October 1, 2003 - Newport, KY

So today we're in Newport, Kentucky, which really means we're in Cincinnati, OH. Newport is the first town right across the Ohio River from Cincinnati so this is considered to be a Cincinnati gig. I like Cincinnati - I've been here a couple of times to visit. Also Bootsy lives in this town so we're hoping he can make it out to the show tonight. Because of the parking situation, we had to park the bus in the alley behind the venue instead of at the hotel in the morning. Bus call wasn't until 2:00PM and we go into town early in the morning. Fortunately the hotel was just a couple of blocks away. Joseph, Derico, Danette and I walked to the hotel to get the rooms for the band. From there Joseph and I went to our room.

My friend Sherri Pennington came to pick me up. She took me to a couple of music stores and tattoo parlors and book stores. We had an incredible breakfast at a nice restaurant but I can't remember the name of it. At 2:00 she dropped me back off at the venue, which was South Gate House, for load in. The venue was in a cool part of town. The aquarium is on that block and they just built an Imax Theater and a mall next to it. Load in and sound check was amusing. Ted and Joseph had a SERIOUS game of duct tape basketball going on. Even though it's all in fun the competition is very serious!

After sound check my friend Sherri and I drove around the city to some cool parts of town. When we got back to the venue Kaki King was playing solo on stage. She was opening for us tonight and she will also be opening for the Charlotte and Asheville shows. She sounded very good. She reminded me of Michael Hedges a little bit. When she left the stage we went on and had our usual good time. Unfortunately a lot of people did not follow the no smoking request so the air in the venue was terrible. I had a hard time breathing. After the show, while we were packing up we were being amused by one local woman who proceeded to try to hit on everybody in the band AND half the men in the audience. We loaded the bus and headed out and I was so tired and my body is so drained that I fell asleep with my cell phone in my hand before I even got a chance to call my wife. All these time zone changes are throwing me off. St. Louis was Central, Cincinnati is Eastern, Birminham will be Central and Charlotte & Asheville will be Eastern. When we get back to Nashville it will be Central time and then I fly home the following day back to Eastern time! I wasn't even aware that we had switched into the month of October. Now I see why some touring musicians never reset their watches and operate in one time zone no matter where they are.

peace & blessings

anthony