Monte performing at Pawlessfess in 2008. (Photo: David Byboth)
Sometimes I devote this space to offbeat topics. I should apologize in advance for being blatantly self-serving and commercial.
But, hell, I'll try to make it entertaining.
There's nothing I enjoy more than playing my silly songs -- and some less silly songs of others -- in front of people. Tying together gigs with NASCAR races, which I write about for a living, is a great way to keep one's sanity amid the frustrations of journalism. The next two weekends are going to be fun.
Tomorrow afternoon (Sept. 3), I'll be playing from 3 to 6 p.m. in the Depot Park of Hampton, Ga. I think it's at a farmer's market that must be there or adjoining or something. Hampton isn't a big place, and the town, home of Atlanta Motor Speedway, is only a mile or two behind the track's front straight. It's my understanding that, if you go to Hampton, you can't miss it. It's just a little off the Bruton Smith Parkway (Hwy. 20, I think), which runs basically from I-75 to the track. The address is 20 East Main Street, Hampton, Ga. 30228. It's usually fairly hard to set up gigs, but once I sing my songs and make a good impression, it's easier to do them again in the future. One of my goals is to set up stable gigs I can play each time NASCAR takes me to the area. It's helpful when I can draw some friends and acquaintances, and I'm grateful to so many friends in NASCAR who have come to see me play at various times. This one actually came to me. I was invited, and I hope this is going to be a lot of fun.
Six days -- or actually, six nights -- later, I'll be making my fourth appearance at Grandpa Eddie Alabama Ribs & BBQ, which, despite the influence of Alabama in the ribs department, is actually located at 11129 Three Chopt Road in Richmond, Va. At two of the previous three appearances at Grandpa Eddie's, Kyle Petty has shown up to see me and played a few of his songs onstage. Kyle and his Speed TV sidekick, Rutledge Wood, are busy dudes, but I'm satisfied they'll show up again if they can make it.
By the way, the food at Grandpa Eddie's is spectacular. These things don't work unless you deal with good people, and Carey Friedman is someone, as a performer, you look forward to seeing.
On Oct. 13, Kyle and I are participating in a fundraiser for Victory Junction Gang Camp at Puckett Farm Equipment in Charlotte. Roger Alan Wade, Sunny Ledfurd, Kyle and I are going to take part in a song swap in which we take turns playing songs we've written. Some other special guests will also take part. That's a Wednesday night (Charlotte Motor Speedway qualifying is the next night), and it's scheduled for 7:30-10 p.m. Check out my previous blog for ticket information. It seems really strange to be typing this about a gig of mine, but there's a chance it's going to be sold out in advance, so if you're interested in attending, it might not be a bad idea to at least check out the situation online.
Another upcoming highlight is Pawlessfest, in Gainesville, Texas, on Sept. 24-25, which I'll be attending for the third straight year. Vince Pawless, a great guitar maker and equally great friend, puts this on to benefit Backpack Buddies, a local charity. I'll be handling some of the emcee duties again this year, performing on the first night and just generally hanging out having fun. I've got some aspirations to play late-night music around a campfire while I'm out there with so many of my Texas friends. Check out the lineup at www.pawlessfest.com.
Gosh, it's going to be good to see Vince, Bob and Dava, Melanie, David, Tom, Brian, Jessi, Josh, Mike, Chase, Ray and so many other great friends and entertainers who have already been at Pawlessfest in just a few years. Right now, Pawlessfest is getting bigger year by year, and I'm thinking the size might just be about perfect this year.
What else is going on in my life? NASCAR (obviously and necessarily). A novel that I'm trying to sell. Another novel I'm about to get started. I'm about to hit another songwriting spurt, too. I can feel it.
Right now I'm about to go have lunch with the local school superintendent, not because we have any business to discuss but because we went to high school together.
So I got friends in high places, too.