The Mary Anns at SXSW 2008

I'm a slut...

Anyone who knows me, knows that I'm sort of a "gear slut." In other words, I love music making gear and all of its accessories. There is something about acquiring gear that is unlike any other form of shopping fanaticism, because the object of our fantasy has the potential to help a lustful musician, like myself, transcend the earth and all its physical boundaries. It somehow helps us become better artists. Like any other kind of consumerism there is something aspirational about shopping for music gear. We want to be better people. And whether its a guitar or a new gig bag, the rush and "heart swell" before, during and after the purchase is singular and addictive.

The caveat to all of this is, hopefully you find balance between acquiring gear and becoming a better musician or person. In some instances, you could turn into someone like John Entwhistle, bass player for The Who and gear slut extraordinaire who literally acquired hundreds of instruments over his career. For me, its been a matter of getting the best tools to the gig or the studio and being able to have some versatility while traveling light.

I've been on the road so much lately that when I'm travelling by myself, I have a tendency to strip down to the essentials. There have been weeks where my hotel room looked like this. Thats pretty much what the inside of my head looked like as well, I think.

I've been on a gig bag buying spree lately looking for the lightest weight and heaviest duty bags I can find. (I know. It seems like a contradiction.) I'm no John Entwhistle, so my instruments have to pull double duty in the studio and on the road. Thats a frightening proposition taking my favorite studio guitar on the plane and toting it through train stations and letting it be handled by "throwers" at the airport. The gig bag above is a TRIC made by Godin. Its light as a feather and supposedly I can stand on it, although I don't think I really want to try. I can wear it on my back and run through the airport and if absolutely necessary, I can let it get gate checked and stowed under the plane. So while other people are white-knuckled during bumpy flights over the Rockies or landing in the Windy City at Midway, I'm usually wide-eyed at the thought that "My Precious!" is getting tossed around in the luggage hold.

So its not sexy, but it still counts. I'm still a slut even though I'm just buying scads of high-end luggage for my instruments.

Dinner: Tuna Noodle Casserole - cuz Drew wanted it and I've never made it before.
Listening: Johnny's Garden - Ana Egge

SXSW Day 3

Austin by rickshaw

Michelle and I caught Shelby Lynne's BMI show at the Austin Music Hall. She was supporting her new record of Dusty Springfield inspired covers and originals. Here's Shelby playin' rough with a crowd in Hollywood in 2005 on the Stones "Dead Flowers."

After Shelby, we caught a rickshaw ride to the center of town.

I went to Tony Scherr's showcase at the Garden Hilton 18th floor lounge. Tony is a sublimely talented songwriter and guitarist. My friend Megan turned me on to his solo work a year or so ago, so I was eager to see and meet him. He was on his third gig and a little flummoxed. But after babbling a bit incoherently for the first few minutes rewarded the patient audience with a beautiful set.

SXSW Day 2

Tim Fite at Cedar Street Courtyard

Mary Anns at SXSW Day 1

Video blog update from Austin

Mary Anns first meal

The Mary Anns

Saturday night in Athens, the Mary Anns narrowly averted disaster when our drummer accidentally ate a bean burrito at Casa Nueva in Athens cooked with peanut butter. Yes, she's allergic. (I loved Tera's editorial comment: What kind of stupid hippies make peanut butter the secret ingredient in a bean burrito?) As they say, the show must go on, and the MAs including Tera, put on our lipstick, turned our amps up to eleven and rocked Jackie O's.

Its been quite a ride so far. I'm hanging with some strong-willed and colorful female personalities in this band. That's not to say everyone is bitchy. Although next week, the band is traveling to Austin, Texas for the SXSW Festival. And we may very well turn into bitches since we're hanging out together for nearly 4 days of non-stop rock indulgence. The gig is the least of my worries. I need to figure out how I'm going to see as many artists as I can while I'm there and keep my sanity traveling with the glam girl circus. This is gonna be interesting.

Dinner: Kung Pao Chicken
Listening: 27 Jennifers by Mike Doughty

Phew! A week off...

Well, February was the busiest month I think I've ever had gig-wise. Just some highlights, played at the Living Room in NYC, Seattles in Wooster, Hootenany at Lost Weekend Records, the Rumba last night and then my interview at WRDL 88.9 in Ashland. Here is my live in-studio performance of Who's Going to Love You.