Posted on: February 23rd, 2010 West Coast Tour Wrap-Up
WEST COAST TOUR WRAP UP
HEADING HOME
“WELL, THAT WAS FUN” I SAID AS I LEFT THE PORTLAND AIRPORT, HAVING CONTRIBUTED AN INSANE AMOUNT OF MONEY TO AMERICAN AIRLINES FOR DOING WHAT USED TO BE FREE UNTIL THE SUDDEN DECISION TO START CHARGING PASSENGERS FOR BAGS. I PAID MORE TO HAVE MY BAGS FLOWN THAN I PAID TO FLY ME! MAYBE I’LL CHECK MYSELF AS BAGGAGE NEXT TIME AND SAVE SOME CASH. AND WHY STOP THERE? MAYBE I SHOULD SELL TICKETS TO MY SHOWS, THEN CHARGE PEOPLE TO SEE ME ACTUALLY PICK UP MY GUITAR!
I CONSIDER THIS TOUR TO BE A SUCCESS. SONGS WERE PLAYED, PEOPLE WERE MOVED, AND I MADE SOME NEW FANS ALONG THE WAY. THAT’S THE BOTTOM LINE FOR ME. WELL, THAT AND COVERING MY EXPENSES (MOSTLY LUGGAGE FEES). FLYING HOME TO AUSTIN HAS AFFORDED ME THE TIME THAT I NEED TO CONTORT MY BODY IN IMPOSSIBLE DIRECTIONS, THE KIND OF COMFORT THAT ONE CAN COME TO EXPECT FROM CRAMMING YOUR BODY INTO A SEAT THAT SHARES SIMILAR QUALITIES WITH A CHILD’S TRICYCYLE SEAT. HAVING SAID ALL OF THIS, I AM NOW EXPERIENCING DISCONCERTING NUMBNESS IN MY POSTERIOR (ALSO KNOWN AS “DEAD CHEEKS”).
BUT SERIOSLY FOLKS
I AM LOOKING FORWARD TO TOURING THIS YEAR AS MY BAND AND I WILL BE PERFORMING IN GERMANY IN MARCH, SWITZERLAND IN APRIL, ITALY IN MAY AS WELL AS A EUROPEAN TOUR IN THE FALL (SCHEDULE TO BE ANNOUNCED LATER THIS YEAR). I AM ALSO CONTINUING TO TOUR SOME AS A SOLO ARTIST, THIS OFFERS A MORE INTIMATE APPROACH TO SOME OF THE SONGS THAT I DO WITH THE BAND AS WELL AS SOME SONGS THAT YOU WILL ONLY HEAR AT A SOLO SHOW. THOUGHTS OF RECORDING ARE IN MY MIND AND I AM BEGINNING TO FORMULATE AN IDEA OF WHAT MY NEXT CD WILL SOUND LIKE. BUT MOSTLY, I AM FOCUSED ON TOURING THIS YEAR AND GETTING IN FRONT OF AS MANT SETS OF EARS AND EYES AS I POSSIBLY CAN
APPRECIATION
THIS LAST SEGMENT IS FOR MY RECOGNITION OF MY FANS SUPPORT. I CANT BEGIN TO EXPLAIN TO YOU ALL JUST HOW IMPORTANT IT IS TO ME TO HAVE FANS LIKE YOU. I CONSIDER MYSELF LUCKY TO HAVE SUCH A LOYAL FOLLOWING. THERE IS NO BETTER REWARD FOR THE AMOUNT OF TIME SPENT ON THE ROAD THAN TO GET UP ON STAGE AND RECEIVE THE TYPE OF RESPECT FOR MYSELF AND MY MUSIC. I HAVE HAD A MAJOR DOOR SWING OPEN FOR ME THIS SUMMER. AS YOU MAY BE AWARE, I HAVE BEEN INVITED TO PERFORM AT BONNAROO MUSIC FESTIVAL IN JUNE. THIS IS A PRESTIGOUS HONOR., AND WHO KNOWS? MAYBE IT WILL BECOME KNOWN IN THE FUTURE AS MY BIG BREAK, YOU NEVER KNOW. ANYWAY, PLEASE CONTINUE TO SPREAD THE WORD AND I HOPE TO SEE YOU ALL DOWN THE ROAD. ….MM
16 Responses to “West Coast Tour Wrap-Up”
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Will Freedto Says:
February 23rd, 2010 at 10:21 pmMonte i have been playing and singing as long as i can remember. You are the most talented person I have ever came to know. And the only person that i look at there web site every day and find myself checking youtube to see if there are any new video’s. Bro you are the real deal.
I’m 27 years old and working on my 2nd album. When i hear you play it makes me want to be a better musician.
I play a Alvarez MMY1 and I’m not saying that to flatter you. I have owned at lest 100 acoustic guitars and this is my axe! I love this guitar!
I cover some of your songs in bars and theaters in Ohio and tell people almost every day about your amazing talent.
You are a inspiration and I hope to work with you some day when you are not on the road.
I’m truly thankful for what you have gave me and I hope you are safe in your travels.
Will Freed -
Bee Says:
February 27th, 2010 at 7:44 amYes Monte! Great to hear that from you. Hope you can find enough time to relax a bit before it’s going again half around the world
Beein really excited to see you at our NAMM in Frankfurt. Hope you will have a gig there around too. And please post it on your website too, so we can make a lot of ad for you ;-)))) CU -
Hi from Chile Monte Says:
March 2nd, 2010 at 4:08 pmHi Monty
Trevor here. You may remember I came especially to see you play 2 gigs last year and it was worth every cramped in economy mile I travelled. I dont regret making the trip and I appreciated you giving me a mention to the audience etc. Still love to listen to your stuff and as a guitarist I dont get inspired I get more depressed as I know I will never be 1pct as good. Then I give myself a slap and realise some people are gifted and I was lucky to get to see you play live and close up. I am on various associations and groups here and if there is a music interest group I tell them to check you out on youtube etc. I never get tired of your solo work and you should know that the musos amongst us still scratch our head as to how the hell you do it!! You may recall I said I insure rock shows down here so I know the promoters. So if you ever consider a tour of South America then I can assist. I know the harsh financial realities and the fact if you are not known here few will turn up and it will not be viable. All I can tell you is that when you do get known more internationally they will go crazy down here as they are big guitar fans, This may be 5 years down the road or whatever but dont discount it. For now I see you are hitting Europe bigtime. As an English guy I would love you to visit the UK as we love guitar players and maybe your agent could make that happen liaising with Guitarist Magazine in the UK who like to help organise concerts from overseas players like Doyle Dykes and Tommy Emmanuel who I know you have played with,.Well good luck with your concerts and I know you will increase your fanbase enornously. I survived the quake by the way and have your CD Live at the Caravan of Dreams permanantly in the car. Thanks for your inspiration Monte
Rgds
Trevor -
Rick Bodette Says:
March 8th, 2010 at 6:20 pmMichigan loves you Monte! Thanks for coming to Michigan and playing your hearts out for us. It was a glorious 2 nights for my pals and I. We were at The Ark in Ann Arbor then made the trip to Grand Rapids. It seems like the band is as tight and full of energy and chemistry as can be. Bring on the world!!! You guys proved to me that you are ready for it all! God Bless You, on all your journeys.
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Bob DeVoe Says:
March 9th, 2010 at 1:18 pmI just discovered your amazing talent. I thought I knew some acoustic players until I saw you play. The first two performances I saw was your solo performance of Sara Smile and Sultans of Swing. ” They were just sick “!!!! Now I’m watching all your stuff. Bring your show to Baltimore Maryland would love to see you live. I am sharing your music with everyone that I know and your fan base here is growing. What I can’t believe is all the players I know hadn’t heard any of your stuff until now. They are amazed. It is really refreshing to hear some real talent playing real music with heart. I wish you continued success and I am looking forward to seeing you live sometime in the very near future.
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~Jill~ Says:
March 13th, 2010 at 12:29 amSo sad to see I missed your West Coast tour. I am new to your talent, I was sent a youtube video on f.b. of you playing “Sara Smiles” and LOVED it, then found your website and saw you and Daryl Hall playing together (my favorite artist of all times) I am so impressed with your talent. What a dream it must have been to play with and meet Daryl Hall and friends. The two songs on your website with him are amazing. Hope to see you when you make it out to the Seattle and surrounding area again.
~Jill~ -
crazy dave Says:
March 18th, 2010 at 10:48 pmThanks for the big ups in your blog post but more importantly thanks for the great music and for the great show you gave us while you were down here in Los Angeles. Thanks for signing the poster & the records, and thanks for not tearing my head off when I got too tipsy (at the Mint) near the end. I made sure to be on my best behavior the following night at Saint Rocke and you rewarded me by saying hello (and remembering my name!) as I walked out the door. As my buddy whom I brought with me to the show can attest that really made my day! Well that and the excellent music that I, and everyone else heard you play those two nights. You’ve got more skill and quirky/creativity with your fingers on that fretboard (in real time) than most people have in their entire lives. It’s truly a blessing and a pleasure to be a part of and I do my best to make sure others get to share in the experience by spreading your name and music around as best I can. I’ve posted the youtube’s of the Mint show as I said I would and the songs came out great. I know they’ll be going viral. Can’t wait to see some of the European clips on there once they come out as well.
Muchas Gracias once again,
David.
P.S. Come back to Cali soon!
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Marty Says:
March 19th, 2010 at 1:32 pmLooking forward to seeing you tomorrow night at the Firehouse Saloon in Houston, TX!!
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Marc Says:
March 21st, 2010 at 9:47 amMonte be seeing you over in Germany at the Musikmesse! You’re going to love that show, and they will definately be loving you. It’s sort of like going to NAMM, but with alot more beer.
If you read this please look us up in the acoustic guitar room (3.1/F-59).
Peace + Picks! -
Jo Lehnert Says:
March 23rd, 2010 at 5:33 pm… it’s all said above – hi, Monte, I love what you’re doing, and so is my hole family and, by now, all my (musician) friends. Formerly I loved to play my vintage axe (Firebird V) with vintage tube gain. But not quite 2 years ago (sorry, too late to become aware of your 2008 German Tour) I heard a special ’bout you on my favorite radio broadcast: immediately, I felt that we are soul mates. Since that I’m almost “acoustic”, and nearby, in course of your style I get so much inspiration for new songs on my own (). Thanx for that!!! I’m 46 and I really had to go trough some “worst cases” concerning my state of health in the last time. But with your music on the iPod I get over. And now I’m thrilled to see you on thursday at the Musikmesse in Frankfurt – I was longing for nothing for a long, long time, but now I wish to shake your (golden!) hands! Have a good flight — Jo
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Bee Says:
March 24th, 2010 at 4:26 amGood morning Monte, best weather in Frankfurt will welcomes you and your band. Have a pleasant trip to the fair. CU soon. Cheers Bee
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Ben Wisner Says:
March 27th, 2010 at 1:42 amMonte, I saw your show a few years ago on Austin City Limits. I was blown away by your talent. I lost track of you until I saw you again on “Live at Darrels house”. You have a special gift that inspires all musicians. Hope to see and hear you live someday in upstate New York.
Ben Wisner
Adams, New York -
Dick Lindberg Says:
March 27th, 2010 at 2:25 pmHello, I just love your music.
But I live i Sweden and iI wonder if you can do a performense in Sweden/Stockholm? -
Tom Shorts Says:
April 6th, 2010 at 6:34 pmAny chance of booking something close to Wilkes Barre P.A. for the third week of June. Finally caught a show last year in Jim Thorpe….Awesome.
Wilkes-Barre is a college town.. Kings, Wilkes, Misracordia, Penn State lehman, all within less than 10 miles of town,…plenty of venues.
Kirby Center,…Little Theater of W-B.,..The Woodlands ,…Riverside Jazz Cafe..lots of others.
Play here once and you’ll be back again and again.
You’ve got my email..anything I can do to hook it up just ask.Tom
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Jave Says:
April 15th, 2010 at 10:43 amThe Bonnaroo folks (Music Allies out of Ashville, NC) also do the Outside Lands festival out west here in San Francisco- another huge multi-day event. Hit up Zac Altheimer and see if you can be added to this years Outside Lands!
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Taysee Morse Says:
August 25th, 2010 at 9:43 amMonte, thank you for the awsome show last night at the Mint in Los Angeles!! as usual you were awsome!! and the band was great!!! We saw you earlier this year in LA and SD…….!! My BF follows your site daily and noticed you will be in Lake Tahoe on the 28th……so we booked a room…Then we saw that you were gonna be at the Mint. What a treat…….we both think your skills are amazing……thank you for coming back to LA so soon and we will see you at Commons Beach in Lake Tahoe on Sunday!!!!!!
