Notes from the Road – Wednesday, August 11th – Friday, August 13th

Wednesday –

Wednesday I start by sleeping until almost 9 am – man, did I need that!  I made a disturbing observation just as I was leaving Stone Mountain yesterday.  The inner edge of my front left tire on the truck is starting to show the belts of the radial through the rubber – not good.  It was causing me some heartburn as I drove that hat full of hairpins on Hwy 80 yesterday getting down to Dick & Joyce’s place.  So, first item on the agenda today (after coffee and homemade blueberry / cranberry scones of course) is to get into Burnsville and find a tire.

Dick volunteers to join me and we decide on a proper agenda.  First we’ll drop off my sound gear at Teo’s where I’ll be playing tonight.  Next we’ll find me a tire in Burnsville and have lunch.  Then we’ll come back and play 9 holes of golf.  Sounds like a plan.

Teo is at the restaurant already and directs me to my spot for the evening.  I set up my Fishman SoloAmp in short order all the while chatting with Teo.  Having learned of our tire mission, Teo recommends a local tire store on SR 19 just before entering Burnsville proper.  Dick is skeptical as he is more inclined to go to a “chain” type establishment, but I’m game so off we go.

The tire store is perfect.  All four of my tires are worn, but only the one is to the point of needing to be replaced.  The rest still have many miles of good tread remaining.  I’ve been struggling to figure out the most logical way to do this replacement and I’ve been considering replacing both front tires, keeping the right front tire as the spare (my spare is pretty worn).  This will, however, involve a fair expense (around $300 or more for two tires) and will require that we unload the luggage area to get to the compartment where you drop the spare tire from beneath the vehicle (a real pain).  However, the tire guy has a better solution.  He has used tires for sale as well as new and he quickly finds one in great shape that matches the ones on the truck.  He has it mounted, balanced and I’m on my way in short order.  And get this - $18!  Yep, calamity averted and logistical issue solved for less than a Jackson, can you believe it?

In fact the tire cost only slightly more than lunch.  We had some great sandwiches and a bucketful of iced tea on the covered porch of a little joint off the town square in Burnsville.  Burnsville is a quaint little town with “antique” shops (some verging on the junk shop variety), local sundries and mountain crafts stores.  It’s nice and comfortable as the sky is overcast and there’s been a sprinkling of rain.  Soon we’re headed back up the mountain for a little golf.

I don’t have golf clubs or anything with me so Dick loans me a shirt and I don shorts and tennis shoes.  He and I will play out of his bag (a technical course rules violation, but Dick’s not one to be hampered by such trivial matters).  Though I’ve not swung a club in nearly three years I actually strike the ball fairly well and end up paring 4 out of the 9 holes.  We won’t dwell on the other 5.  It has warmed up considerably and by the time we finish I’ve soaked Dick’s loaned shirt to the point that I recommend burning rather than washing.

A quick shower and down to Teo’s for the evening show.  We’ve had trouble deciding on a time as the likely crowd is bifurcated early and late.  There are folks there who’ve come specifically to hear me at 6 pm so I get started.  Now this, again, is not a pure listening environment by any means.  There is a bar and supper is being served so there is a bit of traffic and noise to contend with.  But those that are there for the music are able to find seats closer to me and hold down the fort to minimize distractions.  For about 1 ½ hours I play through my intended set list taking requests here and there from folks familiar with my music.  CDs leave the table and names are added to my mailing list.  I take a break around 7:30 and the entire crowd (with a couple of exceptions) changes over.  Well, what the hell – I run back through some of the same songs (favorites like Yellow Butter Moon, etc.) and add about 70% different tunes than those I played in the first long set.  By a around 9:30 I am toast!  Over some protests from the crowd I put down the guitar for good and settle at the bar for a scotch and a much needed steak.  More CDs leave with new owners as I chat with folks while I down my supper and enjoy the hospitality of Teo’s generous bar staff.  In the end as the crowd dwindles I decide to leave the sound gear until tomorrow and just take my guitar with me as I steer toward a comfortable bed.  See you tomorrow.

Thursday

I’m up early (not so over served in the drink department last night as I was the night before) and do a little internet research to find a spot to call home for my last two gigs of the tour in Saluda and Asheville.  I settle on a likely spot near Hendersonville and, after retrieving the sound gear from Teo’s, saying my goodbyes and hitching to the camper I swing north and west through Burnsville (to avoid that freakin’ Hwy 80) and catch I-26 south through Asheville.  It only takes me about an hour and a half to get to my new location and I’m soon settled in on site with the afternoon to rest, recoup and restring.

Tonight I’m at the Saluda Inn & Wine Cellar which, according to the Navigatrix, is a mere 20 minutes away.  I’m to start at 7 pm, so I make sure I eat by 5 (some left over chicken and black beans with rice) and head out at 5:30.  The Saluda Inn & Wine Cellar is a really cool little venue.  Joanie, the proprietress, shows me around and suggests the best location for my gear.  The Inn, upstairs, is a huge old frame house that now serves as a B&B.  The Wine Cellar, as you might guess, is underneath and features rough hewn stone walls, wine racks and misc shelving with a collection of odds and ends, including a vintage whiskey still in one corner.  It won’t hold many people, maybe 50 if everyone likes each other, but the charm of the place is irresistible.  My SoloAmp is ideal for this type environment and I’m all set in short order.

Now this is Thursday night and though she offers music most Thursdays Joanie has warned me in advance that the crowd may be a little thin.  I’ve assured her it’s no problem as this was a late booking to fill a date cancelled by another venue so I’m grateful for the opportunity to get in front of some new folks and the small gig fee.  At just before 7 folks begin to appear and soon we have a decent little crowd.  As has been my experience there are two couples in the room from Florida (St. Pete area and Sarasota) who immediately tune into selections from my Florida based repertoire and the crowd as a whole is quite receptive and responsive.  This is again not a pure listening room environment and a good bit of social chatter goes on during the show, but it does not distract from the material.  It’s a good night, particularly for a late booked gig, and Joanie is a gracious host who is anxious to have me back on a weekend night when she can gather more of a crowd for me.  If you’re ever in Saluda, NC stop by The Wine Cellar and tell Joanie I sent you.

By the time I return to the campground it’s about 10:30 so I settle in with a last glass of wine and read a bit before turning in.  A lazy, reorganization day tomorrow before my last gig in Asheville.  Aahhhhhh . . .

Friday

I keep waking up real early, too early, and then managing to fall back asleep.  I don’t actually get up to make coffee this morning until about 8.  It’s a little overcast outside so it’s not immediately hot – maybe I’ll go fish a little.  Naw, coffee and a movie sounds better.

I get the camper cleaned up, dishes done, etc.  Then it’s time for lunch and a nap – tough schedule huh?  Tonight I’m at the French Broad Chocolate Lounge and for those of you not familiar with the Asheville area, no, this is not a house of ill repute that just happens to offer live music.  The French Broad River runs through Asheville, hence the name of this famous local sweet spot that serves all manner of chocolates, coffees, teas, beers and wines.  This is another late booked filler gig after a cancellation.  Cancellations were a real problem with this tour as the economy and other factors forced many venues / hosts to change plans on short notice.

Though I’ve heard of the Chocolate Lounge I’ve never been there and really don’t know what to expect.  I’m to play from 8 to 10 so I get there by around 7 to load in.  The Lounge is on Lexington in a bustling part of the downtown night scene in Asheville and parking is difficult.  I end up about three blocks away, not ideal.  The room is long and narrow with an upstairs balcony area.  The chocolates are in a case along the left of the room with area for the servers behind it and ending at the cash register about halfway back.  Seating fills the rest of the space and I’ll be up front in the right corner near the door.  There is a line of customers about 20 long at the counter as I set up and I’m told by the staff that the line will continue at that length and much greater all night, sometimes spilling out into the street in front.  Interesting.  Obviously, not an ideal listening environment, but we’ll see.

At 8 pm, as promised by the staff, the line is all the way to the front door and folks are starting to “pool” in the area where I’m to perform.  But, they make way as I pick up the guitar and start hitting the first few notes.  It is an interesting dynamic.  While the entire room, including the balcony, can hear the music and respond with applause, the folks most engaged by the music are those in line.  Imagine performing at the check in area for Southwest Airlines and you’ve got a fair estimation of the gig.  The audience is in constant flux, but as they stand in line they have time to hear a couple of tunes, look over the CDs, mailing list sheet, etc.  Some then find a seat to hear more while others move on out the door.  It is another opportunity to simply focus on the technique and presentation of the songs themselves without the patter and story telling that usually accompanies them.  What I first had strong reservations about turns into a very enjoyable, unique gig and the staff is both very complimentary and very attentive about keeping me supplied with water, wine, etc.  When I finish at 10 the manager tells me they’ve had a great night, in part he thinks to the advertising they did regarding my appearance there, and he doubles my gig fee – nice!  Not too much in the way of CD sales, but folks have been showing their appreciation at the tip jar helping to fund the trip home here at the end of the 4th annual Gas Hog Tour.

Instead of making a couple of trips three blocks away with the gear I get everything ready to load and then bring the car up to a no loading zone outside to load up – hey, if you can’t break some rules here and there what’s the point in having them!  I’m on my way in short order and after adding a little expensive NC gas to the tank to get me into SC tomorrow where prices are better arrive at the campground at around 11 pm.

Tomorrow I begin the journey home and reflect on these three weeks on the road.  Stay tuned.