Hola amigos!

I have had the great pleasure of opening up for two music legends in the last two weeks. I played in front of Billy Joe Shaver last weekend and Ray Wylie Hubbard last night. Both were really cool guys, and the crowds were great at both shows. It is pretty awesome to watch those guys work, still great, and all about the music. I can only pray that my career will have a fraction of the longevity and impact that those two men's have had.

While most of our scene was focused on New Braunfels for the Americana Jam today, I was here in Austin doing a photo shoot for the upcoming album. It is great to see it all coming together. The album will go to Nashville this week to be mixed, and we will continue the long road to making/releasing an album. I can't lie though, it would have been great to be in NB today. Let's meet up there next year.

We made a late addition to the album which I was quasi-forced into doing. No, it's not a producer vs. artist issue. Gratefully, it was an issue of fans saying, "make sure that is on the new album". For those of you who requested it, Crazy Like You, will make the album. We recorded using the Mystiqueros as the band, it sounds pretty sweet. I haven't had fans respond to a song that they had never heard the you have responded to that song. For those of you who haven't heard it, come see a show, or wait for the album.

I don't think I have mentioned that I got to see one of my all-time favorite groups a few weeks ago. Nickel Creek played Floore's and I was lucky enough to attend. I think those guys are absolutely one of the best things happening in modern music. The show was great, but when caught word of where they would be after the show, we went to the bar and were treated to an impromptu jam session. It was absolutely incredible. I bought Kristi a shirt and had a friend of mine get it signed for me (thank you Heather).

My birthday was last week, we had a great time. Brandon Rhyder was playing the KVET Wednesday show and the South First Band opened. We had been in the studio for the day so we went over there when we got out. Many hours later I gave Warren Smyrl (of South First Band fame) a mohawk. It was pretty good, and for anyone needing a mohawk, I'll hook you up with a good deal.

I got an i-pod for my birthday. We had one, but Kristi drowned it in a glass of water. I spend way too much time on desolate highways to not have one. I love them. I love them especially for the random feature. I tell you honestly I am listening to my i-pod right now and Metallica, Fight Fire with Fire, from Ride the Lightning just came one, followed by Alison Krauss singing, I Will, a Beatles song. You can't beat that, the old i-pod will not hesitate to put two artists with absolutely nothing in common right after each other. What I wish it could do is somehow randomly select certain artists to do other artists songs'. Imagine Metallica playing Alison Krauss and Alison Krauss doing Creeping Death or something of the like. I digress.

As I continue to stumble along the edge of greatness, I have been fortunate enough to open up for it the past two weeks (as I mentioned earlier). This week I'll be more like stumbling in the vicinity of greatness. The Texas Music Times festival is going down in Bandera featuring all your favorites. As fate would have it, I also will be in Bandera, just not at the festival. I'll be at the Bandera Bar and Grill, just down the road. If you get tired of the festival scene and want a cool hang at a sweet bar, stop by, it'll be great. I'll also be in San Angelo, Austin, and Ft. Worth for a Clubhouse show with Jamie Richards. I am really looking forward to that. I met Jamie a year or so ago in Dallas, he's got some great county songs and I look forward to playing with him this Sunday.

I've rambled enough. I hope to see you at a show soon. The album is coming. Peace out.

Josh