I went to the non-commercial radio event of the year in Louisville, Kentucky last weekend. I got to hear Charlie Louvin on Saturday night and I am completely smitten. His perfect songs, his saucy perfect banter, his lovely perfect band. he blew everyone else out of the water. When he introduced his drummer, he told the audience he was the lady killer of the group. Then he stopped and thought for a minute and said "Well actually he just cripples 'em so's I have a chance to catch 'em."

I went to get my picture taken with him after the show (first time ever) and he said, "I sure hope this picture doesn't come out so's I can keep on holding you."

I'm in love.

Got his new record too, and I'm diggin' it.

But the weekend started Friday with the WFPK live listener lunch. What a great station! they bring people in, give them cool, fancy sandwiches and we get to play. Martin Sexton was there too, chanelling big gospel choirs and crazy old timey voices. He really is incredible. Don't miss his new record "Seeds." And many thanks to everyone at WFPK for the interview and show. I'll be back in Louisville May 30th with the band to rock out their Waterfront Wednesday concert series. Gran Bel Fisher will be there too and he's slamming!

I also caught up with my old pal Barbara Dacey from the Martha's Vineyard radio station, WMVY. We did a little interview and I recorded a few songs. It's so nice to see people thriving year after year.

I did a little schmoozy performance later that afternoon where, of course, I was last and the sound system completely fritzed out in the middle of my four song set. So I just did "Linger" acoustically in the room. Who needs all them bells and whistles!

Luckily, my friends Mike Visceglia, Ben Butler and Jeremy Morrison were there egging me on. Mike and Ben play with Suzanne Vega. She's got a new record coming soon. Can't wait, I'm a big fan.

My pals Andrea and John were in Louisville hanging out too, and we had way too much dessert and other debauchery. Can you eat that much chocolate and live to tell??

I also got to visit the most excellent ever record store "Ear Xtacy" and do a little performance there. Some young baby cried almost louder than I could sing all through the french song "Je n'peux pas te Plaire". I know how she felt but, really, it turned almost comical after a while. She kept hiding in this rack of t-shirts so no one could grab her and shut her up. Andrea almost peed her pants laughing. In- stores are great because they're in the day time and kids can actually come for once, but.....

My newest fan behaved like a CHAMP. Andrea gave him the mohawk.

Altogether a wicked fun weekend. Sorry to those we may have inconvenienced by postponing the Madison and Minneapolis dates. We just need a little more radio support and a few more butts in the seats to make those a success. But we'll do those in the fall. The dates are already up on the tour page. As always, it never hurts to check on concerts. Club owners, promoters and artists lead complicated, logistically crazy lives.

I put "War" back up on myspace as a free download. I got tired of keeping quiet again. The weird backlash last time was pretty depressing, but what are ya gonna do, curl up and die? I'm so impressed that Jimmy Carter just got up and told the truth. We all need to do more of that. 

On a lighter note, the botanical garden here in Central Park is bursting with new stuff every week. The scents and sights are intoxicating. Spring/summer is/are finally taking hold. There is hope on smaller scales.

All the best to you all,
see you out there.

Jonatha

Pittsburgh!!

It's been way too long since I've been in Pittsburgh. What a great town. I got to catch up a little with my pal Rosemary Welch at WYEP. We go waaaay back. 

I was the live lunchtime show with some very live listeners in the new studio. It's a great facility, very progressive, green, so send them all your money at the next pledge drive. We need stations like WYEP to keep working musicians alive.

(WYEP listener concert)

Chicago was a treat, I've never played the Old Town School and it was a perfect lovely evening. Now I know what everyone's talking about.

Ann Arbor, say no more. It's always like coming home there. Some of my very first gigs were at the Ark, and I've always felt such a camaraderie with the A2 audience. And I know I say it every time, but Zingerman's always makes my day. The turkey Reuben is TO DIE!!! And they have this new chocolate that is off the hook incredible. It's called BRUT de sao tome. Dark rich deeeeep, and a little granular, like great parmesan. I stocked up for sure.
Then off to do some gigs with the band. We got to hang with our pal Grady in New York. He always gives us great fashion advice, (for instance, how to wear that ultra hip pocket square from 45rpm)

Philly, Alexandria, all dreamy. I love my job!
We ended up in Boston, home town. It was a real treat. Andrea Valentini of the fabulous Valentini bags stopped by...

I, for one, am never without my fabulous red bump bag....

Completing the fashionista week. It turns out everyone is now wearing PFFLYERS. (Even Mika, my fave new artist, see his liner photos) And of course everyone in the JB entourage now has a pair!! (thank you Pierre!!)

I went on from the band bliss to another few dates solo. Lovely intimate events. Thank you all who came and made it feel so amazing to play. Baltimore, yeah you were few but you were FABULOUS!

Northampton was really a treat. Back to my roots. And there were some crazy fun circus peeps performing after me who let me try out my hula hoop chops.

Pals Andrea and Pierre whom you may recognize from web craziness, were there in fine form.

Many thanks to all along the way. Lots of mom daughter/ dad daughter teams on this mother's day weekend. It's so incredible to see families sharing in the musical taste. 

Love to all, on to Madison, Lousiville, and Minneapolis this week.

Cheers,

Jonatha