Hey.  Much to report from the last few weeks.

Had a grand few days in LA rubbing shoulders with the stars and the famous Hollywood Press.  Interesting things these massive press junkets.  For the most part the star, or stars (as in our case where the three Merry Men worked together on Friday Saturday and Sunday) are held up in a hotel suite decorated with posters logos from the film, all lit for tv.  There is a full camera, sound, and light crew prepped to blast off dozens of clips and interviews for the awaiting journalists.  And there were a lot of journalists.

Let me describe one of the days.  Myself and Kev (Little John) and (Scott) went into one of these hotel suites at 10 am on Sunday,  and left at 5:15.  I can’t tell you how many interviews we did, but some quick math will give you an idea.  The awaiting journalists line the halls and wait for hours to get their four-minute chance to get what they need for their respective stations.  That’s right, four minutes.  Thirty seconds to get one in and one out and off we went. 

So, if we allow 10 minutes per hour for food inhalation and pee breaks, we probably averaged 10 interviews per hour.  So, in 7 hours, we did somewhere around 70 interviews.  You have to bear in mind that that is 70 interviews about the same thing in one sitting.  We did basically the same thing on Friday and Saturday as well.

It is a very effective way to get the word out about the film very quickly, but I confess it was challenging to look excited and engaged the 55th time someone asked, “What was it like working with Ridley and Russell?” or “Did you have to do any training for this film?”

By the end of it I felt like answering, “Sorry dude.  A lot of people worked on the film.  Who exactly are Ridley and Russell?” or “No, no training was necessary for this film.  All of us regularly ride horses in Medieval Chainmail and fire flaming arrows at French people.”

But, of course, I did not say any of that and did my best to speak clearly and accurately about my experiences while on the film.

Had a day off in LA with the MM lads.  Had a grand bike ride with Kev up to the famous sign.  No fun chasing him in any physical activity, but the result tells the story.  We made it.

 Had a fun evening to follow at Scott’s house.  A few songs and lovely company.  They are a grand crowd, all the Grimes and friends.

Jetted from LA on Wednesday to Nashville.  Walking on the GBS bus was like coming home.  Dumped my stuff in the same bunk I’ve had for almost a decade.  Magoo in the front lounge finger picking his guitar and writing a song. Kris in his bunk listening to tunes while chatting on some drummer chat page.  Bob and Murray in the back lounge with their faces aglow from the lights of their laptop screens.  I breathe a sigh of relief to be in such familiar surroundings. 

Had a couple of great gigs in Nashville and Atlanta and made our way to Merlefest.  The site for this festival might be the best I’ve ever seen.  The festival is set on the grounds of a community college and had long flat fields of grass, and sloping hills to accommodate bigger and smaller stages.  The weather was amazing and the talent even better.  The highlight for me was seeing Elvis Costello with some of the best bluegrass players on earth close the Saturday session. 

We may have stuck out like a sore thumb on this primarily bluegrass program.  Or we may have been a breath of fresh air to those hiding from banjo solos.  I think we did very well, but confess I am not certain.  I would love to be invited back to Merlefest.  I loved every minute of it.

Rode over night to Arlington, Virgina, and saw Sean do his first official solo gig.  All hands were so proud to see him take the stage with such confidence and poise.  I thought he sang his tunes spectacularly well and was engaging and funny all the way through.  Was thrilled to jump up and help him close the set, though I think he could have easily slain the place on his own.  Way to go Magoo.

Currently on the bus in Sellarsville, PA.  Seems like a classic cool small American Town.  As we rode in, I looked out the window across the flat fields and the make shift baseball diamonds in various empty lots and schoolyards.

“This is where Third Basemen are born.” I said to Brit as he looked out over his glasses and nodded.

Five shows till home.  Then a quick turn around and off to Cannes for the RH Film Opening. 

Exciting times.

Cheers,

Alan