It's a muggy Tuesday here in Broken Arrow, OK and I am back behind my computer (which I feel I spend more time on than with my guitar/piano at times).
I did have a great time though in Pensacola. I drove down Thursday night making it halfway stopping in a small town in Arkansas. It was a cheap hotel room (only needed to be there about 7 hours really) and the amount of noise from the McDonald's kept me up. Or was it the BLACKFISH documentary I watched right before bed. Have you seen this documentary? It centers on the deaths of Sea World trainers who deal with the killer whales. It also focuses on the question of keeping this large mammals in captivity and if these deaths are the fault of the trainers, whales, or worse, Sea World executives. They are EXTREMELY smart mammals and I was amazed at some of the things they were pushed to do for entertainment, an underwater circus of sorts. Very sad but worth seeing.
Drove to Pensacola on a sunny day drinking my Dunkin Donuts coffee, eating my oatmeal (with protein powder and flax seed, of course). I arrived at Vinyl Music Hall to see Edwin's bus right out front. Immediately I got excited.
Edwin was out fixing the bus when I showed up, a true performer: one who knows sometimes the only person who can do the job is yourself. I saw the band setting up and decided to hang around and wait to set up and soundcheck. His band were fun and took the time to say hey. When they were done, I set up my sound (thanks to the sound guys for being awesome!) and waited for the show. My best friend from high school, Misty (oh, she's still my best friend:) was there as well as some other fun friends from high school (I went to Ft. Walton Beach High School about 45 minutes away).
I played my set (here's a short run down:
Red Hot Tears, Everything To You, Royals (Lorde cover), Waiting For Thunder (Malala), Running, Gracefully, In The Air Tonight (Phil Collins cover), and Dust.
The crowd was fantastic and many of those that bought CDs after the show from Misty (playing my Merch Maid for the night) said that "Gracefully" was the song that really connected with them that night. I was very touched and even said onstage that I had ties to Pensacola because my grandfather was buried in Pensacola at the Jewish cemetery before playing the song. So grateful that my most quiet song of the night received the biggest reaction:).
Edwin took the stage after with his band and rocked it. He played newer songs ("Shooting Stars") and of course, the classic hits of his ("I'll Be, "Solitude", "I Could Not Ask For More"). Truly awesome and stood beside the stage for most of it as you can see here:
After the show, I packed up my gear and spoke with the band a bit. Thanked the venue for having me (Thanks, Chris, at Vinyl Music Hall!) and waited to say goodbye to Edwin. He took a bit (I think he was changing back at the hotel) and Misty and I spoke to Jason, Edwin's bassist, for a while about music. Great guy and we shared the same love for The Finn Bros of Crowded House (don't you LOVE Crowded House too?!)
Edwin finally appeared and we got to speak for a bit. I gave him a copy of my cookbook (orders for it on my website starting Tuesday Nov. 5th!!!:) and a copy of GRACEFULLY. We took this pic and they were off to the next city. Getting to share the stage with one of your songwriting idols is awesome, getting to tell them how much they influenced you to their face, even better.
Saturday, I hung with Misty and it was like old days. Went to the mall, got coffee and we thought it was Hi-Larious that Dunkin Donuts was connected to Aspen Delta. A match made in heaven: drink/eat your sugar and then immediately go next door to fill all those cavities.
Even went back to my high school to say hi:
Saturday night I played over at Hog's Breath Saloon for a fun crowd of folks after the World Series was over (I should really check out sporting event dates before booking shows because people MIGHT be inclined to wanna watch those at the same time as I'm playing,ha).
Sunday morning, I rose early, said goodbye to Misty and family, and drove the 13 and half HOURS back to Oklahoma. On my car rides, I:
listen to music/comedy cds (HAIM, Maria Bamford, Edwin)/write song parts/come up with new ideas/drink coffee ALOT/call family.
Now I am back at home and planning on making kreplach this weekend for 120 people (you got that right!) at Temple Israel's Taste of Temple event (asking singing and playing too). Kreplach is like jewish ravioli (see: http://www.kjrh.com/dpp/lifestyle/sunday-brunch-with-eric-himan%3A--roasted-chicken-and-carmelized-onion-kreplach).
Have a good rest of your Tuesday:)
~Eric
Ps. Hot Chocolate at Denny's is AWESOME. Misty and I celebrated after the Edwin show with this: