New CD "Hill Studio Sessions" in my hand!

Just found out the new record is done and being shipped out today! I'll have them in hand May 2nd. Then the work begins again to get people to listen...

CD RELEASE SHOW May 11th @ 3rd & Lindsley

I'm happy to announce (post 2 failed attempts in April...such is the life of the independent artist making a name...) the CD Release can now be announced!
As the student representative at Roger Williams University would have announced, "Here ye, here ye!"

May 11th, 9PM
3rd & Lindsley
w/ Wailin' Canes and Emily Deloach
$5 or $8 with CD

Playing Univ of Alabama tonight

I'm playing Univ of Alabama tomorrow. Think if I wear my Arkansas hat, which just has a big red 'A', they'll know? Perhaps I'll learn some Roll Tide songage...

A Little scared,
Justin.

Opening for Sister Hazel Tonight! Illinois State Univ

Man, I used to love these guys back in like...6th grade. It's astounding how a single song or two will immortalize a band in my (and probably your) mind. Fast forward 10 years and I still think they're superstars...

And they have a really big bus. Envy...jealousy...envy again. Back to my Mitsubishi Montero Sport. Crossing 100,000 miles in about 2 shows! God, I love these cup holders.

The Very Hungry Caterpillar

Just finished recording kiddos for The Very Hungry Caterpillar. Wishing I was that talented at eight. Want to be a kid. Caterpillars.

A Haikus 1 & 2...London waiting for flight

A HAIKU #1

I am in London
Too tired to think for the pills
Sleepy time abounds


A HAIKU #2

I am in Dallas
How did I get here so fast
Oh that's right the pills

La Coruna, Spain

Didn't get off the ship. I had enough of big beautiful European towns that like to take my money.

Lisbon, Portugal

Gibraltar, UK

Sicko

On a random note: I just watched Michael Moore’s “Sicko” and it set me to thinking about heathcare. Given, Moore is an expert at presenting only his point of view, but he brought up some great and disturbing points about America’s heathcare system. My Dad is connected to The Industry, so I’ve heard about these problems my whole life, and have experienced some of it’s corruption myself. I don’t want to climb up a soapbox without really reading the label, so I won’t, except to say that something obviously needs to change. There’s too much profit on top of too much pain. (What’s preaching without practical application. Find out who your representative is and how to contact them here: https://writerep.house.gov/writerep/welcome.shtml

Valencia, Spain

The crazy food I tried in Hong Kong was...crazy. I did not expect to be challenged in Spain. At a quaint restaurant in Valencia, I was confronted with a jello-y squid in full body form, which rejected my fork 4 times before penetrating its shimmering flesh. Wonderful bread and beer. Did not dig the full squid.


I love architecture, and Valencia has it. From bull-fighting arenas, to small condos I wish I could own, to wooden eateries, pirate ships and cathedrals. Beautiful cathedrals. Probably the most celebrated treasure in Valencia’s aptly named Valencia Cathedral is a gold and agate chalice known as the Santo Caliz, said to be the Holy Grail itself. In an effort to preserve REAL history like “Indiana Jones and the Search for [said] Holy Grail”, I’d like to think the Spanish got this one wrong.







Marylin and I climbed the 207 steps (and 166 feet) of the octagonal tower, for a spectacular view over the cathedral and the city.



Here's a video I took of the bell tower at the top of Valencia Cathedral. If you don’t think this is funny, I can’t help you.

I Walked a Country Today - Monte Carlo, Monaco

On this day, I walked a country. It sounds like a feat and I should be emboldened to keep my post without explanation.





Rod Stewart's Yacht


The oldest casio in the world. About $22 just to get inside. I think I'll lose all my money elsewhere, thank you.






Ok, so the area of the country of Monaco is less than one square mile. I meandered around the perimeter (France on 3 sides) during time between shows, sat and worked on some lyrics, got lost for 3 hours amongst the perplexity of lifts and stairwells, and still made it around in about 6 hours.

Blogger, you misrepresent! Shame.

Looking back, I just realized that this journey of mine, from blogger's perspective, is really turning out to look like a continuous joyride of crazy adventures during the day and alcohol-driven parties at night, and I'm embarrassed.

Really, I just don't think to write about work...I try to block out all the rehearsals and other travel druggeries that go along with touring, and forget to mention the performances and special events that end up being the most lasting memories of them all. I guess when there's elephant rides and monkey fights to report on, all the other things become a bit muted.

At this point there's no reason to attempt an accurate reflection on performances from the past. I'll say, though, that I'm traveling with some of the most impressive, talented, fun and professional individuals I've been around. It is a course in humility to be performing alongside them, and a lasting memory that shouldn't go without notice. Corny, but accurate. I guess the performances will just be for us.

Rome & Vatican City

Naples/Pompeii, Italy

In 79AD, Pompeii was instantly buried beneath 30 feet of volcanic ash and cinder when Mt. Vesuvius erupted. At its peak, Pompeii was home to 20,000 people and it is believed that 2,000 of the perished instantly when the ash came down, creating ghostly “casts” formed by bodies encased and incinerated in the hot ash.

While Pompeii was buried in volcanic ash, Herculaneum was interred in mud when Mt. Vesuvius erupted in 79AD. The mud hardened and preserved the site in nearly perfect condition.

Spinach and Tomatoes...Sicily/Catalina, Italy

I have difficulty understanding how one area of the world can make cheese, spinach and tomatoes taste so much better than everywhere else.



Solidified lava and small volcanic cones, reminders of the 1983 and 2001 lava flows. ..which apparently deters no one from living here. I’m told there is a roughly 2 year warning whenever Mt. Etna becomes active.


Hopefully this guy got the message.


Views from the drive to Taormina. Sicily in the background.


Looking up at a courtyard in Taormina...a city situated on Sicily's eastern coast high over the Ionian Sea and made out of local red marble.


People talk of the seductive city alleyways that hide between buildings in Italian cities; little stone nooks you don’t see until you’re upon them. This one’s no more than 2 feet. Moretti LIGHT, per favore.


I realize I have yet to visit the Colosseum and such, but I have been to the Great Pyramids. This Greco-Roman theatre atop Taormina still remains one of the most breath-taking sites I’ve ever seen. Imagine viewing a new play in this arena (or Gladiator fight once the Romans took over). Mt. Etna and Sicily in the distance.




Traveling around Italy, especially here in the Med, I’ve somehow gained an understanding of why these people take time to relax and enjoy. An understanding of the importance of relaxation is just engrained in the land and culture here.