FROM THE ROAD

Odessa's First Trip to Alaska!!!

Wednesday, June 17, 2009 at 12:00:00 AM

 
Hi everyone!
       I am sitting in a little cafe in Anchorage, Alaska drinking my fourth shot of espresso so far today!! The whole band is here this week teaching a kids music camp. Much fun, but also makes one slightly crazy. The kids are like little sponges! So eager to learn, so full of newly discovered musical energy! Jason says it's the best form of birth control.
       We, the band, parted ways for the latter half of May, and met back up in Pagosa Springs CO in early June, for the Pagosa Folk and Bluegrass Festival. Amazing! One of our favorite places to play. The festival is set up on the side of a mountain. The view from back stage will take your breath away. That, combined with the music being played from stage, the dancing hippies all draped in colorful togas, the smell of lavender and sage burning in the air,...it's like stepping into another world. One that makes you feel like a floating piece of cloud with not a care in the world. Or at least that's how i was feeling anyway... So good.
        For the last three weeks in May we have all been traipsing / floating around on our own seperate paths. Kate's family and a few friends rafted down the Grand Canyon. The whole crew made it out unscathed, besides all getting the stomach flu all at once during the night. Angela moved temporarily to the Crow Creek Historic Gold Mine in Girdwood, Alaska, about 40 minutes south of Anchorage. She still currently resides in that place. There is no running water there, and no electricity! Jason toured solo around AK, climbing mountains and sea kayaking near Juneau in between gigs. Mike went back to his boat/home in Cordova AK to fish and play music. I went back home to Nashville for a bit. Took a road trip to Del Fest and was terrified by the storm that reeked havoc there. Check out the you-tube vids. Crazy! Amazing festival besides the terrifying storm. A few days later flew to Cali for a wedding, and to see my lovely fam. And that brings us to the end of May.
          By June 2nd, we all met back up in CO to resume our lives as touring band musicians.  After pagosa we flew directly to Juneau, Alaska to teach a kids camp and play a show. Interesting place. Anybody ever been to Juneau? It's old stomping grounds for the rest of the band. It was my first time there. The show was a blast. We then flew to Anchorage, AK and began teaching Monday, which brings us to the present.  We will head to Fairbanks, AK at the end of this week to continue our tour.

I am currently living as an insomniac here in Anchorage. It doesnt get dark until around 1 or 2am! And it's light ALL the time in fairbanks!?!  What did I get myself into!!!
What an adventure. And it continues.....
See you all out there somewhere.
Odessa,
and the band

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