offices for 17 years. What the hell do I know, I’m now just a merch guy. 

Lewiston,ID

Because I've been driving all day and NOT having the time to EVEN post (4 hours of the 7 hours were out of "range"), I'm having to post this from the Montana State Merch table. This was yesterday's pic and comments and I'll promise to have a better blog tomorrow (unless I don't, that is). Much love from Great Falls, Montana! S

Bring's 'em in every time!

and then... BAM! Jason Jones starts singing!!!

This terrain makes me wanna go running across it wearing nuthin butt my Pippi Longstocking wig.

This is called a "Red Flag"

Cheers to the evolution of Native American couches

Me playing a driver excited to be starting a 2 hour drive at 12AM. Justin playing "Elvis" (I guess)

The Nez Pearce according to Wikipedia are a tribe of Native Americans who live in the Pacific Northwest region (Columbia River Plateau) of the United States and have the hardest asses known to man. I added that last part after sleeping on one of their couches (the one I’m "waking up on" from last night). Oh about last night…., I guess I’ll start with Wednesday late or early Tuesday or is Saturday already? It’s all just one run on sentence by now (fitting for my writing style)

This is not out of focus, this is what it really looked like to me by about 1:30am

Example of a early Native American/Nez Pearce couch

This man (who we'll call "Aaron") will awaken to find a freshly made turd by me. Doesn't he look comfy?

They decided to put the ages of the artist on the sign outside (for some reason). They've been misinformed about Jason, he's 31 but the George Thorogood age is correct (I googled it).

Told ya Bing's from here (and Tom T. Hall still get's bored just thinking of here)

Wednesday got it’s start by Tuesday night of having Matt and Jason join back up with the rest of us in Spokane (best known from “Stuck In Spokane" of Tom T. Hall fame). They had other obligations and neither really had much of a day off even though they were not out here with us. You’d think we’d be a little sick of each other but so far I’ve enjoyed getting to know everybody a little better. They may despise me by this point but I kinda stopped worrying bout that shit years ago (it didn’t keep people from despising me anyways). Last night I was sitting there in my "merch space", waiting for the inevitable post-concert rush and staring at a closed door hearing the muffled music of the band inside when who just strolls by on the way in to see the show (way the hell out here) but Cris Lacy. She’s responsible for signing Jason to his writing and record deal (and how I originally met Jason 6 or 7 years ago). I’d always had a silent crush on that damn girl (her being "hot", me being "not") but always pissed off at how good she was (and still is) at working with songwriters and artists (which is what I attempted to do for many years). We catch up a bit, she shows her new “ring” (lucky bastard) and goes in to see the show. The show finishes, he comes out and signs his line of new fans (though quite a few knew his single from the radio), we then pack up and head over to a bar for some post-concert party. Jason does his "thing", the band sits at the end of the bar being a little tired from the show and not looking forward to the 2 hour drive soon to follow. I drive the 2 hour, 2 lane drive to Lewiston, Idaho to end up sleeping on a couch made of stone. No butt washing showers, the pillow and blanket I get from the front desk smell of 40 years of cigarette smoke and I’m guessing that there will be no "Spa" as was in the last Indian Casino either. Tribes have their different comfort levels, I’m finding. I’m more of the Spokanian/Kalispel Tribe (i.e. soft ass) kinda guy. Here’s to the evolution of the comfort of couches (and Native Americans)….

Leaving Spokane

Closing in on an actual show tonight and then leaving this blog sucking city. Yesterday Aaron decided to walk 2 miles across some god forsaken terrain all for the sake of a laundromat and clean clothes. He scared up 3 mule deer in the process (and I BET a million snakes/I hate snakes and would have stabbed both my eye balls out with a pencil before I did something stupid like that). 
OH,a couple of us DID finally go downtown last night and see some amazing sites. We saw a goat made out of metal trash, "The Parkade", nekkid statues of people running and the world's largest (I'm guessing) big red wagon. Btw, did you know that there IS some history of boredom in Spokane (see above)? Tom T. Hall (who was here for the world's fair I think back in the early 70's) said it better than I could but he did NOT have a shower with a butt cleaner :) Oh the joy of modern shower amenities: 

I bent over to pick up the soap and realized that this side shower thingy MUST have been a womans invention.

The captivating "Parkade" in downtown Spokane. People come from miles around...to park here.  

You ask why? I ask why not. It's a steel goat made of metal trash.

The worlds largest red wagon (btw, don't read my blog for it's accuracy)

It's the world's largest nipple (now that Farrah Fawcett's dead)

You know, I have NO idea what the hell he was doing. Chasing nekkid metal women, I guess  

More nekkid sculptures running in the park. Imagine, ALL this weird shit in one park. Impressive.

Hey and I think Bing Crosby was from here or wikipedia said it was his place of "origin". What the hell does that mean if he was born in Tacoma? Just a question. 

You ask yourself, why did you just waste your time reading this blog, I ask the same in writing it. Cheers to 5 minutes that you'll NEVER get back. X's, S

Toomey

 In learning what people do out here on the road there's John Toomey. John has been the tour manager/drummer for Jason since I've been out here and I've respected the hell out of what all he's had to do. He practices his drumming during the day (be it in a hotel or in the van), he talks with the upcoming club or fair contacts, hotels, etc... to make sure that everybody is on the same page and that they know what we're bringing and what all "accommodations" they'll supply. He's the one who gives you your hotel room key and tells you where to go (literally if need be). He deals with everything from the sound, to the security to the errand runners to who who'll help us with the unloading of equipment and set up of the stage to when we can actually "set up" and do our sound check. All I have to do is reach out to the guy (who's name John's given me) and set up my little merch table. John has to make sure everybody get's up in the morning, make sure we're leaving on time, make sure that everything runs smoothly for Jason basically in every way (in addition to trying to keep the band "happy"). It's a LOT of shit that would stress my out. Basically, everything's his fault or not when it comes down to it. John's a good person for this. He's a "steady hand". When I first started driving the van (with trailer) a few weeks back, I was hauling ass down the road and then BOOM right there in front of me a truck had a rear tire explode! I kinda freaked a little and John said immediately "just stay straight and everything's fine". It's the way somebody says something that's as important as what they say. I immediately was calm because he was. That's who you want sitting beside you when shit like that happens. We all could use that steady hand. You're born with it or not. John's born with it.
P.S., he SAYS he from Mobile,AL but that's bullshit. He's too blunt to be from "The South". STILL investigating his origins.

I got nothing...

So yesterday was nothing worth blogging about. We are day 3 in a casino hotel (a great one though!) and killing a little time before we hit a run of 5 shows in 5 days. Too bad you can't spread it out but you get it when (and where) you can. Working on booking and promoting Chris Cavanaugh during the day (going well :)) and trying NOT to gamble at night but that's about it. I'm gonna work harder today to find something worth your and my time (or at least bloggable). Apologies, S

Defining moments

I live my life in a shell more times than not and this bloggin thing has really made me ask questions that I should've asked (anyways) but getting too caught up in my self-indulgent self  I don't think (or care) to ask. I know it's not good to admit, but the truth. On our 6 hour trip to Spokane, I ask Aaron (sitting behind the wheel) what got him to where he’s at today. He tells me about playing in bands, high school, college, moving to Denver then about moving back from Denver after someone put a gun to his head and then says "I didn't tell you about that?". He hadn't. : I was walking back (home) from work one day in late Fall and it was getting dark. (I was)Still dressed up from work with a briefcase for crying out loud! I passed 4 or 5 kids (walking). One kid starts following me and (then stops him) huffin and puffin and saying how I had beaten up his girlfriend. I didn’t do it, I told him (all the while the kid has a gun in his hand pointing down at the ground), after finally convincing him that I didn’t do it. He (then) puts the gun up to my face and says ‘gimme your wallet’, and cool as a cucumber, I’m like I’m not giving you my wallet,(I’m like) I’m going home! So I turn around and start walking home  (I only hoped he wouldn’t pull the trigger). He didn’t. I was not afraid. In hindsight, I shoulda  took the gun and pistol whipped the fuck outta him. There are few things in your life that steer you in directions, you know? That was a defining moment in my life as far as what brought me to Kansas City… and is the reason I’m sitting here *laughing*.   

You know, Aaron don’t act like a badass, not an imposing guy, he's the one with a contagious smile and first to laugh or make you laugh.  But given this situation he was someone who was put in a life or death situation and had the guts to walk away from the kid (with a gun pointing at the back of his head) instead of giving him his wallet. NO WAY IN HELL could I ever imagine doing that.  I don't know if it's "a book from it's cover", "a man from his smile" or what? But I didn't see that one coming and would have given the kid my billfold along with my 401k. You just never know what someone’s made of now, do you?