The PT Diaries

I received a package in the mail two days ago that really touched my heart. It was a vintage shirt that was sent to me by my dear friend Christine Ohlman. It once belonged to her husband who passed away a few years ago. She heard me say that I had bought a 70’s brown polyester suit and she thought that the shirt would look good with it. It fits great and I am going to wear it with pride. Her husband’s spirit lives on. By the way Christine is a great singer/songwriter with a new CD out, so look her up. She also has a regular gig singing on Saturday Night Live.

The first week of the tour has been a success. Joan and the Holmes Brothers have been a joy to work with. We are all traveling on the same bus so I am thankful that they all have pleasant personalities or otherwise it would be a very long month. Every night during Joan’s encore she brings me out and we sing the old Sam and Dave song ‘’If Something is Wrong with My Baby, Something is Wrong with Me.'’ It’s really cool to get to sing with one of the best singers around. I have been trying to eat healthier and not have snacks late at night, but last night I blew it. I laid in my hotel bed and ate 7 Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups while listening to a TV preacher tell me that if I would sew a 100 dollar seed into his ministry my financial situation would change for the better. I think I’ll just keep spending my disposable income at the casino. Please remember me in your prayers.

Last nite was the first show and it went quite well. Joan and the Holmes Brothers both put on a great set. After the performance we all went back to the hotel and met with the Columbia management people who organized the tour and they all seemed pleased with the first night’s response from the crowd. I sat with the Holmes Brothers at the hotel bar and had one shot of Jose Cuervo. Those guys are so cool and fun to talk to. As we chit chatted there was a small group of white folks dancing to salsa music on a tiny dance floor. Among them i saw Joan out there groovin’ to the beat among the locals. She wasn’t acting like a star and I thought that was very cool. She was a good dancer. She seems to be very spirit filled. They had a set of conga drums that anyone could get up and play so i gave it a shot and i really enjoyed playing to the salsa beat. I really miss my family but i am thankful that it seems like i will be in the presence of some very nice people for the next month.

Hey folks! Our summer extravaganza is going swimmingly well, with our shows all points west exceeding our expectations. We’ve been out for a while - the van is just now starting to get “ripe”. Actually, it’s really kinda like a traveling petri dish, but we still love and respect each other in the mornings.

I need to relate a wonderful little story about one of our days last week. Pat’s Bar-B-Que is a smashing venue in Salt Lake City that has become adept at serving up some of the best western-style barbecue (as per the Food Channel’s rave-up feature on them) and rockin’ Americana and Blues music. It’s a great club, and the staff is wonderfully hospitable and sweet. And it goes without saying that our dinner was off the hook! Speaking of off the hook, here’s my story…

The owner of Pat’s (his name is Pat - go figure) was gracious enough to offer up a fly fishing expedition the day before the show. Paul and myself were the only two able to go, and away we went.

About forty-five minutes outside of Salt Lake City, nestled between a beautiful collection of hills, is a segment of the Middle Provo river. Idyllic can’t even begin to describe the scenery there. It looks like some of the scenes from that movie “A River Runs Through It” from a couple of years back. Anyway, Pat, Paul, Pat’s able-bodied and very cool nephew Ian, and yours truly set up shop, got our tackle gear on, and proceeded to angle.

Paul is actually an experienced fisherman, but fishing for bass and catfish in the South is a whole different thing from fly fishing for trout out West. It was Paul’s dream to fly fish and it was quite cool to see his excitement over this experience. (I was just happy to chill.) Upon first cast, Paul sunk his baited tri-hook clean into his palm, barb and all. Any of you peeps out there that have fished know this is a painful and bloody proposition! No matter - he soldiered on and actually caught two-and-a-half trout. (The 1/2 was when he actually caught a fish, but in storied fashion the last and biggest fought off the hook.) I was REALLY pleased because I hadn’t fished since I was a wee ten year old, and I caught the first lovely brown trout of the day! I cannot begin to describe the relaxation and communion with nature this day brought. For six hours, we fished, kibbitzed, laughed, and quietly meditated on our own respective lives - thankful and appreciative for such beauty and fellowship. Oh yeah - the trout (expertly fried up by Pat the next day) was exquisite! Wish y’all could have been there; it really was a postcard day.

Thanks again to Pat and Ian, and everyone else at Pat’s and all of the other rockin’ venues we’ve hit so far on this jaunt. Stay in touch, keep reading the posts, and most importantly - keep coming out to catch our little carnival! Talk at ya soon…

Jeffrey Perkin

Jeffrey Perkins here dudes and dudettes - to report on the opening leg of a month long road warrior/PTB mini tour.

Starting in Knoxville, we played the Old Town Thursday Night Summer Concert Series. A threat of stormy weather brought this show indoors. However, the crowd remained enthusiastic and ready to throw down! Great show, wonderful peeps, and killer vibes. Thanks to Jay and the whole crew for another K-Town success.

On to bucolic Johnson City, Tennessee for the BMW Biker Rally/Festival opening up for the venerable Delbert McClinton and his awesome and very gracious band and crew. The BMW owners were primed and ready. It was a fantastically warm and welcoming reception from them. The PTB seized the moment and we came away with more than a few new (converted!) fans/friends. Delbert followed us with a scorching set featuring many cuts off his soon-to-be-released new cd (produced by Don Was). Many of our Muscle Shoals friends/legendary players were in attendance groovin’ to us and Delbert. Some impromptu jammin’ went down, including Little Richard/Amazing Rhythm Aces/Donnie Fritts/Decoys guitarist Kelvin Holly slinging with our Bill “Stagerage” Hinds on PT’s Mission Temple Fieworks Stand and Paul and Bill sitting in with Delbert for Gangster of Love. Other luminaries this eve were: Donnie Fritts (singer/player/songwriting master), guitarist Rick Kurtz, keyboardist NC Thurmond, and freak o’nature-most copped bassist David Hood. What a night!

Saturday night was one for the books! As always, the Neighborhood Theater (Charlotte, NC)  is truly one of our favorite venues! Thanks to Mr. Mike (proprietor), Evan, and all of the folks for efficiency and hospitality. The crowd was beyond stoked and virtually lifted the PTB to stratospheric heights. This was without a doubt a full on ROCKSHOW! Thanks to all of the TarHeel (and surrounding states) faithful for a wondrous gig!

Now for the under-the-radar gem of last week - the Nesselrod on the New Sunken Garden Sundays Concert Series in striking Radford, Virginia. This beautiful slice of the Old Dominion state is as soulful as it is postcard lovely! The shows are put on in a natural outdoor amphitheater surrounded by perfectly manicured landscaping. The sound is clear as a bell (thanks to Ian Fortier from Grind Stone Productions and his hard working crew ), the logistics were run like a Special Ops mission (commanded by Heather Krantz and Dylan Locke from DLP Productions), and the hospitality and amenities were second to none! Let me just say - owners Mark Gordon and Rebecca Parks have absolutely gone way above and beyond to treat us lowly band boys like true royalty! This Bed and Breakfast (Nesselrod on the New) which is one hundred yards behind the amphitheater was our “hotel” for the night. There were opulently appointed themed bedrooms, the gorgeous furnishings,  and crazy luxurious bathrooms (mine sported an unbelievable shower that was more like a  high-tech touchless carwash - I’ve never been so excited and clean in my whole life!). The crowning moment was a sumptuous country dinner (and breakfast Monday morn) that was cooked up and served by Mark, Rebecca, Ms. Tanya, and host of southern belles who were most accommodating. Throw in a blast of a show and you have a difficult to forget concert experience. Thanks to Gary Jackson at Kirk Avenue Music/productions for helping to get us to this soon not-to-be-kept secret!

That’s this weeks notes people. We head out Wednesday morning for a month worth of shows - please catch us, drop us a line, and as always…SPREAD THE WORD! Hope to see y’all soon.

Have a great rest of the summer and get ready for school lil’ kiddies!

Peace and Hope,
Jeffrey Perkins

We are back from a week we were all looking forward to and will remember for a long time. Our first stop was the Workplay in Birmingham where we have many friends and have played lots of fun shows. Then it was off to Texas to play some great shows with Bonnie Raitt. She is beautiful to look at, to hear, and to eat asparagus with. (For some reason, all the caterers offered asparagus at the meals. Just think if all foods left their mark on your urine - relive that cheesecake! Phew, what a great steak!) Bonnie was a wonderful host, making sure we had everything we needed. Her band is a bunch of killer players too. Go to AllMusic.com and check out the credits for George Marinelli, Hutch Hutchinson, Rickey Fatar, and Ricky Peterson. I have been fortunate enough to play sessions with George in Nashville, so we traded some war stories. Getting to hang with all those guys was an honor.

We then went to play the Cherokee Music Festival. We’ve played this festival since Kelsey Warren started it three years ago. He also managed to find some room to put us up at his 14,000 acre ranch. YEEEE HAWWWW! I got to hit golf balls off the private green into the prairie below. Home, home on the driving range. We also played a new place for us in Denton called Dan’s Silverleaf. Then into Dallas for some intimate rocking at the House of Blues. For those who came to see us, thanks a bunch, we’ll be back!

Take care y’all, see ya soon,
Doug, the bass player

Hello friends,

I just got back from doing a string of dates with the great Bonnie Raitt. We all had such a great time being the opening act for such a living icon. The crowd seemed to enjoy our set and we enjoyed getting to meet all of Bonnie’s fans. I hope we won some of them over. Bonnie killed it every night. She sang and played her ass off.

For me personally, the thing I will probably remember the most from the tour is Bonnie’s dog Lexie. It was a little black poodle that she carried around in her arms like a newborn baby. This little dog is blind and deaf. It has eyes but they are not real; they are made of glass. I could tell that she was really close to this little fella. I petted that cute little thing and wondered what it would be like to be a blind dog. I grew up around people who were sometimes cruel to animals, so it was refreshing to see someone who had true compassion for a little down and out poodle. I had several conversations with Bonnie. I told her that if she didnt pick me as her opening act the next time she went out on tour, she and her dog would surely burn in hell. I hope that she will heed my God-sent warning. I am only trying to save her and her furry friend from everlasting torment.

God bless,
Paul

Hey folks,

Drummer Jeffrey Perkins here with a couple scant words on the last 12 days we’ve been out on this latest run.

We started with a wonderful night at a favorite room for us - The WorkPlay Theater in lovely Birmingham, Alabama. Great production and sound anchored by respected industry veteran - Davey Moore. Boisterous crowd, fun night. The next day was a full travel day (13 hours!) from B’ham to Austin, Texas. Wow!!! A vivacious and odoriferous trip in the lovely confines of our GMC Van (handles like an  armored Bradley Personnel Transport Vehicle). However, that is an altogether different blog!

Sunday was our debut as the opening act for the legendary Ms. Bonnie Raitt. Here are my abbreviated notes on our week of shows with her…

• Bonnie is one of classiest, sweetest, and most soulful artists I’ve ever met. She ate dinner at the PTB table with us every night - kinda like showing up for feeding time at your nearest petting zoo! - and seemed to genuinely enjoy our company.
• Her crew was so damn professional and accommodating. We felt like we had been playing on her bill for years!
• Her band is comprised of a bunch of talented badasses (also sweet and accommodating!)
• The halls and theaters were a privilege to play.
• I think we made a decent enough showing of ourselves to a whole new audience (at least the collective positive responses made it seem that way!)
• Full moons and sunsets in Texas look like no other in the world, and I have very fond memories of the Lone Star State. I used to play for a Texas legend, Billy Joe Shaver, and between my association of Texas through him and now Mr. Thorn, I’m absolutely convinced Texas truly is the live music capitol of the world!
• Did I mention that the quality of Bonnie’s catering is a tad more upscale than our chicken gizzards and stick bologna van menu?
• Chuy’s in Austin has killer enchiladas, and Texas barbecue is a whole animal (no pun intended!) unto itself!
• The Riverwalk in San Antonio is frikkin’ beautiful (even if a duck craps on ya while you’re walking…..YES , this really happened to yours truly!

Here are some well deserved shout-outs for the state of Texas:

Thanks to…

Roland, Clint, Ricky Fatar, Hutch Hutchinson, George Marinelli, Austin, Houston, San Antonio, Denton, Burnet, Kelsey Warren and the Cherokee Springs Music Festival (what a well run show for true music lovers and party aficionados. We love y’all!), Dallas, cousins Brittany Yoelin, Mike and George Coppinger, Anna, The Iveys (a kickin’ lil band from El Paso), Naomi, Bassist and golfer extraordinaire - Scott Esbeck, AnnaLee, Celeste at the Continental Club, Mike Judge (yeah - that Mike Judge. What a talented and cool cat he is!), Tom Lewis, Roger and Val Blevins and the rest of the Mingo Fishtrappians (what a badass band they are!).

I know there’s many more folks my pea brain has forgotten; however, I suspect y’all know who you are and who’s deserving! Bottom line, thank you Texans and, of course, all of y’all who continue to read here, show up at our gigs, buy our music and swag, and generally help spread the word of Thornology. Our gratitude and appreciation can never quite be sufficiently expressed! We look forward to a busy and exciting rest of the year leading up to our new record in 2010. Again, I promise it’ll be worth the wait for this ride! We look forward to seeing you at a stage near you. All good things to you and yours…

Jeffrey P.

P.S. After along walk around Dealey Plaza in Dallas - Lee Harvey had help. Maybe we can discuss after a show sometime over a cold Lonestar.

I wanted to say thank you to all the folks who called, emailed, and checked in on me when I had my heart weirdness last week. I am feeling fine, and I’ll be 100% in a couple weeks. If there was an upside to the whole thing, it was to receive the caring thoughts and attention from so many people. It was an unexpected wave of energy, and it truly made me feel better.

The fellas in the band were with me all the way, staying and keeping an eye on me, and taking care of everything. These are my band of brothers, and I am grateful for their friendship beyond words.

I look forward to seeing everyone soon.

Love,
Doug

Hello everyone, I hope this note finds you all doing well.

I just got back from a great two week run with the band. We all had a great time doing shows night after night. However, we had a bit of a scare at one of the shows. During a routine soundcheck, Doug (our bass player) collapsed on the floor. At first i thought he was joking, but then we all realized that we had a real situation. I shook Doug’s shoulder and in a few seconds he woke back up. Someone at the venue called 911 and they took him to the hospital. After a scary night we were all so happy to learn that he was gonna be okay. I love Doug like a brother and I wish him many more good years. The night Doug was in intensive care I prayed about a hundred prayers. Our Jewish drummer Jeffrey said that he also threw up some sincere words to his brand of the higher power on Doug’s behalf. Between the two of us one of our Gods must be real.

Paul