One Solitary Life

This is always my favorite thing to listen to at Christmas. We have a recording of Gene Autry reciting it.. it's pretty moving and I hope you all enjoy it.

One Solitary Life

Here is a man who was born in an obscure village, the child of a peasant woman. He grew up in another village. He worked in a carpenter shop until He was thirty. Then for three years He was an itinerant preacher.

He never owned a home. He never wrote a book. He never held an office. He never had a family. He never went to college. He never put His foot inside a big city. He never traveled two hundred miles from the place He was born. He never did one of the things that usually accompany greatness. He had no credentials but Himself...

While still a young man, the tide of popular opinion turned against him. His friends ran away. One of them denied Him. He was turned over to His enemies. He went through the mockery of a trial. He was nailed upon a cross between two thieves. While He was dying His executioners gambled for the only piece of property He had on earth – His coat. When He was dead, He was laid in a borrowed grave through the pity of a friend.

Nineteen long centuries have come and gone, and today He is a centerpiece of the human race and leader of the column of progress.

I am far within the mark when I say that all the armies that ever marched, all the navies that were ever built; all the parliaments that ever sat and all the kings that ever reigned, put together, have not affected the life of man upon this earth as powerfully as has that one solitary life.

Merry Christmas!!!

Merry Christmas everyone!

I just wanted to leave a little note to wish all of my friends and family a very Merry Christmas. I'm about to go and see what Santa brought me, but before I do that, I'm going to say a prayer for all of the men and women that fight for our freedoms everyday. The ones that don't know when, or if, they'll make it home. And another prayer for my Savior, Jesus Christ. After all, He is the reason for all of this... and in keeping with that sentiment, here's a reprint of the poem I posted last year. I hope you all enjoy it and have a merry, merry Christmas. Oh, and I got a JOB for Christmas. I'm going on tour with the Larkins. You can check them out at www.larkinmusic.com.

~The Meaning of Christmas~
When winter arrives and snow coats the ground,
Thoughts of friends and loved ones begin to come 'round.
Wreaths of green and bows of red,
Announcing a season that some of us dread.
Shoppers race to-and-fro, they push and they shove,
To secure all the gifts that their family will love.
Houses aglow with twinkling lights,
As children await the most famous of nights.
When a jolly, old elf will alight on their roof,
His reindeer step lively, quick on the hoof.
The old man descends,
Down the chimney he comes.
To munch cookies and milk,
To leave dolls, trains and drums.
With a flick of the nose he'll be back up the chute,
To continue his journey, delivering loot.
When morning has broken,
The children awake.
They rush to the tree,
Of the gifts to partake.
Ripping at paper and pulling on ribbon,
They don't stop to think why these gifts they've been given.
So please, won't you turn to your children and say,
"These gifts are not why we are all here today."
Christmas is not for the presents or carols or lights,
For Santa or reindeer or snowflakes of white.
But for a sweet baby, a manger-born boy,
Sent down to guide us and bring us great joy.
The angels they lifted their voices on high,
To soothe the dear child with God's lullaby.
Peasants and shepherds, mighty lords and great kings,
All came to town, great gifts they did bring.
Gold and silver, incense and myrrh,
Rubies and diamonds and coats made of fur.
All for the child, who knew not His power,
But who knew now of love in this glorious hour.
"Merry Christmas" alone does not say it all,
"Happy Birthday dear Jesus" should be what we call.
For Christmas is not just a gift-giving season,
The birth of our Lord -- now there, that's the reason!
So when you say "Merry Christmas," please remember one thing:
That this day is for Jesus our Savior
The newborn King!

These Are A Few Of My Favorite Things (reprise)...

Hello again...

I'm heading home to Iowa today to spend Christmas with the folks. As I was killing time waiting for Lauren to get off of work, I thought that I should re-post my blog from last year that spoke of my favorite memories of Christmas. Here's hoping you and yours have a very Merry Christmas...

The feeling of excitement when the first load of firewood arrives at the house (although I always put up a fuss when Dad asks me to help unload it!)...

Grinning like a Cheshire cat when the first fire is lit in the woodburning stove...

Shopping for the perfect Douglas Fir or Scotch Pine with Dad at Mr. Homegrown...

Mom bitching when we bring the tree inside because we're getting needles all over the carpet... (Mom, the carpet is green... it'll blend in!)

Excavating beneath the stairs to retrieve all of the Christmas decorations...

Mom and I spending a Saturday afternoon turning the house into a Norman Rockwell painting...(I still don't understand why we can't leave the decorations up all year... they look so pretty!)

Waiting with baited breath for Dad to return home from deer hunting in Clermont so we can decorate the tree...

Decorating the tree to the strains of Gene Autry singing all our Christmas favorites...

Dad cussing the tangled extension cords as he wrestles with the bubble lights...

Mom grinning from ear-to-ear as each one of my "baby" ornaments is found and hung...(Who says Mom's not a packrat?!?)

Dad smiling bigger than I've ever seen when the ornament with the picture of Grace and Len is found...

Feeling the lump in my throat, the tears in my eyes and the pride in my heart as I get to hang my sister Brandi's ornament at the top of the tree...(Forever my guardian angel...)

Watching our current dog (Rex, Brandy, Frannie and now Delsie) help Dad and I hang the tinsel on the tree...

Seeing the space below the tree grow smaller and smaller as more and more gifts are placed there...

Gathering as many family members as possible to spend the night on Christmas Eve...

Dad's Prime Rib for Christmas Eve dinner...

Christmas carols by the fire...

B&B, coffee and RumpleMintz in chocolate shot glasses as we wait for Santa...(a new tradition, but a favorite nonetheless)

Christmas morning hangovers!

Racing to the banister to see what Santa left in my stocking...

Heading downstairs with coffee in hand (hangover!) to see what Santa brought me...

Watching Allyson and Dylan pass out the gifts and remembering when it used to be MY job...

Noticing that as I get older, my gifts get fewer... (Or do they?)

Dad's famous Christmas morning breakfast and then a NAP!!

Heading to Durant for the Thoma/Hansen family gathering...

Stopping off at ITC (now the Checkered Flag) to make the next day's pizza dough...

Arriving first at Grandma Chrystol's no matter WHEN we leave our house...

Getting more and more excited as each family member arrives...

Grandma Chrystol in her red sweater with the Christmas lights on it...

Stuffing myself with Grandma's Christmas cookies...(None will EVER be better than hers!)

Passing out the gifts in Grandma's black and white checkerboard tiled basement...(Sadly, never to happen again... sigh...)

Returning home to unwind by the tree, watching the lights glow and smiling because I realize how lucky I truly am to have such a wonderful family...

I hope you all enjoyed my trip down memory lane... I know I did.

One more note before I sign off... No matter how much the inconsiderate jerk who's in front of you at the store may upset you, or how much the stupid drivers may tee you off, don't succumb to holiday rage. Remember the spirit of this holiday... and no matter how much the media and corporate America may want to "commercialize" Christmas.. they can't change the spelling! Christmas is, was and always will be a birthday party for Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. He is the reason for the season, and I, for one, will NEVER forget that. I pray that you don't either.

Adios!

I Heard The Bells On Christmas Day...

I heard the Johnny Cash version of this song today and it touched me quite deeply. It really speaks of the state of the world today and of how God is downplayed by many. Perhaps if we take heed and listen, really listen, to the lyrics we might begin to live in harmony as He intended... Merry Christmas everyone.


I heard the bells on Christmas day
Their old familiar carols play,
And wild and sweet the words repeat
Of peace on earth, good will to men.

And thought how, as the day had come,
The belfries of all Christendom
Had rolled along the unbroken song
Of peace on earth, good will to men.

It was as if an earthquake rent
The hearth-stones of a continent,
And made forlorn, the households born
Of peace on earth, good will to men.

Then from each black, accursed mouth
The cannon thundered in the South,
And with the sound the carols drowned
Of peace on earth, good will to men.

And in despair I bowed my head
“There is no peace on earth,” I said,
“For hate is strong and mocks the song
Of peace on earth, good will to men.”

Till ringing, singing on its way
The world revolved from night to day,
A voice, a chime, a chant sublime
Of peace on earth, good will to men.

Then pealed the bells more loud and deep:
“God is not dead, nor doth He sleep;
The wrong shall fail, the right prevail
With peace on earth, good will to men.”

Bless All The Dear Children In Thy Tender Care...

"... and take us to Heaven to live with Thee there." ~ Away in a Manger, P.D.

My post today is of a somber tone. On this day in 1975 my sister, Brandi Chrystol Thoma, passed away. I know precious little about what caused her death, except that she too had heart problems.

I've never asked many questions, as I know it's still hard for my parents to talk about. I can't imagine what it must be like for a parent to lose a child. Especially after only having them for six months.

Often times I wonder why Jesus gave Brandi to my parents only to take her away a short time later. I can't come up with any valid reasons, but I don't think I'm supposed to. All I know is that I miss her even though I never knew her. I know that I feel indebted to her because she died so that I could live. I also know that it would have been really cool to have a sister close to my age.

One thing I don't understand is why I feel sadness when I think of her. I never knew her, so why should I cry when I hang her ornament on our Christmas tree? Why should "Silent Night" and "Away In A Manger" turn me into a sobbing mess? Maybe it's sympathy for my parents' loss. Or maybe it's that Brandi and I do share some sort of a spiritual bond, even though she left this life before I arrived. Either way, I know that I can't wait to get to Heaven and meet her.

My thoughts and prayers are with my parents today, and also with my sister Kathy, brother David, and all the other family members that were blessed to know Brandi.

If you have children, never miss a chance to hug them. If your parents are still alive, call them and tell them you love them... you never know when they might be taken away.

I love you, sis.

"Sleep in Heavenly peace..."

Imagine all the people...

"... living life in peace..." - John Lennon, Imagine

I'll be the first to tell you that I'm not the world's biggest Beatles fan. I'm not even close. But I do have several Beatles songs that I absolutely adore, and I understand (especially after my trip to Liverpool, England) the incredible impact that John, Paul, George and Ringo had (and continue to have) on music.

I also respect them immensely as they were also HUGE Buddy Holly fans and recorded many of Holly's songs during their career.

But the reason for this post is not to wax poetic about the Beatles. The reason for this post is to honor the memory of one of it's members.

25 years ago today, December 8, John Lennon was shot and killed outside his New York apartment. The voice of a generation was silenced forever. But even though John is gone, his memory and music continue to inspire and move people everyday. Even the young, upstart musicians of today show reverence for a man that lived a complete lifetime before they were even born.

Mark David Chapman, the man who robbed the world of one of it's brightest stars, is up for parole next year. Yoko Ono, Lennon's widow, is continuing to fight to convince the powers that be that Chapman should die in prison. Well Yoko, if he does manage to get out, I doubt he'll get far. There are too many people in the world that would love to see Chapman disposed of... But whether he lives or dies, we still have John Lennon's music and memory.

Do yourself a favor and crank up your favorite Beatles memory and sing along. You'll feel better for it and I bet it would make John smile.

Maybe this year we'll be able to sing "Happy Christmas (War Is Over)" and it will be true... one never knows...

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas...

... even in Nashville!!

Believe it or not, it's 24 degrees (16 w/wind chill) this morning! Our cars were covered with ice this morning, and we didn't have ice scrapers! You'd think that as long as I'd lived through sub-zero Iowa winters, that I'd be prepared. Normally, I would've been, but everyone was telling me, "No.. don't worry. It stays in the lower 50's until January..." Yeah, right! Anyway...

My musical life is perking up a little bit lately. The last Saturday in November, I was called at 6:30 pm and summoned downtown to play a shift with Billy Dalton. Then I got lucky and was able to also play the very next shift (also with Billy).

Then this past Friday I got a phone call at 2pm asking if I was playing anywhere that evening. I ended up getting a weekend gig at Jesse Zane's Nashville Nights on Printer's Alley in Nashville. The gig was pretty long (8 hours) and I only made $100 per night, but that was $200 more than I had before.

Then I ended up hooking up with the band Paradise Avenue. They found me through the internet and we got together last night for an impromptu rehearsal. So it looks like I'll be playing with them off and on whenever our schedules match up.

I'm also playing both nights this weekend with Dustin Bogue but it's no longer at the dastardly Debbie's dive! One gig is in Lebanon, TN and the other is about 70 miles away but I can't remember the town. It will be a lot of fun playing with Dustin again, as he does lots of classic country which I love.

On December 16th, Hit-N-Run (my band with Tim McDonald) will be opening for a friend of Tim's that recently opened for Mark Chesnutt. We'll be in Huntsville, AL. It should be fun.

Jesse Zane was blown away by my playing and he wants me to play Dec. 16-17, but as I have a gig the 16th, I'll see if I can play the 17th. He also wants me to play New Year's Eve, but the money isn't as good as I think it should be, so I'll make him an offer. If he accepts, then I'll play, but if not, I'll just get happy ringing in the New Year!

But before the ball drops, I'll get to enjoy Christmas back home in Iowa. Speaking of Christmas, it's occured to me that I hadn't even brainstormed about what I'd like to receive this year. Some of the things I came up with:

New rear brakes for my van
20GB or 40GB I-Pod or Dell DJ
Tickets for Queen+Paul Rodgers concert on March 3, 2006 in Jacksonville, FL
Hohner Special 20 harmonicas (G, D, A)
Queen + Paul Rodgers: Return of the Champions DVD
New set of musician's custom earplugs
Gift certificates to Forks Drum Closet, Nashville TN
Kona coffee beans (100% Kona only.. NOT a Kona blend)
Starbucks gift cards
Wal-Mart gift cards

I usually have a longer list, but I really can't think of anything else. I already have almost everything I could want. I'm living where I've always wanted to live, I'm playing music regularly, I have family and friends who love me, I have clothes on my back and food in my fridge. A lot of people living in our country today can't say that.

As the years roll on, I notice that Christmas is becoming more about what to buy, and how much of it to buy. Didn't Jesus call gluttony a sin?

Instead of buying 4 or 5 gifts for people, just buy one (or two at the most), and give the rest of what you'd have spent to Katrina or Rita relief. Or throw a couple of bucks in the Salvation Army buckets. Or do little things like bring those bell-ringers some hot coffee, hot chocolate or apple cider to keep them warm as they give of themselves. If you see a homeless person on the street, bring them a hot meal from down the street, or offer them a blanket or directions to the nearest shelter.

Be kinder to your fellow man/woman. Don't let traffic snafu's get to you as you drive around finishing your shopping. Call your parents and let them know how much you love them. If they have passed on, visit their grave and leave fresh flowers and say a prayer. Remember all of the wonderful memories of Christmases past and embrace as many traditions as you can.

Here ends my public service announcement... Have a Merry Christmas (or Happy Hunnakah or Merry Kwanzaa...) and remember WHY it is that we celebrate this holiday. If you have trouble remembering... there's a book you can read that will tell you ALL about it.

God Bless you all and Merry Christmas!

The Show Must Go On

I'm a day late, but I wanted to post a little note in honor and memory of Freddie Mercury who died yesterday, November 25th, in 1991. He was (and still is) the most flamboyant stage performer I've ever seen, and his musical genius is still unmatched in rock music today. All Hail King Mercury!

Happy Thanksgiving!!

Hey everybody!

Had to pop online to post a quick Thanksgiving greeting. I'm staying in Nashville for Turkey Day this year, so I wanted to send warm greetings to all of the family that I'll miss again this year. It occured to me that this will be the second Thanksgiving in a row that I'll miss, and the third missed Turkey Day of my life. My first was when I was on the road with Lonesome Road.. then again while I was touring with David St. Romain. And now I'll miss the Thoma/Hansen gathering for the sake of compromise.

I'm staying in Nashville to spend the holiday with Lauren's family in order to spend Christmas in Iowa. A fair trade, I'd say. I'm going to attempt to make Aunt Grace's Sage Stuffing this year because apparently it doesn't exist in the South. Everyone looked at me cross-eyed when I mentioned a stuffing that used bread cubes instead of cornbread and biscuits! And I couldn't find bread cubes in the store so I had to toast my own. I'll let everyone know how it turned out tomorrow.

I'll also miss Dad's recreation of Aunt Grace's turkey. Crisco, flour and butter on the outside, salt and stuffing on the inside.. mmm.... There will be two turkeys today though. One oven roasted and one deep fried, so I bet I won't go hungry.

I suppose I shouldn't end this post without saying what it is that I'm thankful for this year...

Family. I'm thankful that I have such a supportive family that I know will be behind me at every turn. Always ready to be my safety net or give me that extra little push should I need one.

I'm also thankful for my friends, both old and new.

Following close behind family is my extended family. To Lou Anne and Clay Newsome I'd like to say thanks for always being there to help Lauren and I should we need it. Also thanks for making sure we eat regularly! :-) And to Lauren I'd like to say thanks for always being supportive of my career and helping to advance me in any way you can.

Gotta go finish the stuffing... Happy Thanksgiving everybody!

Long Time Gone

Hey y'all...

I know I haven't posted in quite awhile... please accept my apology. I guess it's a combination of laziness and not being inspired. But I figured that I ought to post something today, as I'll be gone with TS this weekend.

TS is playing at the House of Blues in Cleveland again this Saturday night, and then at Bodles Opera House in Chester, NY Sunday night. These are the last two gigs for the year (so far), unless we get a New Year's Eve gig.

Nothing much new has been going on except that I've been to a couple new restaurants, so I must brag.

The first was the brand new Cheesecake Factory in the Green Hills Mall. The wait was a little long, but the restaurant was brand new, so I can overlook that. The food was absolutely AMAZING! I can't remember what all everybody had, but every dish was superb! And the fact that the dessert menu had 50+ flavors of cheesecake made the CF a winner! I also became a fan of the "Cable Car Martini" which is Captain Morgan's Rum, Orange Curacao and fresh lime juice served shaken in a martini glass rimmed with cinnamon sugar. Not exactly a "manly" drink, but yummy nonetheless.

The next new place was Maggiano's. A SUPER upscale Italian place that had the air of being invited into someone's home kitchen. A pharmaceutical rep for Dr. Newsome took us all to dinner that evening. I sampled another new drink concoction there as well. This time it was a pint of Guinness with a shot of Tia Maria in the bottom of the glass. A very different flavor, but very enjoyable. For the meal, we settled on the "Family Style" form of dining. This included 2 appetizers, 2 salads, 2 pasta dishes, 2 main courses AND 2 desserts. All of the portions were for 10 people, so needless to say there was A LOT of food. We had Spinach-Artichoke Dip and Fried Calamari for the appetizers. The dip was delicious... but I didn't try the squid. The salads were outstanding as were the pasta dishes. We got Veal Scallopini and Chicken Picatta for the main dishes. They were unbelievable as well. And the desserts were a whole other world. We got Spumoni and a pastry based dessert. The pastry was a bit hard, but the Spumoni was out of this world. Apparently Maggianos has an ice cream company in Chicago that makes this especially for them. The quality shows. Absolutely one of the best meals I've EVER had.

I'm going to see "Walk The Line" tonight. I'm not too keen on Joaquin Phoenix as Johnny. Mostly from a singing standpoint than acting. Visually, he's a dead ringer for young John. The clips I've heard of his singing though almost turn my stomach. I know that no one is EVER going to sound like Johnny Cash (and I wouldn't want them to), but I've heard lots of cover versions of Cash songs that I really enjoyed. Sadly, Joaquin Phoenix' versions won't be included. I haven't heard Reese Witherspoon sing yet though, so I might like her stuff. I love Reese as an actress, so I think she'll do just fine as June Carter. I'm also really stoked to see Shooter Jennings portraying his dad, Waylon. I will probably leave the theater tonight with tears in my eyes, but hopefully not cause the movie sucked. If I get teary-eyed it will be because I'll be reminded of what a genius the music world lost when we lost Johnny Cash. His music helped me realize that less is truly more, and also how a simple, chugging rhythm can move more people than the most complicated pattern. Be on the lookout for my review of the movie.

Adios for now!

Nice head shot from TS gig in Fulton, MO

George Carlin is the MAN!!*

I received this in my email today and decided that it was WAY too good (and way too true) not to post up here for everyone to read. I also love stirring up shit, so I'm sure there will be a few comments (good and bad) relating to this post. George Carlin has always been one of my favorite comedians for two reasons: 1. He's REALLY funny and, 2. He's usually DEAD right with his views of most topics. This is *not* George's take on Hurricane Katrina and the people of New Orleans, but it's still funny... and true... Enjoy.....
***********************************************
"SOMEBODY'S" TAKE ON HURRICANE KATRINA AND NEW ORLEANS.

Been sitting here with my ass in a wad, wanting to speak out about the bullshit going on in New Orleans. For the people of New Orleans: First, I would like to say; "Sorry for your loss." With that said, let's go through a few hurricane rules (Unlike an earthquake, we know it's coming):

#1.
A mandatory evacuation means just that: Get the hell out. Don't blame the Government after they tell you to go. If they hadn't said anything, I can see the argument. They said get out... if you didn't, it's your fault, not theirs. (I don't want to hear it, even if you don't have a car, you can get out.)

#2.
If there is an emergency, stock up on water and non-perishables. If you didn't do this, it's not the Government's fault you're starving.

#2a.
If you run out of food and water, find a store that has some (Remember, shoes, TV's, DVD's and
CD's are not edible. Leave them alone!)

#2b.
If the local store has been looted of food or water, leave your neighbor's TV and stereo alone. (See #2a) They worked hard to get their stuff. Just because they were smart enough to leave during a mandatory evacuation, doesn't give you the right to take their stuff... it's theirs, not yours.

#3.
If someone comes in to help you, don't shoot at them and then complain no one is helping you. I'm not getting shot to help save some dumb ass who didn't leave when told to do so.

#4.
If you are in your house that is completely under water, your belongings are probably too far gone for anyone to want them. If someone does want them, let them have them and hopefully they'll die in the filth. Just leave! (It's New Orleans, find a voodoo warrior and put a curse on them.)

#5.
My tax money should not pay to rebuild a 2-million dollar house, a sports stadium, or a floating casino. Also, my tax money shouldn't go to rebuild a city that is under sea level. You wouldn't build your house on quicksand would you? You want to live below sea-level? Do your country some good and join the Navy!

#6.
Regardless of what the "Poverty Pimps," Jessie Jackson and Al Sharpton want you to believe, the US government didn't create the hurricane as a way to eradicate the black people of New Orleans; (Neither did Russia as a way to destroy America). The US Government didn't cause global warming that caused the hurricane (We've been coming out of an ice age for over a million years).

#7.
The government isn't responsible for giving you anything. This is the land of the free and the home of the brave, but you gotta work for what you want. McDonalds and Wal-Mart are always hiring. Get a damn job and stop spooning off the people who are actually working for a living! President Kennedy said it best..."Ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country."

Thank you for allowing me to rant.
*****************************************
Thanks! I agree with everything said, but number 7 is the one I agree with most. The US has FAR too many people mooching off the good graces of the US government.

Ok, I'll get off my soapbox now. Hope everyone is having a good day!

*this post has been edited to correct an oversight on my part. Thanks to Ryan Kruse for pointing me in the correct direction. I incorrectly labeled George Carlin as the author of this, I was wrong. I stand corrected.

Leaving on a Jet Plane...

Hey everybody...

I'm taking a minute whilst sitting in the Newark, NJ airport to post this little nugget. I'm borrowing Sean's laptop, and I've had a few pints, so it's taking me quite a bit to post this! Got on an earlier flight from London, and it's a good thing too. Took me about an hour and a half to clear customs and get my bags re-checked in order to get to my connecting flight's gate. If I would've been on my original flight, I very well could've missed my connection to Nashville. Honestly I just can't wait to get home. I loved England and I'd like to send a heartfelt thanks out to John and Pam Russell for putting up with me for the weeks that they did, but I'm just glad to be back in the homeland. Looking forward to having a whole week to do nothing but get my stuff back in order before heading to Iowa to visit the family for a week. Well, there's not much else to say right now. I'll put up a photo gallery of all of the England pics as soon as I get them... Cheers!

Does Anybody Really Know What Time It Is...*

So I went into London on Wednesday, saw Big Ben, Buckingham Palace, #10 Downing St. (Tony Blair's pad), St. Paul's Cathedral and the Westminster Abbey. In the process I got soaked to the skin because I wouldn't pay £5 for an umbrella. I wore my raincoat, but didn't have a hood, so my jeans, shoes and head were drenched. It's been BEAUTIFUL weather the whole time we've been here... except Wednesday. Anyway... to begin the day, the train that was supposed to take us to Liverpool Street in London couldn't get us there (due to "signaling problems") so we had to get off at Stratford instead. Then we had to pay MORE money to get a day pass for the "tubes" (subway).

Anyway... the day started great as the sun was shining and the weather was nice when we got there, so it was fun walking to St. Paul's Cathedral. Unfortunately the day started downhill then as we wanted to go in the cathedral but it was closed! So then we walked a little ways past Big Ben and "The Eye" (a great big Ferris wheel) and as we were passing it, it started to rain... and rain.. and rain.

By the time we got to McDonald's (yep.. even in merry old McEngland!) it was a downpour. Everyone wanted to keep walking though, so we walked past Buckingham Palace, TB's house, Westminster Abbey (were going to go in, but of course it was closed...) and some old barracks.

I wasn't really impressed with any of it, but that was probably since I was feeling like a drowned rat. But then again, I never was much of a history buff, and don't really get off on old buildings. Anyhow, the best part of the whole trip was when we went to the pub and I had 2 pints of Guiness.

Biggest waste of $50 I've ever had... but I guess I only get to waste $50 in London once in my life, right?? Anyway.. I just thought I'd post one more time before I'm back in the States.

We leave out tomorrow afternoon at 2pm for Wellingborough. We'll play there Friday night, then head to Fort San Antone which is between Preston and Lytham/St. Annes. We play FSA Saturday night, and then drive to Wales for our final show. After the show Sunday night, we get back in the van and drive directly to Gatwick airport.

Then I've got about an hour or two before we get on the plane to come back to the States. I've enjoyed England, I've met some wonderful people and made some great friends, but I can't wait to get back home.

Lauren and I have some R&R planned for the weekend and then on Monday I fly home to Iowa for a week. I hope all is well with everyone and I'll post as soon as I'm awake enough to let you all know I've made it safe and sound.

Cheers!
* for the uninformed, the title is in reference to the Chicago song of the same name.

Keith had a little lamb...

... and BOY WAS IT GOOD!!!

Yep.. you guessed it folks.. FINALLY a food review! (Don't lie.. you know you've missed them...)

Walked into Norwich (2 miles each way.. yes, I walked!) today just for something to do, and found a great little restaurant. Imagine that. Me, finding food (strange, ain't it?). Well Wetherby's was the name (I think). I was thinking about 3 different places and my nose just led me to this place. Was perusing the menu and saw Braised Lamb Shank!

Now anyone who knows me knows that lamb is my absolute favorite form of protein on this planet, so obviously I had to order it. I'm always skeptical ordering lamb, but I figured it's a plentiful crop here so I'd be less likely to get something bad. So I strode up to the bar and ordered it (with boiled new potatoes in butter and steamed carrots and broccoli) along with a pint of John Smith Extra Smooth. It's become my favorite English beer, second only to Tetley's Bitter (which I've only had once, but I saw a pub today that had it so that's where I'm headed tomorrow...).

Sitting back down at my table, beer in hand, I people watched and sipped my brewski whilst awaiting my feast. When it came, my jaw dropped. Bone-in and HUGE! The lamb was cooked to perfection (just pink) and served with a lamb gravy that was accented by mint and rosemary. Can we say YUM? The potatoes were perfect, not too hard, not too soft, and the veggies were superb. The lamb nearly fell off the bone and it was absolutely the best meal I've had on the road. I was actually sad when I took my last bite!!

In other food news... Pam Russell (whose house we've invaded for the last week...) has cooked some amazing dishes. Some sort of beef stew with barley, potatoes and carrots that was great! And tonight we had chili, but over here they serve it over steamed rice. Don't laugh, it's GOOD!

In show news... the shows are finally coming together. Saturday night was an amazing show, both in performance and crowd response. The only drawback was that I had to play an archaic electronic drumset. That meant no brushes or nylon rods, so I had to re-invent my parts for "Fiona", "Choices" and "Infinite Love"... sounded strange but it worked.

Sunday afternoon was great too. The venue had a house sound system and the sound guy really knew how to use it. I got to use my kit (and there was much rejoicing... yeah!!) and the band was tighter than Fort Knox. The crowd was really responsive and danced to every song.

Only 3 more shows until I'm back stateside and, truthfully, I can't wait! I love traveling and being on the road, but this is really beginning to wear on me. I can't wait to be back home to peace, quiet and solitude. Sometimes it gets annoying having a guitar being played in your ear pretty much 24/7 (yes, even right now!) ... lol.

Well, gonna hit the sack now... gonna walk into town again tomorrow to get out of the house (and to save my sanity!) Much love to all y'all!

Take It To The Limit

editors note: This was originally titled "Random Ramblings" until I did manage to think of a witty song title that fit with the post....

I was trying to think of a witty song title to put in the title, but alas, my brain just isn't up to the task today. I'm actually not even sure what to write about, but I felt I should post SOMETHING to let everyone
know I'm alive and haven't killed anyone yet (although it's come close a few times...).

I'd forgotten just how stressful a long tour can be on a person. Spending any longer than a week with a group of people can REALLY get to you. It's during that second week that the little quirks and habits that you don't notice on a daily basis start rearing their ugly heads.

Like phrases that are ingrained in someone's speech pattern: "like..", "y'know"... stuff like that, y'know?!? I noticed someone on the tour starting AND ending sentences with that...

Noisy eaters... another thing that grates on me. I try to not be critical, because everyone wasn't brought up the same way I was, but c'mon... you don't have to open your mouth ALL THE WAY every time you chew...

I've also noticed that I'm the slowest eater of the bunch. It seems like everyone else wolfs down their food like they're afraid it's going to run away...

Anyway, enough of that lest everyone start thinking I'm a constant complainer...

Because I know I have my faults too... like being too perfectionistic. Sometimes I just have to slap myself and say "Hey Dumbass... the crowd doesn't notice if your snare rattles a bit too much or your drums are slightly out of tune..."

But all in all the trip has been pretty cool. The people are generally friendly, the chocolate and beer are AMAZING (Cadbury in the states just ISN'T the same...). The shows are getting better all the time, and I've heard tell of someone bringing a video camera to the next couple shows... might a DVD be in the offing? Who knows... I'll keep you posted.

It's odd waking up every morning and having no idea what's happening in your own country. I don't like to watch or read the news because all it does is depress me, but I usually spend my morning watching the 'Today' show (thanks, Mom...) to catch up on current events. Now I find myself surfing over to the Fox News website to get a little information.

I think I'll miss some of the things about England, but I'm ready to get back to Nashville. I need some barbecue and sweet tea!!

We're thinking about going to London on Wednesday, so I'll post a review in typical tourist fashion if we decide to go. Jeff brought a digital camera, so I'll try to get copies of some pics to post... Hope all is well...

Cheers!

Let Me Take You Down...

"... cause I'm going to Strawberry Fields..." ~ Beatles

Went into Liverpool on Sunday and checked out the famous Cavern club where the Beatles and Queen got their start. Went to the Beatles museum and learned lots of cool stuff about them. I had almost forgotten how cool the Lennon/McCartney songs were.. great stuff! All of Liverpool is 100% Beatles 24/7. All of the famous places are marked (Strawberry Field, Penny Lane. etc...). Had a pint at the Cavern and got our picture taken on stage. Just been hanging out today, it's really nice to get some rest! Can't wait to get back to the States though. BTW: My heart goes out to any and all affected by Rita... are we done with hurricane season yet?!? Catch you all later...

photo is Billy Yates & Long Neck Jones on-stage at the Cavern Club, Liverpool, England.
left to right: Sean Patrick McGraw (lead guitar, vocals), Danny Dunn (pedal steel guitar), Billy Yates (acoustic guitar, lead vocals), Pedro (driver, roadie extraordinare), Keith Thoma (drums, vocals), Jeff Beam (bass guitar, vocals)

England Swings...

"...like a pendulum do, bobbies on bicycles two by two..." - Roger Miller

Hey everybody! I'm writing you from merry old England. Crowborough to be exact. We've got a few minutes before we head to Selsey for our gig tonight so I thought I'd pop in and let everyone know I'm alive and well. The flight over was good. Continental's food is MUCH better than USAir's.... I'll post more in a few days explaining all about the flight, first days, etc... The shows are going well, and I think I'm definitely going to have fun on this tour. I've got to split for now though, so I'll say goodbye and I'll be back in a few days to tell you more about my travels. I hope all is well with everyone!

Cheers!
Keith

Across the pond...

Hey everyone...

I know I haven't updated in awhile, but things have been crazy (what's new??). Between rehearsing with Billy and Sean, playing dates with Tequila Sunrise, playing dates in Nashville, packing for the England trip and making sure all my loose ends are tied up before I leave, I haven't had hardly any free time. Heck, I'm lucky to remember which way is up! But everything is packed now. Lauren will drop Sean and I off at the Nashville airport at 12:30 for our 3:20 flight to Newark, NJ. Then we fly from Newark to London. I can't believe I'm going to wake up in another country tomorrow... all because I can make music!!!!

Went to Ru-San's last night and had an AMAZING dinner. It's an upscale sushi restaurant here in Nashville and it is unreal. I never knew you could have hot sushi, but you can! Came home stuffed and finished packing. I hate packing, did I mention that?

Anyway... when I get back it'll be October already. Man this year has flown by. I'm hoping that by the time I return, gas prices will have gone down and some of the misplaced folks that lost everything due to Katrina will be starting to put the pieces back together. I just couldn't imagine having to start from Square One... Every morning I give my thanks to God for sparing me that horrible tragedy, and I pray for all of those who are living it everyday. Please give if you can. I can't afford to give money, so I'm going to donate all of my old clothes that I don't wear anymore.

Well... gotta run. Packing beckons and then it's off to the wild blue yonder. Oh, and maybe breakfast would be good too! Take care!

Keith

PS: I'll try to post periodic updates whenever I can get to a computer... and if you want to know where we're playing, check out BillyYates.com and click on the TOUR page.

In Heaven There Is No Beer....

... but there's LOTS in Germany!! And it's really good too!!

Hey everybody. Sorry I've been so long in updating my blog, but I've been working my little butt off lately. Practicing for Germany and England on my own, rehearsing with the groups for each trip, traveling to Germany, playing with Tequila Sunrise and rehearsing for England some more... that's been my life lately.

But I know you all want to know (or at least I hope you do...) about how my FIRST EVER trip to Germany went.

Well the trip itself was great, but the flights SUCKED! I really don't mind flying, except when you're all piled into a plane like sardines and there are screaming kids all around you. On the way over, we had some issues with our party's tickets not all being on the same flight. So we fixed that. Then we tried to get on an earlier flight to Philadelphia and found that we'd have to check our luggage (which we didn't want to do), so we just waited in Pittsburgh for our later flight. THEN as we were getting on the flight in Pittsburgh we were told that the overhead bins were full and we'd have to check our bags ALL THE WAY THROUGH to Germany!!! Needless to say, I was PISSED at US Airways.

Anyway... We arrived in Frankfurt at 10:15 Friday morning and were met by Jochen (pronounced Yo-Ken) Vogel, one of Tim's friends. We then piled ourselves and our gear into a LITTLE TINY CAR, and drove 4 hours back to Schneeburg (sp?), which is where we stayed. The Pueschel family were kind enough to rent us a two bedroom apartment (fully furnished) for the length of our stay. They also stocked the refrigerator with food and BEER!! Czech Republic beer is REALLY good and REALLY strong!!! Jochen also took us out every afternoon and evening for amazing food and MORE beer... and never let us pay for any of it! THANK YOU JOCHEN!!!

We saw an amazing Lutheran church that was in a neighboring town. This place was absolutely HUGE! When I get the pictures back that we took, I'll post some. The gig itself went very well, except that our guitarist's amplifier kept going on the blink. Technical problems aside, the locals loved us and it looks like we'll be back... hopefully as soon as this winter.

I would like to extend a heartfelt "thank you" to all of the wonderful people that made this Midwestern boy feel right at home during my stay in Germany. The Vogel family: Jochen and his wife (sorry, can't remember your name :-( ), their daughter Ines (who is running for Parliament... GO INES!!), and their son Kaei (sp?). Also thanks to the Pueschel family: Jo, Hikea, Nicole and Carolyn. And thanks to Dajana Tischer, a friend of Ines', who helped me learn lots of good German swear words!!! Hopefully I'll get to see all of you again VERY soon... and this time, I'LL buy the beer!! :-)

At present I am in the McGraw family kitchen in Fredonia, NY. I drove up with Sean yesterday (12 hours!!) so that we could rehearse his material for England. We rehearsed tonight and are also rehearsing tomorrow morning before our Tequila Sunrise show at the Fredonia Opera House. Then it's off to Akron, OH for the Rock The Lock celebration with TS. Back to NashVegas on Saturday and a performance and the world famous Bluebird Cafe with Sean on Sunday night. Then I get to "relax" in Nashville for a week before hitting the road with Tequila Sunrise for a few more shows and then it's across the pond to merry old England.

Hopefully I'll get to go home to Iowa after the England trip... I need some "home" time!!

Catch you all later!!!

I'm a Travelin' Man...

"...made a lot of stops all over the world..." -- "Travelin' Man" - Rick Nelson

It's official! From September 15th through October 15th, yours truly will be touring the UNITED KINGDOM with Billy Yates and Sean Patrick McGraw!!! We'll be in all different places in England, Scotland, and Wales. I can't wait! I've never been overseas except for Hawaii and the Bahamas, so this trip should be a blast. I'm also going to be in Germany at the Griefenstien Festival from August 11-15th with Tim McDonald and Hit-N-Run.

If you don't know Billy Yates.. you should! He's written several hit songs including the monster hit "Choices" by George Jones, which caused incredible controversy at the CMA awards not too long ago. He also has a new hit out by both Daryle Singletary and Joe Nichols called "If I Ever Get Her Back". Oh yeah... George Strait recorded his song, "My Infinite Love"... yeah, that's right... KING GEORGE!!! I'm SOOOO excited!!

I'm not sure how much Internet access I'll have overseas, but I'll try to update as much as possible. Nothing much new except that I got a gig this weekend with Dustin Bogue again. Yep, we're playing at Debbie's Place! Back to the dive! (At least I'll make $120 for the weekend!)

C-ya on the flip side!!!!

Beam Him Up, Lord...

Open hailing frequencies....

Hey everybody. I don't usually write about current events, but I saw this when I woke up this morning and I had to comment. Another of the "Magnificent Seven" has passed away. James "Scotty" Doohan died yesterday at age 85.

Since 1966 he delighted audiences, portraying the wise-cracking, Scottish enginner Montgomery Scott. Trademark phrases such as "Beam Me Up, Scotty" and "I just can't do it Captain... I'm givin' 'er all she's got!!" have become part of pop culture slang.

In his younger years, Doohan was chiseled and well-built, having served in the Canadian Army and being part of the D-Day invasion on Normandy. He survived quite a bit during the war. Losing part of his right middle finger and being shot six times, the most fatal chest shot being deflected by his silver cigarette case.

Being typecast as the surly Scotsman never bothered Doohan. "I never get tired of hearing it," he said, referring to "Beam Me Up, Scotty," his trademark order. He retired from public life in 2004, having been diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease. It's almost a blessing that he passed so soon after. Hopefully he didn't have to endure any of the horror of losing your memories, as Ronald Reagan had to endure.

I'm sure the rest of the Star Trek cast will make it to the funeral. William Shatner (James T. Kirk), Leonard Nimoy (Mr. Spock), Nichelle Nichols (Lt. Uhura), Walter Koenig (Pavel Chekov) and George Takei (Mr. Sulu) are all still alive. DeForest Kelley (Dr. Leonard "Bones" McCoy) passed away in 1999 and series creator, Gene Roddenberry died in 1991.

Live long and prosper, Scotty... we'll miss you.

Taking a bite out of the Big Apple (Part 2)

Hello again...

When I re-read my last post, I noticed a GLARING omission. I neglected to write about the fact that my friend Paul Cirrillo came to see the show in Queens. For those who don't know, Paulie ran lights and sold merchandise for Lonesome Road while I was with them. We became good friends and when he left LR, he told me to let him know if I was ever in NY. Well I was finally able to contact him and we were able to hang out after the show. He was just as wild and crazy as ever, as were his co-pilot Mike, and his flight attendant Heather who accompanied him to the show. Afterwards, John, Jeff and I went along with Paul and the crew to a diner on Long Island. The BEST coffee I've ever had, hands down, and the spinach and feta cheese omlette was to die for. I'm looking forward to seeing Paulie when we go back to New York in September. Now I'm getting ready to go watch the Raspberries do their soundcheck and then watch their show tonight at the Scene Pavillion in Cleveland. TS has a show at the House of Blues here in Cleveland tomorrow night, and then it's back to Nashville to rehearse with Tim's band, Hit & Run, for the Germany trip. Busy, busy, busy....

C-ya later!

Taking a bite out of the Big Apple...

Hey Everybody...

I know it's been a couple days since my last posting, but things have been kinda crazy. The 4th of July performance at Horny Toad's in Lake Ozark, MO was interesting to say the least. The performance was outstanding on everyone's part. The stage was nice and big, but they only had 8 lights, which was a little bit of a disappointment. The load-in/out was also quite interesting as we were faced with a 6% grade going down from the parking lot to the stage area. The "band house" was another site. I've stayed in a few clunkers before, but this one was almost the best. (worst?!?) I'll put it to you this way... I'd MUCH rather take a cold shower than a scalding hot one. (No cold water for the shower!).

Anyway, after that performance, it was an 11 hour trek back to Paul's parents' house in Cleveland. We stayed there Wednesday and headed for Queens, NY on Thursday. The show was AWESOME (check the site for reviews!). We got there and the sound company had everything SET UP in position and the monitors were already dialed-in. Absolutely the easiest soundcheck I've ever had and the best monitor sound EVER, bar none. My drums sounded fantastic and the vocals gave me chills when we hit the harmonies. Those are the kind of gigs you REALLY enjoy.

Then we drove straight into hell.

What was supposed to be a 6-7 hour drive turned into a 9 hour marathon. We lost 4 hours of time just SITTING in traffic. After we got out of NYC (which has traffic, but we wrote that off because it's a given... you KNOW it's gonna be there), we got on the road and got held up by an accident. BAM. 2 hours gone. Then construction... Another hour... Then MORE construction... ANOTHER hour... We finally pulled in to Tonawanda, NY at 9 pm (we left Queens at 12), and we were supposed to be there at 7! Sound was horrendous (equipment older than the hills). I couldn't use my monitors, so I played and sang "blind" so to speak.

Finally the gig was over and we drove 45 minutes to Fredonia, NY to Sean's parents' house. That's where we are right now. Got in at 4 am and I just got up (12:30 pm). It felt REALLY good to sleep. We've got a show in Cheektowaga, NY tonight and hopefully it will be better than last night. Then tomorrow we head back to Nashville with a stopover in Cleveland to drop off Paul and Jeff. (Jeff is Bryan's replacement. Bryan had to leave the band to take a job with Dell. TennCare insurance SUCKS!)

Anyone who's interested in seeing the band... COME TO CHICAGO!! We'll be at the House of Blues in Chicago, IL on Tuesday, August 30th. Go HERE to get tickets!

Gonna go hang out at the lake for awhile... catch y'all later!

Rainy Night in Georgia.. er... Kansas!

Hey all...

I'm wringing out my t-shirt as I write this post. Turns out that Tequila Sunrise has THE worst luck in terms of gigging in Kansas. We were rained on AGAIN (2 weeks prior @ Old Shawnee Days we got rained out also). But the show did go on in a manner of speaking. We grabbed an acoustic guitar and performed like wandering minstrels, weaving our way through the very appreciative crowd. We even made a stop in the beer tent (naturally...) and performed a few tunes. All in all it was a good day, except for the fact that I didn't get to play any drums. Gotta go now though cause we're leaving out at 6 AM to head for Lake Ozark, MO. Have a happy 4th of July!!

Carry on my Wayward Son...

Ok, ok... so it's not an Eagles song, but it applies! We're in Kansas today. Playing some festival in Junction City, KS. Gonna sweat my ass off, but it's all in the name of Rock N Roll. Just heard that Queen is doing a US tour next year, so I'm psyched!! Gotta split.. check out is 12! I'll post more tonight after the show...

Take it easy....

Always Late (Part 2)

Hello again...

After re-reading my last post, I noticed a GLARING omission. I totally forgot to mention the AMAZING restaurants that I ate at when I was in Florida.

The first was the Old Bay Steamer in Fort Walton Beach. We went on Tuesday night and the food was absolutely amazing. For an appetizer we had Crab & Cheese dip on crackers along with a wonderful salad. Then the main course came.

Lauren's parents were kind enough to pick up the tab (which was VERY much appreciated), and they purchased TWO of the Family Steamers. The Family Steamers were $78 a piece, but were well worth it. They came with Alaskan King Crab clusters, Snow Crab clusters, Royal Red Shrimp (with the heads on!), raw oysters on the half shell, clams and mussels. Piles and piles of everything along with boiled red potatoes and corn on the cob.

Of course we didn't bother with the corn and potatoes, as we all stuffed ourselves silly with the wonderful seafood. For those of you who've never enjoyed Royal Red shrimp, they are possibly the best shrimp known to man. They are smaller. but they taste just like lobster when dipped in drawn butter.

Lauren and I also ate at Camille's Sidewalk Cafe in the Destin Commons outlet shopping center. Not much out-of-the-ordinary, but it was pretty reasonable and the food was outstanding. It was a bistro/sandwich shop kind of a place with waistline friendly dishes. (Good for me!)

Update on my music: Played a gig last night with Dustin Bogue at Debbie's Place here in Nashville. It was right around the corner (basically) from where Lauren and I live, but it was the BIGGEST dive I've ever played. I'm really surprised that they didn't have chicken-wire in front of the stage!! The good news is that I made $65, and got to use my little Camco kit again. It was fun playing on a stripped-down kit again. It made me focus more on my timing and groove rather than being flashy. Dustin was very impressed with my drumming, singing and harmonica playing, so I think I'll be getting some more work with him in the future. Slowly but surely.... it's getting there.

Always Late....

... with my postings! :-) Sorry I've made you all wait so long, but lots of things have been happening lately, and Lauren and I have limited internet at our place. Since I've been busy, I'll give you all the shortened version of what's been going on...

Had a couple shows with Tequila Sunrise in Nashville and Vegas... both shows were GREAT! Vegas was a blast, but it sucked that I was only there for a day. Came back and got settled into the Nashville life.

Played two shifts on Broadway, one with John Warren and one with Adam Wade and High Maintenance. Rehearsed for Germany. Rehearsed with Tequila Sunrise. Took a trip home for a week and brought Lauren with me.

Packed up and moved the rest of my stuff from Mom and Dad's house (:: sigh ::). As soon as we got back to Nashville, we unloaded my new 1998 Chevy Astro Van and loaded up my drums and headed to BB Kings in Nashville for a TS gig. After the gig we returned home around midnight and rose again at 7 am, loaded up Lauren's Isuzu Rodeo with our bags and took off to Florida with her parents.

Spent 2 1/2 days in Destin, Florida and got a sunburn. Lauren and I were able to have dinner with Kathy, Ron, Kiel & Katlin at the Spicy Noodle. All I can say is YUM!! Then Lauren and I went back to Destin with Kiel and his friend Kathryn. Went to Cold Stone Creamery and had some AMAZING ice cream!

Drove Lauren's mom's BMW convertible (hell, yeah!) back from Florida on a Thursday and got home at 2 am. Then I had to get up at 5:30 am to meet TS to head for a weekend of shows in Kansas.

The shows were rough because I got sick while home in Iowa and lost the top range of my voice on Sunday at BB Kings. The Friday show was odd because Kansas City was experiencing some unreal thunderstorms. We didn't even know if we'd go on because it was storming something awful. We ended up going on and playing 4 acoustic songs. I didn't sing lead in an attempt to save my voice for Saturday night. Didn't work. Played the show on Saturday and sang lead on three songs. They weren't the greatest. Sang all my backups, but had no voice on Sunday.

Lucked into a gig with Keith Driver for this past Wednesday. Loaded up on Tuesday night to head for Virginia. Keith Driver had a gig Tuesday night so we weren't able to leave until around 2 am. Drove all night and arrived in Emporia, Virginia at 3 pm Wednesday. Went to the club and set up, headed to the Pork Festival, and then went back to the club to start playing at 8 pm. Played the gig, loaded up and headed right back to Nashville. Arrived back in Nashville at 3 pm on Thursday and got a little bit of a nap before I went to Jesse Zane's Nashville Nights club to play a gig with Keith Driver. Started the gig at 8:30 pm and didn't get done until 2 am. Went home and passed out until 3:30 this afternoon... and I'm STILL tired! No rest for the wicked I guess!

Anyway... that's been my life for the past two months. Hope you've all enjoyed reading my novel... feel free to comment and PLEASE visit the TS website!

Take it easy....

Struttin' with some Barbecue...

Hey everybody!

Nothing much new, but I thought I'd post anyway, just to keep everyone informed. Lauren and I did make it to PF Chang's on Sunday night. One word: AWESOME! The food was GREAT and the prices were pretty decent too. We had the Shanghai Street Dumplings as an appetizer.. they were great but you definitely need a fork and knife to eat them. They're way too big to tackle with chopsticks. For dinner I ordered the Wok-Seared Lamb, which was thinly-sliced lamb in some type of savory sauce with cilantro (YUM!) served over shredded lettuce. Lauren ordered the Mo Shu Pork. I'd never had it before and the only way I can describe it is: Japanese Fajitas. They give you these thin rice flour pancakes, plum sauce (the BOMB!) and the pork and vegetables. Then you build your own little burrito-type thing. We also had brown rice in lieu of regular white. All in all, PF Chang's rocks! If there's one in your general area, I'd suggest you go.

Tonight Lauren and I went to dinner with her friends Brittany and Nathan. We went to Jim and Nick's Barbecue here in Nashville. I've been jones-ing for good barbecue ever since I arrived in Nashville, and tonight I got it. I ordered a two-meat combo with Smoked Beef Brisket and Smoked Sausage. Both were amazing, although the sausage was a bit spicy. Lauren had the Pork Nachos, which were amazing. The meat was perfectly smoked and it melted in your mouth. They also served Cheese Biscuits with the meal. I'd never had them, but I can definitely say that I'll try them again... and again, and again, and again, and again....

TS is having a rehearsal tomorrow to learn a few new songs for the acoustic segment of our show. We're going to work on "Best of My Love", "Ol' 55", "Take It To The Limit", "Witchy Woman", and "The Long Run". Look for the show in Cleveland to be a blockbuster!

I've also been rehearsing with Tim McDonald's group for our upcoming Germany excursion. The songs are coming together very well and it should be a great trip for all involved.

I may be accompanying Lauren to a dog show in Perry, Georgia this weekend. She is showing her Corgi, Padrick. He's a sweetheart of a dog and he's very responsive to her commands. It should be a good time. I love road trips and I'm looking forward to finding a nice restaurant or two to review during the drive. (I always have an ulterior motive...)

Nothing else new... check back soon for pics of my Nashville experience and other cool stuff...

Ciao!

(PS: For the uninformed: The title of this post refers to an old Dixieland Jazz tune.. you'll probably hear it at the Bix Fest this year if you're in the QC area.)

The Beat Goes On....

Hey everybody!

Sorry I haven't posted in awhile, but things have been a little busy here in Nashville. The show at BB Kings was AWESOME. We didn't have a very large crowd, but the band was super-tight and sounded great! The soundman at BB's was great to work with and had us sounding wonderful to the audience. We had several of our friends and family attending the show, along with some pretty cool newcomers.

Met a cool girl named Lauren at the BB's show and we've hung out a few times recently. Went to J. Alexander's with her and her folks last night. (Time for another restaurant review) The food, atmosphere and pricing were all unbelievable. I had prime rib and it was almost as good as the prime rib at Gramma's Kitchen. My vegetable selection was a new one for me: Braised Red Cabbage with Maytag Bleu Cheese. Dad would've turned his nose up at it, but I thought it was great! They also have the BEST croissants, and they come drizzled with sweet icing, so it's like getting dessert in the middle of your meal! I think I'm going to PF Chang's for dinner tonight, so I'll write soon and tell you all how great it was. (Seems like my blog is turning into a series of restaurant reviews for Nashville... lol!)

Ended up on stage a few times this week (imagine that!). Sat in on drums with Jackson Hill on Sunday night, and I've sat in on harmonica with both High Maintenance and the John Warren band. Both groups are amazingly talented and they were impressed with my playing. I've also played a little bit of drums with John Warren, and it looks as if I might get a shift or two on Broadway with him sometime soon. Lauren snapped a few photos when we were out last night, so I'll post them as soon as I can get them resized.

Hope all is well with everyone and thanks for all of your prayers and support. I couldn't be doing any of this without you all... (or y'all... as they say in Nashville!)

Later on!

Keith

"Welcome back my friends...

...to the show that never ends, we're so glad you could attend, come inside come inside" ~ELP

Hello again from Nashville, Tennessee. I know I haven't posted in awhile but things have been busy here in NashVegas. The boys and I put on three incredible shows this past week and they're getting better every night!

Douglas Corner Cafe in Nashville was a pretty cool show. Nice little (keyword: little) venue, but at least I had a drum riser!! I think I wrote about Deric Ruttan sitting in with us that night, but in case you missed it... he rocks!!

Then it was off to ol' St. Louis for a Thursday night show at the Voodoo Lounge inside of Harrah's Casino. The load in was a minor pain in the posterior cause we had to go up a flight of stairs and road cases aren't the lightest things in the world! The show went well and the sound was pretty good, considering the soundman was mixing from the side of the stage. Speaking of the stage, it was over the top of the bar! Quite the interesting viewpoint for the band.

Mom and Dad came out to the show and had a great time. With the exception of getting lost in St. Louis trying to find their hotel, I think they enjoyed the trip. It was their first time seeing the band and I get the feeling that they were quite impressed. I might've even seen Dad bobbing his head a little bit!! Careful Dad... next thing you know you'll be growing your hair long, wearing flared jeans and sporting polyester shirts with massive collars!!

Friday was a travel day. I've already lamented about six guys in a Durango, so I won't mention it again. The rest of the day was cool though as Bryan, Paul, Bill (new keyboard player) and myself went to El Torero for dinner. It is THE best Mexican restaurant in Nashville and probably the best Mexican I've had anywhere (with the exception of maybe Cancun). Then after we dropped off Bill, we went to Guitar Center and drooled a little bit. (Don't worry Mom, I didn't buy anything!).

Saturday night was another stellar performance for the group. This time it was at BB King's in Nashville. This is a very cool venue, and the crowd was very responsive. I think I had my best drumming show to date and I had a pretty good vocal night as well. After the show, we headed out to the Mercy Lounge to catch the last of Bonepony's set. Kenny Wright, who I took the place of in TS, plays drums for them now, so it was very cool for me to get to actually meet him.

Last night (Tuesday) was another "off-the-chain" party at BB King's. The club is where Nashville Star holds it's after party, so the boys decided we should all go down and hob-nob. Jackson Hill was playing and they are THE best band in Nashville (besides us... :-) ). My buddy Tim McDonald plays keys for them and he always puts us on the guest list... it's great to have friends! The party was okay until Bret Michaels showed up... then it exploded!!

Bret (for the uninformed) is the lead singer for the rock group Poison, and he is also a judge on Nashville Star. He got up and performed with Jackson Hill, and ended up finishing the night when JH's singer took a spill onstage. I think he may have twisted his ankle or something, but whatever it was, it got him pretty bad. Paul ended up playing bass with Bret, as he was more versed in 80's rock than JH's bassist. Colin Raye (country singer) showed up near the end of the night, but no other celebrities of note were in attendance.

Oh, with the exception of Anthony Gomes. If you haven't heard this guy play guitar, then you'd better get out from under your rock!!! I had no idea who I was listening to until they introduced him when he was done. He is absolutely insane!!

I also forgot to mention that before BB's, Bryan and I went to dinner at Noshville which is a New York-style delicatessen. It's run by Jewish owners so everything was kosher... and it was GREAT!! FRESH pickles (they make their own), incredibly large sandwiches (I had brisket and pastrami with provolone and monterey jack cheeses on pumpernickel bread!!), and THE BEST cheesecake I have ever eaten in my ENTIRE life!!! The best thing about it though... it's CHEAP!! We also went down to the Second Fiddle club on Broadway and sat in with Bill's group on a few tunes.

Tequila Sunrise will be performing again at BB King's this coming Sunday for any of you in the Nashville area... we'd love to see you out there.

Also, feel free to log on to the Tequila Sunrise website and EXPLORE OUR MESSAGE BOARD! (Yes, I'm fishing here....) We feel lonely and would love some posts by our adoring fans...

That's everything up until today.. looking out my window I see a beautiful, sunny sky and the temp is about 75... I love Nashville!!

(note to all readers: Anything in color is a link... mouse over it and click and it will take you to the specific webpage...)

Playing with a Canadian superstar...

Hey again..

Sorry I forgot to mention it, but last night we had Deric Ruttan sitting in with us as Glenn Frey. For those of you who don't know Deric (which I'm figuring is most of you...), he's a Canadian singer/songwriter who has had pretty good success in Canada. He won a CCMA (Canadian Country Music Association) award this year but I'm not sure which one it was. Check out his website and I'm sure you'll find out. He nailed all the parts and his vocal inflections were awesome.. hopefully I'll get to work with him again in the future! It was a blast! Thanks, Deric!

Flying High Again...

Good day friends, family, passers-by...

I'm now back in Nashville (thank God!!). Got in town last Thursday and spent Thursday and Friday just hanging out. Spent some time with Bryan, Paul, Sean and John for St. Patrick's Day and had a few brews. All in all it's been a good trip so far.

Tequila Sunrise had a show last night at the Douglas Corner Cafe and it was pretty cool. The crowd could've been bigger, but Bryan had a lot of family there that I knew so it was almost better than playing to a larger crowd.

We've got a gig in St. Louis at the Voodoo Lounge on Thursday the 24th, and Mom and Dad are thinking about coming down... woo hoo!! I'll be sure to write back and give you all the details. Hopefully we'll have some pics from that show up on the website soon.

I'm thinking about staying in Nashville for the month until our gig in Cleveland so that the band can rehearse and get tighter. Money is an issue, but I'll find a way... donations??

Hope all is well with everyone... take it easy!

IT'S A BOY!!

No, I'm not having a baby... my cousin-in-law is!! It's 12:25 am and my cousin Aaron just called to tell us that there's another little Thoma in the family. Brooke had Max at around 12:15 (I'm guessing...). Max Thoma. I believe he's named after my great-grandfather on Dad's side. If I remember correctly, Max was also percussively inclined... so maybe it will come with the name? We'll just have to wait and see. I'll get info from Mom later today about the whole ordeal and also Brooke and Aaron's address and phone if you'd like to send your congratulations! It's a happy day in Thoma-land!

All good things...

... must end. :-( Unfortunately our vacation is ending today. Mom and I are flying out of Tallahassee at 5:25 this evening and returning to the frozen Midwest around 8:30. It's been a great trip with the exception of the uncooperative weather. It rained most of the time we were here, but it was nice enough to walk on the beach a few days. (Although we had to stay in our jeans and sweatshirts while we were walking...) Last night was a lot of fun. We all went out to dinner at Mori, which is a Japanese Hibachi restaurant. Y'know.. one of those places where they cook everything right in front of you and singe your eyebrows off with the flames? It was a blast. The chef had a great time joking with Mom, and I got to have Green Tea ice cream again. (Don't gag... it's good!) After dinner we all went out to a karaoke bar/restaurant. They didn't have an age limit, so Katlin was able to get in. I sang "Some Beach" by Blake Shelton and "I'm Movin' On" by Rascal Flatts. I was really impressed when Kiel got up and sang "Here Without You" by 3 Doors Down. He's a pretty good singer!!! Anyway.. we're leaving in about 3 hours, so I've gotta go pack again.. :: sigh :: By the way: NEW PICTURES ON THE TEQUILA SUNRISE SITE!!! Check em out!!!

Rain, rain go away!

Just checked out the weather for our Florida trip... RAIN!!! ::sigh:: I shouldn't be surprised at this. Whenever the family used to go to Clear Lake, we were lucky to get one day of sunshine while we were there. Why is it that God likes to rain on our parade?!? :-) Anyway, the trip will still be a blast, as I'm looking forward to hearing Katlin on his drums and seeing my friend Heather again will be great! Oh, yeah... and Kathy and Ron, I miss them too! LOL Not much else on the homefront.. just posting to post. Oh and if anyone wants a daily laugh -- check out my cousin Ryan's blog at www.rottenryan.com it is HILARIOUS!

Later

The idea that people pay...

...to watch me play music is staggering to me. Cool, nonetheless, but still pretty wild!

Tequila Sunrise crushed the Cleveland HOB again, and we're booked back on April 23rd. We're also playing another HOB-owned venue, The Madison Theater, on June 17th. This one is another 1200 seater. I could really get used to this!

One week from yesterday, Mom and I will be basking in the glow of the Gulf Coast sunshine... We're going to Florida to visit my sister Kathy and her family and I CAN'T WAIT!!! Hopefully I'll head back to Nashville with a tan!

Nothing much new... I've now completed all 3 seasons of Smallville and I'm up to speed on Season 4. Yes, I know, I have no life... lol.

That's it for now.. check back soon for more dates and Florida ramblings!

Adios

New Pictures from Cleveland!

Greetings and salutations once again music lovers! The band made it back from Cleveland unscathed (although 8 hours with six guys in a Durango borders on some form of capital punishment...). The show went well and the crowd was AMAZING! It's such an exhilirating feeling to have 1,000 + people in the palm of your hand! We had members of The Raspberries at the show, which was very cool. We added Derick Brunschweiger (hope I spelled that right) on percussion and Tim McDonald on keyboards/piano/organ for the show. It was very cool getting to play with a percussionist, and playing with Timmy Mac is always an extreme pleasure. Check out his site www.ivorytickler.com for some VERY cool music. We got some GREAT footage for the DVD including soundcheck, backstage and more! Stay tuned to this site for info on the release date.

On to my original reason for posting... there are NEW pictures from the Cleveland show on the Tequila Sunrise site, including a new one of me on my bio page. You can see the new pictures in our Gallery section. Please check them out and leave comments on the ones that you like. And PLEASE sign our Guestbook and let us know that you paid us a visit.

I'll be heading home from Nashville on Thursday. Although I'll miss it here, I'll be glad to get home. Hopefully TS will get a busy schedule this summer so I can think about relocating here in the fall or beginning of 2006. There's just too many opportunities that I could be taking advantage of if I were here. Also, Mom and I will be going to Florida to visit Kathy, Ron and the boys the last week in February. I'm REALLY looking forward to that, because it's been ages since I've seen them. Plus Florida is GREAT in February, and I might get to see my friend Heather McPherson while I'm there. I'm also stoked about attending another Burning House service at Eastgate with the Cravattas. It's weird... I never thought I'd really get excited about the Lord, but I guess age really does do crazy things. (Yikes! Am I finally growing up?!?! Say it ain't so!!!!!) :-) Nothing much else going on and I've gotta get some sleep before the session. So stop by the site and say hi (yes, I'm not above a shameless plug!).

TTFN!

Better late than never...

Hello again everybody!

Sorry for the extreme delay, but life's been good! (To quote Joe Walsh...) Anyway, Tequila Sunrise is playing the House of Blues in Cleveland, Ohio tonight and I'm super excited that my good friend Tim McDonald is going to be playing keyboards with us tonight. He's an AMAZING musician and his playing is going to definitely be a welcome addition.

The band made our TV debut yesterday morning as we performed LIVE on the Fox 8 morning show here in Cleveland. We left Nashville at about 9 pm on Thursday night and drove straight to the studio in Cleveland. We arrived around 5:45 am and had enough time to unload our gear, soundcheck and then.. GOOD MORNING CLEVELAND!

We performed 5 one-minute spots and 1 two minute spot. We performed "Life In The Fast Lane," "Love Will Keep Us Alive," "Funk #49," "Life's Been Good," "One Of These Nights," and the guitar ending for "Hotel California". The crew LOVED us and some of them might even be coming to the show. They really must've liked us because for breakfast they gave us WINGS!! They were doing a segment about the "Best Of" in Cleveland and they focused on buffalo wings. So we got to have some... YUMMY!! We also had tons of hits on our website from the station's website. Now on to the BIG news...

Tonight at the House of Blues in Cleveland, Ohio, Tequila Sunrise will be RECORDING a LIVE ALBUM and DVD! 48-track audio recording and a 4 camera DVD (complete with "behind the scenes" footage) will be available to our adoring fans shortly!

Hope all is well with everyone and the Lord is blessing you daily. Gotta go run through it once more before showtime! Ciao!

Happy New Year!

Welcome to 2005! The year started with a bang today as the IOWA HAWKEYES hung on to beat the LSU Tigers in the Capital One Bowl. (Sorry David!) Rang in '05 last night with Mom, Dad and Lori with Scrabble, Aggravation and B&B... no hangover today!! Going to go cheer on Michigan in the Rose Bowl and enjoy the final Tom & Jerry's of the season. Hope you all had a wonderful New Year's Eve and I wish everyone all the best in 2005. One more thing... GO HAWKS!