The Music Licks on Route 66 tour was fantastic!  It was great real world training where I put on many hats -- booking gigs, taking care of logistics, doing PR/social media/blogging, and of course, practicing and performing. Throughout it all I met some interesting people and learned a thing or two about intestinal fortitude!

One of my main challenges was dealing with last-minute circumstances that resulted in a personnel change -- I ended up playing solo instead of with a band.  I also travelled alone for 2000 miles!  Thank God I had Game of Thrones audiobooks to keep me company!  

I will never forget the supporters from my family, church, and colleagues for their advice, moral support, donations, and anything and everything that made the trip possible.  It was a manic experience -- I had some major ups and some major downs.  There were gigs with great, attentive audiences and others with no audience at all.  But it made for an awesome learning experience!  And I feel much more prepared for the next time around!  Cheers to Bruce Forman and USC's Thornton School of Music for having me contribute to the tour! 

So today I stuck around in Winslow and had a great time seeing friends and fellow tour partners!  Who knew they would be strolling through!  First, Nora and Taylor came to visit!  Thank you guys for stopping by despite your crazy driving schedule (was it 15 hours total?!).  

Later, my teacher/mentor (also our spearhead-er of the tour), Bruce Forman arrived at La Posada with his band, Cowbop!  As always, they were stellar and everybody loved them!

Cowbop bringing the house down!  

Now, I've seen the band many times at home in L.A. (go check 'em out at Viva Cantina in Burbank), but I have to say this time I was simply reminded of how important it was to be an entertainer.  I've always loved Cowbop's musicianship but marveled tonight at how easily they connected with the audience telling jokes and sharing stories.  The jokes were pretty clever and they seemed to have followed the minstrel's tradition of mixing amazing performance with this fantastic deadpan humor I know and love.  That's not something every musician is comfortable doing but now I want to try it! Afterwards we all had dinner next door at the Turquoise Room and just hung all night.  It was great seeing you guys!

Here's my pal Jake (drummer of Cowbop) and I.  Jake also plays in my group!  

Next (and final) stop -- Evangelo's at Santa Fe!  See you guys soon!

Day 2 (sorry for the delay, I had to practice):

Today was my first day of real travel!  I just drove and drove!
Along the way, I decided to get off the Interstate and take in the sleepy charm of Route 66.  I made a stop at the Historic Route 66 General Store in Seligman
and met this guy:

It's THAT way!  Down the road!  You'll find...

Angel's Barbershop!  In the documentary for Disney's CARS, Angel explained how the "world forgot about [them]" as Route 66 was bypassed with the creation of Interstate 40.  

I arrived too late to meet him (darn!) but managed to get a tourist-y picture taken in front of the building.  And most important -- I didn't forget about you Seligman!

After getting into Flagstaff and showering, my fingers felt like mush!  Guess that's what 8 hours without playing will do to you.  So I just warmed up maniacally before the gig (warm water helps too).  The gig ended up being pretty chill with a college crowd vibe.  Flagstaff is a pretty happening place!

Day 3:

Couldn't sleep at all last night but was happy to see this in the morning! 

And folks, it ain't about the donuts...it's all about the coffee!

In the afternoon I checked into La Posada for my performance in the evening. Man, what a sight!  It's a beautiful place to visit, let alone stay for the night!

The ad they ran for me (such nice folks!).  Cowbop is playing tomorrow!   

Here's the best part about staying here:

You walk down from my room right onto the stage!

The La Posada gig was fun!  The audience was great and attentive, even asking me questions such as "do you write your own music?" or "can you play Jimi Hendrix?" (to which I replied "yes" to both, though I didn't play any Hendrix).  Afterwards I met their resident guitarist who plays here at the hotel every single night (and has been doing it for 4 years straight)!  He asked me to jam afterwards and so...

jam we did!  ...which ended up being my first busking session of the tour...INSIDE the lobby of the hotel!  Weird huh?

The Route 66 tour began today with a short car ride to a local gig (just 7 minutes from my home). My friends Dave and Greg (now dubbed the "Gandolfini Brothers" -- yes, that's their real name) as well as Kait and Molly joined me for a triple header at Jones Coffee in Pasadena.   

These guys sounded like DISNEYLAND to my ears!  Good 'ole ragtime and swing music!

Why so serious?!

Kait and Molly played fantastic and even SANG for everybody!

The tour kicks off tomorrow!  And I'm playing a LOCAL gig first at Jones Coffee in Pasadena (693 S. Raymond Ave.).  Please come by if you're in the area!  Here are the confirmed dates:

July 24th - Jones Coffee in Pasadena, CA, 2-5 PM
July 25th - Flag Brew in Flagstaff, AZ, 10 PM - 12 AM
July 26th - La Posada in Winslow, AZ, 5-6 PM
July 28th - Evangelo's in Santa Fe, NM, 8:30 PM
July 31st - Viva Cantina in Burbank, CA, 8:00 PM (Finish Line Concert!)

I can't believe I'll be leaving in less than a week!  Here's a promo vid of what's to come.  Man, I gotta practice like crazy now!

Hope you all had a fantastic 4th of July and are doing well!  I'm excited to let you know that I'll be going on my first tour (with the Peter Cho Band) this summer!  It's called Music Licks on Route 66 organized by my mentor Bruce Forman and sponsored by the USC Thornton School of Music.  I will be leaving July 24th to Arizona and coming back from New Mexico by the 28th.  This blog will be updated daily throughout our stops along the road.  I'd love your support and hope you'll consider donating to my tour!