Tour Update: Gifts from the Great Midwest

Wrapped in what looks like a Native American inspired blanket, I'm sitting in an old mill-converted-to-condo in Oshkosh, Wisconsin, listening to the wind whip furiously around the corner of the building and the rain splashing against the windows.

We've only 3 shows left on the Great Midwestern Tour, which has, indeed, been very great.

Nebraska, Iowa, Minnesota, Wisconsin: cities states I've never been to and all of them, I found beautiful.

More than the hills and the fields and the golden leaves on the trees, we spent time with some really beautiful people. For us, touring and music-sharing without people and story-sharing would empty and hollow.

Our hosts and listeners, old friends and new, come from our past (fellow Mississippi-natives!) and our present. Some like to be quiet and slow and talk thru the hours, others tell louder and funnier stories that give us good, hearty laughs. All have been beautiful.

Rebecca Johnson, our host in Oshkosh, WI, also a fellow native Mississippian.

The super-cool set-up for our Oshkosh show, at New City Church.

Phom and Kaylee Sisoukrath, Little Rock, AR hosts and friends we met through working at SOS

Minneapolis, MN-area house show

Matt & Su, Omaha, NE hosts. We loved all the Mississippi-art in their home!
Su, also sporting the Abbye West Pates shirt.

Omaha, NE house show. This was a really, really good night.

The whole Omaha crew!

Before we left, and even often on the tour, we've been asked in various ways how we make this work, how we make any money. It's a legitimate question; there's no fault in wondering how we "make it work". But while I believed it before, I believe it more now: this isn't about money. If it were, then we'd be doing something else.

It's about people and story-sharing. It's also hard work: writing, practicing, traveling, set-up, tear-down, meeting people, selling merch, giving attention to listeners after the show. This is our work, and it is good.

The final word: I'm not ready for touring to end!