Busy Weekend!

Wow, I'm already about a third of the way into very busy, very fun weekend!

Last night after work James and I ran over to a benefit concert in Durham by Thad Cockrell and Skip and Logan Matheny of Roman Candle. It was great! A very different sort of show for Thad, it was in an Episcopalian church and was a benefit for the Urban Ministries of Durham. All in all, it was a great show, laid back and intimate. I'm continually finding new ways to be impressed by Thad's songwriting and voice, his Telecaster guitar player (I must figure that guy's name out!), and Skip Matheny. You better watch that kid... he's a genius. He's developing a wicked tenor too, buddy... wow! His high harmony on "Running Kind" about knocked my sober butt to the floor!

James and I talked with Skip and his wife Timshel, Roman Candle's keyboard player, after the show and met their new (and so cute!) baby, Jude. (Stacy, listen to this next bit!) Their new album is finally coming out this summer after switching record labels... finally. They'll be playing the Creekside Stage at Merlefest with... get this -- Thad Cockrell! Finally, Thad playing at the Merle! Woot! That'll rock!

Alright, after that great show James and I fueled up on some Cracker Barrel biscuits and gravy and coffee, and then I ran to Chapel Hill alone since James was such a slacker. I hooked up with some co-workers to see the Bottom Dollar Blues Band revived from dead. (They're also known as High Fidelity.) My good buddy Matt "Guitar" Pressley, a.k.a. "the Schmackity", was in full effect on electric guitar at the Carolina Coffee Shop, which despite the name, doesn't serve coffee after 10pm. (It's a really, really, really old bar... lots of cool history... great place!) I hung out there till 1am and then hustled my butt back to North Raleigh to go to sleep.

Now I'm up, late obviously, and I'm getting ready for the Right Turn Clydes' first full-set gig this afternoon from 3-5. I'm not really sure of the details of this gig, but I'm looking forward to it anyway. You can get the address off of the Right Turn Clydes site. I'm psyched!

After that I'm driving way the hell out to Hillsborough to catch my buddies' Jill and Keith's Bluegrass band, Stone's Lonesomes, play at the Wooden Nickel Pub. I haven't heard them yet and am looking forward to it!

Tomorrow is hopefully taxes in the morning (slacker!) and then a big "Sin City" movie outing with a bunch of friends. Here's hoping that actually happens as last week it got cancelled due to so many people having to work late Friday night and on Saturday. Never fun. Here's hoping!

And here's hoping you're going to have as fun and filled weekend as me!

OH! And Kip and Valerie are back in the States this weekend from Japan... FOREVER! Kip and Val, you MUST go to Merlefest with us this year! There's no alternative! ("No Depression?" No, no... nevermind!)