Road Diary: October 2013

There's still a bit of traveling to go, but the bulk of touring for this month has ended and the verdict is in: it was wonderful! If I had to give a single thematic word association to the tour it would be: Hospitality.

Omaha, NE at the Lantrip's

Hospitality is at the core of the music my friends (Abbye West Pates, Jeff Pates, and Brian Mulder) and I make. On this tour over and over again we were amazing at the hospitality of those who hosted us in their homes, re-arranged their living rooms for house concerts, cooked us meals, and listened with care and grace to our songs and stories.

As people opened their doors and hearts to us beautiful memories bloomed. On the ride home we recounted some of our favorite moments from our travels - long slow conversation over a laden breakfast table with the Sisoukrath family,  late night basement jam sessions with the Hightower family, enthusiastic after-show talks at the Lantrip's in Omaha, sweet tears and friendship joining grief and expectant joy with the Hendersons, deep rest and lots of vinyl listening with the Johnsons, a packed room bearing witness to years of community in Holland, Michigan, Hymns and Psalms poured over us in Indiana, and an old friend's church welcoming a night of telling the Story of Redemption to cap it all off.

Becca pours coffee and spins the vinyl for us in Oshkosh, WI

All that and we got to do what we love- play these songs we've been living into existence for the last many years. Deep gratitude is also due to my friends. Being around three other people day in and day out for three weeks solid, sleeping in a new place nearly every night, and spending long hours in a car has the potential to create stress for even the closest of friends - but I couldn't ask for more graceful, kind, and humble folks to travel alongside. Some the richest moments were uncovered in the daily conversations we carried among us.

Tom and Deb Henderson hosted us as an Adoption Fundraiser in Minneapolis, MN

Thank you all for making room for us and making what we do possible! If you are interested in booking a concert email me: matthew(at)matthewclark.net