I didn’t take any video of this show, which I’m sorry about because it was so great, but I did close my set with a cover, which I’ll include the REAL music video for here…I think it’s a good note to go out on.  Enjoy.

<3, P

After the surprising, magical stop in Jackson, MS, I proceeded to my last two stops with the wind a bit out of my sails…it felt a bit like Jackson would’ve been the perfect high note to go out on.  But, I had two shows left, so I made the best of them.

First I played at WonderRoot in Atlanta.  The act who played after me was a fella named Christopher Bell (who knows Brown Bird!  small world!)  Chris and his bandmate played really cool music with cello, viola, banjo, accordion and really precise, interesting use of the loop pedal.  I was really impressed, and happy to meet them!  I know our paths will cross again.

A weird thing happened after the third act, a local girl named Debra played…the fourth act, “Trappers Cabin” just left!  He came to the show, layed out his merch, watched my set, etc…but when it was his turn to go on, we realized he was gone!  He didn’t say anything to anyone!  I don’t want to criticize him for it in case there was an emergency or some other important reason to leave unannounced…but it was certainly something I’d never seen happen before.  Hmm.

The next night I performed at a teen center called YEAH in Murfreesboro, TN.  Apparently I was supposed to be part an early acoustic show, but the guy I was supposed to play with bailed, so I was just thrown onto the later show’s bill.  I felt fine about my set, and even played a song I hadn’t played for any other shows on tour (Three Months Underwater)…but I did feel a bit out of place.  The bands that played after me were loud and stoner-rock-y.  And I love that!  It was just clear that I was the sore thumb.  Oh well.  The people who did watch (some of the other bands) liked it and had good things to say about my stuff.  Thanks, y’all.

After a weekend of driving and friendship/football time in Chapel Hill, I made it to New York last night around 7.  I kind of can’t believe the tour is over.  It was my everyday life for the last two and a half months, and I know I’m never going to forget it.  I saw great places, met great people, spent special, important time with friends and family who I don’t see nearly enough, learned about myself, and became a better musician.  Moreover, I have Big New Ideas brewing that will fuel my near-future creative endeavors.  My life is as mysterious, scary, and exciting as it was when I left for tour…I can’t wait to see what happens next!

I’ll be spending the month of February in Puerto Rico and hope to return with a lot of new material.  Where and when I land in the Spring, Summer and beyond remains to be seen, but wherever it is, I promise to stay motivated to make my life productive and fulfilling.  Amen.

Thank you for reading this blog.  I truly appreciate your interest and support.

Love, Peter

Early in the tour I signed up for a website called Couchsurfing.org, a website that connects travelers with hosts, and operates on a karmic / tit-for-tat basis … surf on couches, and let others surf on yours.  It’s free, with a recommended donation of $25.  I gave the donation, figuring it’s less than a night at a hotel, so I’d only need to use the service once for it to pay off.  And boy has it!!  Let me ‘splain…

Since using the site to find a free place to crash in Tucson back in December, I hadn’t really needed it…I’ve stayed with friends and family just about everywhere I’ve been between then and now.  But, since non-stop from Austin (where my last show was) to Atlanta (where my next show is) is too damn far to drive, I decided to try the site again for a spot to rest in the middle.  I looked on the map and spotted Jackson, MS…still a 9 hour drive from Austin, but better than the 15 I would’ve faced otherwise.  So I put out a request to a “verified and vouched for” couchsurfing member named Lizzie Wright and she wrote me back right away saying “sure you can crash on my couch!  Also, I’m a musician too…do you want me to set up a show for you?”

OF COURSE!  WOOHOO!!!

So, last night was that show.  And it was amazing.

Lizzie Wright Super Space Ship

Lizzie feat. Emily Baker and super-zealous aux. instrument dude (who, incidentally, was clearly very talented)

Emily Baker and crowd

this guy

In addition to the incredible music of the other performers (Lizzie and Emily Baker, pictured above)…it was just awesome to see SO MANY PEOPLE come out to a short-notice, acoustic house show on a Tuesday night.  There were like 30 people!  And damn near all of them bought CDs or gave me tips!  One even offered to write me up in Jackson’s weekly!  And, most importantly, the show was followed by an epic hour-plus singalong, featuring many of the hits from the 80s that I learned to play for friends’ weddings, as well as classics from the Backstreet Boys, the Little Mermaid, Sam Cooke, and TLC.  Clearly, these are my people.

I was so impressed with everyone’s kindness and hospitality; but more than that, with their motivation to take action and build a strong, supportive community.  The people I talked to were all involved in lots of cool projects, organizations, and businesses that sounded super-rewarding, and I got the sense that the people I spent last night with really give this town its pulse.  Several people I talked to described Jackson as being like a “blank slate,” in that the changes they wanted to see here were easy to make happen…that’s kind of amazing, when you think about it, and one of the reasons I ultimately don’t see myself ending up in New York again.  I want to be somewhere that feels the impact of my being there, and is better off for it.  That’s how it feels to be in Jackson, and I love it.

(Don’t worry, I’m not moving here.)

That said, I want to give my biggest, mushiest, most heartfelt thank yous to Lizzie for hosting me, setting up the show, and performing with me…and to Emily, Amanda, Annie, Josh, and everyone else I met last night.  I had the best time, and think what you’ve got going on here is really special.

My next stop is Atlanta, where I’ll be staying with family tonight, and have a show at a space called the WonderRoot with a bunch of awesome locals tomorrow night.  As always, please spread the word!

Lots of love…and see ya soon!

xo, P

The set itself was good.  Musically, I felt a lot more comfortable than I had earlier this week in Albuquerque (aside from the fact that I completely brainfarted the second verse of “Double Life”).  People were, as always, super friendly, and even though the crowd was VERY chatty (still not as bad as in New Orleans), there were at least a few people there who I hadn’t met before who sat right up front, paid attention, and engaged with me, which was great.

After me, the great Austin-based singer/songwriter Kacy Crowley performed, and she is awesome.  Unbelievable voice, haunting songs, and brutally honest emotional melodrama, which I of course appreciate.

Finally, at the end of the night…I got paid!  Well, I didn’t, but my new band did: “Peter B. and the Squires.”  Hehe.

Peter B.

Cool!  So now my car’s “in the shop” — no big deal, but the check engine light came on, and with 2,000 miles to go, I figured better to have it looked at BEFORE something bad happens, especially since I know nothing about cars.  Hopefully any necessary repairs will be done today so I can use the car for the rest of the weekend.  Lots to do in Austin!  Food to eat, chicken-shit-bingo to watch, etc.  In the meantime, I’m just treating my fav coffee shop (Bouldin Creek) like my living room….eating, drinking, and watching Hulu.  And for now, it feels pretty good.

Ciao for now,

P

Anyway…I played Monday in Albuquerque at a venue called “Muykind Colectivo”, a surprisingly big space that presumably used to be some sort of church (because I assume that the kids who run it now didn’t build the shiny stage that’s in there)…apparently they’ve been open about a year and putting on 2 or 3 shows a week!  Cool!  My set was ok…I was a bit rusty, since I hadn’t played a show since Jan 2nd in San Fran, and the crowd didn’t seem too into the whole “audience participation” thing, which is pretty crucial to my set.  I wouldn’tve expected a city like Albuquerque to be “too cool.”  Oh well.

The other bands who played were Albuquerque Boys Choir (from Albuquerque, obv) and State Champion & Giving Up (on tour together from the Midwest…they had a few overlapping members).  From stage the Midwest bands were like “come talk to us after the show, we want to make friends!”  But before the show I had made it a point to approach them, introduce myself, talk about touring, offer help with equipment, and just generally be friendly…but found them to be pretty unresponsive.   To me it seemed like there was some discord between their perception of themselves and their actual behavior.  I mean, they weren’t rude or anything and I don’t mean to talk shit…it just would’ve been cooler to feel a sense of community with other touring bands, especially since it seemed like they were, in concept, seeking that out as well.  I liked their music though, especially “Giving Up,” who had a cool boy/girl unison vocals thing going on, which I am a sucker for.

As for Albuquerque Boys Choir, they were the ones who got me on the bill for this show, so I was very grateful to them, but unfortunately they weren’t able to make it to the show in time to see my set, which was disappointing.  But they were super apologetic when they did arrive, their set was fantastic, and they and their friends were super nice/fun to talk to after the show.  After seeing my album cover, one of the members told me they were having a “spirit animal dance party” this weekend (amazing!), and that she was going as a bear!  Lucky for her, I had extra bear ears in my car…so I gave her a pair!  It was a nice moment.  Special thanks (and apologies) to Ru Kuwahata, who made the ears, which were supposed to be used in the “I Would Hate to Be You” video, but weren’t.  I’m glad they were finally put to good use!

After Albuquerque, I drove 6 hours to the middle-of-nowhere town Van Horn, TX.  Not much to say about Van Horn, except that I’m tired of watching ESPN, and the show “Celebrity Rehab” makes me uncomfortable.  But, after 8 more hours of driving, yesterday I made it back to AUSTIN! (aka my fav town).  I’m writing this from the best coffee shop in the world, The Bouldin Creek Cafe.  I’ve been here 30 minutes and I’ve already eaten a delicious meal, been complimented on my tattoo, and received a hug from the owner.  The best, I tell you!

I’m playing a show tonight at MoMo’s, probably the largest venue yet on this tour, so I hope people show up!!  I’m playing with the great Kacy Crowley, and the show starts at 8pm.  If you know anyone in Austin, please tell them to come out for this one!!

Thanks again to anyone who’s still keeping track of me through this blog, and I look forward to seeing you soon!

xo,  P

Following my second show in Portland on December 29th (highlight clip above), myself and my friends Mike and Liz (who I was staying with in Portland) made the 10-hour trek down to San Francisco, where we’ve been vacationing, had a VERY happy New Years Eve/Day, and where I performed again last night.  The show, at El Rio, was really fun…great turnout, EFFT was great again, and the bar (as well as neighboring burrito joint Can-Cun) were excellent for quality friendship time.

Then today we went to the beach! (see below…)

Tomorrow night we’re tentatively planned to have a big bonfire somewhere in the SF Bay Area and film a music video for my song Fault Line.

At this point, I am officially on my way back East…I’m hanging in San Fran until Tuesday morning, then taking off to see the Grand Canyon and visit family in Durango, CO before playing my next show (in Albuquerque, NM on 1/11).  I’m nervous about having all that time between shows, but glad to see some places I’ve never been and catch up with nice family members.

Marching on,

P

My future is a big question mark right now, which I know is exciting…I just don’t feel the same momentum and energy to make the plans I need to make as I did this Summer when the idea of this lifestyle change was first conceived.  The problem is, if I want to tour again in March and April, which has been my plan all along, I need to start booking it now…and now is when I have the least energy/motivation.  I hope a few days staying put here in Portland will help get my internal motor going again.

That said, last night’s show was…fine.  I hope more people come on the 29th (Camellia Lounge at Tea Zone) and I have more energy so I can enjoy it as much as I’ve enjoyed the rest.  Here are some photos:

Carolers bum-rushed the show!!

This guy

Kyle aka "This is THE sun"

I hope you all have Merry Christmases, New Yearses, Festivuses, etc…I’ll be back to posting in 2010.  See ya then!

xo,

P

Some people asked if I didn’t post about LA because I was upset or something bad happened.  The answer is NO!  The LA show was good, aside from the fact that it’s the only show where the booker didn’t even attempt to pay out me or any of the artists.  I am not doing this tour to make money, nor do I have the expectation of “breaking even” on any given night.  It’s just nice to feel that anyone’s looking out for you.  But other than that the LA show was good, and Genghis Cohen truly does have delicious egg rolls.

San Francisco!  Great to spend party time with good friends and get such wonderful support from everyone I know there.  Despite some technical difficulties for myself and EFFT, I thought the show was a lot of fun.  EFFT is a really good band, and I’m excited to play with them again at El Rio when I go back to SF for New Years weekend!  Here’s a vid from the show at Kimo’s:

I just arrived in Portland, and I’m excited to spend the week here relaxing, catching up on tour business, and spending Christmas with close friends.  I have a show tonight (actually in like 2 hours) at Mississippi Pizza Pub and another one on 12/29 at the Tea Zone (both with This is THE sun)…spread the word!

Lots of love and Happy Holidays,

P

That said…Tucson was great!  I really was expecting this to be another show that no one came to…but the fact that there was no cover charge meant some Red Room regulars heard me, which was great, and the bar is attached to a popular restaurant, so there was some bleed-over audience as well.

In terms of people I knew, I’d like to thank Elizabeth, Max, and Dave for coming and hanging out with me.  Elizabeth is my ex-girlfriend’s twin sister (not the ex from the songs) and Dave is their Dad…so that was a little funny.  But they were really wonderful to me, so big ups to them, and thanks to Amy for telling them about my show!!  It was a really nice night.  I didn’t make much cash, but I sold a few CDs and the bar paid me in beer, which is the next best thing.

In lieu of video, here’s some photos from the road…the Southwest is pretty epic and cool looking.  Enjoy!

I’m really excited for this portion of my trip, because I have several friends in each of the next few towns I’m visiting, and I’ll even have some company for the trip from LA to San Francisco!

Tonight I’m playing at The Ruby Room in San Diego (8pm)…please tell your friends!!

Thanks for keeping tabs on me…I feel good, and I’m glad to be doing what I’m doing

xo,

P