One more day

Many of you have pre-ordered our new record and will be receiving it today and tomorrow. Some of you have been a little late on the uptake, that's fine, understandable even. You'll run out to your local music outlet tomorrow and demand a copy. Tomorrow's the big day, the one we've all been waiting for. 4/20, Things That Fly, High Noon Saloon in Madison, WI w/ Sweetgrass. May's a big month, if you live in The East, we'll be in your neighborhood. Look for the White Torpedo and you'll know you're in the right place.

t


Festival!

-- Post From My iPhone

Old Settlers and Collings Guitars

Falco and Cobby both play Collings instruments. The Collings factory is very close to Old Settlers. Steve invited us by to check it out on the way to the festival tonight. I took photos. Short sentences are cool.






Super old school band saw.






Lots of wood.






Workbench.






Falco and a fresh guitar.
Sweet.

Great weather at the festival, cool and comfortable. We rolled through 60 minutes of music. Every show is a highlight these days. Panda split after our set to sit in with Bearfoot. Blue Highway was great as usual, the Best of the Blue in my opinion. Alejandro Escovedo absolutely rocked. Joe Ely is closing it out as I once again sit in the van, doing a beer.

Leaving the festival cocoon tomorrow for the Blue Door in Oklahoma City. Every band has outnumbered the staff and audience at least once. That show for us was the Blue Door three years ago. Undaunted, we return to the scene tomorrow, bent on redemption. I'll tell you if we get it.

The less comma's the better.

Old Settlers Thursday Night

Rain. Every Festival history has it's rainy episodes. This year Old Settlers may very well write that chapter, they're expecting 3 inches over the weekend, but it's not raining at the moment... time will tell. This evening, however, when we arrived and throughout our set the rain fell. Bearfoot was onstage when we arrived. They sound great, Sam fits right in to the soundscape and Odessa's songwriting blew my mind. I had no idea. It's always good to see friends and catch up. A typical conversation is like this;
"how's things?"
"good. Shows, you know."
"sweet, me too."
"yeah"
"yeah"
"I need a beer"
"yeah"
"how's your van/bass/bandmates workin' out."
"oh, dude, things are awesome. We're having fun, the exhaust manifold's out on the van so we sound like Rednecks rolling into these festivals. It's awesome!"
"sweet"
"yeah, you wanna hear it?"
"no"

So as you can see, it's exciting to see friends at the festival. Brave Combo is ripping through brass tunes. Music is cool.



-- Post From My iPhone

Old Settlers Approach

Driving through Texas. Health Care debate rages in the front, phone calls and business in the back. I'm in the middle, happily avoiding both on my birthday. Fitting that Festival Season arrived today, I need the boost. Last night was a blast in Houston, The Continental is... hard to describe. Texas in general has a distinct feel, a unique rhythm and we're easily falling into it. We'll be seeing a mess of great bands this weekend at Austin's Old Settlers Festival, our boy Samson Grisman debuts with Bearfoot, still in transition after the departure of two members.

The sandals are on, the sun's out and the road is unfurling on the way to a Festival. Life is good.

t

Set to Launch

Waiting at the Bush Airport in Houston, White Torpedo should b arriving momentarily. Things That Fly Release Tour began for the other six yesterday when they crawled in the van, but tonight marks the first night of the tour. This should be interesting:


-- Post From My iPhone

The Opry

This Friday the Dusters appear on the world famous, historic Grand Ole Opry. Hear (it streams live on wsm.com) seventh Stringduster Alan Bartram crush bass while Travis sits nursing an ACL replacement at an undisclosed location.


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LA Bluegrass Situation

Ed Helm's Bluegrass Situation was in full swing well before we arrived Monday. Late nights and epic jams were standard so we easily slipped into the scene. A long set punctuated by a sit-in that included Punch Brothers Noam and Critter, Sara and Sean Watkins and Ed Helms was only the start of a long night. After the show the Watkins held court in the Little Room at the Largo. Benmont Tench (Heartbreakers) played piano all night, Jackson Browne flowed in and out of the music and Gillian Welch and David Rawlins blew minds. The Dusters got in on some of the music too but it was our Friday, so we were in leisure mode.


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