Texas House Show Tour: Day 1

Well, we packed up the U-Haul with our equipment, loaded up our homemade pimento cheese and chicken salad, said a prayer with the Malcomb House Family (including my wife who sadly couldn't come) and headed West from Memphis to begin the Texas House Show Tour!  We landed a couple of hours ago in Emory, TX where we're staying with our dear friend Anna this evening. This tour really is all about hospitality. Anna had all kinds of food ready for us and a beautiful place to set up home-base and rest this weekend.  Willie Nelson was singing as we came in the house (on the cd player). Our cell phones don't work. I don't have internet. Stars. A Lake. Rest. 

Every time I get on the road, I realize how lopsided my musical work tends to be. I spend a lot of time in a closed studio room huddled over lyrics, instruments and recording equipment. Don't get me wrong, I love this side of the creative process. BUT when I get out on the road and into living rooms with little groups of real people to sing for and to sing with - that's the point. So thankful to spend this time with people I love, sharing in music that I love. For the next week we'll be driving around Texas sharing our life together in these songs and stories. 

In the morning we'll head to Richardson, TX outside of Dallas for our first house show.  At some point this week, as technology allows, we will be Ustreaming at least one of the house shows. Follow me on twitter and I'll post some details ( @matthewclarknet ) 

P.S. The Malcomb House is my wife and I, Abbye and Jeff Pates (The Pates Family Singers) and Jason Baker. We live in a little house on Malcomb Street together in Memphis, TN.  You can read Abbye's thoughts as we travel this week on her blog here: www.thewaywewander.blogspot.com