From Stevie and the Waybacks...

Word has come down.

The boys upstairs in Corporate here at Waybacks HQ have discouraged us (in the strongest possible terms) from ever again sending out newsletters written duirng caffeine-induced fugue states. They have suggested (again, in remarkably unequivocal English prose) that the offending party switch his beverage-of choice from high-octane Italian coffee to some nice warm Ovaltine. Clearly they hope that triptophan will mellow the tone of future missives, and although I hadn't had Ovaltine since I was a wee-un, it seems to be having the desired effect. I am grateful not only for the suggestion but also for the fact that email is not a medium that can in any way subject the Waybacks' readership to the rather startling effects of adult-onset lactose intolerance.

Well now, with that out of the way, what to tell you about first? Merlefest, you think? Or The Wabes's miniature golf outing in Florida? Well, we might as well get the bragging out of the way, and since our day on the links was nothing any of us can be proud if, we'd better tell you a bit about the festival.

Merlefest is an annual North Carolina event started by Doc Watson in honor of his departed son and picking partner Merle. In the past decade-plus it has grown from a very modest affair to average four-day attendance of over 80,000. Thirteen stages, all raging all day for four whole days. Many of our heroes play here. Astonishing. We've had the very good fortune to have been invited several times in the past 6 years, and this year our pal Bob Weir came with us. Yes, there was much celebration. We did some Dead songs, we did some Waybacks songs, we did some Marty Robbins, Beatles, Stones, Dylan and Led Zep covers. And we were aided and abetted at our shows by Gillian Welch, David Rawlings and Sam Bush. James and Bobby sat in on The Midnight Jam, and the fellers did various workshops as well. If time and inclination converge for you, click on over to the Merlefest discussion board or to Flickr for lots of M-fest photos, or heck, lay an ear on some streaming audio, courtesy of MyRadio. There're even some very kind words about our shows over at JamBase.com. And if you get tired of clicking around this veritable Waybacchanalia of self-aggrandizement, surf over here, because it is by far the coolest thing out there on the Interweb.

All of this was hot on the heels of The Weirbacks playing for the Wabes's CD release party in San Francisco two nights previous. Weir fans and Waybacks fans got along famously, and "From The Pasture To The Future" was inaugurated in fine style. The best seats in the house were on the stage, and we just couldn't stop smiling at the mix of folks in the audience ... some truly tremendous variety out there in fashion, dancing style, jewelry location, hair style and choice of combustibles. The whole week was just a dream come true. Thanks, Bobby. Let's do it again sometime!

Gee ... after those descriptions, our great miniature golf adventure in Florida seems pretty puny. Oh well ... mostly we just wanted to express our amazement. No, that's not true. We wanted to whine a bit. Admittedly, we were a bit cranky. Maybe it was the heat. Maybe it was the humidity. Maybe it was the bandmate-enforced caffeine deprivation.

Whatever it was, it wasn't unfamiliarity. We had all played the game many times, in our homes states and on the road as a band, and we know that the putting surface at miniature golf courses is some sort of carpeting. But I must say none of us expected to see 18 holes-worth covered in deep shag from the 1970's. As you can imagine, this slowed our pace somewhat, and along about the 15th hole, the greater-than-anticipated time investment made us pretty darned nervous about missing our flight home.

But even vintage shag was not the most surprising thing. Not by a long shot. First of all - and this is astonishing - this place did not have The Windmill. Can you imagine? How can you call it miniature golf without The Windmill? Instead of the Generic Pastoral Theme we were all used to (which always features The Windmill) this place had some kind of strange Pirate Theme going on. We were willing to hang with that, especially since the cashier was clearly so dedicated, sporting - as he was - a real hook and a real eyepatch. Young Warren, impetuous lad that he is, asked how the poor fellow came to have a hook for a hand. "Yargh, me hearty, many years ago a pirate who sailed over from a rival miniature golf course up I-95 cleaved it clean off with a saber." "Wow," said Warren. "And how did you lose the eye?" "Wellsir," the pro continued, "I was peering up into the rigging that's high up over the 17th hole one day when a great huge albatross flew over and shat in me eye." "Good heavens!" Warren exclaimed. "And that put your eye out?" "Noooo," growled our host. "It was me first day with the hook!" True story.

Speaking of the new album (and thank you for asking) it's available from The Waybacks' Online Mercantile and from CD Universe, Hemisphere of CDs, CD Subcontinent and, of course at Amazon. In fact, if you have a moment, feel free to write a review over there. As of last count, our ranking was #1093 ... with a bullet.

Here's the gigs:

Sat, May 27
ACOUSTIC CAFE AMPHITHEATRE
Hayden, AL
The Red Stick Ramblers, Dread Clampitt, Brennen Leigh, The Lovell Sisters, Herb Trotman Band, Allen Shad & A Cut Above, Sam Pointer, Kudzu String Band, Mayhem String Band

Tue, May 30, 9:15pm
SKIPPER'S SMOKEHOUSE
Tampa, FL
A co-bill with The Red Stick Ramblers. Listen for us earlier in the day (or possibly evening drive-time) on WMNF.

Wed, May 31, 9:00pm
BAMBOO ROOM
Lake Worth, FL
25 South J Street
561.585.BLUE (2583). Click the link if for no other reason than to see a truly fabulous website. We will hope to lean on our host to give the assembled a lesson on the whys of whisky.

Thu, Jun 1, 10:00pm
JACK RABBIT'S
Jacksonville, FL
Yet another with The Red Stick Ramblers at 8:30. Excellent!

Fri, Jun 2
PRIVATE EVENT
Charleston, SC

Sat, Jun 3, 7:30pm
BLUE PLUM FESTIVAL
Johnson City, TN
The Drew Emmitt Band featuring Jeff Sipe, Greg Garrison and Tyler Grant, Railroad Earth, Martha Scanlan

Sun, Jun 4, 9:30pm
BOONE SALOON
Boone, NC
Just added ... we hope to see some of you Merlefesters here.

Mon, Jun 5
WSGE in Gastonia, NC
WNCW in Spindale, NC
These radio shows are tentatively scheduled, so check out the online programming guides to find out if and when.

Tue, Jun 6
WDVX 89.9 FM
East Tennessee.
Again, dunno what time we'll be on, but ...

Wed, Jun 7, 7:30pm
EDDIE'S ATTIC
Decatur, GA
Local faves Whoa Nelly open. We hear tell they kick some serious bew-tock.

Thu, Jun 8, 9:30pm
3rd & LINDSLEY
Nashville, TN
Kelly Lang at 7:30

Fri, Jun 9, 9:15pm
RIVERBEND FESTIVAL
Chattanooga, TN
The Wabes close the AmSouth Bank Stage. Allman Bros, Trisha Yearwood, Los Lonely Boys, Kenny Rogers, Jagged Edge, Angie Stone, Sugarland, Hank Williams, Jr., Kenny Rogers, Suzy Boguss, Gretchen Peters.

Sat, Jun 10
BLUE RIDGE BBQ FESTIVAL
Tryon, NC
The DesChamps Band (a terrific young Champ Hood tribute quartet), David Childers, Firecracker Jazz Band, King Pup Radio Show, Danielle Howle, Gas House Mouse, Terry Evans Band, Papa Grows Funk, Dave Desmelik, Bayou Diesel, Gove Scrivenor, Ed Snodderly, etc. etc.. Lots of old and new pals at this one.

Wed, Jun 28, 8:00pm
142 THROCKMORTON THEATRE
Mill Valley , CA
The fabulous Marley's Ghost opens.

Thu, Jun 29, 8:00pm
PALMS PLAYHOUSE
Winters, CA

Fri, Jun 30, 7:30pm
KUUMBWA JAZZ CENTER
Santa Cruz, CA
Thanks to Sleepy John Sandidge and all our pals at Snazzy Productions and the inimitable KPIG Radio.

Well, as usual, that's more than enough for now. We're headed way down south for a while, so if we're going to be near you, please come see us. And please hip us to the great breakfast joints and to where we can find the best pie. Mmmm. Pie. Say it with us ... "pie." Say it capitalized ... "Pie." Mmmmm. "Piiiiiiiiiiie."

Safe travels out there, all.







____________________
Stevie Coyle
THE WAYBACKS
New album "From The Pasture To The Future" available online at
http://www.waybacks.com