During a two week period this month, my dear friend and ultimate traveling companion, Linda and I traveled to four cities in the northeast to see Taylor Hicks. We’ve both been following Taylor since his American Idol win in 2006, and last year we began traveling together, a musical Thelma and Louise if you will. In our now five years of following Taylor, we’ve both had weeks where we’ve attended multiple shows. But for some reason, none could touch this group of four as far as the absolute joy and exhilaration they provided. Each show had a completely different vibe and each time we came away saying hell yeah, let’s do it again!

While it’s impossible to communicate a show’s feel in writing or by a single video or audio clip, I thought I’d share some “tales from the road” and show moments that will stick with me. I’d like to thank Taylor and the amazing band he’s put together – Leif Bondarenko, Sam Gunderson, David Keith, Brian Less, Jeff Lopez and Brandon Peeples – for the music and the laughter. Keep rocking boys! We can’t wait to see you all again!


Ogunquit, ME – May 8, 2011

Though it was still off-season in this coastal Maine tourist town, the venue was packed. Jonathan’s is a very small, intimate room where you get to experience the music up close and personal. The show was a little low key, which we sort of expected, but still a lot of fun. My weakness is harp, so here are a couple of clips.

[There is a video that cannot be displayed in this feed. Visit the blog entry to see the video.]

[There is a video that cannot be displayed in this feed. Visit the blog entry to see the video.]


Palace Theater, Greensburg, PA – May 14, 2011

Greensburg was the first leg of the “it’s do-able” weekend. We took a very early morning flight from Boston to Pittsburgh and then drove an hour to the western PA town of Greensburg and the Palace Theater where Taylor and the boys rocked the house. A new cover, “My City Was Gone,” debuted in Akron the night before, and had us all dancing in our seats. The song featured great sax by Jeff Lopez and the driving beats of Leif Bondarenko on drums and David Keith on congas/bongos.

[There is a video that cannot be displayed in this feed. Visit the blog entry to see the video.]

The show’s encore was a moment of indescribable joy for those in attendance. Taylor sat down with his guitar, and with accompaniment by Brian Less on piano, Brandon Peeples on upright bass, and Jeff Lopez on sax, sang a love letter to his home state of Alabama, so recently torn apart by killer tornadoes. This version of “Where I’m From” will forever be burned into my memory and my heart.

[There is a video that cannot be displayed in this feed. Visit the blog entry to see the video.]


City Winery, NYC – May 15, 2011

This was the “no, we can’t do it we’re in PA on Saturday and we have to be back in MA for Monday morning” show. We were sticking with this “no we can’t do it” decision until after the Jonathan’s show when it suddenly became “do-able.” We flew from Pittsburgh and were scheduled to land in Boston at 2:19pm. As we were making our approach to Boston, we were informed that we needed to prepare for an emergency landing. Due to a mechanical issue, we would be landing at a much higher rate of speed than was desirable. So, we practiced the brace position and both Linda and I comforted our nervous seat mates. I am not a comfortable flyer, and yet I was perfectly at ease and perfectly at peace with what was going on. Afterward, Linda expressed the same feeling and we decided that the statement, “they died doing what they loved,” would have been uttered among the Taylor Hicks fandom if things had gone horribly wrong. In the end, brace positions were not needed and we had one of the smoothest landings I’ve ever experienced. That drama behind us, we were on the road to SoHo, arriving at the City Winery a little more than a half hour before show time.

The show that Taylor and the boys put on, benefitting the Red Cross tornado disaster relief, was one we were glad we didn’t miss. We knew all along that this would be THE show of the tour as Taylor always seems to kick it up a notch in NYC. To quote him that night, “in New York City you really know you’re alive.”

The entire show was streamed live on PanicStream, and you can still listen there. If you haven’t, you should! http://panicstream.net/streams/taylor_hicks/2011_05_15/player.html

Every song seemed to be THE moment of the night. They all seemed new and fresh even though long time fans have heard them before. This is the mark of a true musician/showman and a great band! But I need to call out the show’s encore. “Naked in the Jungle,” with guest guitarist Jamie McLean joining the band, was alone worth every mile we traveled. This jam blew the roof off and if it doesn’t make you want to get up and dance, well you better check your pulse!

[There is a video that cannot be displayed in this feed. Visit the blog entry to see the video.]

We arrived back in MA just before 4am on Monday and I found my way into my bed at 4:40 with the birds chirping, the sun coming up, and a stupid grin on my face.


Bull Run, Shirley, MA – May 20, 2011

An interesting little venue in the small town of Shirley, MA was the location for the last of our shows. We had no idea what to expect here, but we should have known that the last night of the tour would rock. It did, and then some. Taylor and the boys pulled out all the stops, taking some old standbys to new levels of jam.

There were two songs we had never seen live and were hoping for before the end of this tour. We got them both. First was our favorite new cover, Van Morrison’s “Rough God Goes Riding.” About halfway through the show, we got our wish and the entire place knew how happy we were! And no, we’re not the least bit embarrassed by our enthusiasm!

[There is a video that cannot be displayed in this feed. Visit the blog entry to see the video.]

The second was, “Can’t You Hear Me Knocking,” which got the crowd rocking. Pay attention to hard working percussionist David Keith in the back. Linda and I can’t say enough about what this new addition has added to the band.

[There is a video that cannot be displayed in this feed. Visit the blog entry to see the video.]

The last video from Bull Run was something that happened after the show, but its origins were during the show. There was a soldier who was supposed to be there with his friends/family. When Taylor introduced the song “19″, a song about a fallen soldier he dedicates to the troops, he asked if he was there yet. They said no. He said, “well, if he shows up we’ll just do it again.” The show ended and he got behind the table to meet people, take pictures and sign autographs. The family/friends came up to him and had their picture taken with him. Then I heard him say, “well here’s what we’re gonna do.” He looked around and started yelling for his music director Brian Less. Brian reappeared and Taylor said, “okay, if he shows and my bus is still here you’re gonna bring him on the bus and we’re gonna do the song.” A while later we were downstairs at the pub and some of my friends saw the soldier arrive and head to the bus. A little later when the band came down to the pub, sax player Jeff Lopez said, “that was a real nice thing Taylor did.” Yes Jeff, it was.

This video, posted yesterday, Memorial Day, makes me very proud to be a fan.

[There is a video that cannot be displayed in this feed. Visit the blog entry to see the video.]

Music can be a singular or shared experience. For me, it’s best shared with good friends who not only enjoy the ride with you while you’re there, but can bring you back there at a moment’s notice. There was definitely some sadness as the two weeks ended. But in addition to the audio and video that’s been amassed from these shows, we have our own snippets of joy that we gathered along the way and will continue to share with each other until the next show, and probably well beyond.

7 Cedars Resort Show, Sequium, WA

Have you ever spent 22 hours on a bus? I don’t recommend it. You either get way too much sleep, or you just go plain crazy. We just did the drive from Grand Prairie, TX, to Charlotte, NC. CRAZYYYYY I tell you. We did, however, leave Kris Allen in Phoenix and picked up Ben Kweller in Texas. Nice guy, he brought his family. But don’t fret K.A. Fans, they’ll be back in a week.

Like I said before, I honestly don’t know what else to tell you folks. Is there anything you wanna know? I ask you, my 5 readers, to comment below with any questions you might have.

Oh, and 2 DAYS TILL TAPPANGA DAY!!!

Mac’s Editorial Comments: She has way more than five readers, trust me. And Tappanga is a very good friend of ours who she will be seeing when she hits Atlanta this weekend. I will have an encounter of the Nat kind on August 7!

San Francisco, Great burger joint	The Dodge Theatre, AZ

Taylor had been promoting this as his “bad ass tour.” Of course this got me to wondering, how bad ass can Taylor Hicks seriously be? I am a big fan of the man and have heard many, many words and terms used to describe him. Bad ass has never been one of them.

I don’t think he achieved bad ass status, but he was certainly bold, dynamic, confident and completely in control of his band and that room. His stage banter, virtually non-existent during his 2007 tour, was priceless. About 90% of the show was a high energy, with two more mellow moments – The Deal and Nineteen. In many of the other songs, he’d build on the intensity until he left you a sweaty panting mess. He and the band blew the roof off with I Live on a Battlefield the encore, a cover of LaRoux’s Bulletproof (yes, you read that right), and Seven Mile Breakdown. Sam Gunderson’s Seven Mile Breakdown guitar solo was a thing of beauty. And Taylor took us to church with his harp solo in that same song. When he hit his knees at the front of the stage, everyone in the room was completely under his spell.

Next stop, Jonathan’s in Ogunquit, ME, probably the polar opposite of the Highline. It’ll be interesting to see if he dials it back a notch or if they’ll be looking for the roof in the nearby Atlantic! I’ll let you know tomorrow.

A few videos from the Highline. Enjoy!

The “tagging” at the end of Hold on to Your Love was phenomenal.

Seven Mile Breakdown

I Live on a Battlefield

Ain’t Gonna Hurt Nobody

Cover of LaRoux’s Bulletproof

We’re finishing up our second week on tour and now that we’ve got all the kinks worked out, it seems to finally be going smoother. The band is opening up to me, and I to them, and that’s the way I like it.

I’ve gotten used to the 18 hour days, the 7 hour sleeps, followed by the 18 hour days. We’re in California now. It’s the longest run in one state that we’re doing. So far, I haven’t seen the attraction to this place. It’s cold. And coming from a Canadian that’s saying something! Seriously California, get it together, I am not impressed.

The other day we were playing at The Mountain Winery in…Sarasota? Yes that’s a question mark. Yes I’m not sure whether it was Sarasota. You come on tour for a few weeks, than you judge! Anyway, so there we are, 8am(ish) driving up to this winery. The road keeps getting steeper and more windy. Obviously no one clued in on the name, MOUNTAIN Winery, because I swear to God, we almost died that morning. Driving up this big ass mountain, in a tour bus, pulling a trailer, trying to make turns that are almost 90 degrees. Absolutely crazy. Deb, the tour manager, had her hand on the door the whole time, she said “I was waiting to jump off that bus if it started going over.” I kid you not. Anyways, long story short, we didn’t die and the show went well.

On a lighter note, Keith (guitar tech) bought this AWESOME hat for $10. He said, and I quote, “This is the kinda hat that makes me look like I’m shopping for Mexicans.” We named the hat the Cowbrero – half cowboy hat, half sombrero. Here it is . . .

So I’ve had the opportunity now to hang out with the band more. Especially Tyler and Kevin. I gotta say that this band is made up of some of the nicest, and funniest, guys you will ever meet. They’re absolutely great. I rode the train into San Diego from L.A. with Kevin this morning. The guy is just funny. He doesn’t say much, he just laughs. It’s hilarious. He’s like a kid, but in a good way.

Safe to say I’m having a great time, more stories coming soon! (I promise)

Jeff, to me, is known for quotes like “beat it! Get mad at it! Like it’s your boyfriend and he pissed you off!” (referring to me trying to crush a bag of ice) And (when I asked if Jim was off the bus yet) “No. that’s why I’m still here. I wanna clean my bus. And fix the back lounge. They broke my door!”

If you knew the guy, and you knew they way he talked, (he’s got a slight accent. New Jersey maybe), then you’d be laughing your ass off right now. Cuz he’s a funny guy!

We’re currently on a day off in Los Gatos, CA. It’s hot outside. I’m ready for the beach, but it’s too far away. There is a kiddy pool outside . . . .

Harsh words, I know. But it takes a lot of balls to be on the road. You’ve got to be tough skinned. And if you’re not tough skinned when you start, you sure as hell will be by the time you’re done. Just how it is out here. That’s the honest truth.

Now you’re all probably wondering where this is all coming from. And the truth is I got my ass handed to me the other night. Turns out I haven’t been doing as great as I thought, and it was brought to my attention – not so kindly I might add. It’s a learning experience for me. The first week finishing up, and moving into the second week, I think I’ve got all the kinks worked out. But yesterday certainly was a huge blow to my ego. Not that my ego is big mind you, but now I know I need to definitely bust my butt twice as hard.

7/25/10 – NYC @ Highline Ballroom

7/27/10 – Ogunquit, ME @ Jonathan’s

7/29/10 – Alexandria, VA @ Birchmere Music Hall

7/30/10 – Allentown, PA @ Crocodile Rock Cafe

7/31/10 – Teaneck, NJ @ Mexicali Live

8/3/10 – Annapolis, MD @ Rams Head On Stage

8/6/10 – Cleveland, OH @ Fat Fish Blue

8/7/10 – Bay City, MI @ Veteran’s Memorial Park – Boys and Girls Club Benefit

8/9/10 – Chicago, IL @ Reggies Rock Club

8/10/10 – Springfield, IL @ Sangamon Auditorium

8/11/10 – Minneapolis, MN @ Dakota Jazz

8/12/10 – Madison, WI @ The Annex

8/16/10 – Lincoln, NE @ The Grove CANCELLED

8/18/10 – Kansas City, MO @ Knuckleheads

8/19/10 – Grand Junction, CO @ Mesa Theater

8/21/10 – Laughlin, NV @ Aquarius Casino Resort

8/22/10 – San Deigo, CA @ Anthology

8/24/10 – San Luis Obispo, CA @ Downtown Brewing Company

8/25/10 – San Francisco, CA @ The Rrazz Room

8/26/10 – Coarsegold, CA @ Chukchansi Gold Resort & Casino

8/28/10 – Fort Walton, FL @ Northwest Florida Fairgrounds – Armed Forces Day

9/18/10 – Rutland, VT @ Paramount Theatre

9/26/10 – Norfolk, PA @ Infinity Hall

9/26/10 – Philadelphia, PA @ Kimmel Center

10/6-7/10 – Orlando, FL @ Disney – Eat to the Beat Concert Series

We stepped off the bus at the bottom of the hill, and there was a shuttle waiting to take us up to the venue. Everyone, at one point, attempts to walk up the hill. I tried, and only made it halfway before the shuttle came and saved me. I made it up later that night, but it wasn’t easy. Now before you all start thinking I’m totally out of shape and lazy (which is only partially true) this is no small hill. It’s really, really steep, and long. Just go try it, and you’ll see what I’m talking about.

I think I worked non-stop from 8:30am to about 5 or 6pm that day. But the staff there made my life so easy. So to all the Red Rocks local crew (especially the catering peeps) I thank you, from the bottom of my heart, for being the best and easiest local crew I’ve worked with thus far.

I walked into the venue, found out there was a massage chair in my office (amazing). And when I stepped out onto the stage. WOW. Just wow.

Another thing I recommend doing when at Red Rocks, is to go to the very top, and look out onto the stage. Especially at night. You can see the rocks all lit up, and Denver in the background. It’s completely breathtaking.