Tour Launch at Acoustic Grill, Picton, ON

Here we go. Darker Ways is mobile today!! At last, but I'm so far behind on some stuff that it feels crazy. Some gigs didn't make the poster. One or two made the poster by mistake. Heck, when the lists are as fluid as they are with nearly 100 shows, a few glitches are bound to happen. Nothing too serious— it just bothers me when details sneak past like that. I'm still getting these in the mail to various locations, and hope to have them all out by Friday afternoon. I'll also update the sidebar Tour schedule— it's a little bit out of order here and there, some new shows in, a couple of wankers out. Some changes towards the end. Damn fine tour, though. I wish every space was filled. I usually fill every space— and I may still!

Meanwhile, I've got the Lincoln cleaned up and mostly loaded. I've got my new driving glasses. I've got the iPhone loaded with music. I'm ready to go! Get me outta here. I'm pretty good at the business end of things— but I really just want to play. Now I get to do that. For nearly 100 shows. Alone. As many as thirty thousand km worth of shows. I hope this old Lincoln won't let me down.

Soon I'm rockin' down highway 401, one of North America's busiest highways. It's a big pig coming in and out of Toronto, but the Lincoln is up to the task. I've got a big Tim's coffee on the go, the air conditioning is pleasant, and— strangely— I've got Mahler's 6th Symphony cranked up as I ride out of town. By the time I hit Prince Edward County I've got JB Lenoir playing. My mind is in the groove, baby.

The Acoustic Grill is a destination gig in an almost unlikely location. It's a real pleasure to play here, and music fans drive considerable distances to attend shows here. Tonight my pals Andy and Nancy have come in from Kingston. Andy has brought me a new slide— he makes these for me from time to time— so the deal is I have to play him a song that has never been played in public before. I joke that if he didn't come to see me I'd end up playing the same stuff forever! I've actually added a few things over the last couple of years as a result of our little deal!

Steve and Jenny, the owner operators of the venue feed me very well. The place is pretty crowded for a Wednesday night. I have a great time playing. This is one of my favourite rooms. If you get a chance to visit, you will enjoy it. Local produce, local wine and beer. All kinds of touring regional and national shows stopping in.

A gent from Florida taps me at half time. He's got one of my subscriber edition Narrow House CDs and he wants me to sign it! Wow! Where did he get it? He says he bought it in a used record store, and then tracked me down! Pretty spooky— I only made 200 of these and they were all signed and numbered. This one wasn't!! Hey, kind of cool. A mystery. Dark. He invites me to play in St. Augustine, and then leaves the club as quickly as he came. Darker Ways.

The night is over far too soon. Before too long I'm back behind the wheel of the Lincoln. Chet Baker sings for the first hour. Muddy takes over as I put the big pig in cruise and shoot for the dawn light. Nice start. Darker Ways. There's nobody on the little roads out here except me. The night is slick with storm, and my view is good.