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.