JANUARY-FEBRUARY 2008 NEWS

QUOTE OF THE MONTH: “Life is always a tightrope or a featherbed. Give me the tightrope.” –Edith Wharton

MADNESS OF THE MONTH: from that snarky malarky Julie Jackson…

BOOK OF THE MONTH: My Soul to Keep by Melanie Wells

CD OF THE MONTH: Future Clouds and Radar, Self-titled

Friends, it’s been a crazy time. I’ve had my head down pretty much since last October doing special events with SKYROCKET! and a bunch of holiday shows with Darin. A special post-holiday mention goes out to the Fresh Arts Coalition in Houston’s annual Cheese Ball, where Skyrocket was the headlining band. They have deconstructed the charity gala to great effect. Have a look at some of the highlights: (link here) Special thanks also to Camp Lonehollow for throwing a fantastic New Year’s Eve party and hosting us so graciously.

This winter and spring will see me kicking up some solo events again.
On February 6, I’ll be in Houston with Sara Hickman as part of her Music For Life tour. Sara and I will be performing at the Station Museum of Contemporary Art. Read more here: http://www.tcadp.org/index.php?page=music-for-life
http://www.sarahickman.com/shows/

March 5 will find me back in the kitchen at the fantastic Central Market Cooking School for their annual Music on the Menu series featuring musicians around town with a passion for food. Hit www.centralmarket.com for info, or call the cooking school to reserve a seat! 512-458-3068. Then on March 21 I’ll be in Grapevine Texas for the Grapevine Festival, then skittering down to Houston right after that to return to the Mucky Duck the most wonderful live-music place on earth.

But let me tell you what’s been happening.

On January 17 I traveled to Jefferson, TX with my best pal Melanie Wells for the Pulpwood Queen Book Club’s annual girlfriend weekend. It’s a book festival, actually, kind of a tiny version of the one that’s held each fall at the State Capital, and this festival is heavy on Southern writers and women. I was the only songwriter there (long story), but I didn’t mind, and if they’d let me I’d bring some friends with me next time. I met so many talented writers and storytellers, ate some great Italian at Lamache’s and the best catfish at the Hamburger Store, and discovered a small town I thought no way could still exist in the postmodern world. The festival is spearheaded by that inexhaustible force of nature Kathy Patrick, who after years of selling books and promoting literacy in her community has finally celebrated by publishing a book of her own. I couldn’t believe how many diverse people with wonderfully compelling stories to tell were gathered under one small-town roof. Even Paulina Porizkova, the iconic supermodel, showed up to promote her new novel – and stayed all weekend to party. Take a look for yourself….

http://www.pulpwoodqueen.com/2008/01/author-will-clarke-does-live-blogging.html

http://anewnovelistsjourney.blogspot.com/2008/01/melanie-wells-reading.html

http://www.mediabistro.com/galleycat/?page=2

http://www.thegrove.com

Authors, bloggers and books I discovered:

Lynette Shirk, cookbook author, Wild Women Throw a Party

Melanie Wells, psychological thrillers, My Soul To Keep

Kathy Patrick, The Pulpwood Queens’ Tiara Wearing, Book Sharing Guide to Life

Rickey Pittman

Denise Rodriguez, Kabul Beauty School

Paulina Porizkova, Model Summer

http://www.mediabistro.com/galleycat/

http://www.willclarke.com

I also took a trip to the Napa valley in January, and I only have one question: Where’s the music? I talked to a few of the wineries there, and the only thing missing from this paradise of great beauty, food and wine is a summer music festival. Who wants to start one with me? It’s like going to France, but not.

Worth mentioning:

• Nickel & Nickel Regusci Vineyard 2004 Stag’s Leap Cabernet Sauvignon
• Jessup Cellars 2005 Table For Four
• Jessup Cellars 2006 Chardonnay Carneros
• Jessup Cellars 2003 Merlot Mt. Veeder
• Opus One Overture

Del Dotto Vineyards
FARM at Carneros Inn

Someday maybe I’ll slow down enough to make another record; y’all stay tuned while I figure out how to make it happen.