Double Trouble Debriefing

I’ve been home for 2 days now and am so fully appreciating my kitties, my fella and the comfort of my own bed that I’ve forgotten how badly I missed them when I was traveling last week!

Double Trouble was short and sweet but long on fun and lessons learned.

Los Angeles to San Fran to Portland to Seattle and then back again.  Just under 2600 miles and 7 days in my car.

This was the experience for me:  Each show got better and better.  I got more and more comfortable onstage and that comfort allows you to go to places as a creative performer that you don’t normally get to.  This is the value of the road to me.  It’s been so many years since I’ve toured and during that time, each show in my town seems to sit on a  pedestal in the middle of my month.  Even when I’m at my best, I still bring a load of anxieties onstage with me.  When you start to travel and do a string of shows in a row, you don’t really have the opportunity to carry that anxiety and stress.  You realize this is your JOB, so do it.  And have fun.  Free of those anxieties, the experience is completely different.  I’m grateful to have found that on this journey.  I stopped worrying about playing my guitar exactly right, about singing perfectly.  I felt free to just sing and tell my stories.

My favorite show was is Portland.  I was thoroughly charmed by my first visit to this town and LOVED the day leading up to the show with yummy food and a gorgeous hike on Mount Tabor.  Thank you to new friend Lauren for hosting us!

San Fran was wild and crazy.  Amazing hospitality and crazy nights out at the bar with new friends!  Thanks Patrick.  I can’t say it enough!

Seattle was a quick and super rainy visit but it was great to hug old and new friends and I had some of the best late night Chinese food I’ve ever consumed.  Thanks to the Samsons for opening their home to us.

Los Angeles was the smallest crowd… and that’s all I have to say about that

Big thanks to all who came out and supported.  It meant the world to feel the love in towns I’d never even visited before.  ThankyouThankyou.  I promise to keep getting better and better if you keep showing up!

Big thanks to all members of the Chris Dallman Connection who drove some pretty intense distances to see the shows and post about their experience on the website for those across the country and overseas who weren’t able to make it.

I’ve learned so much from Aiden James.  He is an incredible musician and mentor.  Watching how he carried himself through this tour, dealing with fans and friends and the staff at venues… all of this has taught me so much.  Above all,  he is someone who boldly and instinctively says YES when an opportunity arises.  Sometimes  I’m the same, but other times I take a moment in that breath allow fear to get in the way.  And then the moment is lost.  I want to start saying YES more.

He is also a pretty fantastic car buddy.  Thank goodness for Marisa Tomei’s quotable tour de force in My Cousin Vinnie, Wong’s in Willows, Nolan the line-cutter, Brunello Di Montalcino, Ingrid Michaelson (you left your cd), the late-night new age radio poetry slam, and the fruit checkpoint. And thank God for Gaga.

My favorite songs of Aiden’s are the ones he hasn’t recorded yet, so for sure look out for the new record he is about to start working on.  Below are a few videos from the tour (Thanks, Laura!)  We will have more to share in the coming weeks.

I’m sad that the tour is over, but am excited to look to the future!

COMING UP:

I’ve got shows in Phoenix, Milwaukee, Cedar Rapids, and New York city in the coming months.

My video for GHOSTS will be airing on TV on FUSE on demand and on their website for the whole month of May!

I’m shooting a legit video for GIMME MORE with Director Derek Woods on May 15th and 16th.

I’ve got a new record coming out this summer.

I’m writing new songs.

Much love,

cjd