American Nomad Music

Hey,

Writing from Boulder, CO today… going to keep this short, as we are leaving for our next destination soon… (The Great Sand Dunes in Colorado)

Todd, Adam, and I’s first stop was Napoleon Ohio, where we stayed with my friend Alanna and her new husband Kurt. That evening we arrived we had a great jam with them… Alanna stole the show with a great version of “Working Class Hero”. The next morning, we headed for a local diner, where one of my travel companions (Adam) so bravely tried prettles… a mixture of all left over meat and bones from a cow. Apparently it’s a big deal around there. He survived somehow despite the warnings from the cook and the waitress. As we left, the waitress asked our names… when I said Hassan, she said, “Oh, like Hussein but cleaned up a bit.” Interesting I thought… Anyway, big thanks to Alanna and Kurt of the hospitality!

The next day we took Route 90 up to Chicago through miles and miles of corn fields and minor tornado wreckage. The rolling hills served as a back drop to hours of free styling, beat boxing, political rants and philosophical idea sharing. It flew by for me at least… Chicago was our first official musical performance. It was fun despite our exhaustion from driving. Todd Marston really rocked that evening! Thanks to Dan and Amanda for the great hospitality! (FYI, their house was just on that show Yard Crashers… their back yard looks amazing now!)

The next morning we cruised down route 80 though Iowa and Nebraska. We experienced another never ending sea of corn stalks, wind mills, silos, and republican themed truck stops. I had to convince Adam not to purchase a T shirt that said “Got Hope” with a thorny crowned Jesus in place of the famous colored picture of Obama…

After a pulling into North Plate, we grabbed a motel and got some much needed rest. In the morning we hit up a health food store and somehow were convinced to perform a song for the 3 elderly women working there. Random fun.

Finally we made it to Boulder after lots of miles in the car. Played a show at the Laughing Goat on Pearl Street last night and had a blast. Our fellowship is now 5 people, including myself, Todd, Adam, and two new passengers Kathryn, and Dan. Looking forward to getting back on the road and seeing the Great Sand Dunes tonight. That is all for me right now. Hope you all are well, and thanks for reading.

Hey,

I am back in Massachusetts after a 6-hour red eye flight I almost missed.  It is never good when the lady at the bag check counter tells you to run as fast as you can…. Anyway, been gone for about a year now… the time does fly.  Looking forward to seeing old friends and some family.  Looking forward to more travel as well.  I’ll be back in Boston for about 3 weeks and then hit the road July 19th  for the first official extended national music tour of my life. The tour will take me from Boston, Missouri, Boulder, around the South West and then back to SF…. and then from SF to Oregon, Washington State, across the Midwest, NY, Boston, PA, back across the Midwest. The band I am traveling with will then drop me off at Burning Man August 30th. I am signed up to help with the breakdown of this years Temple.

Overall, I feel really good about it all and hope more good fortune smiles at me.  I feel blessed to have experienced what I have over the past year.  I feel like learned so much about so much.  It’s hard to put it into words really.  I find I am a bit overwhelmed when people have asked me to describe what I have been doing for the past year.  I want to say thanks to all the folks in CA that took some random wanderer into their amazing community and feel really welcome almost immediately.  Also, thanks to you folks on the east coast for being supportive of me in my absence.  I missed you guys a lot. Thanks again for reading and look out for more stories on the blog.