And the snow continues to fall

Last night was our first show on this run here in Europe. We played to a small intimate crowd in a packed out room in a little farming town in Switzerland. The room was boiling hot, and the snow fell lightly outside as we rocked the place out. We started with about 5 or 6 tunes in a pseudo acoustic style set, then broke into some full band numbers before we broke. The next two sets were rocking, and we pulled together to play some great music last night. It is refreshing that even after so many months off from The Ranchhands, and after not playing with these guys for equally as long, that when we get back together, the tunes come to life, again, almost like we had never left. It is a pure joy playing with good musicians!

This morning we woke up to the snow falling lightly, and then increasing, falling heavier, thicker, and the flakes growing larger every second. The roads are covered with white snow. a fine thin powder, dusting over the surface. The fields are burrowing down deeper and deeper under their winter blanket, and the clouds sluggish crawl across the sky, releasing their burdens in hopes of making their travel easier. I again feel like I am in a movie, sleeping in a 200 year old bed, staying in a house that was built in the early 1800's, stone cellar beneath the house holding wine and sausages for some future meal, wrap around windows to see the fields, dogs sleeping under the table as we eat, and cats prowling about quietly, watching the snow with little interest.

We are gathering our belongings, packing our bags again, and heading out this morning, boarding a train that will take us to Bern, where we change trains, and travel to Thun, the destination of our next show. So tonight we will play again, and until I can write again dear friends, be well . . .

It's kind of like hibernation -

This morning, I roused myself from the sleepy dreamland I was in, crawled out of my big fluffy sheets, and went downstairs to an incredible breakfast buffet. I chose a seat by the window, looking out into the world from my cozy hotel dining room, and watched the snow come tumbling down. The flakes were enormous, and fell fairly continuously through breakfast. I spent most of my morning, sipping hot beverages, crunching through perfectly crafted croissants and staring out the window. I like waking up like this!

Today we have a light travel day. We'll Leave zurich this morning, and head to Bettenhausen, total travel time will be about an hour and a half. Not bad at all! We'll play our first show there tonight, cranking up around 8:00 pm and finishing around midnight, which will be when most of you will just be getting off of work. After tonight's gig we'll travel to Thun, Switzerland to play at one of our favorite haunts whenever we come to Europe, The Dream Valley Saloon.

I'll probably catch up with you again sometime near Thun! Until then friends . . .

The First Day

Today is Tuesday. February 11, 2009. Today marks My first day back out on the road for this year. It is a bittersweet day. However, it is a much different day than what I normally have. What makes it so different, other than being on the road of course, you ask? Well, I am back in Europe, Switzerland to be exact, and over the next few posts, I hope to re-introduce you to my life on the road in Europe.

It started out simple enough, Waking up, having a breakfast date with my wife at chick-fil-a, and then hopping a ride to the airport after spending the morning exchanging animal sounds with my little boy, who mind you has some of the best animal sounds ever. period. I jumped on an express jet in Nashville, and flew to Newark, New Jersey. After grabbing a bite to eat, and hanging with my other band mates for a couple of hours, we all loaded on board the big jet to carry us over seas. Our flight was largely empty. I had an entire row, seven seats, spanning two aisles, to myself, as did most everyone else on the plane. I almost felt sorry for the first class section which was almost completely full, until I tried reclining my seat to sleep, and remembered why I wanted to fly first class over seas someday.

We touched down in Zurich around 8:30 in the morning. My wife was still sleeping back in Nashville, where it was only 1:30 am. Fortunately for me, I was able to sleep for about 2/3 of the flight, which was REALLY nice. I didn't know most of it happened at all! Once in Zurich, a quick stop at immigration for another stamp in my passport, slowing only momentarily by baggage claim with the handful of passengers from our flight to retrieve my bag, and then I stepped out into Switzerland. I felt strangely right at home.

I am presently sitting in my hotel room, resting (not sleeping mind you!) from all of the traveling. I am stretched out on my soft bed, reclining, (unlike those upright airline seats!) and listening to the wind whistle past my window, throwing the light rain all over the place. The echoes of the cleaning ladies speaking swiss-german float down the hall, like a foreign film left on just a little too loudly in the living room, only, these voices re attached to people, and not two speakers beside my television. Zurich is beginning to feel more like home every time we pass through here. The airport and hotel we stay in has lost most of it's foreign charm and mystique, and now it feels like another version of home, where everyone speaks a different language and my money looks like I emptied out the monopoly set before I left the house.

Who would have thought that after such a simple start to the day, I would find myself on the other side of the world, relaxing in a swiss hotel?

So until I write again dear friends, be well.