"Epic", "Incredible", "Legendary"... Don't Begin to Describe It

I have had 2 of the most amazing days this past week. They both took place in Austin. I am still winding down from an emotional high. My heart is full and I'm just so grateful I got to experience what I experienced. It's kinda funny though, b/c to Jon it was like, no big deal at all. Well, as I keep pointing out to him HE'S been to the mountaintop, and I'm still floundering around at Base Camp! So basically, here's what happened...

Friday

I had the day off from all my jobs, yaaaayyyy... We went to pick up Jon's Ohio musical business partner, Bear, at the airport. We ran back to Jon's so Jon could change clothes but Jon dropped me and Bear off at the hat store b/c Bear wanted a new hat. We found a pimp one, Jon picked us up, and we headed to Austin for our very first Austin City Limits Live experience to see the legendary James Cotton! What was so sweet is that Bear had been given 2 comp tickets by Cotton's guitarist--but Jon said he would not go to Austin w/out me--so Bear bought another ticket so we could all 3 go. (Sound of my heart melting!) But Bear is a sweetheart generally--I guess it was maybe his idea for me to come be the bassist at their Ohio event which is already next week! Aaaaaaaah! Anyway...

We stopped off for BBQ on the way and got into Austin. Except we thought ACL still taped at UT but fortunately we found out it is now taping at the W Hotel downtown, which is not that far from UT, where we were, chuckle! We made it there and valet parked and were about to go to our seats when Bear got a text from Tom saying to come backstage. We made our way back there, and got to visit while Shemekia was playing her opening set (I've seen her play before though). After a spell, James Cotton showed up. Awesommmmmmmmmme! I have seen him play once, a few years ago, at Gruene Hall when he opened up for Levon. I was starstruck. Totally starstruck. Jon has played w/him before though--of course! But it was also fun to meet his bassist, who is part of a well-known Baton Rouge blues family and who I am well aware of from having dated my ex, M, who was friends w/the whole family. And their road manager is the son of another living blues legend! Amazing room of people, I tell you what.

So we got to our seats for the show and when James Cotton came out with that searing high harp sound, I got goosebumps--and that doesn't happen too often anymore! It was a killer show. And they were joined on vocals by one of Jon's vocal hero's--though I admit I don't know too much about him. I wanted to go down to the floor for the encore so we did. We made our way backstage again and snacked on some of their food--there was PLENTY of it, including this delightful cheese shaped like Texas! We told the guitarist and vocalist we'd be gwine to another show that night (that we just found out about that day) and told them they'd want to join us there if they knew what was good for them! But they agreed when they heard who'd be playing.

We made our way to the next stop, and lo and behold we run into a gal pal of Jon's, a sweet chick from Houston who happened to be there (well, she's friends with the guitarist, living Austin legend Derek O'Brien). After seeing a KILLER James Cotton show, now THIS was another killer show! And the vocalist from James Cotton showed up and sang a couple songs, and later the guitarist and his wife showed too. Good times, good times. When it was all over and we had to leave it was 2am. Jon got us home by downing a 5-hour energy shot and we were home around 4:30am. Then the next morning Jon had to have Bear to the airport by 9:30 for his flight home--but we all agreed it was WORTH IT!!! We'll see Bear next Monday in Ohio and we'll stay at his house.

Whew! So then we went back to Austin on Monday for the funeral of Pinetop. It was an intense, heavy duty experience, filled with much love and just bittersweet. But I'll have to write about that later... I'm off to get home, change, and get to the country jam w/JFu, followed by Jon's blooze jamm. Gotta play, gotta play.