Letterman is in the can. I’m bushed but determined to rant tonight so if you want to know anything further you can check that out on the rant page. As a matter of fact. I’m going to cut this short and go write the rant right now. I mean, that’s all the NEWS there is anyway right now, after all! We did Letterman. We played the Ed Sullivan Theater. I didn’t vomit. Other than that, slow news day.

Love,
TW

I’m in New York at the Park Central Hotel right now. Just had a great Thai dinner with Will, Molly, Paul, Peter and Peter’s wife Charlotte. Here’s what’s up for tomorrow. I just recently found this out. Dave tapes TWO shows on Monday: Monday night’s show and FRIDAY night’s show. My understanding is that the show we tape tomorrow will air Friday night. To be on the safe side, I’d say stay up late enough to see who the musical guest is Monday night, and if it’s not Todd, then you’ll know we’ll be on Friday. And with that, I bid you good night from the city that never sleeps. My goodness. Letterman. The Ed Sullivan Theater. These are the kinds of things that have always happened to other people, not me. And now it’s me. All I can think to compare the feeling to is maybe, say you drive to your relatives’ house for Christmas dinner, and you drive for 23 years, no stops to pee, 23 years of driving. After 23 years, you finally pull into their driveway. That’s what this feels like. I reckon. I just looked in the mirror right now, just to make sure I’m still me, that it’s really me this stuff is happening to. Sure looks like me in the mirror! I reckon it’ll look like me on television too, only ten pounds healthier. Thanks for all your good wishes and kind words. Think good musical thoughts for all of us. Letterman. Letterman! Unbelievable.

God bless,

Tommy

That’s right folks. Set those VCRs, plan those mass viewings. Todd Snider and His Band are back on national television this coming Monday evening the 28th of August. We just got it confirmed today. We either fly up Sunday night or Monday morning. Don’t know yet. Pray God it’s Sunday night.

Thanks to all of you for the kind words and site comments and e-mails after the Tonight Show. I’m sorry it took me so long to get back to everyone (I THINK I’ve done that now…) but there was quite an avalanche of well-wishing, and I thank you.

I’d like to thank all my relatives back in Arkansas who watched us on Leno. My Mom alerted them all and they all - all - had the same question for Mom later. “Which one was Tommy?” Well, I’ll help you out a little this time, in advance, so Monday night you won’t have any trouble knowing which one is your Kentucky-born blood kin. Okay, here’s what you do… Tune in to Letterman this coming Monday night and, when the musical guest, Todd, comes on, I’ll be in the band. That’s Step One. Step Two: I’ll be one of the two guitarists, which will narrow things down considerably. Now, Step Three: This is important, when trying to figure out which one’s me, I’m the one who looks JUST LIKE DAD! YOU KNOW! DAD! J.C. WOMACK! I’ll be the skinny one, LIKE DAD! I’ll be the one with the sloping forehead, Roman nose and slightly jutted, pointing chin, LIKE DAD! I’ll be wearing glasses LIKE DAD! DAD! GODDAMMIT! The Reverend J. C. Womack of Beebee, Arkansas, the guy you had Christmas dinner with for EIGHTY FUCKING YEARS! DAD! Hope that helps.

Muckelwain was a gas. I had a great time playing with Will and then with Todd later that night. I really enjoyed Cary Hudson, thought Cory Brannen was brilliant, as was Scott Miller, and the Yahoos made me remember how much - all this rootsy Americana stuff aside - I truly love loud electric guitar. They were all a tonic for the soul.

I’m looking forward to the Decatur Book Festival in two weeks, getting to play with Marshall Chapman, John Welsey Harding and Ellis Paul at Eddie’s Attic. Also looking forward to the Horse Cave Heritage Festival, getting back to Birmingham at the Oasis, going to Texas with Todd, my next bag of Skittles, and my next round of five-card stud with Nathan. (We play with chips. He’s also way into billiards now. I’m thinking of teaching him to smoke soon.)

God bless, new rant soon. Promise!

TW

Todd was great, the band was great, Molly especially shined, the song came across, the tele stayed in tune, I didn’t vomit, met Jay, met Kevin, had a ball. Thank you Jesus.