I’m heading west next week to start my October tour, and pleased to announce that I'll be representing Memphis as a Music Export Memphis Ambassador! I had the privilege of partnering with them for my UK / Ireland performances in June, and I'm honored to be working with them again!! They are a great asset to the city’s music scene by helping Memphis artists get to were get to where they need to be. See the SHOWS page for details.
Sam Fender
Today I’ve been listening to Hypersonic Missiles - the new album from Sam Fender album. It’s excellent, and I highly recommend listening if you haven’t checked it out yet. At certain points, his vocal tone and phasing reminds me of Jeff Buckley. Speaking of which, yesterday I went on an afternoon stroll through Memphis and passed by the house Jeff lived in while he was here in 1997.
October tour dates!
In honor of the first day of Autumn, I’m excited to announce my upcoming tour in October! More details coming soon!! Here’s where I’ll be…
Cooper-Young Fest (part 2)
Cooper-Young Festival 2019 was a huge success! Read all about it from the Daily Memphian link below, followed by event poster and photos (by Sarah Bell) from our performance.
dailymemphian.com/article/7462/Despite-heat-thousands-turn-out-for-cool-Memphis-festival
Cooper-Young Fest (part 1)
Super fun gig yesterday in Memphis (with a full band) at Cooper-Young Fest! Here’s the setlist and an article in the Commercial Appeal. Live pics on the way!!
Memphis Machine
I had a fun conversation on Tuesday with Jonathan Bass and Carl Caspersen (behind the laptop) for the Memphis Machine Podcast. New episodes coming soon!
I Was Here (summer 2019)
Poster Boy
Backstage Archive is LIVE!
I’m working on a photography project called Backstage Archive. In the early 2000s I was obsessed with disposable cameras. I had one with me wherever I went, especially while on tour through America and around the world (playing drums with Charlie Hunter, John Mayer, Marc Broussard, Jesse Malin, The Alternate Routes and more.) I recently dug them out of storage and got some developed. Check out the pics on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.
Summer Tour Recap
Home safe from summer tour. Had a blast! I drove 5300 miles during 24 days for 24 gigs through 22 cities in 11 states. Big thanks to all the venues and everyone who came to the shows. I’ll be heading west for more dates in October. Details coming soon.
Tour update #4
Final week of summer tour was a great run of shows through Indiana, Illinois, and Missouri. Pics below. Stay tuned for more gigs (and photos) in October!
Road hog
Piano Man
God Bless American
Sea of Sunflowers
Sell sell sell!!!
Illinois sunset
Abraham Lincoln’s home before the White House - Springfield, IL
Whole Lotta Love’s
Man In The Mirror
Good morning Saint Louis
Cathedral Basilica - Saint Louis, MO
Tennessee bound
Home Sweet Home
creepy critter
And sometimes the venue has a baby possum living under the stage. #tourlife
Tour update #3
I spent some down time during the beginning of last week in Chanhassen MN, Pecatonica IL, and Madison WI. Then had a fun run of shows in Wisconsin and Illinois. Photos below. Full schedule this week, so check the SHOWS page for details.
Outside the Palace of Prince aka Paisley Park in Chanhassen, MN.
Inside the Palace of Prince aka Paisley Park in Chanhassen, MN.
Dhamma Pakasa - Vipassana Meditation Center in Pecatonica, IL.
Good morning Madison, WI.
Art by Jeffrey Gibson at MMOCA in Madison, WI.
More art by Jeffrey Gibson at MMOCA in Madison, WI.
Movie matinee in Madison, WI.
Into the great wide open.
Fillerup!
Greetings from the middle of America.
Sex, drugs, laundromat in Green Bay, WI.
Peanut gallery in Green Bay, WI.
House concert in Appleton, WI.
Hot rod in Appleton, WI.
Corn season USA.
Another dream home by Frank Lloyd Wright. Robie House in Chicago, IL.
Sunday stroll in Chicago, IL.
Meditation pit stop
I had a few days off this week, so I took the opportunity to spend some quality time at Dhamma Pakasa - Vipassana Meditation Center in Pecatonica, IL. Tour starts back up again tonight in Green Bay, WI.
Tour update #2
Had a busy week in Kansas, South Dakota, Nebraska, North Dakota, and Minnesota; but still had time to see the sights (pics below). I have a few days off this week, then start up again in Wisconsin and Illinois. Check the SHOWS page for details.
Green on green in Norman, OK.
After hours espresso (decaf) in Lawrence, KS.
Heartland of America Park in Omaha, NE.
Late night noir in Omaha, NE.
Childhood home of Robert Zimmerman from 1941-1947 in Duluth, MN (before he moved to Hibbing and became Bob Dylan).
Mary Tyler Moore made it after all, in Minneapolis, MN.
Golden Anniversary
It was such a good read that I got the audiobook too! Just listened to the part where Pete Townshend talks about The Who playing at Woodstock, which was 50 years ago today (at 5:00 in the morning).
Tour update #1
Summer tour got off to a great start last week in Arkansas, Kansas, and Oklahoma. This week I’ll be in Kansas, South Dakota, Nebraska, North Dakota, and Minneapolis. Check the SHOWS page for details. Below are some pics from the road.
Tour supplies.
Border crossing from TN to AR.
Next level coffee experience at Onyx in Rogers, AR.
Nature walk in Bentonville, AR.
Dream home in Bentonville, AR. Bachman-Wilson House by Frank Lloyd Wright.
Former headquarters of The Flaming Lips in Oklahoma City. Now occupied by Factory Obscura for the MIX TAPE installation.
Lake Hefner in Oklahoma City.
On the road...
Summer tour starts TODAY! On my way to Arkansas for a gig tonight in Rogers, then heading north. Details below and more info on the SHOWS page. See you soon!!
Fiddle sister
In case you missed it: My sister Claudia Chopek played violin with Sam Fender last week on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon! Check it out… youtu.be/bcCZ76ubzIU
Summer tour starts next week!!
I’ll be traveling through the Midwest during August. Hope to see you out there! Go to the SHOWS page for details.
All aboard!
Tour train is heading for the Midwest in August. Dates coming next week.
