El Guapo & I spent 3 days in the Carolinas this week, having left Charlotte, NC
this morning, after a wonderful night at a place I’d been hearing about for years, Puckett’s Farm Equipment, which is was as cool as I expected. Thanks to Brian Deal, a gentle semi-giant of a man who made us feel at home from the moment we met him. Thanks as well to Rob Mullis, who drug a bunch of his friends out on a rainy Wed. night.We were joined by Lou Modelli, a percussionist extraordinaire, and friend of Billy’s for 20+ years, from NYC days in bands. During the day, we were given a tour through the Muzak Corporate Office there in Charlotte- mo’ defly not yo daddy’s muzak anymore. Very very cool.
On Monday, we played the very cool Handlebar in Greenville, a city we both kinda fell in love with, on account of it has all manner of pubs, bars & restaurants downtown, a minor league field downtown, and another place where it still rains. Rain, children… I had almost forgot what it felt like. apparently, it makes trees & flowers grow, and there are lots of those in this area. We made new friends in Greenville, and were hosted throughout our stay by my old friend Barry Ray, who had homemade kolaches for us Tue morning. yes, homemade. To get to Greenville from Chattanooga, we passed through the southern section of the Appalachians, a magnificent drive.
Tuesday took us up to Winston-Salem, NC, where we played The Garage, a classic live music venue that I had played with Pat Green back in the day as the kids say, back when those kids were still watching the Flintstones. A fun night there, and my dear old music/seminary/travel compadre Tommy Swinney fixed an NC breakfast, grits, eggs, sausage. We are not losing weight on this trip. In fact, Billy popped a button on his road-shorts today, at a gas station in West Virginia, as we made our way to Buffalo.
Today, we are joined by our fellow Mystiquadres Brian, Ray, Tina & Mertis, as we begin the 2nd leg of the journey, this time plugged in & ready to make some Rumble across New York, and down to DC. Adventure!! Romance!! (well, for me anyway since my baby’s here for the weekend) and more local cuisine, and more new friends & old friends. As you might expect, this is fun & its good to be a Mystiquero.
-Big D
