Good Record 003
Dear Good Record faithful,
Apologies for such a long space between newsletters! Life has been busy over here. We recently moved and I started remodeling our new house, I’ve been assistant coaching my son Jack’s baseball team, and we’ve had a few shows to play in there as well. Summer always moves so fast. Sometimes I feel like I’m running next to a train so close to being able to jump on but each time I reach for the metal door it inches ever so slightly ahead. Tonight I thought it would be nice to sit down, take a breath, and catch up. Here’s what’s been going on in my neck of the woods…
A week ago, Chloe and I finally went and picked up our little German Wirehair pup, Maxon, from the trainer with whom she’s been working for the last four months. She is a wonderful dog with a heart the size of Lake Superior. Mike Wieben at Dokken’s Kennels near Northfield, MN is an artist when it comes to shaping a dog. She didn’t lose an ounce of her spirit or goofiness, but gained a lifetime of knowledge when it comes to obedience and bird hunting. We are all so happy to have her home. Even Hrbek. Thanks, Mike.
As I mentioned earlier, I’m helping with my son Jack’s baseball team. It’s his first time playing a sport and, though I was nervous that at ten years old he’d be too far behind the other kids to enjoy himself, that fear has been proven completely unfounded. He’s having a great time with his team, enjoying the game, and improving rapidly. I played baseball through high school and it’s the only sport I’ve ever really cared about. I still get misty-eyed at Field of Dreams and a couple years ago when we got to sing the National Anthem at a Twins playoff game, that first step onto a major league infield will stay with me for the rest of my days. I was never great at baseball, but I loved to play. Turns out I also love to coach. Being on the field, invested in the games, watching the kids go through their highs and lows, sunflower seeds. It’s been a wonderful experience. I’m so proud of Jack’s bravery and hard work.
Chloe recently graduated from nursing school. After years of being an angel doula, she decided she wanted to explore the world of labor and delivery further. This woman will never cease to amaze me. Kids coming out of our ears, dogs on top of kids, me on the road half the time, somehow she not only went back to school, but she graduated with honors and passed those boards like they were an overloaded Volkswagen driving up a mountain. I’m so excited for all the lives she is about to improve in her new line of work.
My daughter Lucy and stepdaughter Eden have both recently been learning to play guitar and ukulele, respectively. A couple years ago, Lucy started writing songs and she was really good at it. As these things go with kids, one day she just kind of stopped wanting to do it. That musical hiatus has seemingly ended, and this has made her dad a very happy guy indeed. She helped Eden start up on the uke (Lucy’s first instrument) and I am amazed at how fast they have learned how to play and switch between chords. They both recently attended a Taylor Swift camp at the wonderful Blue Tree Music School in Minneapolis, at which they and several other kids learned a bunch of Swift songs. They had a performance at the end of camp, and it was one of the best concerts I’ve ever seen. Later that night these two budding superstars went to go see actual Taylor Swift in concert and I now fear it may be too late for either of them to turn back. I’ve always wanted a family band, so I’m hoping all of this leads to that at some point. Lucy and Eden are both beautiful artists and they constantly amaze me with their creativity.
Speaking of family bands, we just got to play three shows opening for Willie Nelson. I just have to say that one more time…. we just got to play three shows opening for Willie Nelson. I mean what the hell? Oh, and Robert Plant and Alison Krauss happened to be on the bill, too. Before us was Particle Kid and Molly Tuttle. This was easily one of the coolest few days we’ve had as a band. It was all a part of Willie’s Outlaw Music Festival; a traveling circus featuring different support bands every few days. How we got the gig I’ll probably never know, but getting to play venues like Alpine Valley and then sit back and watch the rest of these legends play songs I’ve known my whole life was really special. On top of that, Jay Bellerose was playing drums for Plant and Krauss which was like an extra birthday cake showing up right when the first one was finished. Willie is 90 years old and a complete inspiration. We had the honor of singing a medley of Will the Circle be Unbroken and I’ll Fly Away with him at the end of each show and I’ve still not nailed down how to process that fact. Last night Robert Plant was telling us a funny story about John Bonham’s twenty-first birthday, and I just looked at Chloe with eyes that said, “Where the hell are we right now?” I’m so thankful that 20 years into this band, we can still have experiences that blow our minds and feel so new and exciting. This year has really been full of them already between our tour with Zach Bryan and this weekend with Willie et al.
We’re rounding the bend into July here. We have so many cool shows coming up and I can’t wait for all of them. Soon we play our mostly-annual Duluth, MN show which is probably my favorite. After that, I’m excited to head towards the sunset and see the Rockies, play some of my other favorite towns, and hopefully find some trout in those western streams.
Speaking of pristine waters and Duluth, I happen to be on the board of directors of Sportsmen for the Boundary Waters (I know I tell you that all the time) and we have some cool stuff going on around that Duluth TBT show. There is an online auction that’s live right now you should definitely check out. Click here for the auction details.
There’s lots of cool stuff on which to bid including some VIP tickets to the Duluth show with a meet ‘n greet and a fly fishing day trip with me guided by Robert Hawkins of Bob Mitchell’s Fly Shop. The day before the show (July 7) we are hosting a fundraising party at Bent Paddle in Duluth. Come on out for live music, auction bidding, grub, merriment, a raffle to win an incredible Sanborn canoe, and a taste of our new beer we made with them: Paddlin’ Beer.
Like I said at the beginning of this damn novel, summer moves so fast. It’s easy for me to get bogged down and stressed about trying to fit everything in. “What to leave in, what to leave out” as Bob Seger sang so long ago. It’s helpful for me to sit here and think and write about all the blessings that stare me in the face every day. Thank you for giving me cause to do so.
I hope you’re all enjoying your summer so far. I live in Minnesota so I know you people in Arizona or West Texas have a different point of view on the season, but a season it remains and there are only four of ‘em so you might as well see what Mother Nature is up to a little in each one.
Ok, I’ve taken up enough of your time. Thank you again for all the support and I hope to see you out there in the wild wild world.
Sincerely,
Dave Simonett