The past week/weekend has been tiresome, trying, and productive.  This week is looking even better/worse.  I can’t distinguish the 2 anymore.  Our shows were fantastic.  Even Greenville.  Anyone who knows me knows that’s tough for me to say.  I still consider that place the asshole of North Carolina. We of course encountered a brain-dead crack head trying to play us a song on a guitar with shoe strings on it.  Zach decided it would be a good idea to let him play.  Something like singing (no audible lyrics), and a melody that resembled Johnny Cash’s “Folsom Prison Blues” with excessive Donald Duck salivating happened. I’m glad he did because that shit was hilarious.  I went to school there briefly at ECU.  Going back to that town puts me back in that dark, down state of mind.  We did a radio interview in which i gave a shout out to the asshole that knocked me out freshman year.  I know that’s a cheap shot, and not very professional.  Sometimes they’re needed however.  It’s funny how things come full circle.  Most things actually.  All the time.  You just have to pay attention to them.  I did, however enjoy myself this time.  I met some new friends.  Preston in particular.  Thank you again for the great time and hospitality.  The show was sold out, the Paulson team showed up to hang, the sleep was brief, and the morning fast.

I drove us home in the morning. 8 of us, instead of the 9 that rode down there.  It was a little more comfortable, but I did miss talking with Marshall about ghosts.  The weather was refreshing and sunny.  I had a moment with Steely Dan on the drive home.  It always feels good for me to drive AWAY from that place.  Although I’ve heard the album “Can’t Buy a Thrill” a million times, and the song “Reelin in the Years” just as many, a line caught my ear that never has before…

“The weekend at the college didn’t turn out like you planned

The things that pass for knowledge I can’t understand”

Cheesy as is, sometimes you have that moment where you feel like you’re in exactly the right place, at exactly the right time, doing exactly what you’re supposed to be doing.  Full circle.  And a lot of closure for me as I closed a very lonely, sad door in my mind.  I left it all there this time, and continued to drive  back to Greensboro, where my friends, love of my life, and Paulson waited.

After, the car switch-off at the studio and Josh and I getting briefly irritated at everyone taking too long, We headed straight for Greene Street for  sound check.  Paulson arrived and we went over our collaborative cover of Fleetwood Mac’s “Little Lies”.  We went home, showered, regrouped, and relaxed momentarily.  Then it was back to the show.  The house was packed, the bands rocked. We of course gang-vocal-banged Logan during “I Knew You When”.

Our set was a big reunion.  Jack and Phil switched off and on the kit during “Dogfight” for an extended drum section.  Jeff also joined us on Bass for that one.  It felt good to be up there with those guys again.  I’m very thankful that they’re still best friends of mine, and that everyone is on good terms and moving forward in their own way.

Now, after a day of rest, it’s back to the grind.  Managers, Lawyers, and Accountants Oh My.  Jeff’s helping me with accounting and going through our old records as the politics continue.  Meanwhile we’re moving our studio from High Point to Greensboro, and trying to practice for our acoustic gig at Longshanks tomorrow night.  The Gordon Roadhouse has gotten us through a long stretch of the tracks.  Some great music and memories have been made there.  But it is time to move on.  Stay tuned.  New music, times, and starts to come.

“This Machine Surrounds Hate and Forces it To Surrender”

~David