FROM THE ROAD: GREENSBORO, NC

We got to sleep in this morning, leaving our hotel in Columbia, SC at noon headed to Greensboro, NC. Too many Carolinas. In fact I was so turned around that at the show in Greensboro I told the crowd it was great to be with the nice folks of South Carolina. When that happens in the first few minutes of a show it's tantamount to picking up a girl for a first date and calling her by your ex's name. Not good. I had to work hard tonight to win them back.

But the crowd that gathered in Northwest Guifford High School's theatre tonight (home of the Vikings) was one of the kindest groups of people I've encountered in a while. Pleasant Ridge Christian Fellowship, a new church recently planted in Greensboro, has been using the school's auditorium for their services each week and brought me in to get the word out about their new ministry in town.

They've never hosted a concert before. I love working with people who are new at the concert business. They often make mistakes because of their lack of experience, though the guys tonight made none, but new promoters are also the kindest most attentive and hard-working promoters we partner with as well. They're the most likely to give us great food instead of a bowl of chili and a row of Saltines (true story). They're the most likely to hire a great sound company instead of running my guitar and microphone through a set of computer speakers (also true). And they never under-promote a show, assuming a few posters around the church and an announcement in the Sunday service will draw hundreds of people. These guys gave us amazing food, which makes a huge difference on the road when often all we get is fast food, and they put posters everywhere for miles, mailed stuff out to churches, called churches, bought radio ads and much more. The gave us the best sound system we've played through in a while and staffed it with gentle and patient men who knew what they were doing. Everyone involved worked very hard. Thanks to you all.

But no one, no matter how great of a promoter they are, can stop the crazies from tainting things. For instance, representing the great state of North Carolina well, Harmonica Hannah serenaded me using her miniature instrument and her nose. And then there was the gnome. You know gnomes, not content with sitting on a theatre seat like everyone else, always hungry for the limelight, pushy little suckers. This one made himself at home at my feet, the little guy lounged there in the warmth of the cable clutter all night. I wouldn't have even noticed him if he didn't keep shouting "WELCOME GNOME! PLAY WELCOME GNOME!"

And on a random note, as if that wasn't, Brian, not content with his, um, condition began his Rogaine treatments today. Wow, that stuff really works! Hey, Rogaine guys! you know Brian works for a huge soft-rock star. What better advertising opportunity could you dream up? I'm talking endorsement deal, before and after shots on bus stops and billboards, commercials, radio, TV, sponsorship of my world tour.

"THE WELCOME GNOME TOUR!"

Shut up gnome.

Anyway, have your people call my people and we'll work something out.