the Mini sized Texas tour (part 1)

we left dallas around 11am

and headed for San Antonio

i hadn't played SA since april 21st, 2006

when Chris Holt and i played the Red Room

to about 7 people

i used to play SA in the early nineties

when dufilho was in 13

the MF would show swap with his band

(give them a Dallas gig for a SA gig)

we'd always drive back the same night

we were young foolish and broke

there would be no roughing it this time!

it was our first road trip in the mocha Mini

i-pod cranked

sun roof open

no worries about breaking down on the road

it felt good to be leaving town for a few days

anyway i'd just about given up on SA

but now there's Buttercup

a reason for me to go there

to see my friends and play a show with them

to get anyone interested in SA to listen to Constellation

we got to the El Tropicano hotel around 4

i knew Jayme would like the tiki/mod vibe of the place

she did!

it felt a bit like Miami to me

lot's of white and brown tile

a couple of iguana's and parrots in a bamboo filled atrium

lots of elderly people hanging about

our room had a nice view of the cabana and pool

they were blasting salsa music

further re-enforcing the miami vibe

Gavin sat on a colorful plastic chair on the balcony

excited to be "on vacation!"

he sipped his wild cherry juice box and held his little stuffed piggie

he was in kid bliss

after Jayme and i got all of our stuff organized

we went downstairs for a complimentary pineapple juice

and then walked across the street

down some stairs

to the riverwalk

the weather couldn't have been any more perfect

70ish and clear

G loved it

as we made our way through the winding canal

he raced a boat taxi

got a long fallen branch and tried to "fish"

whooped and sang silly songs

we eventually found the popular touristy part of the walk

had some ice cream

people watched

took our time site seeing

around 5:45 we caught a river taxi

(to G's delight and insistence)

and went back to the el tropicano

Joe Reyes called the second we stepped back into our hotel room

he was heading over to take us out for some tex mex food

we went to the picante grill with him

where i ordered the cacerola

it was delicious but i nick-named it

"heart attack in a bowl"

i could only bring myself to eat half

the guilt was too much

we had a great time talking with joe

who has tons of funny and interesting stories from

all of his years as a musician

after dinner

we took the Mini back to the hotel

dropped J and G off

and grabbed my pedal board

guitar and merch case

joe drove me to FARM

only about a mile or two away from the hotel

FARM is a really cool little venue

situated in an old house that's been converted

into a recording studio/music venue

buttercup had set up their drums and amps

in the front room

the vibe was perfect for an acoustic show

some rope lights and candles

dark but not too dark

it felt nice

Vanessa Peters played around 9:30

with Manuel on baritone guitar

and Alberto (aka guomo) on drums

they sounded fantastic

like a stereo really

Joe sat in with me for my set

we opened with "western hills"

and ripped through a bunch of the new ones

his harmonies on "stranger in my own skin" were spot on

the highlight though was "she'd walk a mile"

in which the entire room of about 40

joined in with handclaps

foot-stomping and floor drumming

they kept it going for the duration

bringing the volume up and down as joe and i led the way

of all the times i've played this song

(all over the world)

this was my favorite performance of it

an incredible moment for me

guomo then joined us for "1978" and few others

it was relaxed and fun

the crowd was really appreciative and listened intently

a beautiful gig

Buttercup took the stage last

it was awesome to see them in their element

in front of adoring fans and friends

i think this was my favorite show of theirs that i've witnessed so far

it was so much fun

"1968"

"it's in the way"

and "i am a tiger" ruled

they sounded tighter than hell

and with all 4 of them singing

spectacular

Erik was in particularly fine voice and form

with hilarious and theatrical between-song banter

i felt like it couldn't have been a better return to San Antonio for me

an incredible night of music in a cool music venue

with a bunch of friends whom i love

who could ask for more?

Joe dropped me off at the el tropicano around 1:30am

and i passed out

happily exhausted