Long Overdue

I do apologize for the lack of updates. Things always get a little crazy this time of year! I warn you...this will be a long one :)

Alrighty, to start off, October was my music month and I kicked it off with a weekend in SF. The Friday (last day of September) my mom and I went and saw The Jayhawks at Slims. She has played their stuff since I was a kid so I'm fairly familiar. They just came out with a new album with all the original members, so this show was kind of a big deal. Carrie Rodriguez opened the show and was really entertaining. The Jayhawks played for over 2 hours and seemed to be enjoying it as much as the audience. Unfortunately, we ended the night by returning to the car to find the back window smashed and our bags missing. Now, I carry a purse about 2% of the time. I knew I was going to be out all weekend so I had some extras with me. My mom however has a "mom" purse with all kinds of important info. We covered everything up and the seat was pushed back slightly over the bags so someone had to be watching us get out of the car. I mostly lost my keys, Rx glasses, and camera. I felt worse for my mom who now had to replace a window, cell phone, ipod, and other key info in her purse like her RN license and Chemotherapy certification. Way to start the weekend :(
Well, the next day we decided to not let it ruin our weekend since there was nothing we could really do at that point. We took my car and headed back down to SF for the Hardly Strictly Bluegrass Festival. That day could not have gone better! The weather was brilliant, we found reasonable parking, and someone called about finding my mom's purse. This girl found it thrown across a sidewalk about 2 blocks from Slims. She collected it and managed to find a phone number. We met up with her on our way home. The phone and ipod were gone but all her other essentials were there! After seeing Patty Griffin, The Belle Brigade and A.A. Bondy, (who all put on great sets!) we had really turned things around.

The rest of October was filled with some great shows. The most anticipated was the opening night of Dawes & Blitzen Trappers co-headlining tour. They played at the Mystic Theater in Petaluma. It was my first time there and I thought it was a pretty cool venue. Dawes closed the show but I have to say Blitzen Trapper was quite the act to follow. They put on an amazing set and rocked a lot harder than I expected. Another act that I was pleasantly surprised by was The Head and The Heart. They give off so much energy, it's just infectious! They played the Independent with Release the Sunbird.

The Fling rounded out the month with a small opening set at Bottom of The Hill. I saw them play a couple of songs at The Fillmore when they opened for Delta Spirit but this was much better. I love getting to see bands when they're still up-and-coming. After suffering through a local band opener (yikes) I got to hear them play almost, if not all, of their new EP What I've Seen. Needless to say I bought it right after and it has been on constant repeat at my house. They are coming back in a couple of weeks with Yukon Blonde...already have tickets!

The Fling "Dogpile" (Official Music Video) from Chad Huff on Vimeo.

Halloween came and went. I actually dressed up and went to Lindsey's so it wasn't too bad. Work at the store has been weird. The girl I work with keeps getting really sick and then takes off for days. It's been stressful but hopefully she is done with that for a while. Saw Dawes and Blitzen Trapper again at The Fillmore...just can't get enough! John came down for Thanksgiving. It has been sooo long since I've seen him so I was pretty happy.
Now December is here with some of the nicest weather. It's so weird. My family is headed to Disneyland for Christmas this year. Timing isn't great for my job but it is what it is at this point. I've got most of my X-mas shopping done, now it's just pack for LA. I'm so excited to be having any kind of vacation. I can't remember the last one. It's gong to be so fun seeing Disneyland with the first timers Dillon and Travis!
Thanks for hanging in there and I'll be updating more, sooner than later.

The Leaves Are Falling

Whew, it has been a rough month. Fall is here and October is a day away. I'm kicking things off doing what I love most...music obviously!! Tomorrow is day 1 of the Hardly Strictly Bluegrass Festival. I have to work for most of it but I will be seeing The Jayhawks at Slims so it evens things out. I'll be there all day Saturday but I'm still thinking about Sunday. I was going to be there for The Civil Wars but since they've canceled I'm not too sure I'm up for a 3rd trip to the city. The rest of the month looks pretty good for shows. Dawes is in a week! I got the poster and handbills the other day so I'll be promoting at Hardly Strictly. The handbills looked pretty rough and working were I do I knew I could make better ones.

Also, The Head & The Heart will be in SF on the 15th. It already sold out but I got tickets early this time! Then I'm going to try and see The Fling since I missed them this last month.
Everyone is already talking about Halloween. I have no plans as of yet. I think I have that weekend off but I'm not sure. Halloween falls on a Monday which is a bummer. I guess more so for the kids but still a weird one. Lucky me I can make plans for all this stuff now that I'm not watching Travis anymore. Ashley's hours were getting cut so she started working opening shifts instead of closing ones. I'll still have him every once in a while it will just be more on my terms.


Well, just a quick little update tonight since my internet hates me more than normal. I'll leave you with this song I've been really into this last week. Goodnight!
   Beirut - Santa Fe by Revolver USA

Ready, Willing & Able

Delta Spirit "White Table" from Yours Truly on Vimeo.
Meet me darlin', won't you?
I've been waiting for you
At my lonesome white table
Ready, willing, and able

Hello, Hello...

What's new? Unfortunately, not much. Working all the days and trying to save for my big escape early next year. Plans are very vague right now but I'll keep you informed. It's basically going to consist of visiting some people I haven't seen in a really long time.
Hope everyone had a good 4th! My store was closed so bonus holiday. Our camping trip got canceled while my parents house goes through some changes. The fireworks I did see were pretty good. Plans got a bit weird-ed out, so next year I'll probably going with other folks. Travis enjoyed the little poppers you throw at the ground...well he did once he figured out how hard he had to throw them to make them pop.
Celebrated some birthday's last weekend. Crystal's is a week from today. I'm not real excited about floating down the river, especially out of Forestville, but it's her birthday so we'll see. Healdsburg is having the Water Carnival next Saturday. It's this big celebration they used to do way back when and they're trying to bring it back. Looks like a lot of fun. Maybe, we could check that out instead?...
I made a tumblr account two days ago. I know I'll be a habitual re-blogger. I've been looking at different peoples and I'm finding some really cool stuff. So far it seems easier to use than this but I think it will be a more interactive twitter-like-thing. I like writing stuff out here more. Man, I'm such a nerd...I need a life! We'll see how long it lasts.

And now for my favorite things...
I heard an announcement that Matt Nathanson will be playing an evening concert at Mill Creek Winery in Healdsburg on Wed. the 27th. I went down to the radio station and got on the guest list. I have the day off so Matt and I will be going. I was so bummed when I missed him at Latitude a while back so I'm excited to get a second chance. His new album seems to be getting good reviews.
Three days later I'll be seeing none other than Mr. Matt Costa in Berkeley. I saw this quick little post on Facebook.

I went down there and was amazed at the cute little shopping district that I never even knew existed.
So awesome! I got tickets and couldn't be more excited to see Costa again. It has been way too long and for it to be such a small little gig makes it ten times better!
Hardly Strictly Bluegrass Festival is beginning to announce acts. I'm absolutely going. I have the weekend off and will even spend the weekend at Uncle John's & take BART if need be. The lineup already looks good but I'll be crossing fingers for The Civil Wars, Dawes, Delta Spirit, you know...all my people!

Sorry for the short update but that's just how it goes these days.