Tuesday, December 21, 2010

Killing Moon

Memphis, TN

The circle the past two weeks was:
Memphis, TN --> McComb, Tx --> New Orleans, LA --> Baton Rouge, LA --> Houston, TX - Austin, TX --> Austin, TX --> AUSTIN, TX --> Memphis, MS

The Swedes (Robert + Gustav) and Memphis (Spencer) has gone from place to place at a quite rapid speed and Memphis has driven a looooot of miles. This guy is a machine and we are taking him home to Europe with us. You won't find drivers like that back home. "10 hours? That's nothing!". We've been a good team.

//////////New Orleans/////////
Gleaming stars. Tired eyes, overcoats and hats. Down I-55. Forward, it's an embrace now. Tilt your head and squint your eyes. The boy in the backseat picturing how a skyline would taste. Today, the gaze is fixed on signs and dotted lines. Patterns lighted with purple beams. Smelling delta lights, tingling down my neck. Close to the core, the heart. About time we meet, New Orleans. I stand with your mud on my feet. Eyes of crystal, I knew you'd be here.
//////////////////////////////

Poet John Lambert greets us. He lives right in French Quarter. Tells us to write on his walls, swing on his swing or challenge him at chess, a chessboard with three levels. He plays us gypsy music and we go out for drinks. I tell him about Swedish poets. I want him to get to know Tranströmer. Robert thinks he should get to know Stagnelius. John Lambert gives Spencer books and tells him: "That's what they are for". John Lambert will never publish. If someone wants his poetry he might rip out a page from his notebook and give it to them. In his will, he states that all his writings are to be burn by his friend when he dies. Katrina couldn't scare him away from New Orleans.

Claire and Jeremy work in the film industry. They invite us to a wrap party in Baton Rouge where they just finished filming 'Battlefield', starring Alexander Skarsgård and Rihanna. Oh lord. The bar was wide open and food everywhere. Claire and Jeremy is now family. Not because of the party but because they are awesome. Also, it helps that Jeremy got to burn down the court house in his hometown Shreveport when making True Blood. There's something beautiful about that.

On the way to Austin we stopped in Houston TX to visit Spencer's friend Kielan. Two good days, listening to records and finishing new song 'Scarlett'. We wanted to write something new for Daytrotter Sessions in Austin. We were lucky to get a rest in between New Orleans and Austin, because we were going to need all the strength…







//////////Austin/////////
Now draw the lines. Halo hearts, hear the sound. Retrace those butterflies. Don't let me fall asleep. Watery eyes. Fixed on every move. It's tattooed on lips. No need to be talked to. Youthful morning. listen, Austin. I woke and I wanted. You, I will not complete. Halo heart, I hope you stay long enough. I hope you laugh loud enough. I will make my way back.
//////////////////////////////

We came to Austin planning to play Cheer Up Charlie's and record for Daytrotter. As soon as we drove into this city, things kept coming. When we left, we had also played Balcony TV, Fado's and The Ghost Room, met many many beautiful souls, discovered a treehouse and learned a lot about Norway.. Also, my new favorite band is now UME. jeez. Their show at Emo's.. legendary stuff.. Oh the Austin family, we'll miss you…

//////////////////////////////

Our Memphis family has invited us back for Korean Christmas. A few days of rest and holidays with perfect friends.. Then we start driving back west. Next stop: Grapevine, TX Dec 29th.  /G  

CASE CONRAD

Wednesday, December 8, 2010

Holy land

McComb, MS

Today I woke up in Mississippi, Delta land. Today I feel like I am a long way from home. This is where Robert Johnson himself sold his soul to the devil. Here is the Jackson that Johnny Cash was singing about. Names like Howling Wolf, Muddy Waters, Bo Diddley, Tammy Wynette…even Elvis Presley was born here before moving to Memphis. This is one powerful state. Lucky is still sleeping and I am sipping cup after cup of coffee, working on a new tune. Everything as it should be. Today I woke up in Matt and Sara's house in McComb, MS. This lovely people invited us yesterday to play a bonfire show in their backyard. But.. I need to start from Nashville..

After leaving our lovely friends Eileen Rose and Rich Gilbert in Nashville we took a greyhound to Memphis. And from that first step into that terminal, new friendships were rapidly developing. Leo picked us up, drove us to Stash House where we played a show, met Michaela Caitlin and a bunch of other awesome people. Also playing that night was Joshua Cosby (Star & Micey) and Jesse Davis. Me and Josh talked for a long time and connected on a level that i can't explain. Suddenly he told me he wanted to give me his first guitar. Cracked up and beautiful with a picture of his dad on it and Abe Lincoln, who Josh shares his birthday with. It was one moving night and I felt like Bob Dylan when Johnny Cash gave him his guitar...

Susan Dalton is our Memphis hero who got all this started, took us into her house and set us up with the Stash house show. That way we also met Vania and Spencer. We all had a beautiful time hanging out in Memphis, went down to the Mississippi River and threw in a stone for Jeff Buckley.    When we had to leave to go south Spencer, Vania and Leo decided to join us! So we all went roadtripping down through Mississippi yesterday. I am overwhelmed with all these people who wants to take part in whatever us Swedes are trying to do.

Next stop: New Orleans.

/G




Roadtripping through Mississippi

Powerful. Holy.

Bonfire show in McComb, MS

Saturday, December 4, 2010

Honky-tonkin.....

Writing from Nashville while sipping on some good old Tennessee bourbon, Eileen Rose (our host) is performing at one of the legendary downtown honky-tonks tonight,  that´s where all the hardcore country musicians spend their time when not on tour, her drummer played with some of the greatest like Merle Haggard and Lorretta Lynn and every now and then one of the big stars shows up and sits in with the band for a couple of tunes, really excited about it, too bad her boyfriend Rich "Legendary" Gilbert won´t be able to play with them tonight since he´s doin a video shoot with Wanda Jackson!!

Last week has been quite hazy and hectic cause of traveling and playing shows almost everyday we´ve been to Washington D.C., Fredricksburg VA, Charlotte NC, Greenville NC, Asheville NC and we arrived here yesterday and played a crowded dive bar….. good times….

Hell! you really notice that we´re getting further down in the south when you see the "No guns allowed" signs in bars and you realize it´s no joke……. people actually wear them onstage…. /L