Gearin Up..

Isabel, my pit bull puppy, will not stop gnawing at my hand. I’ve tried to explain I need it for playing guitar and 1,000 other everyday things I like having my hand for, but I don’t think she understands English. Perhaps another language would be more appropriate. She scared the crap out of some lady with a kick me dog today, when we were walking along the Hudson River (the same one Billy Joel sings about in “New York State of Mind”). I don’t know why. Maybe she knows her dog looks like a delightful snack.

In all seriousness though, Izzy is way to cute to give an impression of danger. People are ignorant about the breed. I cringe every time there’s a report of an APBT (American Pit Bull Terrier) attacking a small child or middle-aged woman. The breed is cited by many sources (that are not rap songs) as being the most-friendly breed of dog. It’s true. No bad dogs, just bad owners.

I am back in NYC after performing in the Buddy Holly Story in Connecticut, playing a bunch of gigs, and taking random trips to New Hampshire. I love being back here. In the past 25 years, I have come to the conclusion I require constant stimulation and Manhattan always comes through with just that: music, plays, members of Terror Squad shooting people after arguing with them at my favorite restaurant…

I believe I came the closest I’ve ever been to getting mugged while strutting home from the gym the other day. I was walking back from New York Sports Club at 2 AM when a very scary man approached me. Now, I NEVER walk with headphones on since doing so would be like walking through a wolf den with a lamb chop fastened to my ass. Therefore, I was very conscious of my surroundings. As I looked at the ground I saw a shadow getting uncomfortably close to mine. I immediately turned around to face the portentous individual. He got right up in my face and exclaimed, “You lookin’ for me tough guy?!”

To which I replied, “No” (I was telling the truth).

Just as I was ready to attempt to bust this guy in the grill he said, “Well alright then!” and WALKED AWAY.

What was the point of that entire interaction?

Before returning, I had the opportunity to do some real great stuff: get my Actor’s Equity card, visit Walden Pond after our gig in Boston, and open for Tim Reynolds among other things.

I received my Actor’s Equity card as a result of my participation in the Buddy Holly Story. I was so humbled by the talent of the individuals with whom I shared the stage. Nearly every member could act, dance, sing, and competently play at least one instrument. And man, could they party. Wow. In the six, short weeks spent together, we got into a rumble in a gay bar, played “Never Have I Ever” in a classy, hotel lounge, and threw a dance party at a local watering hole where the mean age of the group was about 70. It was like a scene out of the movie Awakenings. There was a point when the ENTIRE bar led a conga line out the front door, around the establishment, and in through the back door. Men who normally would have been shooting out of their cars stopped in absolute astonishment and proceeded to cheer us on. I miss the cast dearly and hope I cross paths with all of them in future theater endeavors.

The day after my Boston gig at Hennessy’s, my pal Josh and I took a trip to Walden Pond. It really is a beautiful place, though I was disappointed by one small fact: the cabin in which most of Walden was written was a mere thirty-minute walk from his parents’ house. I was always under the impression that he was at least an hour into the wilderness. Still a great piece of literature, still a beautiful place, just a bit disappointing.

Immediately following our trip, I saw Ryan Adams in concert at the Somerville Theater. It was incredible. I highly recommend the majority of his catalogue to anyone and everyone.

The gigs have been fun.

Boston saw me opening for one of my favorite keyboardists, Nate Wilson. Nate was a founder of the group Percy Hill and now fronts a great band appropriately named, The Nate Wilson Group.

The opening stint continued as I played a solo acoustic set before famed Dave Matthews guitarist, Tim Reynolds in Hartford. I was a bit disappointed with the audience during his set. Many people were talking so loud that I could barely hear his playing. The one good thing I was able to take from that attribute was should that ever happen to me (as I’m sure it will), I will think, “Well, they did it to Tim Reynolds too.” That being said, he handled it very well and busted out his jaw-dropping techniques.

I’ll be making my way to San Diego soon for some business meetings and surf (Hopefully an equal balance of both). Thanks for checking in. I’ll keep you posted from the West Coast.

-Jeff