Another Year Done Gone

Done gone and old!

I am sitting on my bed today, watching my soaps, which has been real nice as there has not been much time to relax prior to Christmas. I am stilltrying to wrap my brain around a few things, like how the year can already be over...

Well, I am looking forward to a new beginning as I think there are some cool things ahead and in store not just for me, but many of my friends. So I am happy for everybody and happy to have a nice crew to work with and be friends with.

Guess I'll try the ole "new years resolutions" things again (what the hell). Okay, I want to quit smoking, drinking, being ignant, enough with the debauchery and mayhem...oh, that does not sound very fun! Well, maybe I'll work on doing it less....less is more, right? Hmm...what else? I guess being more relaxed and sympathetic and forgiving, even to those who I may not belive deserve forgiveness. Really, I need to minimize the grey hairs standing on my head!

That's all I can think of. I am so blessed with many a good things. I want to try and keep it that way and not get in the way of myself (that seems like an issue most people have, myself included).

Happy New Year and see you in 2006!

MARDIS GRAS SCHEDULE FOR 2006

New Orleans Parade Schedule: (times to be announced)

Saturday, February 18

Pontchartrain

Pygmalion

Sparta

Pegasus

Sunday, February 19

Carrollton

King Arthur

Bards

Thursday, February 23

Babylon

Chaos

Muses

Friday, February 24

Hermes

Krewe D’Etat

Morpheus

Saturday, February 25

Iris

Tucks

Endymion

Sunday, February 26

Okeanos

Thoth

Mid-City

Bacchus

Monday, February 27

Proteus

Orpheus

Tuesday, February 28

Zulu

Rex

Elks

Crescent City

Death of an American City

New York Times Editorial
Death of an American City
Published: December 11, 2005

http://www.nytimes.com/2005/12/11/opinion/11sun1.html

We are about to lose New Orleans. Whether it is a conscious plan to let the city rot until no one is willing to move back or honest paralysis over difficult questions, the moment is upon us when a major American city will die, leaving nothing but a few shells for tourists to visit like a museum.

We said this wouldn't happen. President Bush said it wouldn't happen. He stood in Jackson Square and said, "There is no way to imagine America without New Orleans." But it has been over three months since Hurricane Katrina struck and the city is in complete shambles.

There are many unanswered questions that will take years to work out, but one is make-or-break and needs to be dealt with immediately. It all boils down to the levee system. People will clear garbage, live in tents, work their fingers to the bone to reclaim homes and lives, but not if they don't believe they will be protected by more than patches to the same old system that failed during the deadly storm. Homeowners, businesses and insurance companies all need a commitment before they will stake their futures on the city.

At this moment the reconstruction is a rudderless ship. There is no effective leadership that we can identify. How many people could even name the president's liaison for the reconstruction effort, Donald Powell? Lawmakers need to understand that for New Orleans the words "pending in Congress" are a death warrant requiring no signature.

The rumbling from Washington that the proposed cost of better levees is too much has grown louder. Pretending we are going to do the necessary work eventually, while stalling until the next hurricane season is upon us, is dishonest and cowardly. Unless some clear, quick commitments are made, the displaced will have no choice but to sink roots in the alien communities where they landed.

The price tag for protection against a Category 5 hurricane, which would involve not just stronger and higher levees but also new drainage canals and environmental restoration, would very likely run to well over $32 billion. That is a lot of money. But that starting point represents just 1.2 percent of this year's estimated $2.6 trillion in federal spending, which actually overstates the case, since the cost would be spread over many years. And it is barely one-third the cost of the $95 billion in tax cuts passed just last week by the House of Representatives.

Total allocations for the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan and the war on terror have topped $300 billion. All that money has been appropriated as the cost of protecting the nation from terrorist attacks. But what was the worst possible case we fought to prevent?

Losing a major American city.

"We'll not just rebuild, we'll build higher and better," President Bush said that night in September. Our feeling, strongly, is that he was right and should keep to his word. We in New York remember well what it was like for the country to rally around our city in a desperate hour. New York survived and has flourished. New Orleans can too.

Of course, New Orleans's local and state officials must do their part as well, and demonstrate the political and practical will to rebuild the city efficiently and responsibly. They must, as quickly as possible, produce a comprehensive plan for putting New Orleans back together. Which schools will be rebuilt and which will be absorbed? Which neighborhoods will be shored up? Where will the roads go? What about electricity and water lines? So far, local and state officials have been derelict at producing anything that comes close to a coherent plan. That is unacceptable.

The city must rise to the occasion. But it will not have that opportunity without the levees, and only the office of the president is strong enough to goad Congress to take swift action. Only his voice is loud enough to call people home and convince them that commitments will be met.

Maybe America does not want to rebuild New Orleans. Maybe we have decided that the deficits are too large and the money too scarce, and that it is better just to look the other way until the city withers and disappears. If that is truly the case, then it is incumbent on President Bush and Congress to admit it, and organize a real plan to help the dislocated residents resettle into new homes. The communities that opened their hearts to the Katrina refugees need to know that their short-term act of charity has turned into a permanent commitment.

If the rest of the nation has decided it is too expensive to give the people of New Orleans a chance at renewal, we have to tell them so. We must tell them we spent our rainy-day fund on a costly stalemate in Iraq, that we gave it away in tax cuts for wealthy families and shareholders. We must tell them America is too broke and too weak to rebuild one of its great cities.

Our nation would then look like a feeble giant indeed. But whether we admit it or not, this is our choice to make. We decide whether New Orleans lives or dies.

N.O. no more

Drove through bywater/lakeview and surrounding areas which were under water (which was just about everywhere) and even after the huge cleanup that has happened over there over the past three months, it is STILL a horrible disaster. Houses, trees, cars and everything near by was dead and it looks dead, like a bomb went off. 60 percent of the tax paying citizens of the city lived in this area...

I have no other words to describe it, nothing other than tears.

What New Orleans is Like

Hello y'all

I'm writing from NOLA right now, sitting in CC's coffee...well, it's pretty sad around here. Lot's of missing trees and roofs replaced by bare sky and blue tarps! Uptown fared better, but there is still plenty of fixing to do, lot's of insurance claims to make, humvees, rotten fridges, garbage, debris and cocktails (of course!-the first building block of N.O.). Some things are "normal". Some restaurants are open, and little stores...the French Quarter is looking all right, though trying to find a mint julep now is virtually impossible (Jimbo and I used to entertain ourselves on a Sunday afternoon doing the "mint julep" bar tour in the F.Q).

There are about 100,000 people living here now, down from 1/2 million, which gives the whole city sort of a ghost town effect. I don't think there will be many more peole coming back for years to come. The rest of the city is not fixable. I guess we are lucky enough to have something here to fix, as are most of our neighbors, but it will never look the same.


I met some people at my show last night that have been here working and doing clean-up. It was moving how people thanked each other for being here and for helping. Overall it seems like a real community, considering the lack of it in many parts. What can you do? I guess clean and cry and find a mint julep!

I do a some good news though, Port a Call has reopened down on Esplanade. I am heading o'er there tonight to eat a big fat steak and wine with friends...

When the Levee Breaks II, Oxford MS

Hello and Merry HoHo

Here is the schedule for Friday night "When the Levee Breaks :II" concert, proceeds going to the Rebuild the Coast Fund and recording/filming for upcoming release in April 2006. Doors at 9:30pm.



"When the Levee Breaks: II "

December 9th, Two-Stick, Oxford MS

Doors 9:30pm

10:00 -10:05 intro by Jim Dees

10:05-10:30 Lynn Drury

10 :30-10:35 Jim Dees and change over

10:35- 10:55 Olga & Jimbo

10:55-11:05 Jim Dees and change over

11:05 -11:40 Tate Moore & Ken Hart Band

11:40-11:55 Jim Dees and change over

11:55- 12:20 Amy & the Tramps

12:20-12:25 Jim Dees and change over

12:25 - 1:00 Bluff City Backsliders

1:00-1:10 Jim Dees and change over

1:10-? Jimbo Mathus, Duff Dorrough and Knockdown South

a good day to record

...on a 8 track that is!

Alas, I awoke with a song on my mind, which has not happened much lately, so I was happy to oblige the muse. Seems like lately, whenever inspiration came, it was at an imopportune moment to do anything about it, and I thought, "well, one of these times it will come and the time will be right and it will fall out of me by way the universe."

I think every songwriter out there loves those "fall out of the universe" moments in songwriting. It all happens at once and suddenly your done and you have a cool song you dig! Not too much editing, not too much fuss if at all...it's just suddenly...there.

I guess you can't have those moments all the time, else they would not be so special. But what a special feeling it is when it happens! Hope I'll keep it up and finish another albums worth of stuff. Amen.

Boulder-us

Headin out to Boulder, CO tomorrow....I used to live there! It will be a nice trip reconnecting with friends and perforing a birthday party on Saturday. I had a very nice life in Boulder, I'm sure it's not hard to imagine. I had a nice apt. on Pearl street and Folsom with a view of the Flatirons. I worked two blocks away for Alternative Radio, and dj-ed at KGNU, which at the time was also about two bocks away. My gym was about 1/2 mile away, my PO Box about 5 blocks away, and I would ride my bike or walk around these places. The best was that I took tap dancing classes once a week up Pearl street (the studio is no longer there) and go see shows at the Fox Theater on the weekend. Often, in the winter, I'd do a 1/2 day skiing up at Eldora, and come back down to work in the afternoon. Like I said, very nice living.

Then one day, I realized I was missing someting. It was like I had accomplished all that I needed to in my time in Boulder, and that I needed to go find my muse, but it would be somewhere else. And suddenly, I was in U-haul truck driving accross the country on acid with two friends to help to New Orleans. That was it! I moved in July 1st, the hottest day down there, and we were sweating so bad (the apt. was on the 2nd floor) that I felt like an extra in a Rocky movie. For days, I would wake up and think I was still in Boulder, or not even know where the hell I was...it was a traumatic change, but one that was perhaps the best I had ever done.

It is hard to let go of what is comfortable and warm. It is so difficult to leave all that you have built up to start over somewhere else. It is a challenege of unbelieveble means. My change was by choice becasue I felt like I needed to go and continue my journey. However, when I think of all the people who were forced to leave because of the hurricanes, my heart breaks at the thought of their struggle to overcome the difficulties and hardships that the demanding challenge was brought upon them.

Fritz Richmond Passing 1939-2005

I am saddened by the news of the death of the innovative and ever delightful Fritz Ricmond. This is a bio written by longtime friend of Fritz's,Geoff Muldaur:





FRITZ RICHMOND


Fritz Richmond was the undisputed all-time king and
world champion of
the jug and the washtub bass; nowhere better
demonstrated than by the
Smithsonian Institution’s inclusion of Fritz’s
instruments in its
collection.

Fritz was born John B. Richmond, Jr. in Newton,
Massachusetts on July
10th, 1939. He attended local schools in Newton and
graduated from
Newton High School as a member of the class of ’58.

Fritz’s interest in homemade instruments started in
late-1958 or
early-1959 when, with friends John “Buz” Marten and
John Nagy he went
to Sears Roebuck to purchase his first washtub. Using
a broom handle
and a piece of rope, Fritz was almost immediately able
to play… and
play well. The boys formed a folk group called The
Hoppers (named
because there were three Johns!), and performed in the
local
Boston-area coffee houses.

Fritz continued to play the washtub through his term
of duty in the US
Army (1959-61), during which he served as a helicopter
mechanic in
Germany and Korea. Of note, and certain interest to
afficionados, is
the likelihood that, to this very day, Fritz is the
only member of the
US Army to have ever “played” a Quonset hut.

During his early days as part of the Boston and
Cambridge,
Massachusetts folk music scene, Fritz provided his
solid bass lines for
Eric Von Schmidt, Geoff Muldaur, Tom Rush, The Charles
River Valley
Boys and many others. Fritz was a founding member of
The Jim Kweskin
Jug Band (1963) and it was with that band that Fritz
began playing the
jug. His unique talent was given nationwide attention
on US tours and
national television with the Kweskin Band (Steve Allen
Show, Johnny
Carson, Mike Douglas, Roger Miller, Pat Boone et al.).

After the Kweskin Jug Band disbanded in 1968, Fritz
moved to Los
Angeles. He continued his life as a musician in LA,
but he primarily
worked as a recording engineer with producer Paul
Rothchild at Elektra
Studios. He engineered sessions for The Doors,
Jackson Browne, Bonnie
Raitt, Lonnie Mack, The Everly Brothers et al. As a
musician during
that period, he recorded with Ry Cooder, Brown, The
Doors and many
more.

Since the late 1970s, Fritz lived in Portland, Oregon
with his wife,
Cynda Herbold. He worked as a legal assistant at the
law firm
Markowitz, Herbold, Glade and Mehlhaf and performed
locally with his
jug band, The Barbecue Orchestra. He played during
this time with
Bonnie Raitt, Bob Dylan, Ramblin’ Jack Elliot, John
Sebastian, Geoff
Muldaur and others, with recent tours of Europe and
Japan. He also
performed several times on Garrison Keillor’s A
Prairie Home Companion,
where he once astounded the audience with his jug
performances, with
The Turtle Isle String Quartet, of The Flight of the
Bumblebee and Eine
Kleine Nachtmusik.

Fritz Richmond lost a year-long battle with lung
cancer on November
20th, 2005.

When the Levee Breaks: Part II

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Mississippi, Memphis Musicians Come Together to Benefit Hurricane Katrina Victims
Dec. 9 concert at Two Stick in Oxford reprises successful Memphis event
Oxford, Miss. (Nov. 17, 2005) – When the Levee Breaks, a wild and wildly successful concert in Memphis that benefited Hurricane Katrina victims, heads south to Oxford Friday, Dec. 9 at the Two Stick.
The Mississippi version of the benefit features familiar and up-and-coming names in ruckus roots music, including musicians who performed in the recent movies Walk the Line, Hustle & Flow and Black Snake Moan, and have been profiled in many leading magazines, including Rolling Stone and GQ.
Jimbo Mathus’s Knockdown South headlines the event, along with Olga the Blues Babe, The Bluff City Backsliders, Amy & The Tramps, Duff Dorrough, New Orleans singer Lynn Drury, Ken Hart and several very special mystery guests.
This time, the party is sponsored by FNC Inc., an Oxford-based software company specializing in the mortgage industry.

“We are ecstatic to have these great musicians donate their talent to helping others,” said Michael Graber, director of marketing at FNC and – in the interests of full disclosure -- a member of The Bluff City Backsliders “We look forward to having a great time doing good for others.”
Admission is $10, and all proceeds go to FNC’s ongoing Rebuild the Coast fund for Mississippi Gulf Coast hurricane relief. The money raised at the concert will be added to FNC’s employee donations and company matching program for the long-term rebuilding fund.
When the Levee Breaks, Part II is being billed as a Benefit Boogie Romp. Most of the acts have also performed on Oxford’s Thacker Mountain Radio Show, and are proven local favorites. Thacker Mountain’s Jim Dees will emcee the concert in his inimitable graceful-with-grits style. Live from Memphis will film the event and 219 records will record it for a forthcoming DVD and CD Release.

The Two Stick is located just off the Oxford Square on Harrison Avenue.

Never before has doing good felt so good.

###
For information, contact:

Michael Graber
FNC Inc.
Phone 662/236.2020, ext. 253
mgraber@fncinc.com

Bust Out Yer Heating Blankets

Yep, no denying it now. Time to bust out the heating blankets and hybernate. It would be nice if we could really do that...just sleep all winter like the bears do (along with many other critters, including my cat...no, she does that all the time, what am I saying?). I could do that and watch Judge Judy. That would be nice. Maybe a crossword puzzle or two, read some and sleeeeeeeeeeeeep. Hmm, how nice.

I don't have a heating blanket. I have a heating pad and Jimbo, who is a radiator and heating blanket rolled into one. I have to kick the blankets off sometimes, or hang a leg or an arm out. It does come in handy though, cause I always have cold feet!

Digital Downloads/ the EYE

Hey All

Still recovering from the wack on my head. Went to get my hair cut yesterday and it was rather painful...painful to wash and all the pulling from the brush and blow dryer wore my ass out. I left with a big headache and the desire to snuggle with my cat (who is supervising my bed rest) and take a nap. Things are looknig up today, I don't look AS scary, but you know, people are still in awe of the EYE.

Tomorrow, I'll be in Taylor, which will be the first time I've played in a while...I hope I don't SUCK.

A little side note to y'all that I just thought about, in order to get to the digital download page for my music, the only link at this time is from the "merch" page. I will be rectifying this soon, as obviously, it should also be from the "music" page...obviously.

So, on another thought (I am having thoughts for the first time in days), I wonder if I would have some extra power with working on spells, given that I have a pretty darn awful looking EYE. I mean, who would really like to get the EYE from me at this point. Children and animals recoil in horror (except for my cat, who does not leave the bed under any circumstances, EYE, dog, or not).

hmmm....

Hazard County

This week has been a physically hazardous week for me. It started on monday, when as I was washing dishes, I cut my thumb on a steak knife, pretty damn good (bad). So blood was squishing everywhere and it's right on the side if my right thumb, down to the nail, so playing guitar has been not an option this week. In fact I never realized how important a right thumb is. I mean, pinkys, ring fingers, et. al aren't nearly as important!

Then Tuesday night rolls around, and I am at a friend's house. The driveway is on an incline, and I had my car parked on it. Lo and behold, as I am walking to the car, my shoes (platform flip-flops which have caused problems before, and why I still wore them, I do not know) cause me to misstep and I fall forward with gravity hitting my head/brow on the bumper, right on the angle of my front license plate which says "Give Your Heart to Jeasus". I saw as flash and then fell backward gushing blood. Yup, that was a good (bad) fall. Right up there with the time I slipped and hit my head on the toilet last winter.

Anyhow, my friend runs to get me a towel, and porceeds to examine and clean the wound. The cut is right on my eyebrow, so I am lucky for that. It was bad, but not bad enough for a visit to the emergency room. As a result, I suffered also a really big black eye. So as today unfolds and I actualy dared to leave the confines of my room to run errands, get food, etc., I am sporting the sunglass look and star wars bandaids, and am proceeding with utmost caution.

Oh, and I threw out the shoes.

technical conundrum

okay, here's the wierd thing...

My cell phone is broken, but I can't exchange it until I know the password on the account (which my mom set supposedly). But she swears she never set a password and has no idea what it is. So, in order to access the account, she has to go into a T Mobile retail shop and reset it, but she is travelling abroad and won't be back until the end of the month. Meanwhile, my internet went down at home, and I could use my cell phone to log on, except that it is broken. SO, I thought I'd just buy another one. But I can't buy a new phone, because they don't sell the same model anymore (even though it is barely 6 months old!). The customer support said they can lead me though some steps to see if we can fix it. Well, we didn't get too far, because what is broken are the number 3,6, and 9, so I can't type in any numbers to reset the phone, dial, text, save messages, etc.. I said to the lady on the phone, "see what I mean?"

So, if you call me and leave a message and I don't call you back, it's becasue I can't dial. Just call me back again and please don't take it personally!

Italy, Austria, Halloween

Hi Y'all

Hope you had a happy halloween! We missed it this year, as we were overseas (namely Italy and Austria) and halloween isn't so big there. We actually spent it with my dad eating wurstl (hot dogs) and bar hopping...not too much going on, but I did bring and wear a mask!

Jimbo and I played two gigs in Italy, one in Pavia and one in Milan. Both were quite successful and we made good money that we could blow in Como (that's Como, Italy not Mississippi). Como is absolutely beautiful. It is on a lake, Lago d'Como, and surrounded by alpine foothills. The air is fresh and the old town has great shopping. Coming from Milan, it was like going to heaven. Milan has some realy cool aspects to it, but one thing that bothered me, was that there was grafitti on everything, I mean EVERYTHING. It was everywhere you looked and it wasn't the artistic kind on the most part. I find the lack of respect for other ppl's property and old historic buildings quite disheartening.

But, there was plenty of wine (my GOD there was) and plenty to eat. I can't say I didn't enjoy that aspect of the trip! We had wine and beer everyday! I guess those of you who know my history in NOLA would say, "we'll gee, isn't she used to that?" Well, yes in a way I am, but this upped the ante for sure!

We did check out a couple of really old medival castles built in the 1300's. Quite impressive, drawbridge, moat and everything! Can't say I have ever seen that before. We have a lot of castles in Austria, but not of that design. Some are built around that time, like the one that my family reunion was held in (actually owned by the Von Trapps) was built in the 1400's, but an entirely different style and design. The "moats" in Austria, are actually the mountains. They built the castles on top of hills, so that you can't get to it very easily.

Austria was beautiful, not a cloud in the sky the whole time we were there. We went hiking and then took the tram all the way to the top of Hafeleka, which Jimbo referred to as the "mountain of death" becasue it is incredibly steep and the sign says, "do not attempt to ski down this unless you really know what the hell you're doing". I have to admit, I have never skiied down it a

When the Levee Breaks Post-Show

Hey All

Thank you so very very much to everybody who came out to see the show last night! We raised almost 2 grand and 4 boxes of canned food, which I will bring by to the Red Cross on Monday. I especially want top thank all the musicians, Jeff, Jimmy, Big Jim, Paul, Jimbo, Bill, Jack, Johny Vomit, Bo Keys, Amy, Luther and Cody. The film crew, with Scott and Michael McCarthy at the helm (front and back stage) did a fabulous job puttin' it all down on video, Joel and Lea on sound. The Hi Tone was great for hosting our event and everybody had a good time at our little party for a greater good. I am very happy about it all and I look forward to our next event on Oxford, December 9th: When the Levee Breaks PART II (venue TBA). We got it all on ADAT and I look forward to mixing this baby and putting a record out once all is sung and done. We may actually put out a companion DVD as well, as there is and will be undoubtedly great footage and plenty of hours.

The ultimate goal being to raise some money for other non-profit organizations in NOLA area to help in the rebuilding of the area, which will be ongoing. Some really good news is that MARDI GRAS IS ON FOR 2006! I had heard already Thursday night, but I ran into a member of the Thoth Krewe last night, and he said Thoth was definately riding in '06 (for those that don't know, Thoth is the longest parade uptown has to offer, often topping out at 37 floats!). Anyhow, back to the point of this blog, NOLA will be back on track and our project will be one of the efforts to help it get there.

Jimbo and I are off to go on our honeymoon, but I'll be back in full gear for our part 2 show once I get back in November.

We'll have updates on jmhemphill.org and 219records.com soon with more news of this project.

God Bless!

Bithday Note, Oct 18th, 4 days to go!

Oy, it is here again! Well, don't be sad be glad to live another year, right? Yeah, but after you reach a certain age it can be harder to do, facing your own mortality....

My father is the perpetual 27 year old...except he will be 65 on Oct.24th. His body is finally giving him up as much as he refuses to allow it to happen. I haven't quite hit that point yet (thank GOD!!), but I think I finally understand what it is like to grow older. In your 20's, you think you will be that way forever, can't even think beyond that time really... the world is new, challenging, overwhelming at times, fun, heartbreaking...as you get older, you find your own groove and define your own person. I do appreciate that aspect at least. I was always mature for my age and now I'm just...mature. HA! well, I ain't that old, but you know what I mean...

Jessie Mae Hemphill's birthday is on the same day as mine (10/18), which reminds me I need to mail her present today! It's sneaking upi on me. Jimbo and I will be on a plane to Europe on the 18th, to visit family in Austria, do some gigs in Italy and finally have a honeymoon, heck, even a vacation! We have never taken an extended vacation together, so we are really looking forward to this. He's also going to get to met and endure the full frontal MUNDING experience (check out www.munding.at). We are an old family and of course nuts in our own way...but who's family isn't??

If you would like to send a birthday card to Jessie Mae, send it to:

POBox 975
Senatobia MS 38668

When the Levee Breaks

Hey Everybody!

Here is the schedule for Friday, 10/14 show. We are really looking forward to this! Come on down to the Hi Tone in Memphis and come early. Tickets are $12 or $10 with canned food donation.

"When the Levee Breaks"

October 14th, Hi-Tone, Memphis TN


Doors 7pm

7:30 -8 Larry Frye & the Livewire Band

8-8:15pm Jeff Evans and changeover

8:15-8:50 Olga, Jimbo & Bill Ellis

8:55-9:10 changeover with Jimmy Crosthwait

9:10-9:30 Paul Taylor & Co.

9:30-9:45pm changeover with Jimmy Crosthwait

9:45-10:45pm Jim Dickinson & Luther, Cody and Paul

10:45-10:55 changeover with Jimmy Crosthwait

10:55-11:35 Amy & the Tramps

11:35-11:45 changeover with Jeff Evans

11:45-12:35am Bo Keys

12:35-12:45am changeover with Jeff Evans

12:45-1:40am Jimbo Mathus Knockdown South

1:40-1:50 changeover with Jeff Evans

1:50-2:25 The Tearjerkers

2:25-2:30 Jeff Evans

2:30-3am Johnny Vomit & the Dryheaves

Fall-O

Well...it's here. No mistaking it. I actually wore a jacket last night and was shivering! And all this cold right here in Mississippi...

Jimbo said to me, "Aren't Austrians supposed to do well with cold weather?" I replied, "well THIS Austrian ain't used to it no 'mo! She's been aclimated to New Olreans weather and is used to being pretty hot and sweaty all the time, even in the winter!"

And that's true indeed! I live in Colorado for a good while, and the weather really had sever changes out there. There you experienced all the seasons and you had the wardrobe to match them, which meant you had stuffed closets full of clothes, all of which had to be held onto cause you never new what the weather was going to throw at you (and I say throw, because changes usually came unexextedly). For example, it could and would snow suddenly in June. And just like that again, the winter would annouce it's arrival by following a hot 90 degree day with....a snow storm. So, out you'd bust with the appropriate gear to match the weather.


Another example would be how there would be these sudden flash floods out of nowhere...really, out of nowhere. It would be nice, sunny and cloudless in the sky and then WHAM! It's dumping (actually, this part is starting to sound like New Orleans). But CO rain can be quite cold. I could always tell when it would snow though, cause you would smell the cow manure from out west.

Anyhow, the point being, that when I moved to N.O., I had no extra room nor need (so I thought) for winter or fall gear. I mean, how can you even possible think about a wool sweater in 90 degree heat? ? Now, I wish I had not unloaded most of it, cause it's damn cold up here in the mid-south, Austrian or no Austrian would agree. And I find that I am short on winter sweaters and long sleeve shirts... and shoes for God's sake!!

There is really no point to this ramble, except that I am sad the summer is over cause it was too fast as just about everything else does these days...and I guess it makes me think about how quick the time goes by and you grow older before you know it...

Now is the Time

WOW! how hi tech! or maybe not...but it took me long enough to figure it out with some big help from Michelle.

This is the new blog section, so maybe now I'll get back into writing and less into whatever-it-is I always get distrcted by....cat,dog,house, husband,dishes,lawn...etc..

I finished my new album titled "Now is the Time". I am really looking forward to it's release in March 2006 (my publicist wanted to do it then) but it will be available on my website before then, very soon. It's a big step forward for me, having been more of a producer this time with more fleshed out songs. Don't worry, there is still some "blue" songs, but most are perhaps a bit more....Americana? Actually, everything is the blues to me, but I know there is no escape to being labeled, so Americana, I believe will be one of them. It doesn't really matter, as long as it's not the label "sucks" .

We are doing all right. The hurricane(s) really messed up a lot of people near and dear to me and my family. My mother is blessed as her house in N.O. seemed to make it through and be intact (miracle!!), but plenty others have lost so much...

So, here in Memphis we are putting together a benefit concert/recording on October 14th at the Hi Tone. The concert proceeds will go to the Red Cross here in Memphis and the CD proceeds, which will be released sometime in 2006, will be split up between 4 local charities in N.O., the biggest one being the Louisiana Wildlife Federation. We need those swamps to keep the cities safe!

Anyhow, there is a press release about the event here on the website, so check it out and come on down!

Stay tuned...I'll be back!

xO