Tour diary: Brandy Clark The Art of the Storyteller

6 shows, 6 states, 9 days

Tours have been few and far between since the pandemic started, and what used to be my full-time job now feels like a mini-vacation and a welcome glimpse of the life I was living pre-Covid.

With 6 shows on the books, Brandy Clark, Cy Winstanley and myself gathered at Sound Check in Nashville a couple of weeks ago to fine-tune the trio show for Brandy’s new The Art Of The Storyteller tour.

The first snag for me was during rehearsal when the pickup on my upright bass went out. Stressful though gear failures always are, it really couldn’t have happened at a better place or more convenient time. The Nashville Fishman office was three doors down from our rehearsal room and, as a Fishman artist, I was able to tap on the door, explain the situation, and walk away with a replacement pickup about 3 minutes after it fizzled out.

New pickup installed, songs run, and rehearsal complete, we loaded up the bus in the melting 100 degree Nashville summer heat and waved goodbye as the driver started the journey to Washington DC where we were meeting him the following day.

(Cy and I on the plane to DC)

We landed in DC mid afternoon, got the shuttle to meet the bus at the hotel, and Cy and I decided to walk over to the Pentagon and check out the 911 memorial. The best thing about having Cy in Brandy’s band is the incredible musicianship and skill he brings to the show, but a close second is having my long-term bff to adventure with. We checked out the Pentagon, avoided a looming thunderstorm, and then found some dim sum for dinner in Pentagon City.

Later that night, tucked up in our bunks, we rolled to Montgomery NY for the first show.

The first gig was at City Winery Hudson Valley, Montgomery NY, the newest addition to the City Winery chain, built in an old yarn mill. It was a beautiful location, right on the river that was used to run the old mill.

Tour life gives you the chance to visit towns and areas you might otherwise have never even heard of, and one of my favourite ways to start the day is with a big walk - as much for exercise as to check out the place we’re playing.

The show that night was great and we were all heartened at the fantastic response this new tour format received. Brandy started the show playing solo and doing a mix of cover songs that inspire her as a writer and some of her older originals. She then brought me up to join on bowed bass for “Three Kids” before introducing Cy for the trio songs portion of the show. She handed over to us partway through the main set to have us play a couple of our own Tattletale Saints songs, a gesture of generosity Cy and I still can’t quite get over! How incredibly cool and kind of her to leave her own show just to give her band the chance to be featured. Brandy is one class act.

The next day we played Race Street Live in Holyoke MA and one of the best surprises was getting to meet one of musicians I’d connected with via the Pro Music Guide socials. Kelli and I have been interacting for a few months now, and she’s been doing the Brand Story Instagram Live series that Cassie Roma and I have been leading. It was just lovely to put a face to the Instagram name!

(with Kelli in Holyoke MA)

The next day off was off in Syracuse NY and we were staying at a hotel directly across from Destiny USA, a huge mall.

Usually on tour I’m pretty good about staying on task with my other work and using my downtime from playing to get computer work done and run my other businesses, but this tour I was really feeling like just enjoying the short time I had living the tour life!

To-do list happily ignored, I spent most of the day walking, shopping, hanging with my tour fam, and rounded off the free day by going to see Top Gun: Maverick (it was great - you should go see it!).

I think it’s important to have a content plan and stay as consistent as you can, but I also think sometimes it’s great to just be in the moment and enjoy what you’re doing. This tour it felt important to just lean into the touring itself and hit pause on everything else.

The next show was at Center for the Arts of Homer in Homer NY, an incredible venue that looks like a mini Ryman.

Cy and I took the opportunity of being on this gorgeous stage to record a handful of old cover songs we’ve toured in the past (which you can check out here). It was so inspiring getting to perform a couple of our Tattletale Saints songs each show that it’s got the wheels turning on plans for a new album… more on that soon!

The following day was off in Erie PA, staying right on the lake. Checked in and chilling in the pool Cy and I took a moment to appreciate how good tour life can be sometimes. Freelance life has its downsides of course, but in moments like those, basking in the sun at a gorgeous hotel, you really do feel lucky to get to do this for a living.

(Poolside in Erie PA overlooking the lake)

Before you start thinking it’s all glamour and pool life, I’d like to take this opportunity to share a common tour experience: sidewalk suitcase organization. The frequency with which I end up having to open my bags on the sidewalk and gather the necessities for a shower or workout with my underwear flapping in the wind for all to see, certainly disabuses you of any notions of grandeur!

(Sidewalk suitcase organization - please note the pile of vomit off to the side 😂)

Next up was The Ark in Ann Arbor MI, a venue I’ve played a few times and always really enjoyed. Rolling into town I recalled to everyone on the bus that the first time I’d been to Ann Arbor was as a 12 year old, competing in the world champs for Future Problem Solving. Apparently this admission of nerdom wasn’t enough for Cy, and he promptly piped up to inquire if if that had been around the same time as the asthma camp I’d attended (friends, it was). This casual burn was demonstrative of the downside of touring with someone who has known you for twenty years :)

(On campus at University of Michigan - home of the Future Problem Solving world champs in 1994)

The final two shows were at Hard Rock Casino Northern Indiana, Gary IN and Dakota Cafe, Minneapolis MN. My great friend and business partner Cassie Roma was en route to Nashville from California and flew in to meet me in Minneapolis. We spent the day walking, talking, drinking coffee, and catching up, and did our Instagram Live from the same room for the first time. Hell, it was the first time we were even in the same country for one!

The show at the Dakota was a fantastic way to finish the tour and we were honored to receive our 6th standing ovation in as many shows! It’s a great feeling to know that something new has been received well and I fell into bed happily exhausted, wake up call for the airport set for 7am.

Next up on this tour is the UK and Europe in August/ September!

(With Cy at the Dakota in Minneapolis MN)