Well this week we’ve been pretty  much everywhere except for San Antone or Phoenix, Arizona.

As always, Colorado was full of great sights and sounds. We met some new folks and got to catch up with old friends in Aspen, Denver, Lyons and Durango.  I always expect it to be less fun when we go to Colorado, but I’m reminded just how special a place it is everytime we have to leave.

Sunday night we were back in Taos and had a great gig at the KTAO Solar center, looking forward to going back there sometime real soon.

The great white ship (aka our van) took flight on Monday morning and we stretched out across Texas, Oklahoma and Arkansas before finally landing in Mississippi on Tuesday afternoon.  Needless to say, we were all a little bit van stir crazy, so it was great to cross paths with our friends from Cross Canadian Ragweed.

Tuesday night we played the State Theater in Starkville, very cool theater and the show was a blast, we did a 60 minute set and got a chance to get up in front of some new fans, which is always a blast.  A 60 second meeting and some red wine at the end of Ragweed’s set let to an impromptu jam on Neil Young’s “Keep on Rocking in the Free World.”  A great end to the show and a good way to kick off the late night performances.  We’re all usually moving at a hundred miles an hour, so it’s a treat when we get to slow down for a minute or a few hours and really kick back and hang with some other musicians and friends.

As Tuesday became Wednesday, we made a short trip up to Water Valley, MS to hang with our friends Kevin and Kerry.  Having friends is nice, especially when they open their home up to us and feed us and generally spoil us rotten.  Thanks guys!  One more show with Cross Canadian Ragweed at the Lyric Theater in Oxford and once again it was a blast, they really brought it and rocked the house.  Oxford is a great spot, lots of music, food and polo shirts.  Looking forward to coming back again soon.

Today we’re off to Nashville for the Americana Conference and Awards.  Thanks for reading and listening and generally being good sports.  If we have done any damage to your town, we hope it was only temporary and you’ll have us back again the next time we’re around.

To all of the guys and crew in Ragweed, thanks for your hospitality and generosity, it does not go unnoticed  To everyone else out there, keep on growing and finding your space, thanks for letting us be your soundtrack.

Peace, ej

The band played the Belly Up in Aspen last night to a raucous crowd and to a fantastic room. Walking around the club looking at photos of people who have played there was like walking through a hall of fame of who’s who in the music biz. BB King, Kris Kristofferson, Subdudes, Lucinda Williams, and too many more to list. One of the best clubs I know of, and everyone who works there was very, very cool to us.

Our friends the Redtones opened and sounded great. Luckily the show was well documented (sound board recording plus video of the entire show, and the good folks at KDNK broadcast the show live). We’ll try to get audio and video posted soon.

On our way to another great spot tonight in Denver, the Soiled Dove. All hail the Rockies! EB

What a great way to start a tour. Tuesday night the band played the Blue Light in Lubbock, land of Buddy Holly, teased “Not Fade Away” in his honor before a smokin’ “Walking & Talking”, and unleashed a greasy “Funky Cornbread” to a receptive crowd. “Rehab Facility” got the crowd dancing, “she’s my nicotine dream, everything I crave”, organ swirling, driving drums, soaring slide guitar, hot damn. If this is Tuesday, I can’t wait to see what the rest of the week brings.
EB

This week the Band of Heathens self-titled studio debut has hit #1 on the Americana Radio Chart.  This is only the second time in the history of the chart that an independent release has hit #1.  That makes 11 weeks in the top 5 of the Americana Chart, and 14 weeks in the top 10. 

The album also is holding steady at #1 for the second month in a row on the EuroAmericana Radio Chart.  The radio support this debut has received is remarkable and we’re excited and grateful for the recent success. A special thanks to all of you who have come out to shows, called radio stations, called your friends, bought albums, and have made this thing fly.

This month, catch the Heathens at the Austin City Limits Festival, the Americana Music Association Conference in Nashville, and the Chattahippie Music Festival in Chattanooga, Tennessee.