2003-06-09 - 5:16 p.m.
April 13th
We travel through western Virginia to get to our to next performance, which is to be at the famous Mountain Stage syndicated radio show. We’re on the bill with two of our label mates, The Gibson Bros. and Robin and Linda Williams. Also on the bill with us are David Massengil and Jen Chapin (yup, Harry’s daughter). The last leg of the trip takes us through the Shenandoah Mountains into West Virginia. It’s absolutely beautiful!
We have just a half hour to wait for our sound check. As I wait outside, I admire one of those Honda hybrid cars that run on a combination of gas and electric. I’m standing and staring in the window when the owner walks up and offers to let me take it for a spin! I gratefully accept and go whizzing out of the parking lot with Carey yelling after me, “Hey, we’re checking in ten minutes!” The things got a lot of pep and it’s a blast to drive. The fellow who owns it tells me it pays for itself with the fuel savings! When and if I ever get to buy a new car, this will be the one.
We check after Robin and Linda. They’re sweet people and there’s a very relaxed and homey atmosphere surrounding the proceedings. The show isn’t being produced in it’s regular home. We’re at a high school in an altogether different town whose name now escapes me. Some of the admission is to be used to aid in paying for the construction of the auditorium we’re playing in. We check and then David Massengil checks. I say hi to David who seems to have forgotten that I played on his last record. Robin Williams gets a big laugh out of this. I’m not that surprised. His producer actually hired me to do the session.
Before the sun goes down we take a quick ride down into town that has a beautiful trout stream that runs trough it. This place seems frozen in amber. It could be 1962 here. When we get back there’s backstage catering and it’s good! We play a 5-song set and stick the landing, so to speak. It was an absolutely wonderful experience and everyone on the bill does well. I especially liked the Gibson Bros. and they’re all great guys too. I buy some swag; get in the van and head east towards home.
