It’s high Time! Please click where it says “Screed” down the left side on the front page and read about what’s rattling around in my craven, tiny little mind! Hope you’re well, wherever you are.
love,
Tommy

It’s been a couple of weeks now since SXSW (South by Southwest Music Conference in Austin, Texas) and I think I’m still processing it. I always love SXSW even though it’s a madhouse. My favorite memories are the gig at the soup kitchen, Buttercup at a coffeehouse, Uncle Monk in a Church, Johnny Rivers jamming with Buddy Miller and his band (kept calling him Jimmy Miller), Graham Weber at the Cactus Cafe, Malcomb Holcombe at Stephen F’s, the gingerbread panackes at Magnolia Cafe (saw Michael Stipe there), Billy Bragg outdoors at 1 in the morning, the BMI breakfast at some seriously foo-foo joint where I just sat back with a third cup of coffee and thought to myself, “Self, it really doesn’t get much better than this, does it?”. Lisa Gray and Dan Seymour accompanied me (Lisa drove ever inch of it, bless her pure heart!) and while we missed having Fenner around, a fine Austinite named Brett Staggs sat in ably on the drums for us at several of the gigs. I always think of SXSW as the official beginning of Spring. I think Nashvillians make that pilgrimage for the sunshine and warm weather as much as anything else; it’s the first rush of sunshine, trees with buds, a warm breeze - it’s really lovely, year-in, year-out.

Tin Pan South is this week. It’s an annual thing in Nashville where all the songwriters play at once at clubs all over town. And that boils it down to its essence, doesn’t it! It is actually a treat, if you like writers in the round. I’ve always wanted to host a Tourrette’s Syndrome writers in the round where while one person plays and sings his/her heart out, the other 3 writers bark “you suck!” uncontrollably, along with “get in tune!”, “piece o’ crap!”, “shaddup!” etc. Now to me, THAT would be entertainment. - My Tin Pan slot is at the Basement Wednesday 4/2 at 9 PM with Irene Kelly, Jubal Lee Young and Gwil Owen - come on out!

Will Kimbrough and I are at work now, officially, as of yesterday, on the next Daddy record. We wrote and demo’d a cool r&bish type song called “Nobody from Nowhere” yesterday here at my house. We had a great gig at Sparky’s 50th birthday in Birmingham this past weekend. It was nice to pull the tele out and pick some as opposed to the usual acoustic noodlery I mostly content myself with on the road. Thanks to Jay Johnson and Tommy Prewitt on rhythm combo duties there.

A big thanks to JB, Todd Smith, Bart & Susan, Sparky and his birthday celebrants for the great gigs lately in Florida, Alabama and elsewhere. I’m looking forward to playing in Frankfort and Midway, Kentucky this weekend, will be seeing Billy Mack Hill from the Cheese, with his wife Lauren opening up for me in Midway. Now if I could just find a drummer…

God bless,
TW
4/1/08
Notice I resisted the temptation to include any April Fools gags in this news flash. You’re welcome!