Words from Jon.

Ok, Train Army. Fall maneuvers: John Train will be returning to Fergie's on September 5th. Usual drill: 6-8PM. Free. We miss you guys. Hopefully, you miss us too! See you there. Check out the performance page: we've got a couple things in August before we get back to Ferg's.


Slo-Mo and I had a wonderful tour of Italy in early May. Our booking agent and host said to me as he greeted us at the Milan airport: "Jon, Italy is corrupt from the bottom to the top." I thought to myself: "Uh, We can handle this. I'm from Philly." And handle it we did. The first gig in George Clooney's town (Como) was a bit of a disaster. I pointed out that there were more people on the front cover of our new record than were in the audience. The promoter had stress ulcers all over his face. But, things rapidly improved. The highlight was our final gig in Bergamo at a Songwriter and Storyteller's Festival. Check out the rave review and cool pictures: http://www.mescalina.it/musica/live/live.php?id=451 The headliner, Eric Bibb, had to cancel. Thus, Slo-Mo and I became the opening act and the headlining act. They asked us to play a first set composed of originals and a second set demonstrating our influences via covers. Since Bibb wasn't there to merch, we made out like bandits. I hear there may be a live bootleg floating around out there called "Grazie, Eric Bibb."


Slo-Mo and I had a couple days off. We trained it over to Venice and tramped around the whole city. I have been instructed by Slo-Mo's attorney not to discuss the "Gondola" incident. Grisly stuff, indeed. I also learned about Slo-Mo's "caffeine clock" on this adventure.


Have you guys read Norman Mailer's "Naked and the Dead." I spent many hours in Pavia (where we stayed with our dear friend Eddie Abbiatti and his family whose hospitality I shall never forget) reading this novel. I sat alongside the river, watching it flow under a beautiful covered bridge. The Naked and the Dead concerns WWII and the American campaign in Japan. But, I swear, it might as well be about Iraq. Or any other war. I was amazed by the General's description of what he thought would emerge from WWII, the "progress" of the 20th century, etc. Prophetic stuff. The General lectures his underling, Hearn, who is shortly thereafter sent out on a meaningless recon where he gets his head blown off. Mailer is great. Armies of the Night. Another devastating account of corrupted power. Mailer wrote large portions of the Naked and the Dead when he was still in college. A real artist who will be sorely missed.


Another real artist: I saw all three of Rickie Lee Jones' shows at the Painted Bride this summer. One reviewer called the first show "uneven." This is true. But also what I love about RLJ. She makes it up as she goes. No set-list. Young musicians on the stage with her trying to keep up. She's got Petra Haden in her band. Petra is the daughter of the legendary jazz musician Charlie Haden. But she's an extraordinary performer in her own right (check out her acapella reworking of the Who's Quick One). Petra droned away on a violin John Cale style. But it was her vocals that so perfectly complimented Rickie Lee's which made these shows soar. Especially on Living it Up from the Pirates lp. If you don't know RLJ, I suggest you start out with the Duchess of Coolsville collection.


Take a peek at our press page. There's an insightful review of Mesopotamia Blues by Michael Tearson which recently appeared in Sing-Out magazine. He calls the record "potent" and our best to date. I remember when I first moved to Philly in the early 90s, Tearson had a free-form show on 'XPN called "The Attic." One minute he'd be reading Kerouac on the air. The next, he'd spin a rare Dylan cut. And then something from Sun Ra. You know, "real diversity" as they like to say on the banks of Schuykill. That was a long time ago.


Anyway, looking forward to seeing everyone. Keep your eyes on the website. There will likely be more shows added including one in Baltimore with one of our heroes.


Best,

Jon

Interesting story about one of Jon's heroes, Butch Hancock .
And Jon and Jodi are mentioned in this LA TImes piece...
Twists and tunes, on a Rio Grande rafting trip

Jon weighs in on the Grateful Dead.
Humorous, but sincere article from Crawdaddy! The Magazine of Rock.