My Story Summer 2010
Cast of Characters:
Lisa Bouchelle –vocalist, guitarist, blog narrator
Guy Petersen-lead guitarist
Johnny D’Angelo-drummer, percussionist
Andrew Kosez-bass guitar
Nate Lueck-piano, keyboards
Doug ‘I Can Make It Happen’ Katz-Tour Manager, Bus driver
Hal B. Selzer, Personal Manager to Lisa Bouchelle
Bob Burger, Special Musical Guest, Ac Guitar, Harmonica, Vox
Jimmy Leahey, Lead Guitar on Atlantic City Show

Fri Jul 2, 2010
Leaving house.  All packed up!  Headed for my drummer Johhny’s house.  Big tour of Summer 2010 opening for Meatloaf all thru Northern USA and thru Canada for 5 weeks! Yay! Hal Picked me up at my house.  Johnny’s mom took us up to Hackettstown NJ to pick up our Teeshirts.   Realize when we arrive that the teeshirts are not finished being printed.  Also that Doug has taken out the mirror with a low hanging tree on the way to meet us. We first chek out our new bus.  Outside says Senior Citizens on it.  Lift is kool tho to load the equip in and out.  Inside is kool.  Sofa’s and space for equipment.  Door won’t stay shut.  Leave teeshirt place and find an automotive place.  Buy some temp replacement mirrors.  Some dudes help us secure them.  We buy bungee cord to help keep passenger door from flying open.  All in all we’re Completely thankful for the kool vehicle that Jimmy Mara lent us!  Jimmy & The Parrots Rock!  Back to pick up teeshirts. And …. Off we go to try and make my meeting with Adina Beverages (Drink No Evil!) in CT.  They are going to sponsor us! We LOVE Adina.  Uh oh, 4th of Jul Holiday weekend traffic!  We’re late.  Hal calls for update every 15 min.  Now I know how he feels cos I call him every 15 min all the time!! Haha
So we make it to Adina.  Meet for 10 min. with the rep Bruce!  He’s so kool!  Gives us a lot of Adina 4 bus.  We continue to travel to Mike W’s house.  We love Mike W too for all his support.  Thank you!! We meet Nate there and we unload the whole bus and Andrew takes over and helps us load the bus with reason and order!! Go Andrew.  No one can pack a vehicle like a bass guitarist!  Always seems to be the case.

Now off we go to NH.  Stop for 1st band dinner.  Fun!  Much cooler up North.  Get to NH by 12:30am.  Ah, Super 8.   Drunkin’ hotel dude.  Can’t find the roll away bed for Johnny.  Duh!  Getting annoyed! Call Hal.  He fixes problem.  We unload into rooms.  My cold almost over, still carrying a roll of TP.  Nate in the peak of his cold.  Also carrying roll of TP! Haha   Crash out with tylenol pm.

Sat., Jul 3, 2010
 Wake, Run, Do Crunches, Drink Red Bull, Warm up voice (sounds like a cat in heat from my room thru the Super 8, nice…) Get ready for load in and meet band in lobby.  Off to first gig of the tour!  Exciting!
Sound check if fun but runs a bit late.  Still get it all done.  Doug is a GREAT help with everything, brings us our set lists and handles merch.  Take a break before gig.  Get all ready, hit catering and it’s time roll!
Set goes Great!  Goes by so friggin fast!  We do:
Heaven On Credit, NAKED, Tequila Talkin’, American Dreams Gone Wrong, Reinvent, Kitchen with jam at the end!  Great crowd response and big kool venue.  Great first show.
Doug escorts me to merch booth.  Sold ALOT of merch!  Signed a lot of CDs, Teeshirts and Hats!  It was really fun to meet the fans and sell so much!

Hang out for Meat’s show.  Really kool show! Huge show and production.
Back to venue.  Fun on bus, laughing with band.  Crash out….

Sunday, Jul 4, 2010
Up brite & early! Violating my 8hrs sleep per nite rule. Try better when I get back from NJ.  Headed to Long Branch NJ today to play in my friend and musical partner’s 4th of July show.  Bob Burger is headlining the pre-fireworks concert tonite! 
First I run!  Thru the parking lots of the hotel and fastfood restaurants, while the band slumbers…. Thru the brambles and the path, 15 laps around the bank drive thru and JesusGod, wish I had a scrunchy.  Scrunchies and hair supplies were locked in the tour bus this a.m.  Doug is sleeping and has the key.  Tied a sock round my pony tail and I’m jogging it loose…..  Walgreens closed on Sun. this early… ah! The convenience store!  Lady at the counter is kind and hooks me up with 2 rubber bands.  Tell her mine are locked in tour bus, etc etc.   Leave. Realize I need a red bull. Go back in. Buy redbull.  Can’t pay cos she’s holding phone over counter for her friend to hear some recording on it.  She says ‘sorry, it’s from the Meatloaf concert, we were there.’  I said, ‘So was I! that’s the band I am in.  I was the opening act!’  She said OMG, your Lori,  I said, ‘no I’m Lisa!’  She said we loved your 4th song.  I asked ‘Tequila talkin’ she said…’no…’  Ah, ‘American Dreams Gone Wrong’, the one with the upright bass?’  She said, ‘Yes! My friend and I said ‘that’s a good song!’  She then told me she couldn’t get down to get a free download card.  I gave her my manager’s email addy.  She emailed him and he hooked her up!  Thanks Michele in NH!  We luv ya!

So then off to the airport in Manchester.  Made it to Philly.
Digression:  the next time I come back in life I’m going to be as kool as Guy Petersen
2nd Digression:  my Opium sample perfume from Macy’s is kickin’!   Thank u for hookin’ me up with free travel stuff!  I done-smell good! haha

Back to the story:  Found Maude at C21 in the Econo Parking at PhilaAP.  Yes!  Drove home, took nap, Off to Long Branch.  My fav beach, really!   Jammed with Burger and the band, Really good time.  Audience and Band had a great experience.  Burger timed it perfectly and the fireworks commenced right after the last guitar hit on his big finish of American Girl!   Fireworks were pretty damn good. 
Then I had to find food.  Minor detail.  Ended up at Sawa. Sushi alone. L  Thought my friends would stick around with me, but they didn’t, o well.  Drove home, crashed …

Mon, Jul 5, 2010
Woke, worked out, did laudry,squeezed in some drama (oy ve!)then, Hal picked me up and we headed back to Phila AP.  Off to Canada with a letter from my immigration attorney and a carry on bag full of clean laudry!
Arrived in Toronta.  Doug and Nate have come to pick me up.  Yay!  In bus…                   
Drive an hour to the hotel in Oshawa.  Find a 24 hour Subway!  Yay!  Get to hotel .  Actually it’s more like a dorm on a college campus than a hotel room.  Pretty kool.  My room is like a little apartment.  Crash hard after a long day of travel.

Tues, July 6, 2010
Up and at em! 10:30.   Do a bit of computer work, then off to run!  O wow, heatwave is also hitting Canada,  Not running weather.  Notice tho a lot of open lawns and pretty places to investigate on my run even right near the college campus in suburbia.  This is fun!   Ok, back to get ready and then head over to the venue to load in and sound check.
Arrive at venue with the band in the bus at 2:30pm. Wow!  Indoor arena and it’s effing kool!  OMG LOVE THIS! It’s very exciting as it’s my first time playing an arena of this type.  General Moters Cntr Roxxx!
Sound check goes well.  Kool back stage area catering. But only beer again, so Guy and I go out with a runner who takes us for some wine to bring back. 

Time has come to hit the stage!  We go out and it’s like I can only see the first few rows of people.  The sound is good, tho I think my voice coming out of the sidefills was a bit loud for Guy!  The band plays great and the crowd is reallly digging it.  Quite amazing, but I’m feeling like a fish IN water! Haha!  It reminds me of other firsts… First time singing and winning talent show at 4years old.  First time on TV show when my lip was quivering like some kind of wild animal peaked out on the hunt!! Haha  It was so amazing, and I must say that the sound and response and the high of making our music with my band this nite was an incredible one that I won’t forget. 
Hang after the show, drink a bit of vino.  Go out with my mates and watch some of Meatloaf’s show. Wow! Pyrotechnics  and all!  It was very kool.
Go back out to the merch booth.  Sales going well.  Signing a lot of CDs and even sign a girl’s breast.  Yay! That was  a first!  Back to the hotel to crash.
Looking for food on the way.  Andrew playin’ guitar and Johnny and Andrew singing  ‘The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down’.  I’m just chillin’ with Guy and then we all start harmonizing.  Find a 24hr McDonald’s.  Band goes in buzzed and loud with post-arena-gig adrenalyn coursin’! haha McDonald’s didn’t know what hit ‘em! Haha
Back to the hotel lobby, band chek’s email with the lobby wi-fi.  Bit of a ‘let down’ now that I’m in my PJ’s  but life is a rollercoaster anyhow…. Enjoying the ride…

Wed, July 7, 2010
On our way to Boston.  10 Hour ride.  Guys just invented a new card game.  See how many cards can gently be placed upon Nate while he’s sleeping b4 he wakes up.  Think they made it up to only about 10 cards.
Guy crashing too.  I think I’m gonna go do the same, then play some guitar for a bit…
Ok, awake, I’ll be driving the bus over the border today.   Get to the border check.  Dude gets on our ‘Senior Citizen’s’ bus and says “what kinda bullshit but is this?” haha, “I expected a bunch of senior citizens going to play bingo and then I look and some chix drivin it”  He was amused to hear our story and told some people we were famous and he was gonna google us.  They took Nate away for a bit as he is a Canadian citizen.  They returned him in one piece. 

Doug got the DVD player to work.  He ‘made it happen’!!  and we watched Spaceballs
Guy helped me a devise a groovy way to play ‘Take It Out On Me’ as an acoustic version with kool guit chords.  Now If I can just practice it til I can actually play it! Haha

We finished a long day of driving.  Then landed here in Boston at the Red Roof.  Same bedspreads and pix on the wall as all other RedRoof’s .  Yay,  Nice to have little things like that to count on! Haha
Ok, off to crash! Get back and crash, ends up that I am in a totally different bldg at the hotel as the guyz.  Drag numerous suitcases over, take a bath, organize all my stuff and nest, and then crash.
  Show tomorrow at Boston’s Bank of America Pavillion.

Thurs, July 8, 2010
Wake up, run thru the industrial park, fun! Lots of steps and trails and grab a red bull, go back, do crunches and watch The View.  Get ready and meet the bus.  Grab egg sandwiches at DD that takes 4ever!  Doug puts gas in bus and we head                      
Arrive at venue. Boston’s Bank of America Pavillion! Unload the bus.  Dressing rooms a bit small, but cozy.  We decide to change up the set a bit today. 

Heaven On Credit, Only The Tequila Talking, American Dreams Gone Wrong, Take It Out On Me, Reinvent, Kitchen. 

Do a little band meeting and rehearsal to prepare.  No beer in green room.  Doug orders from Harpoon Brewery, or as Guy calls it ‘The half moon brewery’.   Sound check goes great and we run thru Take It Out On Me on stage for practice.
Hit the stage and the show it really great. We are digging tonite’s set and Take it Out On Me seems to be very well received indeed!  Big response at the ‘Stop’ after 1st Chorus. Good sign!  Gets big applause at end too.  Think that song’s a keeper in the live show!
After the show I drink some vino with some visiting friends and Guy and I chill out back of the arena, hearing the concert from  there and I look up and see a shooting star!  Turns out that later we’re all talking and Nate and his friend Laura saw the same shooting star, and just happened to look up at the same time I had.  Made a good wish.  Have a feeling it will come true!

Fri., July 9, 2010
Gig at Basil’s with Bob Burger.  Fun time.  Feels strange and familiar to be in Red Bank playing. 

Sat.,  July 10, 2010
Get to the venue and set up my stuff in dressing room.  Today we’re performing at the Atlantic City, NJ Hilton Casino. Small venue compared to others.  Smaller stack of side fills, but it surely will be packed tonite.  Capacity of about 2000.   Sound check goes well.  Bob Burger playing guitar, harmonica and vox with us today. Guy is not here today and so Jimmy Leahey is playing lead guit with us for this gig.
Hit the stage the set feels like it goes pretty well.  Nearly trip over a monitor while walking the stage on Take It Out On Me.  Just such a smaller stage I should have mapped my path to walk during sound check.  However, when the front of my foot detects the presence of the monitor, my 5 inch platform boot automatically goes up and skims over it without looking down or missing a beat.  Even I’m amazed!
Lots of friends and fans I know at this NJ show.  See them back at the merch booth.  My friend Bobcat is here and it’s his bday!  We hang out and watch Meat’s set back by merch and dance to the songs! Fun.  Out on boardwalk after it’s all said and done.  Have a salad out there with cat.  Then I plan to drive home.  But I find myself turning into a really seedy motel literally ½ mile from the venue.  So much for saving money and driving home.12:30am. Go to check in and some prostitute starts bitching me out for smiling sweetly at her little son.  What a skank! Get to my room in one piece.  Bolt the door.  I am stripped down and asleep in the motel bed w/in 2 min.  Sleep for 8 hours straight. Ahh!

Sun., July 11, 2010
Ok, up and at ‘em!  Hit the AC Express Way home. Gig at Windansea in Highlands, NJ with Bob Burger Acoustic Band.  Burger, Jerry Gaskill, Jimmy Leahey & Me outdoors making music in the afternoon.  Also my friend’s Diane’s bday celebration today at the Windansea too.  Fun time!  Hang out for a bit after gig with Hal. Walk down by the water and chill.  Then home to crash.

Mon., July 12, 2010
Uncasville, CT – Mohegan Sun Arena
So this one is gonna be a fairly long ride. Actually I ride up with Hal.  He leaves his car where the bus picks the rest of the guyz up so he can catch a ride home with the boyz.  I need to stay in CT after the show to get up early and head to a radio show on WBJB in Lincroft NJ the next morning. 

Venue looks amazing. Indoor arena.  So happy Hal is here to see the show.  Hasn’t been to a show yet!  Sound check goes really great and Hal is excited and a bunch of other people are here tonite to see the show too.

Show goes really great!  So exciting and the sound in the venue was my fav so far.  Great nite!  Hang after for a while. Bob Cat is here too to hang back stage.  Stay in a V.I.P. Suite room.  Nice!  Only can sleep 4 hours.  Then to NJ for radio!

Tues., July 13, 2010
Head back home to NJ as Rich Robinson of Brookdale The Night, WBJB has invited me and Bob Burger to be on his groovy radio show to promote the upcoming local shows opening for Meatloaf this coming week.  I feel like I could hurl cos I haven’t slept enuff in several dayz.
Still no crabs or anything evidence from sleeping naked in the bed in the Totally seedy motel in A.C.!  good sign! Excuse the digression.
Drink Red Bull and haul ass back to NJ for 5 hours thru rush hour traffic to make it to Lincroft, NJ!
Radio show is really fun.  It is always good to visit Rich at WBJB and always good to play and sing with Burger. 

We play HoC, NAKED, Tequila Talkin’ and Lousiana Rain.

Wed., July 14, 2010
Head to Jones Beach in bus with Doug, Hal, Guy and Me.  Having trouble getting to venue cos bus is too tall.  Makes us late.  Stressful!
HoC, Tequila Talkin, Take It Out, Reivent, Midnight Special (CCR/Fogarty), Kitchen w/jam

Thu, July 15, 2010
Day off at home, get hair done, fix up house, hit bank, bills, etc. etc. etc……

Fri, July 16, 2010
Gig at PNC Arts Center today.  Kool!  Head up to gig with Hal.  Bob Burger also on the stage with us.  Makes it xtra fun.  Show turns out great.  So many people there that I know.  End up with so many people to take back stage that we can’t even take everybody back.  Childhood friends, NJShore friends and fans….  Family-friends….    Show kicks butt!  Very happy with tonite’s performance. Happen to glance up at the big screens on the sides of the stage when I was singing Over The Edge with Burger.  Amazing feeling!  Sound on stage is excellent in my opinion.  I can hear everything so clearly.  Stage allows me to climb around out near the front row on Take It Out On Me.
Set List: HoC, Tequila Talkin, Over The Edge, Take It Out, Reinvent, Kitchen w/jam

Sat., Jul 17, 2010
Day off.  Do Laundry, Sleep, work out, Sleep, watch TV, Sleep…. Head out clubbing… duh! Haha couldn’t resist!

Sun, Jul 18, 2010
Oh Geez, up early.  Stayed out kinda late last nite… Oh well.  It was a really great nite so it was worth it!  Some red bull and a quick run and workout and get ready to pack up and leave for a while.  Guy and Hal arrive at my house by 10:30.  We’re off to Johnny’s to meet the bus and rest of the band.  Load up the bus, and we’re on our way to Hershey, PA Giant Center

Set:  HoC, Tequila, American Dreams, Take It Out, Reinvent, Kitchen w/jam

My friends BK, H, Melster and Kelly are at the gig and hanging backstage.  Fun for me to have them there tonite!
The gig tonite is amazing.  Venue was huge.  Yet I really felt like I reached another level and totally relaxed into the whole vibe of the shows.  It was like I was able to establish an intimate connection with the audience.  Like at a coffee house at times, but only one with thousands of people in an arena setting.  At the merch booth I got some many comments on different lyric lines in the songs we performed in the set.  Lines from Heaven On Credit and Reinvent. It meant a lot to me to know that people were connecting with the songs and that the songs were helping them get thru stuff in their lives.  I also had several people mention having heard Heaven On Credit and Only The Tequila Talkin’ on the radio.  That was kool to know that they recognized it.  Gotta go crash…

Mon, Jul 19, 2010
Wake up, go for a run.  Pack up and to the bus.  We’re heading for Detroit.  Ride is long today. 10/11 hours.  During ride we get a call that the show in Windsor, ON has been postponed and won’t be happening 2moro. Drag.  Play guitar for a while while watching PA go by at 80mph…  Also slept for a while which is difficult for me to do on the bus. All of the sudden Doug and Nate spot a billboard with Meatloaf Special Guest ‘Lisa Bouchelle’  Wakes and cheers us all up for the last hour of the ride! Finalllllly get to hotel in Detroit.  It’s a sweet room, yes!  Unpack some of my stuff.  Will be here for 2 days, and tomorrow I won’t have a gig.  The next day, just a gig singing the Nat’l Anthem for the Detroit Tigers.  Guess I could use a rest and some time to catch up with some work and fan mail and study for my gig in NJ this coming wkend.   That’s where I am now, just chillin’ in my room.

Tues, Jul 20, 2010
So, no gig today.  Lotz of work to catch up on.  Work out, Go over music for this weekend’s Tom Petty Show with Bob Burger in Asbury Park.  Website host took webpage down cos I was late paying bill.  Had mail held by Post Office, then sent it out Sat. b4 I split town, but too late!  Mgr. calls. Webdesigner said PAGE IS DOWN!  Call host say ‘the check’s in the mail’  They put the pg. back.net rocks!  Thanx guyz!  Then off to find bday card and Jack Daniels and Bday cake for Johnny as it is his Birthday!  Guy gives me a guitar string changing lesson as I suck at changing strings.   Think I’m starting to get the hang of it.  We all head for a nice sushi dinner 2gether.  Nice restaurant Doug found 20 min. from hotel. A good time had by all.  We head back to the hotel.  Baymont hotel is beautiful btw.  Really enjoying it.  We hang out and have a bit of party, at least social gathering in one of the rooms.  Play some music acoustic, exchange some song writing ideas. Fun evening.  At 1:15 I realize I need to go crash.  So I do. Goodnite J

Wed, Jul 21, 2010
Ok, so I’m up at 10am.  Pack up quickly and go outside to sing the National Anthem.  Where to go.  Have to choose a key for later today when I’m singing it at the Tigers Baseball game.  Where to go to do this it’s so effing loud!  Choose the IHOP Parking Lot near our hotel to practice.  It’s so loud, people looking at me and shit.  Feel like a patriotic jackass!! Haha.  Oh well. Settle on a key and an approach and meet the band in the lobby with all my luggage.  Off to the Denny’s.  Not hungry.  Work on my computer while the guyz eat like lumberjacks. Ok, headed to the new hotel in Detroit.  For the next 2 dayz we’re moving into rooms at the Casino where our performance with Meat is tomorrow.  That should b nice.  Hope they have a good gym!

San Diego Blog

"Well it was out in California, by the San Diego Sea...."

Thurs. 2/18/10 Papa Carl dropped me off @ Newark A.P. with a bass in a flight case with wheels, a suitcase with costumes and guitar pedals and promo material and Boots boots boots in it on wheels and my Ovation in hardshell case, and my purse and my backpack.  We were able to hand it to the man at the curb and check it all. Thank goodness or I would have had to grow an xtra arm.  As always, the smallest person with the most luggage....

Arrive in San Diego, direct flight!  Get to hotel, but no food avail! They roll up the carpets early round here.. Burger and I found frozen pizza to cook in microwave.  It sufficed. Crash early. Burger's showcase tomorrow at lunchtime.  I'll play percussion and sing backups.

Friday 2/19/10 Up early to do vocal excercises and try to get ready which takes longer the earlier I wake... red bull... wherez my red bull... Got to the Rancho Bernardo and did soundchek for Burger's showcase at outdoor cafe setting.  At first, no people, then they came pouring in.  Show went really well. Burger Always puts on a great show.  They asked for an extra song.  He did 'Guitars are Taking Over' as his extra song.  Happy I remembered all the words to the backup vox on 'Blew My Doors Off'  The served soup and fancy versions of pb&j and grilled cheese sandwiches.  My kind of food really. We ate and schmoozed for a bit. Then we did several interviews and played live during them. We backed each other up on the songs and some were for TV, some for the web, some for radio. It was a fun day. Goodie bag contained cds, including ours and also some groovadelic retro aviator sunglasses that i am Digging! I had a great opportunity to meet all the people on my radio promotion team for my radio campaign.  It was really kool to get to meet them in person.

Band arrived this evening.  Everyone got here safely except for Guy's guitar...... The airline lost it and he gate checked it!  Pedals and all were with it....  oy ve! Saturday

2/20/10 Up early to vocalize and get ready for my showcase.  Soundchek at 1pm.  Burger and Guy head to guitar center to attempt to buy, rent, borrow or steal a guitar!  haha.  I met up with Mikey and Pat to ride with them to Gig. We get there and soon after Burger and Guy show up with a guitar for Guy! Yay!  We leave the price tag on the guitar and strap... Minnie Pearl style.  Guitar will have to be returned the next day! Totally Rock n' Roll.  Guy playing w/the price tags on the axe!! haha Sound chek goes great.  Great stage, room and sound engineers. Kool! So since we have early sound chek it causes us to miss free lunch at the restaurant. I take the guyz out for lunch. We dine at what Burger referred to as the 'Rancho Expensivo' hahaha.. It was good. We chat for a bit, chek our email and head to the stage.

Enjoyed the other acts and did our set and pretty much tore it up!  When w/out a glitch, even high note in Reinvent. We did Heaven On Credit, Over The Edge, American Dreams Gone Wrong, Kitchen, Where You Are and Reinvent. Band sounded great. Mikey and Pat split on the Redeye back to NJ and NY tonite.I break away from my post-gig press photo session to which I had been whisked away to by Michele to quickly hug my bandmates goodbye and wish them a safe journey home. Then more photos, more chatting..... Guy, Me and Burger and Guys friend Drew stick around and watch more music and talk to alot of radio programmers at the show.

Sunday 2/21/10 Time to pack up. I head to LA solo this evening in a rental car which I'll be picking up today at the Airport. Burger will take me to airport as he is flying out today back to NJ.  On the way to the airport we have to return the guitar to Guitar Center. They are totally kool about it. Piece of cake. I have my car and am heading to LA. Due to stay with my manager's cousin. I never get alway to LA.  Stop for food and then I'm too tired to go even 5 more miles....  I crash at a hotel for the nite. Watch Hannah Montana, play Burger's bass for a bit which is with me in the flight case with wheels along with all the other baggage I started with in NJ on 2/18 but this time without the help of Papa. Can barely fit it all in the rental car I sprung for! haha  Finally crash.

Monday 2/22/10 Get up fairly early.  Work out in room to the best of my ability with limited space.  Get ready for my first meeting with a publishing company. Check out late, told them I was sick. I wasn't, it's just that Cali water makes my hair spaz!  They let me slide.  Drive the rest of the way to LA to publisher meeting.   Nervous... Nervous... Nervous... walk in with my guitar and act like I'm Totally NOT Nervous haha.  Meet with really kool young woman who runs the company.  Great hip office space. Go into their lobby area around a table and play live for Her and her two coworkers.  I play Heaven On Credit just verse and chorus, All of American Dreams Gone Wrong, Some of Reinvent, then they ask for one more. I ask her 'wanna hear a song called NAKED or Kitchen'  She chooses Kitchen. Play some of that. Seems like it goes really well.They do alot of work for song placements for TV too.  I am really interested in that. She asked for a CD but the only one I had was in my goodie bag from the conference... Oh it's in my rental car.  We walk out and get it.  We have a nice chat about some kool opportunities she has in my mind for my music.  Great meeting. Was nervous for nothing. Ok, so now to make my way to my Manager's cousin's house.  Her name is Reva. She is really nice and has beautiful home in Sherman Oaks. I find the house, but can't get in w/the key I was provided. There I am on the doorstep with the bass in the flight case on wheels, the suitcase with costumes, promo materials and boots, boots, boots with wheels, guitar case w/ovation, backpack and purse and I can hear the cats inside but where are divided by a locked door I can't open. Call manager. He calls Reva. Gets message machine. I take stuff back out to car.... Then think .. let me give it one more try. It works! Like nothing was wrong! haha. Go back to car and bring in bass in flight case with wheels,  ahhh you get the picture. Tonite Reva and her daughter Rachelle take me out to dinner in Studio City. Had salmon... delish'!!

Tues, 2/23/10 My last day!  Wake up and head to my record label office. Varese is located in Studio City too.  I met Cary, my label guy.  He is way kool.  Meet the art director who put my CD art together for Bleu Room. Met a bunch of other people that work at Varese and talked with Cary about music and his extensive CD collection. They Cary drives my up to Universal City where the parent company Fontana is located.  Very exciting. We get there and I met Karla in person who I've had phone meetings with but never actually met.  She is wonderful. So smart and great to work with. She takes us up the elevator and to a board room. They have Bleu Room playing over a great system. Sounds awesome. Feel like a star. People who work there come in and they serve food.  I am introduced. They applaude. I talk a bit about who I am/what I do, which they kind of knew already haha, then I play live solo acoustic. Heaven On Credit, NAKED, Where You Are and Kitchen.  Goes over great.  It was really fun!  They took pictures. One is on my Twitter page. Then they had me autograph this big wall that all the artists autgraph. The Art Director there loved 'Where You Are' and asked to keep my guitar pick :-)

Never ate.  Can't eat when I am performing really. Used to be able to reach back and bite a slice of pizza I kept on my PA head and chew during instrumental sections of songs... those days are gone!! haha. Now to UPS to ship the bass in the flight case on wheels back to NJ!!  So I am shipping and to get it back in time for Burger to play it on our TV show in Philadelphia 2 days later it would cost me $600 to ship it! Ahhhh!!!  Call Burger, hope I reach him.  I reach him.  He says he has an identical bass he can play on TV, so ship it to get there in a week... ahhh relief... only about $100. Alot, but will cost $50 to put as xtra baggage for flight, plus without Papa I'd have to grow another arm! haha  Now I go lunch next door.  Eat, drink some wine, then hit the Vintage shop across the street. Try on retro clothes, buy retro clothes, then go back to Reva's and attempt to crame retro clothes in the red suitcase with clothes, promo materials and boots boots boots!! haha. Reva comes home, we have tea and chat. Then she off to her bridge game and i'm off to the airport an into the great wide open on red eye back home.

I'm cranky on the flight  Some guy asks me what my buttons say on my jacket. They were dirty and racy. I tell him it's not his business.  cranky cranky cranky, tired and annoyed cos i spent time in a.p. on the phone with my manager due to impending snow that looks like it will postpone our TV appearance in Philly. Seat between me and the other guy.  Put up my hoodie hood and try to crash unsuccessful.  and in Newark @ 6am looking like something that cat drug in.  Papa!  Yay, there's Papa!  He helps me with all the luggage and takes me to his car where he has caffeine for me. I snack on some piece of a granola bar I found that I'm sure he was saving to finish! haha Go home and crash.... Great trip.  Just a really great trip!

Dug Cali xtra this time... "Well it was out in California, by the San Diego Sea...."

Notes from Nashville Sept 2009
Wed 9/9/09
Well, just getting into Nashville. Flight only delayed 45 min. out of Philly direct to Music City! Struggled a bit as I was (as per usual) the smallest person with the most luggage at the airport!! Gate checked guitar, seems to have made it here in one piece! Tonite I’ll just set up the room and nest and write some music I think....

Thur 9/10/09
Waking up in Nashville and working on a new song! Going out for a bit to explore Got back, the gym that I’m using while intown is sooo kool! Has a cardio cinema too, ... like a movie theatre with tread mills and stuff to run on! Tonite went to Billy Falcon’s Sowing Circle at The Blue Bar. I was invited to be a special guest. Performed Bebe Blues with the house band and Where You Are solo. Great audience. Awesome band! Billy and Rose Falcon who are always great and other great players including Brad Nelson and sax player, conga player and voilinist. That part of town seemed to be hoppin’ for a Thursday nite. Titans and Steelers game on at the bar, backstage area. Last I saw it was tied..... Just made a call.... Steelers won in O.T.. I was on stage when that occurred! Off to bed now.

Fri 9/11/09
Firstly today, God Bless the U.S.A 9/11-'Let us Never Forget...' As for my day today..... Just got back from playing at the Commodore Grill. Great place. Singer/Songwriters in the round type thing, hosted by Rick Stewart. Got there and it turns out I was in the first round of writers on stage. Had to literally run to the restroom after the drive there (they waited for me ! haha), tune up and on stage I went! haha Each of us played a song and took turns doing so, and then played another for a set. The audience was made up of many people visiting Nashville as well as some locals. Met a lot of great musicians and writers. Hung around there for a while. Great nite and inspiring to my creativity!

Sat 9/12/09
Just got back from a writing session with John Prestia. We wrote a kool tune together! John is really talented and works with Tim McGraw and has for many years. He is a guitarist, singer and songwriter. Fun tune that we put together today at his studio! So my friend just got to town for a visit/vaca to Nashville. We’re goin’ out to hit the downtown area and see whassup for Sat. nite in Music City!

Sun 9/13/09
Had a great time out on the town last nite. Ate dinner at the Merchant, fried green tomatoes, crabcakes and crawfish ravioli, yum! .... and some cocktails! Bought some stuff including a Waylon Jennings biography in a downtown shop. We heard some kool street musicians, most country and rock guitarists and even a bit of improv hip hop that was pretty kool! My manager gets to town today. Off to meet him and then get ready to play at the Bluebird Café tonite. Chek in later!
LATER on Sun 9/13/09
OK, checkin’ in again late nite! Played tonite at the Bluebird Café. Legendary place. I was performing in a line up of some great songwriters tonite. It was a very enjoyable show! Very inspiring. I was happy that my set was so well received! Performed ‘Heaven On Credit’, ‘Where You Are’ and ‘Reinvent’, all in solo acoustic versions. I remember going to see a show at the Bluebird last time I was in town and really wanted to play there. When I got word from my manager that I was booked there I was very excited. It was really kool! Afterwards, we hung out with some very interested people who are in the music industry and had some good conversation about business and art! Then passed by the Blue Bar, but things were wrappin’ up there fairly early.

Mon 9/14/09
Today was busy. Another song writing session, and then this evening had dinner and then checked out the show at the Station Inn with a songwriter friend, Sam Cooper who I will be writing with tomorrow. Sam was originally from the Jersey Shore scene... At the Station Inn, they had 12-piece country swing band... classic stuff. All top notch grammy nominated musicians and such. Kool show, Just getting to the computer now! Off to crash soon ...

Tue 9/15/09
Ok, so today was Big for writing! I wrote a kool song with Sam Cooper.. really different and it was a creative session over at a studio on music row. Just a totally different approach to writing than I've experienced. Seems like each team or partnership is a bit different and it is such a kool and intriguing process. I love what I do. Sam is really kool and creative! Then I went back over to John Prestia's studio. John had layed down the guitars for the song we wrote the other day and he had his friend lay down a bass track. I sang to it and now we have we we're calling a Better Than a Boom Box recording of the tune. It's a fun tune and I feel really good about it. My friend Bobcat scored tix for Montgomery Gentry at the Grand Ole Opry. Never been to the Opry. Gonna ride over there now and check it out for a bit. Well, time to shut down the laptop and head on back up north for a while. Peace, Luv & Music! Thanx for following my escapades! More to come soon, I'm sure! /Lisa :-)

Japan-Blog
Wed, 1/9/08
Well this morning we will leave for Japan. I and my 2 managers, Hal and BK, will be headed for Japan with a layover in Chicago. It will be a 15 hour journey in all. Should be interesting. I can't imagine sitting still for that long. Well it's off to the Philadelphia airport now. I will be performing there for an industry showcase. Two 40 min. shows at a Tokyo venue. My band will be made up of up-and-coming Japanese pop/rock musicians. It will be 6 piece band including me and I can't wait to meet them. We'll have one rehearsal together before the show. Talk to you soon.

Thurs, 1/10/08
Today we arrived in Japan. Somehow one loses a day because we cross the international date line to get here. Anyhow, when we arrived, I was jet lagged beyond belief with and was feeling under the weather a bit. But what the heck, I'm in Japan, I can sleep when I'm dead, right? Our label guy, Glenn, who is totally kool and so helpful met us at the Narita airport. It is about an hour ride on the train to Ebisu, the part of Tokyo where we'll be staying. We gathered up the bags and the guitar, etc. and off we went to catch the train. I felt like I looked ragged and pale. After we reached the hotel, we agreed to freshen up a bit and then do a dinner meeting. Here I go!

Fri., 1/11/08
Dinner meeting last nite worked out fine. Tokyo, the lights all around, reminding me of time square, the sounds, the new food experiences in a big metropolis, the fashion, the people, actually can cause a bit sensory overload for a girl with a cold and jet lag!! Ha, but it was awesome anyhow. I practically cried from exhaustion when I hit my little bed that looked out over the city, in my tiny but efficient room in Ebisu that night. I slept for 9 hours...like a rock!
NOW FOR TODAY'S AGENDA:
Okay! Up and At 'Em, Bebe! I am getting ready to head for our rehearsal studio with my band. I am excited to meet them. They don't speak any English, or very little and I know barely a word of Japanese. I want to jam!

Later Friday: 1/11/08
Wow, that rehearsal was amazing. I have a drummer, a bass player, a guitarist, a keyboardist and a backup singer. All together we are 3 girls, 3 guyz. I had the chance to meet the man who organized the band. The players are his students at the music college. Turns out it's Kyoji Yamamoto, he's our musical director pretty much! He is the famous guitarist is Japan of Bow Wow and Vow Wow and he is a solo artist as well. He was so helpful and helped us with all the music and helped us translate. Hal also worked a lot with the band and we got everything sounding wonderful! I can't wait til the showcase. After rehearsal, BK, Hal, Kyoji, Glenn and I went to a wonderful dinner. I'm getting even better using chop sticks and food was delicious. We were tempted to hit a jam nite/open stage, but I truly feel jet lagged and with planning to sing 'The Other Side of the Rainbow (Dorothy)' as one of the showcase songs tomorrow for tons of press and contacts, I think sleep must come first. My managers agree ;-)

Sat., 1/12/08
Ok, well today is the day of the showcase, soundcheck is at 4:30, then a dinner break, then the shows 9pm and 11pm. Off to soundcheck, I'll update you later.

Later 1/12/08
Back from soundcheck, it ran long. We needed longer guitar/keyboard cables, Glenn ran all over to buy that stuff, we improvised a way to make the loop work for my drummer, cause we didn't have the right cables to do it the way Mike does it at home, have to ask him how it does that...anyhow, then the guitar amp died or something, and we switched that ......But: after it was all said and done it sounded really great! Hope for a great crowd. Have a feeling I'll be out late as hell, think I'll update y'all in the morning about the how it goes!

Sun., 1/13/08
Ahh....wow, what a great show we had last nite...it was truly magical. We did a set for a packed room of press and contacts and new fans. The band seemed flawless to me and the crowd response was all that. The synergy in the room was definitely there...all the way! Then my backup band played a set on their own. During their set, Bobby Bandiera showed up because he was in town to perform with Bon Jovi at the Tokyo Dome. He sat in for our last song and our encore of our 2nd set and so did Kyoji Yamamoto and Hal B. Selzer on Bass. We rocked out Bebe Blues and also got asked to do an encore, so we jammed out on Mustang Sally. It was all that. Kong from Tokyo FM was also there and we discussed my interview for the next morning. He got some live quotes from me, and Kyoji and Bobby B. We dropped our stuff off at the hotel and it was out for sushi and sake with the band and team! We ate and drank til 5:00am. I said a tearful farewell to my Japanese band mates. I hope to see them again soon. Now I am preparing for an interview. Kong will come here to my tiny room and we'll all pack in here to do it. I have to clean this place up as I brought 65 lbs of clothes and shoes...that's a lot for this room. I can't find Hal with my breakfast, and BK has my guitar....I have the alternate guitar that Ovation sent here for me....Did I mention Ovation Rocks!!!! They endorse me and I love them. I'll play this one live.....Wait here's BK calling...I'll write again after the interview.

Later 1/13/08
Ok, I did the interview.....I was up til 5:30am drinking sake and then here I was, video camera in my face and two mics held by the guys, one on my guitar and one at my mouth and I sang 15 years and I actually sang it well....unbelievable...hahahaha.. 15 Years is one of the bonus tracks on the Japanese release of 'Paint Your Dreams'. The interview was fun, Kong made it fun. It will be avail online soon, and I'll let y'all know where to find it.
Tonite we'll be going to the Tokyo Dome to See Bon Jovi and hang with those guys for a while.

Mon., 1/14/08
Bon Jovi concert was great! Sold out, I think the Dome holds 60,000 people. Today we'll do lunch with Bobby and then Tim, who works with TKO and his wife Tess will be taking us shopping in Harajuku for some kool fashion.

Later 1/14/08
Well, shopping trip was great fun....kool clothes...Hal found some kooljeans and I found cute tops and legwarmers. Then we went to HMV and one other CD store and the team took pictures of me buying my own CD...it was funny to see the person at the counter's reaction when he realized it was my on the cover of the cd I was buying!!! hahaha We also went to a sushi place where the sushi comes around on a conveyer belt and you pick the plate off of the belt as it rides by your table...hahaha... funny, right?
Tonite, I went out with my 2 managers (just our little family) for a cocktail, or 3....found an isolated place that was dark and secluded. I think we might have ended up at a gay bar, ...not sure....it was just us in there with leopard bar stools and 70 funk music. We walked in and had the place to ourselves, then we danced out and around the corner back here. I'm beat....and I'll crash for just a few hours, then hit the journey home.
We will await the feedback from press and other contacts who attended the showcase. I hope to make a return trip before too long and proceed with promotions and shows. Tokyo was such a great experience. My label TKO (thanks to Glenn and Tim) was great as well as the band, Kyoji and my Managers help was so great. Thanks too to Bobby and the Bon Jovi band for adding to the experience and to all the wonderful gracious people I had the chance to meet there. Peace&Music, Thanks to you, my fans, for your support as always......Lisa

Blues Traveler--Blog
First Entry -  Oct 7, 2007-ish

Hi everybody.

Writing from my third show with Blues Traveler. I'm back stage in North Carolina at the Visulite. My set tonite went really well. Great venue.

The guyz in Blues Traveler are soooo kool and they play amazing shows live Really awesome. Their whole staff is wonderful. Gina is 'da bomb'!! I love being out here with them. The fanz have been great too.

Right now I'm back stage listening to the guyz jam. It's awesome! I think I'm getting adjusted to touring life. i have alot to learn.

Last Wed. I found out that I'd be leaving Friday morning for six weeks. I was really excited but it was also a bit of a shock. I got ready as quickly as I could with the help of my team and out I went. My team back in NJ roxxxxx!

I started by driving down to New Orleans. I loved the HOB New Orleans show. Our first show was 'all that', in my 'second home' city. Great vibe. Packed house. The city's workin' on repairing. Go there. Be part of it's resurgence. That's what it takes.

I lost my car in the parking lot the next day. I had not slept for days before that show. Finally found it and headed to Atlanta, where I flew up to do the 'Backstage with Barry Nolan' Comcast show. Saw the band and the crew. It felt good to be with 'family' again.

TV show seemed to go great. Sound was great on the set. Barry Nolan was nice. We did 3 tunes. 'Along for the Ride', 'Insane' and 'Missed The Ring'. My luggage got lost on the way back from Boston to Atlanta. Also the Flight was 2 hours late. I took care of the situation with the luggage and got my car, drove towards Athens, GA...Came really close to not making the Athens show. But I made it thanks to the B.T. crew and it was great show in a kool College town.

Tomorrow I'm hittin' the Waffle house first thing in the a.m., Lost 5 lbs by accident. Easy to do out here. Busy drivin and jammin' and finding my car....(not to mention the tidal wave that came out of the hotel backroom when i opened the door today after running the bath water for entire duration of my virtual trainer on my dvd player....oops) Then I'll drive toward NJ.

Special thanks to Papa Carl for the guitar I played on the Comcast TV show this week in Boston.

Special thanks to Mike Matisa for the GPS. It has been indispensible.

Special thanks to Hal for hookin' it all up and mowing my lawn and babysitting my Teddy Bear, Bennet and for water my plant Hubert' and for listening to me spaz when I had problems out here on the road with luggage and flights and too much mileage. Special thanks to BK for everything that you do and for helping me with phone calls and making me laugh....you laugh at all my silly jokes and my sick humour....hahaha ...you rock.

Special thanks to Bobcat for bein' there and helping navigate and Speciall thanks to Melster for your support and all while I've been out here.

Thank you, 'rEu for the emails and words that you write...

Thanks to everyone for well wishes. Too many dear people to thank!

If you can make one of the shows, please do and come say hi to me at the merch. booth or something.

You will honestly enjoy Blues Traveler live soooo very much. They are beyond description live. Come see.

Luv y'all,

I'll keep ya posted and as close to being 'Along For The Ride' as I can.

Peace,
Musicallyours,
Lisa

Tues, Oct 16, 2007

Hi Everybody, Just waking up from my nap after getting up really early today to do the 'Good Morning West Virginia' TV show out of Charleston, West Virginia. It went great! Surprised I even remember what happened that early in the a.m. I was up at 5! that's usually a bedtime for me ;-) Played 'A Kiss Is Worth 1,000 Words' live on air and did an interview with the host Patrick.
The ride here from Virginia was long but beautiful. Tonite I wil be performing at the Huntington Music Hall. It was great being back home and performing at the War Memorial in Trenton. Great to see alot of my friends that nite. Blues Traveler asked me to get up and sing 'No Woman No Cry' with them during their set. It was great fun for me. I also performed 'The Joker' with them in Baltimore at the venue in the Inner Harbor the next evening. It was really kool jamming with them. I'm not really feeling as overwhelmed now (knock on wood). I think I'm adjusting as much as one can adjust to such a transient temporary life style.

Before I left again, during my brief visit home, I was sent a brand new ovation guitar. A top of line model which I love playing. My manager worked with Ovation, and they decided to endorse me. I am in my glory as my current ovation desperately needed fret work. It is a beautiful natural wood colour with a body that is a bit thickern than the one I was playing. Yeah Ovation! Love Ovations, I've always played one and will continue to do so!

Things were a breeze in Trenton and Baltimore when I had my team with me. Now I rough it alone! haha. A few things I've learned out here:
1) Vitamin B12 is known to be good for the nervous system, but can have a decided opposited effect when accidentally spilled and crushed inside of a gym bag all over one's gym clothes by the weight of a guitar case in the trunk.
2) Do not syphon gasoline by mouth (thanks to a sign at the Kangaroo gas station on the way to New Orleans)
1) And the ever popular: Don't close the bathroom door in Red Roof while the tub water is running and then proceed to work
out and make business calls.....unless you have packed a reliable flotation device.

More later, my friends, thanks for all of your beautiful emails and all of your continued support! It means alot to me
Peace & Music
Lisa (aka Bebe)

Tues, Oct 23, 2007

Hi All! I'm writing from the backstage area at Mojo Room in Port St. Lucie Florida. It's been quite a week. West Virginia show went great. Seems like a long time ago now! After that show I hit the road for Myrtle Beach. What a great place. Really beautiful and venue was great. I've sold out of the CD's with the current cover. I have some of the old cover left. I await more, when my manager meets up with me in Nashville. I'm glad people are digging the music and picking up the CDs at the shows. I had the chance to get up and sing with John and guyz again at the venue in Jacksonville Beach, FL. We did a version of 'The Joker' It was great fun! I wrote a new song called 'Jump In' that I've been playing at the live shows since I got to Florida. It's a very energetic number! :-) So, when you take a walk in Florida it sounds sometimes like the grass is singing...so many musical bugs, kind of kool. I think I heard them in the key of B the other day.....Orlando venue was a big favourite of mine....House of Blues, right in Downtown Disney. Saw lots of friends there who came to the show, met some new friends. Didn't get to hang out with Mickey himself this time as he was doing his on own gig that nite. Well that brings me back to today. I feel life to the fullest out here in many ways. I have to be alert and on top of things. It pretty much forces one to live in the moment at mostly all times. The times on stage are the times I can get 'lost in the music' and I've always loved that release, that escape to much of what is the true me. I guess we all have that certain something that takes us 'there'. I am feeling like I'm having one of the great experiences of my life and I am appreciative of all of your support in making it happen. Much love, and music......enjoy the Halloween month. Hello to 'home' from me....I miss you all. Luv, Lisa

October 30, 2007

Got into Indiana, Travelling for a few days with Hal, my manager. It is fun to have a 'partner in crime for a while. Indiana is kool. Tripped us up cause we thought it was an hour earlier than home (EST) but surprisingly it's not. We got the chance tonite to see some friends including a musician I worked with sometimes in Jersey who was one of the co-writers on 'Time Song' (not to be mistaken with Christened By The Rain, an early release that is nick named Time Song). His name is Jared Dean. He moved here to Indiana. Kool hangin'with friends. Show was great fun. packed house. October 28, 2007
I am in Nashville for my birthday, having a great time. My managers both flew in to hang out for the show and they had some meetings in town. During my set, Mark from B.T. brought me a cup cake with a candle on stage. It was so kool. Then they guyz invited me to get up and sit in for a tune. Before the song, John Popper sang a bluesy Happy Bday to me a capella, it was a moment to remember. I made some great contacts in Nashville and I'll be flying back at the end of the month for followup meetings. Friday, Oct 26th, 2007
Hi Everybody, thought I'd drop a quick line from Birmingham, AL. in the wee hours on Wed. a.m. I slept then had the whole day to wonder Birmingham. I went to the Art Museum and got a massage, etc. Tonite we're doing a show in Hoover. Then I'll head out toward Arkansas late 2nite. It was kool cause when I got to Birmingham I got stuck on a landing on floor 5 when an elevator broke and I was calling down to the desk, etc. for 30 min. They felt bad so compted my 1st nite and upgraded me to a club suite ....it's been awesome, Kind of made up for the mishap in Jackson FL when my cell phone took a dip in the jacquzzi....One other thing, I did win the football pool I am in with the Blues Traveler crew! it was my first week to play and I won! hands down....beginners luck? we'll see.... :-) It helped with road expenses and I got a big kick out of winning. I heard that John P. announced it on stage too..haha, we'll off to work I go. peace and music!

October 31, 2007

Tonite is Halloween I rolled into St. Louis, MO. Great town. 1st I headed over to the Univ. radio station for a live interview and to play a couple tunes on the air. Then I found my hotel and crashed. Hotel was adorable. Old fashioned style w/a player piano. I found the town quite charming. I am at the club, where we are all having a great time for a Halloween show. I'm wearing leopard cat ears, B.T. has gotten more elaborate with their costume choices. Having a great time. Back in my dressing room now. Set went great and I especially love the venue and the vibe. I started to write a new song called Snapshots of St. Louis here in my dressing room.

Nov 1, 2007

It's time to head back home for a few days of R&R. Then off to new England

Nov 5, 2007

Well I'm in New England for a show in Boston and Connecticut. Colder up here of course But I'm diggin' the vibe

Friday, Nov 9, 2007

New England shows went really good. Kool venues. Friend s from home and people on my team were in CT. Great to hang with all of them. Great little theater venue. Dug it. Jason played guitar with me on in CT. Now I'm in Buffalo. After a day at home I headed out here. Always wanted to visit. It is indeed a town with a kool vibe. Great music scene and enthusiastic fans. I hope to return for a visit again. Luv and music, my friends, /BebeBlue

Nov 10, 2007

Just rolled into the venue parking lot and pulled up to park behind the BT bus. Strange feeling as I might have just drove the last mile solo for this tour. My friend Bobcat came to meet me and help me w/the driving , merch, hotels, etc. for the rest of the tour thru Iowa. His contribution is greatly appreciated. My manager and Jason (who will play guitar with me tonite ) will drive my car back after the show. luv and music, Lisa

Nov, 11, 2007

Show went good last nite in Poughkeepsie. Saw my managers, friends, fanz from NJ came up. Much appreciated. I just woke up out of a deep sleep in my hotel room with the rest of 'Snap shots of St. Louis' ready to be born.
Finished my new song.
I want to perform it in its raw form in Cleveland. I probably will. More soon...peace & music, Lisa

Nov 13, 2007

Did indeed perform the new song in Cleveland. It is a song that allowed me to connect with the audience well. Show was good. A House of Blues, had some interviewers and photographers and a videographer out to the show. The interview will be up on Cleverock.com soon. Got up with Blues Traveller again to jam in Cleveland. Good nite and it will be a mini-(2 day) vaca for us which I'll spend in Chicago with friends. The venue in MI is not ready (recovering from fire damage), so that date was cancelled leaving me an xtra day off. Peace & Music, Happy Nov13th Bday, Tomas back in NJ!

Nov. 16, 2007

Venue in Chicago was kool. Another HOB. Had friends come to see the show. I enjoyed the few days off site seeing in Chicago. Hit a museum/planetarium. Drove part of the way to Minneapolis after the Chicago gig because we had a fairly long haul. Finished up the drive today in time to check in to the hotel, get cleaned up quickly and head to the Minneapolis gig. Writing from backstage. Just finished my show. It was a great crowd. Did a Neil Young tune 'After the Gold Rush' along with songs from 'Paint' Great vibe in the room. Then I got up do a duet on John Lennon's Imagine with John Popper and BT. Really kool. Well, soon, I'll go crash, then head for the Final gig in Iowa tomorrow. Can't believe that Iowa is already quickly approaching. Seems like I remember leaving for New Orleans as if it were yesterday and the long tour and adventure was waiting ahead of me. It has been amazing. But went a bit too fast. I will always remember my first tour and what an amazing experience it has been.

Ride to Iowa was Brown, in a word. Interesting to visit different places. I enjoy the different scenery along the way. Bobcat drove most of the way so I got gaze out the window alot more. Iowa show was a blast. The soundman recorded my performance live and that was surprise for me. Very kool. I got up to sing again at the end with B.T. It was Ben's bday so he was served a bday cake over at the keyboard. We did a version of The Joker, then at the end, B.T. pulled out bottles of silly string and started spraying me and then gave me a bottle. (Seems it's a tradition to turn this loose on an opening act the last nite of their touring together, and I heard that they did this to Sheryl Crow when she was touring w/them and also to other opening acts. I didn't expect it and it was so funny I couldn't stop laughing!) We were all spraying each other and then John P. was spraying the audience. Bobcat got photos and John had silly string on his hat and we all had it everywhere. Then we did shots, ate Bday cake and said farewells. I will be with them again on Dec. 5 at Jenkinson's at the Jersey Shore in Pt. Pleasant. I look forward to that. In the meantime I'll leave this week for Arkansas for some followup TV show appearances and then to Nashville the next week for followup meetings...all stuff that was initiated from the tour. I'll keep ya posted.

Lisa (aka Road Warrior from the 'Insane Tour 2007' signing off for now.

Peace& Music to you and a Happy TGiving to all!