3/24/09: Touring Last Week!

We've been super busy this past week traveling and playing lots of shows. The recent shows I've done have benefited Soles4Souls. We've been fortunate enough to raise money for the organization. Our Knoxville show went very well and I'd like to thank WIVK for all their support and involvement in the cause. I actually went by the station earlier that day and was interviewed by Alan Jackson - OH, I mean Gunner - lol.. Gunner is an absolute spitting image of Alan Jackson, and supposedly his wife looks a lot like Alan's wife as well. What are the odds of that? Gunner said that that's the reason he hadn't been to the CMA's or ACM's in a while because he couldn't go anywhere without people coming up to him asking for autographs and such, lol. I thought it was pretty funny, and Gunner if you are reading this, sorry one more thing and then I will let this rest. Gunner said that last year during the CMA's somebody called into the station claiming that the show is taped and not live. This person said this because they were sitting in a restaurant and saw Gunner thinking he was Alan, yet saw Alan on the award show too, lol.

Mike from the station is awesome as well and was introducing me to everyone at Cotton Eyed Joe's that night, so thanks for everything Mike and for all the support. I want to also mention that we had a few of our dedicated fans at the show - Bert and Melanie, who usually spoil us with cookies! At this show, Bert handed me a cookie the size of my face, which is a pretty big face, lol. Needless to say that poor cookie didn't stand a chance when the 8 people in the band got their hands on it! haha. Thanks Melanie and Bert and I hope to see Wyvetta out again soon. Chattanooga was our next stop and this was promoted by US 101. I had a station visit there as well with Dex and Big Al, and both of them were so awesome to me and complimentary...which is always nice. That night we played at the Rhythm & Brews bar, It was a two level club right near the big Tennessee Aquarium, with a cozy atmosphere to it. We played a 90-minute set. Earlier in the day, the band and I were a little adventurous and went up the Incline Railway. This train goes right up the side of Lookout Mountain and is said to be the fastest man made transportation in the world for any kind of mountain lift/train. I took some pics on my phone as well as video footage for my AG-TV, which y'all will be able to see soon.

Our next gig was in Tucson, AZ. We actually flew into Phoenix, rented a couple of vans and then drove to Tucson. In Tucson, we played at the Cactus Moon. I visited KIIM-FM earlier in the day where I was welcomed by the lovely Lois Lewis who has been nothing but supportive of me. They had a little pup running around the station while we were there (a little baby lab named Huffley) and it was adorable. I got to meet some nice folks while we were there too, and I was smothered in hugs by a little girl at the station. She was awesome! The club really pumped us up, and was supportive of the whole Soles4Souls promotion. They really did it right and got the crowd pumped for the show! As well as having a great crowd, I had some fellow Canadians attend the show. They were sitting in the front row. I also had some other friends of mine from the Phoenix area come out. The next day we traveled back to Phoenix where I was reunited with my great friends at KMLE. I did a dinner with some winners at Cadillac Ranch and it was great because I got to hang with Gwen and her daughter and 4 other guests.

The show later that night was held right in the square of Tempe Marketplace. I've been there before a few times, but never to play. The weather couldn't have been any better for us. Thanks to Gwen Foster for being a huge supporter and friend, and for helping this show be a success.

From Phoenix we hopped a flight to Colorado Springs. I did a show at the Carey On Saloon and LeShawn and everybody at the club were so great...thanks guys! We can't wait to come back! And thanks to Cat Country for putting this show together with us! Letty and Lindsey -two of my biggest supporters- surprised us by coming out and they were bearing gifts with them! A big box filled with homemade cookies, brownies, chocolate covered pretzels and much much more...filling this box to the rim. It was incredible! Thank you Letty and Lindsey, you two are so awesome and I really appreciate you both. This point in the journal brings me to where we are now...Norfolk, VA. We have a show with Kate & Kacey Coppola at the Saddle Ridge tonight. This is sponsored by The Eagle and I'm looking forward to seeing my friend Shomby and Mark from the station! Hope you've all had a great week and I will be sending out more AG-TV videos for y'all to see soon. God Bless!
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