Sunday at Serda's, Mobile

Well, downtown Mobile is really cool. It is a port city, so it reminded me of Wilmington, my hometown. There were big ships, and lost of water. There's like 5 rivers all converging at Mobile Bay. There is a long long twin bridge that goes over all 5 bodies of water that you ride on to get into Mobile. It is several miles long, I mean it is a long bridge! Then it culminates with a big bridge hill and a twin dark red suspension arcs. It was like a piece of music, except it was a bridge. The show at Serda's went OK. We had some sound difficulties that meant I had spend extra setup time working on EQ-ing the speakers, which meant I didn't have time for a guitar sound check (Translate that as Zoo starts Bruises and Cuts and has to scramble around trying to fix the sound while the band keep playing the intro for like 2 minutes!) Then, because of the rush during setup, I forgot to finish connecting the piano. Translate that as Zoo counts off Useless Ears and then hits the piano riff and no sound comes out! Aside from the technical difficulties, the band was playing in a room at the back, separated from the people by a hallway. There was a camera though, pointing at us and projecting our images onto a big screen TV mounted out front. It was weird being separated from the crowd. But we sold some merchandise, and the house liked us and gave us some gas money. He also gave us pointers for some other venues, and for a good local seafood restaurant so we could have a birthday dinner for Scott. I had "fresh catch" grouper, and Jamie had fresh gulf shrimp (they're big and delicious!). Both were freaking fantastic!











Scott got some free fried strawberry cheesecake for desert, since it was his birthday. There was a little chemistry between Scott and our waitress, but alas, we were on the road all too soon for anything to blossom. The best part about mobile was meeting Matt and his wife. They came to the show, and then they opened their home to us. They even got a place for themselves and their kids so we'd have room in their house. It was immeasurably kind. We had comfortable accommodations, and showers on a night when I thought we'd sleeping in our own stink. Matt is a musician too, and plays guitar for his church. We now have a friend in Mobile Alabama! As I'm writing this we are on the way to Houston, currently traveling through Mississippi. We are on the way to Khon's, where we will be playing from 8-10, and where they will be having Texas Hold 'Em night! Promises to be fun...
Also, Kayte, Kevin, Scott and I played together on one of Kayte's songs yesterday. We are planning to do more of that tonight. Being on the road has been fun so far! We basically ran out of gas in Atlanta, but I brought my lawn mower gas can with about a gallon in it, and that got us to the gas station. The trip to Houston today is the longest haul yet, and I expect we'll be tired tonight. Jamie has been helping drive yesterday and today, and that has been a big relief. Driving with the trailer requires full time awareness, and just being able to stop thinking about it as a passenger is like resting. The rest of the week will be more relaxed though, since we are playing 2 days in Houston, and 3 in Austin, which is only 3 hours away. Jamie and I will be doing a long haul on our own next weekend, but that's then, and this is now, and there's no time now to worry about then.
More soon loyal friends and fans,
Zoo, over and over and over and over and out.

Saturday at Java Monkey, Decatur GA

Amazing night, amazing venue, amazing food! Kayte and Kevin joined us tonight, and for the next 5 shows. They were awesome! My mom also came to visit, down from Cornelia. She doesn't like to drive long trips these days, so it was great to see her. And man, the Java Monkey in Decatur GA is a place worth stopping by if you can. We will definitely be coming back. The music space is a covered stage area that is outside. There is a lot of foot traffic in this area. It has a cool downtown vibe, kinda like Trade Street, back home. We were in downtown Atlanta last night, and that feels metropolitan, with sky scrapers and lights, but this part of Atlanta was much further south, and felt like another town. We played to a receptive crowd, sold some merch, and got some terrific food. I mean like melted brie and apples, pita bread with hummus to die for, chef salad full of lots of beautifully colored baby greens, mozzarella/tomato sandwiches, amaretto butter cream cake, and mango black tea. Yeah.
It was awesome. A guy came by as we were packing up, and he went crazy for the green guitar. He was a little drunk, but he was appreciating all the right things about it. He had an eye that picked up a lot of the unique craftsmanship of the instrument. He requested to hear a song, so we pulled out an acoustic and did an impromptu version of "I love the way you smell" with Scott playing dumbek, and Kevin beating on suitcases. It was cool. He signed the email list, and then shoved some money in my hand since we had already packed the tip jar. All in all, a great night! Getting up wicked early for a trip to Mobile, though. G'night friends!
Zoo, on the road.

Friday at The Urban Grind, Atlanta

Well, the first show of the tour was good. Scott & I played duo arrangements of the set for a small but attentive crowd who listened throught the whole thing. At various points through the set I saw each of them reacting to songs. That was cool. They were all Devin McLaughlin's friends, who came out for his opening set, and then stayed for us. He was a nice guy who played acoustic and sang a nice mix of covers and originals with his friend playing saxophone along with him. It was cool. He had a nice voice. I'm glad he brought his friends. We didn't sell anything, but we got most of them on the mailing list. Also the venue liked us and said we could play again the next time we come through. One down, 8 to go!

OK this is it! The van is packed, the trailer is full, Joe Next Door is on the road! We're headed to Atlanta to plant some low down deep dirty groove in the Georgia clay. Pray for blessings on our journey. This is our first time on the road. We are nervous and excited, but ready to play some music.

Wow! What an awesome night Last Friday at the Garage! We had a great crowd, probably 40 people just for us, and they cheered and listened and there was such good energy in the room! Thanks to everyone who came out for us. We were paid well by the club for your turnout, and the owner was very open to playing another show. We'll be doing another one in a few months a few months. Our fans totally opened that door for us, and I am humbled by their dedication. Thank you so much! I've been listening to the recording that I made of the show, and it I think we are gonna package it as a live album. The night was really special, and we were feeling it, and the crowd was feeling it, and it even comes through on the recording. Be on the lookout!

Our one big shot at owning the Garage.

We are finally getting to play the Garage for real, and it is a test of our ability to pull in some crowd. We are the opening band and the show starts at 9:30. There are 2 other bands playing after us. We are pretty different than them, but we are still glad to get a chance to play the Garage. I have been trying to get in there for years, and had no luck. So this is a big opportunity for the band. You can really help us out by showing up. It is an over 21 venue, so plan accordingly. What the venue does is take the door money and divvy it up between the bands based on the turnout for each band, so no fans means we don't get paid. Lotsa fans means we get a lot of the door money, and also we represent that we can draw, and we will be able to book again much easier. This is my true goal, much more than earning some of the door money, and I want to beg for your help in it. This one little act of coming out to a show this Friday could really help position us in the local music scene. We have a legitimate shot at it, and if you know us at all, I'm sure you think we ought to be thought of as one of the city's great bands. You can give us that rep just by coming out and being there with us. Please go out and get your friends, and your friends' friends and come out for an awesome hour of memorable lyrics, and singable melodies, and sweet performances. Bring someone with you who hasn't heard us yet, and let us have a chance at winning them over. Joe Next Door is about a community of people all coming together, overcoming the loneliness that can so easily creep into our daily lives and isolate us. Come be with us, and bring a lonely friend. We have been practicing for this event, and promise to really be good. We won't let you down, and will definitely give you your money's worth even if you only stay for us. But, no matter how good we sound, the only thing the Garage cares about is bodies in the club, so please help us this Friday night, and be our bodies in the club. WE NEED YOUR BODIES!! (...in the club)

Your very own,
Zoo

PS - Don't forget to cheer at the end of our songs... that's how the club will know you are for us! I want to pack the house, and deafen the bar with your noise. I want Joe Next Door and you, our fans and friends, to be a force to reckoned with on the local music scene. I want to claim back the town from all the snobs, all the better than's, all the jerks and the losers who think they're winners. This town has been a one scene town for too long. It's time to change the scenery, to defy the imposed order of cool. It's time to live outside the cliques, time to be lonely no more. Joe-kesters unite: Don't be coy, let's go!

All right, well Maya Art Gallery was a bust. They got their wires crossed, blamed us, and booked 2 other acts in place of us. We showed up with 2 guest musicians and an opening act lined up, all ready to play a 2 hour set, and were told we might could play 30 minutes. after the other guys. So, I walked down Tate Street about half a block to a place called the Gathering Spot, and worked us out a last minute 2 hour gig and we went down there and loaded in and played. It was all impromtu, and imperfect, but we got some drinks on the house, $40 in the band's pocket, and we got to play our 2 hour show. Weird night, but pretty rock and roll, huh?