May 2008

Well, we had a ball from San Francisco through to the UK. Second day in San Francisco we went to the 'Biscuits and Blues' blues club in SF. The Fat Tuesday Band were playing and Ed Ivey, who leads the band met and had a chat and asked me if I wanted to do a couple of numbers - like I am going to say no. Went and got my guitar from the Hotel and played a couple of numbers. A young guy from New York was in the audience and he was in SF recording a CD. He enjoyed it so much that he asked if I would sit in on a couple of numbers with him at his recording session - which I did and really enjoyed it.

Next it was over to Grand Rapids in Michigan - this was mostly a family visit but there are some great places to play there. The first one was Billy's Blues Lounge and even though I only go there every couple of years it is great that they recognise me and give me a really nice welcome. I also played a new Open Mike session in GR at a venue called The Intersection and it is specifically blues and is run by Jimmie Staggers a local blues musician who is US nationally known. This was a really good place to play with some really interesting people to meet. One guy by the nickname of Mojo Willie - a harmonica player from Canada - really took to my playing and we did a couple of numbers together on my second visit there. Hopefully he is going to get in touch with some guys in Toronto and maybe I will get a small tour there in 2009 - fingers crossed. I did another open mike in GR and was completely taken aback when I came off stage and someone asked me my name - only to tell me that there were a number of people in the audience that thought I was god. Great complement.

Then on to the UK and a number of gigs over there. Generally they all went really well with a couple going very well and one that did not go so well. The first few gigs I did with an old friend - that is a friend from some time ago, not that he is old of course - Jacen Bruce, a fine support on solo guitar and vocals doing his own set. At the gig in Great Leighs I was supported by Ramon Goose - again, another fine player in his own right doing quite a lot of work around Europe. I have the offer of return gigs at these which is always a good sign and will almost certainly be taking them up on that in 2009.