Jeremy Facknitz

Happy New Year

2012-01-01T12:49:00.000-08:00

Happy Twenty-Twelve, dear reader!

It's been long while since I posted a few words here, and I figured New Years Day was as good a day as any to do so.

While the blogs have been few and far between, I can assure you I'm still very much alive. In fact, 2011 may have been the best year of my life. I imagine 1979 is right up there - with the constant shower of love and attention, the 14 hours a day spent in slumber and the wiping of my butt being done by someone else - but I don't recall.

I've spent the last 8 months under the tutelage of my boss and former guitar student at Ameriprise Financial. Through this time I've laughed, cussed, spit and even quit for 6 hours. Most importantly I've learned the ins and outs of financial advising and believe it's something I could excel at. I will take my securities licensing exam come March. We'll see what happens after that. After 14 years relying on tips for grocery money, a paycheck every two weeks is a beautiful thing.

Lindsay and I are now living together in Cheyenne Canyon. We're planning our wedding, which will take place this September in Colorado Springs. To say we're doing great, growing painfully but beautifully, and that I'm the luckiest man on the planet is the understatement of the young year.

Music is still a large part of my life, and will continue to be. I have four recording projects I hope to complete for 2012, but I no longer teach lessons and the shows stay close to home (Colorado Springs, Palmer Lake, Manitou Springs). I will say that due to the paycheck, the pressure's off when I'm behind the microphone. I haven't had this much fun playing music since the early days with The Ottomans. I guess it was around 1998 that I started taking myself uber-seriously as a songwriter, and woke up from that fog in August of 2010 really pissed off. With that behind me, with healing and proper perspective in place, I'm free to actually enjoy myself again.

(For a rundown of the recording projects I have planned, visit the show page of my website, www.jeremyfacknitz.com).

Keep an eye on www.jeremyfacknitz.com for show information, and if you haven't already, friend request me on facebook if you're interested in remaining "in the loop" when it comes to shows and news on releases.

Thank you for your support, and all the best,
J

April update

2011-04-09T06:28:00.001-07:00

Photo by Marty Murphy

With years of special kinship
and some deep, deep thoughts on life
my knee did bend
to ask my friend
if she would be my wife.
She said "let's go!"
(which isn't "no!")
And so we make this statement;
with roads to ho,
and phloem to grow,
t'will be a long engagement.
*
These lines are few -
what else is new?
from lessons, few are learning.
The shows today?
Well, so few pay.
I'm sick of underearning.
I care for me,
so on this sea
of life I shall not bob.
So soon I swam
and I'll be damned -
I found a full-time job!
Not only am I working for
a friend whom I like oodles,
this job will pay
for food each day
and keep me off those noodles.
T'will keep me cool
and deep in school
while I chase down degrees,
my "goodness sake"
as I go make
my life what'er I please.
*
"We are all celebrities!
Let's share our likes and ills!"
And so from Facebooks follies
I've gone flying to the hills.
The networks kiss
I do not miss,
my time online is better.
So should you wish
to "like" my fish,
feel free to send a letter.
*
Facknitz merch
and google search.
Who wrote "this guys da' bomb?"
your ego gets its sundae when
your name precedes "dot com".
So nice to feel
"it's no big deal"
and though it sounds syrup-sappy,
I put to test
this brand new quest;
to eat, drink and be happy.
*
I'll still teach periodically
and on the weekends, too
you'll see my nose
performing shows
Ah-doo-dee-doo-dee-doo!
The album is slow going,
but goal is still late May.
Hopefully we get it done
as I am sick of rhyming.

SHOWS!

LINDSAY AND JEREMY"
Thursday, 4/14/11
INDIE SPIRIT FEST
5pm-7:30pm
Details to come!

JEREMY FACKNITZ SOLO
* RARE ALL ORIGINAL SONGS PERFORMANCE!
Saturday, 4/16/11
MARIKA'S COFFEE
739 Manitou Ave.
MANITOU SPRINGS, CO 80829
Noon-2pm, all ages, FREE!
Call 719-685-4438 for more information.

"LINDSAY AND JEREMY"
Friday, 4/29/11
PARK EAST RESTAURANT
720 Goodnight Ave, Pueblo, CO 81005
8-11pm, FREE!
Call (719) 565-6655 for more info!

JEREMY FACKNITZ SOLO
RARE ALL ORIGINAL SONGS PERFORMANCE!
Saturday, 4/30/11
MARIKA'S COFFEE
739 Manitou Ave.
MANITOU SPRINGS, CO
80829
Noon-2pm, all ages, FREE!
Call 719-685-4438 for more information.

JEREMY FACKNITZ SOLO
Friday, 5/6/1
JACK QUINN'S IRISH PUB
21 S. Tejon St
Colorado Springs, Colorado9:30pm - 12:30am, 21 and over - FREE!

"LINDSAY AND JEREMY"
Saturday, 5/7/11
HUMMINGBIRD MUSIC FESTIVAL
Noon-12:45pm
Details to come!

"LINDSAY AND JEREMY"
Saturday, 5/21/11
THE SPEEDTRAP
84 S. HWY 105
Palmer Lake, CO 80133
8-10pm, all ages.
FREE!

"LINDSAY AND JEREMY"
MEADOWGRASS MUSIC FESTIVAL
Saturday, 5/28/11
11am
For more details and ticket information visit:
http://www.meadowgrassmusicfestival.org/2011-Lineup.html

"LINDSAY AND JEREMY"
Friday, 6/3/11
RICO'S CAFE
322 N. Tejon St.
COLORADO SPRINGS, CO
7:30-10pm
All ages, no cover!

"LINDSAY AND JEREMY"
Friday, 6/24/11
THE SPEEDTRAP
84 S. HWY 105
Palmer Lake, CO 80133
8-10pm, all ages.
FREE!

"LINDSAY AND JEREMY"
Friday, 7/29/11
RICO'S CAFE
322 N. Tejon St.
COLORADO SPRINGS, CO
7:30-10pm
All ages, no cover!

"LINDSAY AND JEREMY"
EXTRA SPECIAL "WE'RE ALL NUMBER 1" SHOW!
Friday, 11/11/11
RICO'S CAFE
322 N. Tejon St.
COLORADO SPRINGS, CO
7:30-10pm
All ages, no cover!

Peace, love and Detroit Tigers baseball,
Jeremy
www.jeremyfacknitz.com

In The "Studio", New Show Announcements.

2011-03-06T14:42:00.000-08:00

THE "LINDSAY AND JEREMY" ALBUM

Check it out. That's none other than the great Lindsay Weidmann, recording new tracks to the upcoming debut release from "Lindsay and Jeremy". We're recording from my home in Manitou Springs and thus far all is sounding beautiful. I'm hopping mad about the content of this album. Seriously. Great folkness is birthing from our collaborative musical womb. We're hoping for a release come Memorial Day weekend at Meadowgrass Music Festival, followed by a tour to Michigan (through Belleville, IL) and back to sell copies of it this summer. We'll keep you posted.

JEREMY FACKNITZ AND MARIKA'S COFFEEHOUSE

Yesterday I performed solo at Marika's Coffeehouse in Manitou Springs, CO. Marika's is walking distance from my cabin, "the crow's nest". I had a great time and so we booked every other Saturday through April. What I love about Marika's, aside from their 7 layer bar, peach cupcakes and their wonderful sounding room, is that they don't pay dues to those BMI/ASCAP nazi's. Meaning, I cannot perform any cover songs within their confines. Meaning, I need to fill two hours of coffeeshop time and keep people's attention with only the unknown songs I myself have composed in my 14 years as a songwriter. This really forces me to stretch my muscles; to relearn and reacquaint myself with tunes I wrote but haven't played in years.. and when the audience isn't listening, I can't reach into my usual bag of tricks and pull out a "P.Y.T." or a "50 Ways To Leave Your Lover". I have to make "Sweet Wedding Bells" worth their undivided attention. I absolutely love this challenge, and I believe it will help me fall back in love with my body of work. What else am I going to do on a Saturday afternoon? Watch college basketball? Not this year, not for me. The Michigan State Spartans suck like a Hoover.

So COME ON OUT! Every other Saturday afternoon at noon, Marika's Coffeehouse! Located at 739 Manitou Ave. in Manitou Springs, CO 80829! All Jeremy songs, all the time.

Here's an updated show list: Check out Lindsay and I at the Speedtrap in Palmer Lake, CO next Friday, and at Cucuru in Old Colorado City, CO the Friday after that! Great times.

LINDSAY AND JEREMY"
Friday, 3/18/2011
THE SPEEDTRAP
84 S. HWY 105
PALMER LAKE, CO
8pm, all ages, no cover!

JEREMY FACKNITZ SOLO
* RARE ALL ORIGINAL SONGS PERFORMANCE!
Saturday, 3/19/2011
MARIKA'S COFFEE
739 Manitou Ave.
MANITOU SPRINGS, CO
80829
Noon-2pm, all ages, FREE!
Call 719-685-4438 for more information.

"LINDSAY AND JEREMY"
Friday, 3/25/2011
CUCURU ART GALLERY AND CAFE
2332 West Colorado Avenue
COLORADO SPRINGS, 80904
(719) 520-9900 for more info!

"LINDSAY AND JEREMY"
Saturday, 3/26/2011
DOWNTOWN BAR
103 Central Plaza
PUEBLO, COLORADO
10pm, $3 cover

JEREMY FACKNITZ SOLO
* RARE ALL ORIGINAL SONGS PERFORMANCE!
Saturday, 4/2/2011
MARIKA'S COFFEE
739 Manitou Ave.
MANITOU SPRINGS, CO
80829
Noon-2pm, all ages, FREE!
Call 719-685-4438 for more information.

"LINDSAY AND JEREMY"
Friday, 04/08/2011
Kinfolks Mountian Shop
950 Manitou Avenue
MANITOU SPRINGS, COLORADO 80829
(719) 685-4433
8pm, 21 and over - no cover!

"LINDSAY AND JEREMY"
Saturday, 4/9/2011
THE SPEEDTRAP
84 S. HWY 105
PALMER LAKE, CO
8pm, all ages, no cover!

JEREMY FACKNITZ SOLO
* RARE ALL ORIGINAL SONGS PERFORMANCE!
Saturday, 4/16/2011
MARIKA'S COFFEE
739 Manitou Ave.
MANITOU SPRINGS, CO
80829
Noon-2pm, all ages, FREE!
Call 719-685-4438 for more information.

"LINDSAY AND JEREMY"
Friday, 4/29/11
PARK EAST RESTAURANT
720 Goodnight Ave, Pueblo, CO 81005
8-11pm, FREE!
Call (719) 565-6655 for more info!

JEREMY FACKNITZ SOLO
RARE ALL ORIGINAL SONGS PERFORMANCE!
Saturday, 4/30/2011
MARIKA'S COFFEE
739 Manitou Ave.
MANITOU SPRINGS, CO
80829
Noon-2pm, all ages, FREE!
Call 719-685-4438 for more information.

JEREMY FACKNITZ SOLO
Friday, 5/6/2011
JACK QUINN'S IRISH PUB
21 S. Tejon St.
Colorado Springs, Colorado
9:30pm - 12:30am, 21 and over - FREE!

Marika's photo's coming soon!

Rave Review, Studio Bee, "Lindsay and Jeremy" to play Meadowgrass Music Festival, Updates and other "news"

2011-02-10T13:30:00.000-08:00

On tour in Watsonville, California - June, 2010

Hey there blog followers! It's been quiet here on the blog as of late, which isn't exactly representative of my actual life, so I'll fill you in.

My latest album, "Music From The Original Motion Picture Soundtrack" (aka MFTOMPS, pronounced 'miff-tomps') received a glowing review in the blogsphere. Ron Logan says, "A native of Detroit, Facknitz enjoys the claim to fame of having beaten out the White Stripes for “Best Alternative Band” at the Detroit music awards in 2001. It’s no surprise either—his music has loads of the catchy melodies and rhythmic drive that powers the popular music scene today. But what really sets Facknitz apart is his incredibly original lyricism and sense of humor, blended with his own folky, feel-good style."

Read the full article here, http://40ozrobot.com/home/?p=1102.

Thanks Ron!

"Lindsay and Jeremy" is making their (our) Colorado Springs debut a week from today, Thursday February 17th at the Pikes Peak Center Studio Bee in Colorado Springs. The show is free and it starts at 6pm. We'll be hitting the stage at 6:45. Some things to look out for - dance moves, flying stuffed animals, new duo versions of "Bill Murray" and "Cup Of Noodles" and other great original music.

Speaking of Lindsay's song "Bill Murray", which was released this past spring on her E.P. "Quasi-Erotic Dreams of Middle Aged Actors", this rockin' song has been used in a video showcasing the many different faces of Bill Murray while Lindsay sings her heart out in the background. The video has received almost 18,000 views in a month. I'm hitching my trailer to this star, since I composed the music for this number.

So...

... this is the most famous I've ever been, and so I pause to celebrate.

Here's the link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=112aZ_C6bmE - and turn it up.

"Lindsay and Jeremy" has also been selected to perform at the Meadowgrass Music Festival in Black Forest, CO Memorial Day Weekend! This is quite an honor, and we are indeed honored. More details to come.

COME TO A SHOW WHY DONTCHYA?

"LINDSAY AND JEREMY"
COLORADO SPRINGS DEBUT!
Thursday, 2/17/2011
STUDIO BEE/PIKES PEAK CENTER
190 S. Cascade Ave.
Colorado Springs, CO
80903
6pm, FREE!

"LINDSAY AND JEREMY"
Friday, 02/18/2011
Kinfolks Mountian Shop
950 Manitou Avenue
Manitou Springs, Colorado 80829
(719) 685-4433
8pm, 21 and over - no cover!

COOL FOR CATS
(NICK DAVEY AND JEREMY FACKNITZ)
Friday, 3/4/2011
RICO'S CAFE
322 N. Tejon St.
Colorado Springs, CO
7:30pm, all ages,
FREE!

"LINDSAY AND JEREMY"
Friday, 3/18/2011
THE SPEEDTRAP
84 S. HWY 105
Palmer Lake, Colorado
8pm, all ages, no cover!

"LINDSAY AND JEREMY"
Saturday, 3/26/2011
DOWNTOWN BAR
103 Central Plaza
Pueblo, Colorado
10pm, $3 cover

"LINDSAY AND JEREMY"
Friday, 04/08/2011
Kinfolks Mountian Shop
950 Manitou Avenue
Manitou Springs, Colorado 80829
(719) 685-4433
8pm, 21 and over - no cover!

"LINDSAY AND JEREMY"
Saturday, 4/9/2011
THE SPEEDTRAP
84 S. HWY 105
Palmer Lake, Colorado
8pm, all ages, no cover!

JEREMY FACKNITZ SOLO
Friday, 5/6/2011
JACK QUINN'S IRISH PUB
21 S. Tejon St.
Colorado Springs, Colorado
9:30pm - 12:30am, 21 and over - FREE!

Hey, I love you for reading this far.

My music has been submitted to Slacker radio, so look for it if you're a "Slacker". Still trying to submit to Pandora but it's proving to be kind of a pain in the ass, and I have a life to live aside from hoop jumping. Soon, I promise.

School is going well, I find it challenging (good) and 10 times as time consuming as I thought it would be (bad). I love math. Actually I hate it but I'm trying to adjust my attitude. I'm recording bass tracks for brother Jarod's Chicago based band, Beaten By Yuri. Their upcoming release is swimming in my head as I type, and I'm thankful for the sneak peak in return for fumbling, so-so bass lines.

Peace to all beings. Even Mubarack.

Jeremy
www.jeremyfacknitz.com
513-310-1374

A year past the second space odyssey, "Lindsay and Jeremy" the band, and college.

2011-01-06T08:42:00.000-08:00

At the risk of kicking off the New Year by offending a small number of my readers, I shall open this blog entry by saying I have little nice to say about the state of Indiana. Maybe my view comes from growing up in Michigan, where all bordered states are considered "lesser". But I believe there is a reason (or six) the most romantic song composed about Indiana in the last 30 years is a song wherein the writer recalls the first time he "drove through" Indiana.

Nevertheless, it was at a quaint Michigan City, Indiana establishment known as "The Dune Beach Inn" where Lindsay and I rang in the New Year.

As I approach the age of 33, New Years Eve generates all the excitement of another birthday... I can hardly contain my yawn. Still, this was our first New Years together and I - being the self-proclaimed romantic I am - wanted to do something special. We spent Christmas with my folks in Holly, Michigan so by the 31st we were ready to move out on our own and head west to Colorado. I had visions of booking a Bed and Breakfast in South Haven or St. Joseph, walking along the beach in the balmy 45 degree Michigan gray and window shopping outside closed boutiques New Years Day (gosh, even in my dreams it wasn't so romantic).

But alas, my procrastination had left us with little choice... and we ended up in Indiana. "I remember the first time I drove through Indiana..."

I kid, I kid. It was lovely. And as the ball dropped in Times Square, I reflected, as most do on New Years Eve...

2010. What a year! Why, just look over this blog. From coping with the end of my relationship to the thrill of opening for Tim Reynolds... from feeling stuck in February to cursing one-too-many consecutive nights in the Honda Fit as I made my way across the midwest in April... from feeling as though my career was about to "take off" to all but bashing my Martin over a rock. Have I mentioned that I made a new best friend and before I knew it I had fallen in love with her? Did I forget to tell you that I played over 70 shows from Seattle to Boston and just about everywhere in between (above the Mason-Dixon line, anyway)?

I shook hands with so many lovely people all over this country, and slept on most of their futons. I ate a barrel of humble pie. I had my identity, or what I had thought was my identity, swept out from underneath me. I think I cried a lot.

It was AWESOME.

I can't recall a year where I accomplished more, if you consider just doing what I did an accomplishment. I do.

Emotionally, I don't think I've grown this much in a one year period since I was a little nipple-nibbling, toddler-sponge.

2011. What a year! I'm staying put. I'm so, so tired of the automobile. My cabin is warm and inviting, and it has no wheels. Many shows will be played, but 98% of them will be within the friendly confines of Colorado's borders... "Lindsay and Jeremy" is a new, dynamic duo that will be releasing an album this summer (see show schedule)... I'm taking piano and guitar lessons... I'm going back to school. Yes, just like Rodney Dangerfield. Classes at Pikes Peak Community College begin January 25th and I will be there. What am I going for? I don't know. I'm just dipping my toe in the collegiate waters. I am degree-less, I struggled with schooling all my life and at this point I would like to rewrite some of the stories that have been going 'round my head for the last 15 years.

Let's see, what else? I don't know. I'm open. I'm just going to keep on doing. I learn by doing. Trying new things. Being open. Celebrating this bad-ass life.

As always, I am full of gratitude for those who have supported me in all their unique ways. This includes you, dear reader. Thank you, thank you, thank you.

Here's the Lindsay and Jeremy show schedule for 2011, as of 1/6. If it is no longer 1/6, you may want to check out www.jeremyfacknitz.com for possible additions.

"LINDSAY AND JEREMY"
Thursday, 1/20/2011
NORTH PLATTE COMMUNITY PLAYHOUSE
301 East 5th St.
North Platte, Nebraska
69101
8pm, $10 cover - ALL AGES! CALL 308-532-8559 for more information.

"LINDSAY AND JEREMY"
Friday, 1/28/2011
THE SPEEDTRAP
84 S HWY 105
Palmer Lake, Colorado
8pm
All ages, FREE!

"LINDSAY AND JEREMY"
Saturday, 1/29/2011
DOWNTOWN BAR
103 Central Plaza
Pueblo, Colorado
10pm, $3 cover

"LINDSAY AND JEREMY"
COLORADO SPRINGS DEBUT!
Thursday, 2/17/2011
STUDIO BEE/PIKES PEAK CENTER
190 S. Cascade Ave.
Colorado Springs, CO
80903
6pm, FREE!

"LINDSAY AND JEREMY"
Friday, 3/18/2011
THE SPEEDTRAP
84 S. HWY 105
Palmer Lake, Colorado
8pm, all ages, no cover!

"LINDSAY AND JEREMY"
Saturday, 3/26/2011
DOWNTOWN BAR
103 Central Plaza
Pueblo, Colorado
10pm, $3 cover

"LINDSAY AND JEREMY"
Saturday, 4/9/2011
THE SPEEDTRAP
84 S. HWY 105
Palmer Lake, Colorado
8pm, all ages, no cover!

JEREMY FACKNITZ SOLO
Friday, 5/6/2011
JACK QUINN'S IRISH PUB
21 S. Tejon St.
Colorado Springs, Colorado
9:30pm - 12:30am, 21 and over
FREE!

Happy New Year.
Jeremy
www.jeremyfacknitz.com

JEREMY FACKNITZ SHOWS! Fall/Winter 2010

2010-11-11T15:01:00.000-08:00

Hello, this is the Jeremy Facknitz newsletter, now in blog form. Seems Yahoo! has decided to make it increasingly difficult for indie musicians to send mass a amount of emails to fans. They call it "spam", and even though the people on my list have willingly signed up for this service, I am indeed "spamming".

I'll be doing things this way from now on.

Fall has seemingly come and gone, as I watch the snow fall from my loves' easy chair. It's been a long, long year and it's nearly over. The show I put on has been revamped, with many a new cover and some new original material.

Lindsay and I are going to start performing more consistantly as a duo, and we're very excited about this. You can get a sneak peak December 3rd (details below), but the big coming out party takes place February 17th 2011 at Studio Bee in the Pikes Peak Center.

Shows...

Friday, 11/12/2010
RICO'S CAFE AND WINE BAR
322 N. Tejon St. * COLORADO SPRINGS, COLORADO 80903
7:30-10pm, all ages, no cover

Saturday, 11/13/2010
BOONDOCK'S COFFEE
76 N. McCulloch * PUEBLO WEST, COLORADO 81007 8pm, all ages, no cover!

Saturday, 11/20/2010
JACK QUINN'S
Tejon St. * COLORADO SPRINGS, COLORADO 80903
9:30-12:30, 21 and over

Friday, 12/3/2010
MANITOU SPRINGS COMMUNITY CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH
103 Pawnee Ave.
Manitou Springs, CO 80829 - (719) 685-5255
with LINDSAY WEIDMANN,
opening for JOHN SMITH
7pm to 10pm

Saturday, 12/11/2010
DOWNTOWN BAR
103 Central Plaza * PUEBLO, COLORADO 81003
10PM, $3

Thursday, 12/16/2010
BENEFIT FOR THE EMPTY
STOCKING FUND

Friday, 12/17/2010
THE SPEEDTRAP
84 S. HWY 105 * PALMER LAKE, COLORADO 80133
8-10PM, all ages, no cover

Saturday, 12/18/2010
BOONDOCK'S COFFEE
76 N. McCulloch * PUEBLO WEST, COLORADO 81007 8pm, all ages, no cover!

MERRY CHRISTMAS AND HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Hope to see you out there, kids.

Jeremy
www.jeremyfacknitz.com
www.myspace.com/jeremyfacknitz
jeremyfacknitz@yahoo.com

CABIN

2010-10-15T09:24:00.000-07:00

I realize I've left this page to collect dust as I reassess my life from my cabin on the hill. Recently, I've also been made aware that there are real-life people who actually read this blog. I know this, because they have seen me at shows or passed me on the street and have inquired as to when I'll grab the Pledge and a paper towel and dust 'er off again.

Since I last logged on to blogger I've been busy getting my head straight, rather than dusting. I moved into a small cabin in Manitou Springs, CO. I've been able to pay rent thanks to my job as a freelance field-technician for a growing company out of Ohio who sends me all over America to install, download and upload various things for TJ Maxx and Marshalls (it is for this job that I leave for Portland, Oregon tomorrow for the third time this year - although there are no shows scheduled, if you decide to pop into an open-mic in the area, you may see me).

When the mid-west tour was cancelled I felt rather deflated and defeated. I just couldn't do it. I couldn't keep doing what I was doing to myself. I tried to blame it on age; "man, if I was only 22 instead of 32, I could sleep in my small car for another 6 weeks". I tried to blame it on the economy: "I don't mind not making money, but I do mind creating debt while constantly working my tail off." These things were both true, but there was a third, overwhelming and frightening voice inside my head that was saying "I just don't want to."

Don't want to? This is what I've been waiting for my whole life! A chance to throw everything I have at the endeavor. What do I mean, "I don't want to?"

The voice was loud and it would not quiet down until I gave it it's proper respect. "No, I don't want to". No, I don't want to live this way for the next 5 years so that I can make a decent wage living this way for the rest of my life. No, I don't want to live on the road. Then, more voices - what am I running from in Vermont? In Washington? In Nebraska? What am I looking for in Oregon, California, Massachusetts?

I always dreamed of opening up for certain acts. "Michael Penn, man it'd be awesome to open up for him." "Martin Sexton - oh man, could you imagine?" It wasn't because I adore these guys as solo singer-songwriters (I do), or because I wished to shake their hands or see their show for free. All I wanted was to share the same spotlight as those guys. I wanted to share the bill with them. I wanted my talent to considered along with theirs, whether my talent deserves to be considered at that level or not. I wanted acceptance from their fans. I wanted validation for the years and years of smokey bars, bloody fingers and damaged vocal chords. Out of the coffee shops and into the streets! I had tastes of it in opening for "Blessid Union of Souls" and Tim Reynolds - fleeting tastes of "I could be a somebody", fleeting tastes of acceptance.

I realized acceptance isn't out there, it's in here (author pointing to chest in a dramatic fashion). That's why musicians who are seeking what I've been seeking through music get that "acceptance" as they're playing sold-out arenas... then develop massive drug addictions and/or kill themselves. It's never enough. You have to accept yourself for who you are, for what you bring to the table of life. That's what I'm doing from my cabin.

I was always quite fond of a Joni Mitchell line from the song "River"... "I'm gonna make a lot of money, then I'm gonna quit this crazy scene." I ALWAYS loved that idea, even in the midst of my recent quest! I don't know that I ever really wanted to tour the country for the rest of my life. I think I would have been fine (and would still be quite happy) with selling "Bijou Bridge" to Campbells soup for a few million dollars and retire - which, to me, looks like making more albums, playing regionally and spending most of my remaining time on earth with a new family nucleus, friends, and my ever-growing collection of sports and music memorabilia.

Anyway, I'm doing great! Man, I can go on, can't I? In summation, if I accept myself I don't need anyone else's validation. Now, once I do that, is there a desire to tour the country and go into debt trying to beat people over the head with my music? The answer to that is a simple and sane "no". I don't need a fan base in Portland, or Watsonville, or anywhere to feel acceptance or validation.

There are thoughts for a make-up tour of the mid-west come spring 2011. Just thoughts. I'm putting together new songs and revamping (or correcting?) old tunes I wrote 10, 12 years ago and discarded. The solo shows are making way for a new project, as Lindsay Weidmann and I are forming a duo. We haven't named ourselves yet, but you can see us February 17th at The Studio Bee in Colorado Springs... it will be our first official show as a duo (our 64th un-official show). Hell, we may even release an album together. I may return to school to study music, as I have no formal musical training whatsoever and wonder what I might be capable of as an artist if I had a clue as to just what I'm doing. That really excites me.

In the meantime, keep an eye on www.jeremyfacknitz.com for updates, shows, and pictures of my face.

I hope you are well.

Love,
Facker

Midwest tour cancelled.

2010-08-04T12:16:00.000-07:00

This past weekend, with just three weeks until I leave for the Midwestern tour, things weren't looking good. The tour out west in June/July cost a lot of money. Blame it on the sunshine or the economy but people were not coming to the shows. I was hoping to recoup my losses here in Colorado and in this upcoming Midwestern tour and although I had moderate success re booking a couple of places, a lot of puzzle pieces and dates were still missing.

Currently I am very poor (in debt, actually), still homeless and with the economy the way it is at this time I feel it's best for my psyche and livelihood that I cancel this tour and try to find gainful employment here in Colorado for the time being.

I am extremely sorry for any inconvenience this may cause to the many venue owners who have supported me and given me a chance. To anyone who was looking forward to my return to Minnesota, Iowa, Wisconsin and northwest Michigan - you have my deepest apologies. The show in North Platte, Nebraska 8/21 and a weekend of shows in southeast Michigan the weekend of 9/10 and 9/11 are still on.

Life is not all or nothing, and I want the reader to know that I'm not "giving up music". Songs will be written, shows will be played and albums will be released for anyone who wishes to hear them for as long as I'm breathing. To be frank, at this time - after 13 years, 1,200 shows in 24 states, 3 albums and countless vats of emotional blood, sweat and tears - I cannot go back out there and sleep in the car. I cannot go back out there and earn so little that I feel guilty for spending $10 a day on food, or rack up further debt.

Also know that there is peace with this. I learned in the last four months that maybe I'm just not cut out for hitting people over the head with my music in order for them to pay enough attention that will allow me to make a living at it. Maybe I'd rather create from love, and let anyone who'd like to listen, listen. Anyone who doesn't wish to listen, doesn't have to. They don't have to be won over by a clever marketing scheme or a sexy music video (like Vaguely Alamosa! Damn I loved that beard!). They sure as hell don't have to feed me, or clothe me. The attitude of need has taken something I find invaluable (my relationship with music) and given it a small, paltry number in USD. I need a break from that.

Thanks to my friends and family for your undying support.

P.S. - Today, I played my guitar and - in my ears - it sounded more beautiful than it has in months.

Jeremy

WEST COAST VERSION 2.0 TOUR with LINDSAY WEIDMANN - Tour comes to a close/I can celebrate this independence.

2010-07-07T14:58:00.000-07:00

Lindsay and I drove through the night to Portland so we could be the musical guests at the Portland Center for Spiritual Living Sunday morning. We enjoyed playing for this friendly congregation as our last costal show on this Pacific Northwest tour. We’ll be playing a show in Carbondale, CO at Steve’s Guitars on Friday, which will be the last official show after we meander back to Colorado over these next couple days. But in the meantime, the 4th of July marked the end of our west coast shows. We crashed at a friend’s vacant apartment for the rest of the holiday weekend, reveling in greatly earned naps, couching, and movie watching. We toasted ourselves and the tour with a bottle of Roxyann Winery Pinot, then watched distant fireworks from the balcony.

This tour is my third this year and each one has been significantly different from the others – different highs, different lows and different challenges. All of these things continue to lead to new epiphanies. For example, I’m having a garage sale in a few weeks. I’m selling all of my stuff. I want to fit everything I own into my Honda Fit. Also, I realized I don’t have to tour the rest of my life if I don’t wish to tour the rest of my life. Also, I want to open myself to the possibility of living in a different city. I am very open right now. I feel my mind is rather clear and getting clearer the more time I spend out on these interstates. I think that is I like best about this lifestyle. You’re trapped with yourself, you’re forced to look at yourself everyday. It’s sometimes sobering, often terrifying but I believe it’s a great way for Jeremy to grow quickly, and I’m loving this growing thing.

I can’t say enough about my tour partner, Lindsay Weidmann. So I won’t even begin… I’ll just say “thank you, Lindsay” into my guitar and loop pedal and let it repeat four or five thousand times.

WEST COAST VERSION 2.0 TOUR with LINDSAY WEIDMANN - 7/1 through 7/3 - WASHINGTON STATE SHOWS!

2010-07-07T14:56:00.000-07:00

Thank you Lindsay’s Aunt Mary. I have not yet met you, but I’ve slept in your guest bed and thoroughly enjoyed the breakfast you so kindly prepared for us before laving your house to run errands. After eggs benedict, fresh fruit, and strong coffee, we headed down to Seattle’s southern neighbor, Tacoma, to see Lindsay’s cousin Will, a student at the University of Puget Sound. The cafe where we were to folk that evening, we took full advantage of it’s internet, couches, excellent food, and pleasantly quiet and creative environment. We set up shop at The Mandolin Café for the afternoon to enjoy some interneting and much needed out-of-car-time. I scored a hair cut, as I could no longer see. We played our show and slept on Will’s dorm futon and I was able to relive the college days I never lived in the first place. I went to trade school, and commuted from home. I guess the closest I ever came to dorm dwelling was my time with “The Ottomans”. Aside from the rehearsing, shows and a laughable sense of entitlement, I recall hours spent with those boys laughing at movies that were heralded as much more hilarious than they actually were, thanks to the assistance of liquid assets.

The next 48 hours were full of seeing WONDERFUL old friends of Lindsay’s. C & P Coffee in Seattle hosted the Jeremy Facknitz & Lindsay Weidmann show Friday night for their quiet coffee crowd. Lindsay’s good friend Victoria was visiting the area from Minnesota and brought a bunch of friends. Very fun to meet her! Then we slept at Dr. Julie’s apartment, a friend of Lindsay’s from catholic high school days. The next evening her fellow artistically inclined college friend, Josie, hosted a house concert for us. Old fellow camp counselor friend, Patrick, was in the audience as well as Julie and Lisa, another high school friend. I’m so thankful Lindsay has so many friends!

WEST COAST VERSION 2.0 TOUR with LINDSAY WEIDMANN - WASHINGTON STATE, BELLINGHAM - GREEN FROG ACOUSTIC TAVERN

2010-07-01T15:34:00.000-07:00

FROM THE BLOG OF LINDSAY WEIDMANN:

Jeremy and I have been on tour for 3 weeks now and we still like each other. Although this is my first tour ever and have nothing to compare it to, I find that fact impressive. I would like to attribute our serenity to our agreeable dispositions. We’ve had some moments of annoyance with each other but on this morning, last day of June, we walked around Portland like two friends on vacation together. We decided to have a morning off from working or planning tour logistics and explored downtown Portland as tourists. We found a great diner for a 11 am brunch then walked down to the largest independently owned bookstore in the world, Powell’s Bookstore. Unfortunately, we had a lot of miles to cover so we could only skim through a couple rooms of this 4 story bookstore spanning a whole city block. It was quite a site. Having worked in a bookstore myself, I found the overpowering smell of hardbacks intoxicating.

Bellingham, WA was our tour destination. We had a late show at the excellent Green Frog Acoustic Tavern. A peanut shell laced, darkened bar full of smiling, jovial Bellinghamers, the Acoustic Tavern was full through the evening. We played our usual songwriter tag-team show for everyone, which is now like a well-oiled machine, and enjoyed making a few new northern friends. It was another late night of driving as we headed back down to Seattle to sleep at a relative’s house. Thank goodness for friends and family willing to take in last-minute ramblers."

WEST COAST VERSION 2.0 TOUR with LINDSAY WEIDMANN - Monday, 6/28 and Tuesday, 6/29 - Day off and casual Tuesday...

2010-07-01T15:29:00.001-07:00

We awoke on the Yachats coast. Lindsay went for a walk and did some yoga. Jeremy organized his possessions and went over trip logistics. Then we did some more songwriting in the car as we headed back to Portland Monday morning. This was the beginning of a big driving week for Tour of Faith and this “day off” is no exception. We have experienced nights of sleeping on the ground or in the car and we’ve also experienced generously plush sleeping arrangements on this tour and lucky for us, the next two nights were of the plush category. We settled in to a friend’s vacant apartment in downtown Portland and actually enjoyed a home cooked meal of Lindsay’s famous spaghetti surprise and Jeremy’s badass blueberry muffins. Spontaneous singing and improvisation went on after enjoying one of our Roxyann Winery bottles of vino.

Lindsay went hiking with her friend Jonathan and enjoyed his native knowledge of different Portland hotspots on Tuesday morning. Jeremy worked diligently on the computer booking gigs for the fall and then we headed out for our Alberta St Pub gig. We met and jammed with our new musical Portland friend, Will West and his cello, mandolin playing comrade Skip. We danced around during Will’s intoxicatingly musical set while enjoying Irish Pub fare and brew. Great night all around!

Portland is a very clean city, one full of very progressive minds and green landscapes. It’s a city we’re gonna spend as much time in as we can while were here.

WEST COAST TOUR VERSION 2.0 WITH LINDSAY WEIDMANN - Sunday, 6/27 - DRIFT INN - YACHATS, OREGON

2010-07-01T15:25:00.000-07:00

June 27th, Day 18: Yachats, our new costal home
“Let’s build a little house by the sea
build a little house by the sea
My worries from the land
Will sleep in the sand
Let’s build a little house by the sea”

These lyrics were inspired by our time in Yachats, Oregon. We arrived there Sunday afternoon and walked off our car-cramped legs on their famous inland beach where the surf is sandy and shallow. Yachats is the sea version of a one horse town. There’s about a dozen businesses along the main road and many scattered picturesque houses spotting the pine hillsides. But we forgot to take pictures of the town itself. We also forgot to take pictures of the Drift Inn where we played that night for many a sea-faring folk. This dining establishment boasts live music every night of the week for the Yachats locals and vacationers. We had an attentive Sunday night crowd of live people and mermaid murals. We fell asleep at a local hotel after stuffing ourselves with a complimentary seafood dinner by the Drift Inn. Oh, this is vacation!

Earlier that morning, while enjoying fresh picked raspberries from friend Jonathan’s garden, we employed a new tradition on our tour: Appreciation Workshops. Lindsay has decided she’s starting a new career of professional appreciator. So she led a workshop with Jeremy. Let’s try one now:
“Take a medium sized breath
Now take a long deep breath
Close your eyes and take one more slow, deep breath
Now, open your eyes and look around
Do you see anything you appreciate? Feel any appreciation?”
I appreciate the blue house over there on the corner. I appreciate laughing a lot this morning. I appreciate my healthy body. I appreciate being well fed. I appreciate Jonathan’s garden peas. I appreciate that I’m alive one more day and I can choose how much love I feel at any given moment. I appreciate feeling really happy right now.
Now, you try…

WEST COAST TOUR VERSION 2.0 WITH LINDSAY WEIDMANN - Saturday, 6/25 - HONORING DAY, FLOYD'S COFFEE IN PORTLAND, OREGON

2010-07-01T12:36:00.001-07:00

Today would have been my wedding day.

I was engaged to be married and it fell through. It's no big deal. It happens.

I'm glad it fell through sooner than later. Nobody had to take back tuxedo's or cancel flights and, what would have been worse yet, nobody left anyone at the altar on front of 150 friends and family members.

But a date was planned, and it was June 26th, 2010. Matchbooks were made up as party favors. Gifts were purchased for the wedding party. The chapel and reception location were booked. Somewhere online, I believe there is still a weddingchannel page for us, but I don't posses the password needed to dispose of it.

Julie and I broke up 7 months ago, and while we had many a good time together, it was past due and my life since then has gone through a Renaissance of sorts. Without divulging what's too personal for this blog, I will say that I'm apparently more "over it" than my family. I will say that I'm so thankful and honestly happy to be here in Oregon on June 26th, 2010. I will also say that the biggest issue I've had with the relationship and it's demise has been my roll in it, because when it comes right down to it, all we can change is ourselves and our own behaviors and even this is a tremendous task.

Lindsay's proving to be a stellar tour partner. My sweet, dear friend blessed me with gifts this morning - a toy dog that sings "Singing in The Rain", inspired by the movie we rented recently in Crescent City, CA (we've named him Gene); an angel for the dash board of our tour "bus"; and a ring with a big fat J on it which led to a small ceremony in which I married... myself. Lindsay dubbed it "Honoring Day". It was a good Honoring Day today. The best ever.

I feel an extreme amount of gratitude and contentment to be in Oregon with my friend Weidmann, playing shows and living my life for one person and one person only, my new wife... ME. At times, part of me feels as though I have gotten away with something. I feel special, in that so few people get to look at their wedding day that's not happening from 7 months and 1,000 miles removed and actually celebrate it.

Thanks Lindsay, thank you to me.

Thanks also Julie. I toast you today as well.

We played a show at Floyd's Coffee in Portland with Jonathan Brinkley and Hans Barklis, a songwriters in the round show which was a great deal of fun. So was the walk in the rose garden afterwards with Jonathan and his roommates. I look forward to Honoring Day, 2011 already.

WEST COAST TOUR #2 WITH LINDSAY WEIDMANN - Friday, 6/25 - Roxyann Winery - Medford, Oregon.

2010-06-29T13:54:00.000-07:00

"Inspired by the Rogue Valley’s natural beauty and bounty, RoxyAnn Winery was founded in 2002 at the historic Hillcrest Orchard in east Medford that has been bearing fruit for over 100 years." - www.roxyann.com

Tonight Lindsay Weidmann and Jeremy Facknitz were blessed to bear their fruits of song to the appreciative wine sippers at Roxyann Winery. The sunset, a gentle breeze and the rolling hills of southwest Oregon were also in attendence this evening. The touring duo crooned while those in attendance swooned. Specifically, the rolling hills and the couple at the table stage right were most appreciative of the duo's efforts.

Having been compensated with two bottles of wine and nice check, our fearless folkers drove off in Lindsay's prius and headed north, bathing in the warm summer glow of the moon.

Tomorrow, Portland.

WEST COAST TOUR #2 w/LINDSAY WEIDMANN - Monday, 6/21 through Thursday, 6/24 - FOLKIN' IT UP FOR ASHLAND, OREGON

2010-06-25T11:57:00.000-07:00

MONDAY, 6/21 - LIQUID ASSETS

After a swell meal and even "sweller" night's sleep in Crescent City, California Sunday night, we packed up our guitars along with the remnants of our fatigue and made our way to the beautiful state of Oregon. We stopped along the way for ice cream. Chocolate. My diet on this tour has run the gamete. I have good-boy days where I'll consume veggies and fruit, and bad-boy days where I'll live off of milk shakes and gas station donuts. It's not always easy to eat well on a budget with no fridge as well as the overwhelming temptation to eat crap looming everywhere. Either way, I'm still here, still folking and I'm not hungry, so I applaud myself. Clap clap clap clap clap...

Tonight, Liquid Assets (thanks Olivia!). My second time performing at this wonderful wine cafe in downtown Ashland. It seemed as though the most attentive of audience members were also members of Olivia's family (thanks Olivia X2!) as they tapped their tables, chairs and toes to our Monday night sounds.

We took advantage of free wine. The Merlot is most excellent. It has good legs and a hint of chocolate.

TUESDAY, 6/22 - DAY OFF

Kara Rosengren is my sister. She runs a non-profit dance company known as "Against The Grain" (www.againstthegraindance.org). She's quite gifted. She has also had the fortune of landing a good husband in my brother-in-law Ken, who is a pilot for Delta. Sissy (as I call her) can fly for free pretty much anywhere she wants to go, so she decided to come see big brother in Ashland.

Unfortunately, she must fly stand-by, which can be tough when you're traveling with kids out of school and your destination is the tiny airport of neighboring Medford, Oregon. It took her 20 hours, but she arrived to the Roadway Inn as bright, sweet, chipper and effervescent as ever! That's my Sissy!

She took real good care of us, and I can't thank her enough for her support in my endeavors.

While she was fighting her way across the country from Chicago, Lindsay and I worked... booked shows, blogged a bit, played guitar. Lindsay is now joining me on "Vaguely Alamosa" and "Better Than Us" and improving the live delivery of these nuggets immensely.

WEDNESDAY, 6/23 - TEASE

I love window shopping. I'm rarely tempted to buy things I don't need or can't afford. For this, I am thankful. Sissy and I walked around Ashland during the day sipping coffee, munching on Cinnamon rolls and talking about Jarod Facknitz behind his back while Lindsay toiled away on the laptop. Lindsay's a go-getter. I felt a twinge of guilt but I'll get back to "me" come Friday. I welcome my sister's visit and shall use it as a valid excuse to turn into tourist for a few days.

Thanks to Julie who booked us, and Allan who volunteered to take money at the door. Tease is a new business here in Ashland... rather posh but without pretentiousness. Me and my clothing ensemble of faded jeans/cowboy shirt felt quite at ease inside of Tease.

We put on a great show. We know this because we have proof; Sissy attended and filmed a few songs for us, some of which I'd love to post on blogger but I don't have the 67 years it takes to download a video on blogger. What's that? Will they be on Youtube soon? Hopefully. I will keep you posted. Thanks for your interest!

THURSDAY, 6/24

This day will live in infamy.

Although I'm still getting to know her, I'm sure Lindsay Weidmann has made many discoveries throughout her life. But I trust they pale in comparison (in my mind, anyway) to the discovery she made as the sun hit the side of my face just right on Thursday, June 24th 2010 at 7:23pm pacific standard time and brought to light another reminder that I am not a child, nor will I live forever.

An ear hair.

I have a hair growing out of my ear.

This is not a big deal. Just as everything poops, everything also grows old, grows hair in odd places and dies.

My initial reaction was disgust. Followed by panic, then sadness, then acceptance. This all happened within about 37 seconds, but I felt this is something you, dear reader, would find interesting.

We performed for a few lucky patrons and the beautiful staff at Culture Works in Ashland, Oregon. Chris was kind enough to feed us with sandwiches and salads.

I love Ashland. I love the people here, and the way I'm received and welcomed as a performing artist. I will return, probably sooner than later.

I just hope I get over the whole "this is where I discovered my first ear-hair" thing.

To hear all this from Lindsay's point of view, and expose yourself to a higher quality of writing, visit www.lindsayweidmann.blogspot.com!

ALSO! ORDER JEREMY'S SOLD OUT CD "GIMMICK" (just a few copies left!) OR DOWNLOAD THE ALBUM AT www.cdbaby.com/jeremyfacknitz!

WEST COAST TOUR 2.0 WITH LINDSAY WEIDMANN – SUNDAY, 6/20 – UNITY OF THE REDWOODS – EUREKA, CALIFORNIA

2010-06-22T23:21:00.000-07:00

We literally drove through the night, leaving Santa Cruz at 10:35 pm for Eureka. We had about 10 hours between performances and half that would be spent driving - a daunting task in daylight, an extra dose of daunting over night. We stopped only for fuel for the car as well as our sleepy heads. We tried desperately to make each other laugh and stay alert, and we succeeded until about 4 am when we couldn’t even do such things for ourselves anymore (and that's saying something, since we both find ourselves wildly entertaining).

We arrived in Eureka shortly after 5 in the morning. We slept for 2 hours as well as we could in the car, myself in the front seat, my tour partner on top of our belongings in the back. We awoke, cleaned up, and played our hearts out for Father’s Day. We napped on the beach afterwards. Drove through the Redwood Forest. I stepped inside a “tree of insight”. It was beautiful. We drove to Crescent City, scored a cheap mom and pop hotel, rented “Singing In The Rain” and went to bed early.

Now, I am exhausted and completely devoid of wit and pith.

That’s all I have to say about that.

WEST COAST TOUR #2 WITH LINDSAY WEIDMANN - 6/19 - ASANA TEAS

2010-06-22T21:56:00.001-07:00

We still don't know how to pronounce "Asana". We would like to say "AsAHna", but the polite gentleman behind the counter reminded us it was "ASSana", which I think sounds... dangerous?

Gail was great. Thanks so much for booking us, Gail! Asana Tea's is a lovely shop with even lovelier food in Santa Cruz, California. I highly recommend eating food there. I'm sure the tea is swell as well, but I stuck to water.

I'm a violent tea-drunk.

For a small yet appreciative crowd we folked our way through our trade-off set. Next to our stage area, there were two large "temple doors" for sale at half off. As you can see by the picture above, it was priced to move and it was a bargain I had a hard time passing up. Damn you, Toyota Prius! If only we had a larger vehicle to transport such a bad-ass souvenir from Santa Cruz, why, those doors would be mine right now and I could walk through them whenever I damn well pleased.

Tonight, a 5.5 hour drive after the show to Eureka, California for a church performance tomorrow morning. Coffee? Check. Chocolate gas station donuts? Check. Indigestion? On it's way.

WEST COAST TOUR #2 WITH LINDSAY WEIDMANN - 6/17 and 6/18 - THURSDAY'S CANCELLED SHOW, FRIDAY AT ZELDA'S!

2010-06-22T21:31:00.000-07:00

We left the hot springs and headed back east 40 minutes or so to Reno for our show at 4th Street. Upon our arrival to the major metropolis, Lindsay noticed she had received a phone call from the venue. The owner said that the local opener had backed out, and typically people don't come to this place unless you can pull a draw in Reno, as it is primarily a music venue. He suggested we call the whole thing off.

If we weren't looking at throwing down $60 for a hotel room in Reno that night, we might have done the show anyway - rolled the dice and gone for it - but we've been doing this long enough to heed such advice from venue owners. We called back, cancelled the gig and headed back west... this time with the intention of driving all the way to Lindsay's old friend Gersh's house in Santa Cruz, California.

I wasn't prepared for this. Typically, I like to know when I'm about to sit in a car for 6 hours. I mentally prepare myself, do some half-assed yoga and get to it. No matter, really. It was a beautiful evening. We stopped along the way to treat ourselves. Lindsay purchased fruit, I a chocolate milkshake from Burger King.

Gersh housed us Thursday night and walked us up and down the boardwalk Friday morning. Thanks to Gersh.

Friday night we played Zelda's On The Beach, my second time go-round (I played there in March with Teresa). Zelda's is a restaurant/bar on... wait for it... the beach. It seems that typically, at Zelda's, we start off the show in front of a packed dinner crowd. A few stay, a few leave - those who stay tend to get pretty drunk and enjoy the hell out of you. This scenario suits me just fine. After years and years of playing the bar scene in the mid-west, this is my element. This is where I thrive.

We sold CD's, we made the most money we've made all tour up until now. A man named Ryan came up and gave us $10 to play "Brown Eyed Girl" so he could sing it. That's lunch man. Hell yes I gave him his "Brown Eyed Girl" and I even sang back-ups for him. After the show, he joined us on the patio and the two of us sang the theme song to "Punky Brewster" as Lindsay looked on in confused horror.

A night at Kathy's guest house in Watsonville closed the best day of the tour thusfar (in this author's humble opinion). Thank you Kathy, Ernie and kids for your hospitality and for showing us the secret tree.

Also BIG thanks to Eddie and Zelda's. My favorite bar in California!

WEST COAST TOUR #2 w/LINDSAY WEIDMANN - Tuesday and Wednesday, 6/15 & 16, 2010 - 2 shows at SIERRA HOT SPRINGS - SIERRAVILLE, CALIFORNIA

2010-06-17T11:51:00.000-07:00

I've never slept so well on the ground.

I think all this touring is toughening me up. The soft, sandy grasses of the Winnemucca RV park felt like a Serta mattress compared to the cramped, hard floor of my Honda hatchback.

We awoke at sunrise Tuesday morning - not on purpose, as I never wake up at sunrise on purpose if I can help it - and made our way to Sierraville, California for a free stay at the Sierraville Hot Springs and Resort. In exchange for peace, sunshine, naked hot springs and snacks, all we had to do was set up our equipment in the main lodge and play songs for 90 minutes Tuesday and Wednesday night.

Aside from the shows, it was not all dips and exposed flesh. Other work got done. While one of us labored on the laptop booking shows or promoting, the other would hike, or write songs, or dip in the hot springs with exposed flesh. Who am I kidding? I'm sorry. This is a great, great life. It just is, and no, actually I'm not sorry. This is a beautiful spot... a fantastic refuge from the road, and if you're ever coming through this area I highly recommend staying here for 9, maybe 12 days.

The shows went very well. In the two nights we folked the main lodge we earned enough money (and then some) for breakfast tomorrow morning (Thursday) at the local cafe and a hotel room in Reno tomorrow night.

WEST COAST TOUR #2 w/LINDSAY WEIDMANN - Monday, June 14th - DRIVING TO NEVADA, NIGHT OFF

2010-06-14T20:53:00.000-07:00

BUY JEREMY'S NOW SOLD OUT DEBUT CD AT CDBABY.COM! THE ONLY PLACE WHERE YOU CAN STILL PURCHASE A COPY! WWW.CDBABY.COM/JEREMYFACKNITZ2!

WEST COAST TOUR #2 w/LINDSAY WEIDMANN - Sunday, June 13th 2010 - Salt Lake City, Utah - SLCSL

2010-06-14T20:49:00.000-07:00

Church gigs! Church gigs! I love church gigs!

The Salt Lake Center for Spiritual Living was a warm and welcomed sight for our tired eyes. Even though I had just rehearsed parts for Lindsay’s songs “What Else Have I Been Missing” and “This Is Easy” yesterday, Weidmann was confident that I was ready to join her on stage in front of 100 people and strum out “my compliments”.

Big, big thanks to Rick from Farmington Hills, Michigan the SLCSL. What a beautiful bunch of warm, open people… we played both services, Lindsay sold a boatload of CD’s and much to my surprise I sold a carton or two myself. It was such a change from the atmosphere we had experienced the previous two nights in those fine watering holes. They are indeed fine watering holes, but we are songwriters and songwriters are best received by “listeners”.

After hugs and goodbyes we made our way to an internet café, spending a few hours napping on the couch, emailing venues and sipping coffee. We then circled the city for 45 minutes trying to piece together Salt Lake’s grid system on 5 hours sleep. Salt Lake City is a city where you can find a Dee’s Restaurant at either the corner of East 300 North Street and West 2100 South North Southwest Street, or at North 700 East South Avenue and South 1400 South Street. After suffering stroke from frustration and pissing myself – OH, and stopping to pet puppies for sale - we arrived at the doorstep of Renee and Rex Strother (pronounced “STRAH-ther” like father) who took us out to the Blue Plate Diner for dinner.

Tomorrow, we drive to a campsite in Nevada, where we hope the roads have names. Our next show is Tuesday in Sierraville, California. I wonder why there aren’t any songs about California…

For all this from Lindsay Weidmann’s point of view, visit www.lindsayweidmann.blogspot.com

WeST COAST TOUR #2 w/LINDSAY WEIDMANN - Saturday, June 12th 2010 - Salt Lake City, Utah - The Woodshed

2010-06-14T20:45:00.000-07:00

Ah, a day of songwriting, snacking, jamming, hiking, and frozen strawberry’s in glasses of champagne. It isn’t always car sleeping and toilet water!

With the weather absolutely positively disgusting, I walled myself within Bryon’s walls and composed. I wrote a “diddy”. That’s all I can call it at this point, but I will nurture it, love it, and we’ll see if it grows up into a beautiful tune.

The Woodshed in downtown Salt Lake City is a place where I could spend 7 hours sitting on it’s cozy couches, playing fooseball, watching the “Back To The Future” trilogy on plasma television’s (with the sound down), co-writing songs with my tour partner and folking the masses. We did most of that tonight. We avoided the fooseball, seeing as how we have 26 days left on this tour and we’d like to like each other as long as possible.

Lindsay and I traded songs for an hour and a half. I joined her on songs that I probably should not have joined her on, but she seemed happy with the way they turned out. She added vocals and other various spectacular spices to songs like “Better Than Us” and “The 70’s Sitcom Medley”. We gave away a party favor or two… tissue paper-wrapped Dum-Dums and Jolly Ranchers with a piece of paper that describes our intentions to get out of the bars and into people’s living rooms. House concerts, that is. They’re big money makers for folkers like us. We’ll see if it works.

After “Hecklin’ Jive” closed their set (both Lindsay and I were quite impressed by their sounds), we climbed back up the hill to Bryon’s place in Park City for a quick 5 hour nap before the alarms would go off at 7 for our church gig at the Salt Lake Center for Spiritual Living.

For all this from Lindsay Weidmann’s point of view, visit www.lindsayweidmann.blogspot.com.

WEST COAST TOUR #2 w/LINDSAY WEIDMANN - Friday, June 11th, 2010 - Park City, Utah - The Downstairs

2010-06-14T20:27:00.000-07:00

Saying goodbye to Colorado is never easy. I have to admit that sometimes, when I see that “You Are Now Leaving Colorful Colorado” sign at the border, I’ll exhale a somewhat sad “aww!” and make a frowny face. This behavior may better explain the reason you don’t hear stories about Jeremy Facknitz banging groupies and tearing up hotel rooms on the road. I’m more likely to spend an evening out for a walk, pausing to smell the lilacs, then writing a song about the lack of sunshine while downing a few shots of throat coat tea before it’s off to bed at 9.

We left Colorado and it’s colorfulness Friday afternoon for Park City and our first show at The Downstairs, opening for Bryon Friedman. Bryon has a new pad in Park City and was so kind to let us crash at his place. Rather than give us a key, he decided to just leave the door open. This was a great idea, until Jeremy or Lindsay, deciding to head back to the house early, locked the door before bed leaving Bryon no choice but to bang violently on his new place at 2:27 in the morning to wake them up and let him in.

The Downstairs is downstairs. That makes sense. I’m pretty excited to see Lindsay’s show every night. She tends to call dibs on the opening slot before I do, so her “badassery” pumps me up for my set. After we folk-rocked the masses as they filed in, Bryon and his band folk-rocked the rest of the night away while Lindsay and I hung out behind our merch table, selling nothing. There’s always tomorrow.

We crashed around 2 and slept well (minus the door-locking fiasco). Cold, rainy and rumors of snow tomorrow, at which point we will head down the hill to Salt Lake City and a show at The Woodshed.

For all this from Lindsay Weidmann’s point of view, visit www.lindsayweidmann.blogspot.com.

WEST COAST VERSION 2.0 TOUR with LINDSAY WEIDMANN

2010-06-11T10:39:00.000-07:00

Yes, the thought has crossed my mind to let Lindsay toil away on her blog and merely send my followers to her clever writings while I sip coffee and write songs.

I won't do that.

But to get the skinny from her point of view, peep your peepers on www.lindsayweidmann.blogspot.com... and buy her new E.P. while you're at it. It's the bees knees.

We left Thursday afternoon for Carbondale, CO. The show in Salt Lake isn't until Friday night but we figured we could chop off a few hours Thursday and prolong our goodbyes to the beautiful state of Colorado. I ask you, dear reader, what better place to do that than in Carbondale?

This second tour of the west and northwest is my attempt to see what impact I made out there in March. My gut, which I trust implicitly, has whispered more than once that I will be successful out there. So I head back, confident that I'll see some familiar faces, confident that I will have forgotten their names, and hopeful that I will be forgiven for doing so.

The goal as a business man is to move forward and see progress... to sell more CD's than I did in March, make more money, and reach more "clients". The goal as a performer is to "let 'er rip" so to speak, to step out of my head on stage and trust my talent a bit more. My goal as an artist is to continue writing - or rather, transcribing - what the muse sends me. My goal as Jeremy is to have a boatload of fun.

More soon.

I DID THAT.

2010-05-27T10:15:00.001-07:00

I left for the west coast on March 8th.

I performed at least one show, sometimes more in:

Salt Lake City, UT
Sierraville, Capitola and Eureka, CA
Ashland, Yachats and Portland, OR
Seattle, WA
Bozeman, MT
Pueblo, CO
Mankato, Minneapolis and Duluth, MN
Appleton and Green Bay, WI
Traverse City and Detroit, MI
Somerville and Waban, MA
Morrisville and Benson VT
Saugerties, NY
Venango, PA
Chicago, IL
Fairfield, IA
Omaha, NE

Sorry if I forgot any place.

Big smile.

For better or worse, richer or poorer, whether I've poured the concrete foundation for my career or I just took a huge piss... I did that.

Thank you for allowing me this "yay Jeremy" moment. Obviously, I couldn't have done it without your support. Yay you.

Back to the west coast in two weeks.

LAST SHOW OF THE TOUR - HOUSE CONCERT - OMAHA, NEBRASKA - 5/21/10

2010-05-27T10:05:00.000-07:00

House concert at the Storch residence. This house concert was supposed to be somewhere else. Our original host fell down the stairs and broke three ribs.

Luckily, Teresa is from Omaha and her mother and father still live there, still residing in the house Teresa grew up in. Ma Storch was willing to host the house concert on two days notice - even with Pa Storch in Canada on a fishing trip, celebrating his retirement. Thank you Ma Storch!

I got to meet some of Teresa's home town fans, who were quite complimentary of me and my efforts. We didn't have the turnout we would've had at the original venue but considering Ma Storch had only a few days to pull it all together, it was a huge success.

Tomorrow, I'll cross the border into Colorado.

THE RIDE BACK TO COLORADO - HOUSE CONCERT, FAIRFIELD IOWA - 5/20/10

2010-05-27T09:42:00.000-07:00

See video of this performance at:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rxK3XRJR6mU

After a few days off to hang with bro and pseudo-cousin Rachel in Chicago (where we watched "Beyond the Valley of the Dolls" and I HIGHLY recommend it to those of you who have not been "turned on"), then a night with my childhood chum in crime Matt Olinik (thanks for the steaks!), I made my way to Fairfield, Iowa.

Lisa and David hosted this house concert and it was beautiful.

Scheduled to occur outside, the weather did not cooperate so we moved it indoors.

I'm still really out of it. The days off didn't do much for my energy levels seeing as how they were spent staying up late, talking to friends. Sheila, a guest, talked to me after the first set. I love Sheila. She said "you're an amazing musician, but you look like you'd rather be somewhere else." Shit. Shit, shit, shit! I mean yeah, okay, she might be right a little but goddamn it no one's supposed to see that! I'm a pro!

I felt like I had just awakened in my 7th grade biology class with no underwear on and nothing but an apple to cover my shivering, shrunken shame. I quickly defended myself and made excuses. "No, no! I'm very happy to be here... I'm just tired... 10 weeks... futons... my voice isn't where I'd like it to be..." and so on. Sheila and I talked about how her kids wanted to do what I was doing, and I said something along the lines of "well, if they don't have a choice, they don't have a choice. You either have to do this so you do it, or you don't have to do it so you don't." That's my feeling on it, in all my "wisdom".

Sheila woke me up. My second set was far better. My show tomorrow will be far better. I think I'm going to rejoin myself and quit whining like a little princess. Thank you Sheila.

Thank you, Lisa and David for making me feel so at home.

THE RIDE BACK TO COLORADO - TONIC ROOM, CHICAGO - 5/17/10

2010-05-27T09:13:00.000-07:00

I'm mentally and emotionally drained. 2.5 months of straight touring, fresh out of the gate in this new career path. That's a big bite. I've found that, after what I went through with Julie and turning 32, I have little fear of things. I feel there's nothing I can't handle. That's because there's really nothing that I can't handle. There are, however, some things that I shouldn't try to handle. Maybe 10 weeks straight to start a "new job" or lifestyle is one of them

The voice is exhausted. The songs are coming forth with good energy, but I'm on auto pilot. I know what I need. I need to sit in Monument Park and write new songs. I need to stay in one place for a week. I need to revamp the show, as it feels stale to my ears. I have one more week until I can do that.

This is not a gripe-fest. I'm sharing this with you, dear reader, to show you it's not easy. I'm living it, I'm loving it, there's nothing I'd rather do in the world. I'm just learning new things about myself, and one of the things I've learned is that touring 6 weeks straight is enough... at least until I can afford hotels, or a van and not spend so much time trying to slumber in my Honda Fit or on floors, futons, rolled-up dirty clothes, air-mattresses...

Still high off the previous days festivities and income (albeit slightly hungover), I reunited with Ruby Tuesday and we headed west (I love that word) to Chicago for a show at the Tonic Room.

Big, big SUPER big thanks to Michael at Chicago Underground for hooking us up. Jarod Facknitz and Anne Marie came by and watched the show, I don't think I've performed for my brother in years. If you've heard/seen his work you realize he's an intimidating force, so when he's in my audience I picture him getting "pantsed" by Brian Harvey back in 2000, his testicles exposed to half the Holly High School class. All's well.

We played our songs and we gained a few emails. Bro and I went out for drinks and a bluegrass circle afterwards.

To purchase Jeremy's debut CD "Gimmick", sold out at shows, visit www.cdbaby.com/jeremyfacknitz2 right now!

NORTHEAST TOUR DAY 16 - 5/16/10 - HOUSE CONCERT IN HOLLY, MICHIGAN

2010-05-27T08:35:00.000-07:00

How great it was to be playing a show in the same backyard where:
- I tortured my siblings for so many years.
- I hit countless home runs to clinch countless World Series rings for the Detroit Tigers.
- scored touchdowns.
- kicked field goals.
- built forts.
- climbed trees.
- drank.
- smoked.
- sat alone on the night of my senior prom, wondering if I was missing out on anything, quickly deducing that all I missing out on was a frivolous expense and, after taking a lonesome swig of Southern Comfort, went back inside the house to watch The Simpsons with my mom.

The ghosts of my blue collar childhood danced in front of me. I tried to contain the excitement I had over finally performing for my grandparents and family on my mom's side, who rarely get the opportunity to see me. Ma and Pa Facknitz invited many of their friends, a few of mine came as well.

This weary traveler received just what the doctor ordered. Thanks to everyone - my family, my parents, friends, the birds, the squirrels, zippity doo dah.

Lovely.

One more week to go.

NORTHEAST TOUR DAY 14-15 - Hanging in Meadville, PA, Holly, MI

2010-05-27T08:27:00.000-07:00

With no scheduled stages to folk for two days until the house concert in Holly, we chilled.

Our hosts in Meadville put us up in their beautiful old house downtown. Friday night we had a cookout with their friends. I watched dogs chase cats and ate myself silly, all after a full day that found me walking along the tracks to downtown Meadville for lunch, thrift shopping, phone calling, people watching.

On Saturday morning we drove to my boyhood home in Holly, just a quick 5 hour jaunt compared to the drive from Vermont to Pennsylvania 2 days before. Ma and Pa Facknitz greeted us at the door. Teresa had a lot of day-job work to do so I visited with the rents in lounge. The Facker-Fogies have the house in tip-top shape and I have a feeling the house concert tomorrow is going to be a swell time.

NORTHEAST TOUR DAY 13 - 5/13/10 - Sprague Farms and Brewery - Venango, PA

2010-05-27T08:14:00.000-07:00

After we bid adieu to the state of Vermont, we headed west for 8 hours until we came to Sprague Farms and Brewery in the small town of Venango, Pennsylvania. It feels good to be in the mid-west. I know some people won't call this area the mid-west but I will. I can spit to Ohio from here. The people are warm and kind. It's the mid-west.

It also feels good to pull up to a farm and brewery after 8 hours on the road. "I'll take two please", I said, referring to the plump, live chickens, "and I'll also have a beer."

I kicked off the night and T followed, then we joined forces as we usually do. The crowd grew as the night wore on and found us most entertaining at the end of our set, making us wonder why they had us play so early in the evening (6-9pm). No matter. It was a swell payday and I gave a CD to some college age kids in Americorps (sp?) who were obviously in to the show but chose to spend what little money they had in their pockets on barley. I debated with one girl at that table, another Michigan native, about which state was more beautiful - Michigan or Colorado. She was drunk and I was homesick for my mountains. Getting nowhere, we agreed that they were both beautiful, but Colorado doesn't have near the amount of goddamned mosquitos that Michigan has, so I win.

See the pics of the brewery. One of the coolest stages we've played on yet.

NORTHEAST TOUR DAY 12 - 5/12/10 - THE BEES KNEES - MORRISVILLE, VT

2010-05-27T08:10:00.001-07:00

Teresa's brother Steve joined us for this evenings festivities. We waited for him to come home from work before making the 2.5 hour trek up to Morrisville for our show at the Bees Knees.

Maybe it was the fact that it was a Wednesday, maybe it was the fact that I was billed as Jeremy "Ficknitz", maybe it was the fact that we made about $20 each for a five hour round trip, maybe it was the fact that I miss my cell phone service... either way I felt homesick after this one. Homesick for which home, you ask? Um, I don't know.

Momma said there'd be days like this.

Delightful staff and swell people though, at The Bees Knees.

NORTHEAST TOUR DAY 10 and 11 - 5/10 and 5.11 - Chilling in Benson, Vermont with no cell service.

2010-05-12T11:12:00.001-07:00

Day 2 without cell service.

I'm not sure anyone else still exists on the planet, as I am no longer receiving Facebook updates on my Blackberry. Panic, insanity setting in. If the rest of the population has indeed ceased to exist, I shall continue to record my thoughts for future species or possible visitors from outer space.

No, Vermont doesn't have cell phone service.

I can't talk on the phone.

I can text, but it's delayed.

My internet works if I store the phone behind the cactus by the window facing west, but as soon as I remove the phone from this "magic spot", I lose service. Plus, it pricks my finger each time I reach for it.

I am... LOST.

Nice scenery to be lost in.

So what did I do without seeing my casual acquaintances "effing" Farmville updates? I wrote. I got a few nice tunes in the oven and I'm excited to finish them. I worked on some booking and marketing via Teresa's brother Steve's computer, I chilled. Bought some new shoes. Not much to do, so not much to report.

Thanks to Steve Storch for letting us crash at his man cabin in the woods.

NORTHEAST TOUR DAY 9 - 5/9 - Inquiring Minds Bookstore - Saugerties, New York

2010-05-10T15:30:00.000-07:00

Teresa had a ton of day job work to do and wanted to spend some time with her brother. We were looking at a 2.5 hour drive one way to Saugerties for a tips-only gig on a Mother's Day afternoon. Not exactly a sure thing. Of course, when I booked it, I forgot it would be Mom's Day.

She thought she'd make more money doing day job work and I knew I'd make more money playing the gig solo. So off I flew - all by myself, like a big boy! - to Saugerties, NY.

When I started there was one person in the corner of the coffee shop with earbuds plugged into their laptop. By the end of my last song, a small yet very appreciative crowd had built up to about 14. I made a new friend in Andy, who caught my second song, stopped dead in his tracks, stayed for the whole show, purchased a signed copy of "What A Day!" and bought me dinner afterwards (thank you, Andy!). Again, I'm amazed at some of the connections I've made and continue to make on this 10 week voyage.

Andy and I talked about life, the pursuit of happiness and other Mother's Day subjects. I called my mom, who's as excited as all get-out for the house concert in Holly one week from today. I dedicated the show to her and all mommies everywhere.

Taking full advantage of rare alone time, I drove slowly back to Benson, Vermont, stopping frequently to smell the lilacs and appreciate my surroundings.

Two days off ahead. Going to write. Going to relax.

NORTHEAST TOUR DAY 8 - 5/8 - House concert in Tinmouth, Vermont

2010-05-10T15:09:00.000-07:00

Today was not your typical work day.

Today was more like visiting the residence of an extended family member you don't really know.

You see a lot of people, you talk to a lot of people, you feel pretty comfortable with your surroundings, you don't know everybody's name but you realize that's okay because they probably don't know yours and you play with the dogs and kids mostly because they're less awkward and the conversation takes less effort.

At least that's what I usually do when I visit the home of an extended family member I don't really know so well.

Cullen and Kimberly hosted this event and we thank them a bunch. Thoughts of holding the concert outside were quickly squelched as 48 degrees and hail pounded the roof of their small, adorable house. I did snap a picture of the rainbow that followed... right before we started folking in their kitchen.

NORTHEAST TOUR DAY 7 - 5/7 - Briggs Carriage Bookstore - Brandon, Vermont

2010-05-10T14:09:00.000-07:00

Today I was instructed by a dear friend of mine to make it fun day. So I placed my finger on my chin and I thought to myself, "What can I do to make this day more fun?" and began a list. At the top was "get chocolate ice cream and not wipe my face for at least a half hour."

And I did it.

If you sing, you know that dairy isn't good for the voice, and so I struggled mightily through my first set at Briggs Carriage Bookstore in Brandon, Vermont.

It was a phucking phlegm phest.

Teresa has played here many times before and has a super fan in Priscilla, who walks to the venue to see her play whenever she is in town. I'd like to think that the standing ovation Priscilla gave us at the end of our duo set was for both of us, but I think it was mostly T's.

Sold a few CD's and connected with some great people, per usual. It's funny how, if you're not careful, you can start taking it for granted. Everything becomes a job or the norm, if you do it long enough. Every night is really special though... the deep, artistic conversations with strangers who are now friends, the support these new friends give you for what you do... it's hard to convey in blog form but it's pretty sweet. Pretty sweet indeed.

NORTHEAST TOUR DAY 6 - 5/6 - Amazing Things - Framingham, MA

2010-05-10T13:55:00.000-07:00

Dan Cloutier is a writer, and a damn fine one. He hosts the open mic at "Amazing Things" in Framingham, Massachusetts every Thursday and Teresa had scored the headlining "feature" for us.

All of the talent at this open mic was solid. I was blown away by the stylings of Levi Schmidt and Kim Jennings to name just a couple. Of course, I was also blown away by Teresa's Boston family who had made the trek, including but not limited to: John Linn, Tim Riordan, Kara Kulpa and Barb Kessler who sang on Teresa's "Stream Of Concrete".

We played our 45 minute set for the 13 or so in attendence (a small crowd for the night - quality not quantity). Tried to shoot video but my batteries died. My camera devours AA's. Snapped a couple of pictures. Kara played violin on "Independence" and Barb joined in for three part harmonies on Teresa's "Abigail".

It was like playing with a band again. We were folking on with our bad-ass selves. It was a special night.

P.S. - Looking at the calendar I realize that in two weeks I'll be on my way home to Colorado. I'm tired, but good tired. I'm already starting to create the fall tour of the midwest, where I'll be hitting Nebraska, Iowa, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Illinois, Missouri, Kansas (if you got connections, help a brother out. Thank you). I look forward to the respite but I'm not wishing my life away. I'm having fun everyday.

Thanks for your continued support!

Buy the 2002 release "GIMMICK" with the (smash hit) songs "SONGWRITER STRIKES BACK" and "BETTER THAN US", HERE! www.cdbaby.com/jeremyfacknitz2

NORTHEAST TOUR DAY 5 - 5/5 - Local 121 - Providence, Rhode Island

2010-05-10T13:42:00.000-07:00

Teresa's friend Sara took us both out for a fine meal in downtown crossing (Boston) before we hopped on the interstate for Rhode Island and my first show ever in "The Ocean State", The Speakeasy at Local 121 in downtown Providence.

Providence is a fab town - I've been there twice now with too little time to explore - but I love it. This place was posh, and my unshaven face propped on top of my Denver and Rio Grand T-shirt left me feeling a tad out of place. Joanne Lurgio brought and extra vat of beauty with her songs and voice. She kicked off the festivities for the small and vocal crowd who had made their way downstairs to see us.

Yes, downstairs... it's a "speakeasy". Shhhh!

I then took the second set, and played what was probably my best show in a while, dusting off some oldies ("Sweet Wedding Bells" and "All Of That To Me" the latter of the two having found it's way back into my set on an almost nightly basis) with Teresa taking the headlining spot - and rightfully so, seeing as how she brought the most people.

Big thanks to Jess who set this up, as well as Jen and Jose.

NORTHEAST TOUR DAYS 3 and 4 - 5/3 and 5/4 - Jeremy makes up with Boston.

2010-05-05T11:05:00.000-07:00

MONDAY, 5/3

I knew that Monday, 5/3 was going to be a tough day for me. It was the day I was planning to return to the scene, my two block hell for a year and half.

I took the train downtown from Waban, stepped off and began walking from my old T stop, Kenmore. I stopped and turned around halfway up the stairs. I found myself looking around for an old lady to help or a homeless person to talk to.

I was stalling.

With no one in sight, I walked up and mingled among the throngs of people headed to the Sox game. I mosied into my old record shop, where I had purchased the UK version of "Rubber Soul" on vinyl for $14 (best purchase of my life). I made my way to my street but before turning I stalled again, this time to call my mother. I just talked to her, told her how I was, where I was and that I was indeed, again, stalling.

Finally, I made my way to the old place. It was odd... I would turn suddenly and see a tree, or picnic table, and I'd have to shake it off. Like, I thought I was having a nightmare or Vietnam flashback. No, this is real life, I'm actually here. My God... but it was okay. I put on fresh goggles. I took pictures and posted them to facebook. I looked up towards the 6 story roof of my apartment and laughed about my opium-induced, suicidal thoughts that crept in when I wasn't looking back on that one night in the spring of '06. I don't think that I was seriously thinking about it, but it was as serious as I had ever thought about it and it haunts me to think that the thoughts even crossed my mind because I love life, I always have, even at that moment I knew I loved life. I just wanted out and had no idea how to get there.

I walked around the stadium. It was a gorgeous night. The area has improved. There's a Guitar Center a block from where I lived. I loitered in, strummed some chords, played some piano and didn't buy a thing. This is what I usually do in a Guitar Center.

The plan was to hop on a train around 9 pm before the game let out and make my way to an open mic at Lizard Lounge (where my hero, Michael Penn had played) for a 2 song performance. Call it resistance or fatigue but I wasn't really all that excited about it.

I guess I looked alone, maybe a tad forlorned... his energy reached out to my energy, for whatever reason.

The passerby in his mid-twenties said to me, "You want a ticket? I got an extra ticket."

"No man, I don't have any money."

His friend says, "He'll give it to you for free, he just wants to to give it to someone who'll appreciate it. Will you appreciate it?"

They could tell instantly that I would, because I want you to picture my face lighting up like a Christmas tree right now, which it did.

"Yes! Wow! Thank you!"

The three of us walked together to the gate for a few seconds, and again I said "Thanks, you guys". The second guy reaches into his pocket.

"You say you don't have any money on you? Here - get yourself some food and some money." and he gave me $40 worth of gift certificates.

"Really?"

The guy who had handed me the ticket smiled wide at me and said, "Jesus loves you, man. Jesus loves you." Now I'm like a little kid, ecstatic, in shock and disbelief and so happy that this is what God and the Universe has planned for me for this evening. Rather than open mic for a night of pseudo work, I'm going to be treated like a spoiled little rich kid. Nice.

They had to go in another direction, so I said thanks again and just walked in. Still in shock, I "bought" a hot dog and a coke. I realized that the park wouldn't just redeem my certificates for cash, but they'd give me cash as change. The certificates came in $5 increments so I purposely spent $6 here, $11 there to get the max amount of change back. I thought about paying it forward... giving some of them to a family, or military... but I didn't. I kept them for myself. I don't know why I did that. I did, however, give money to each and every street performer I passed after the game.

The game was a blowout, the Sox won 17-8. I couldn't have cared less about the outcome.

At every home Sox game in the middle of the 8th inning, they play "Sweet Caroline" by Neil Diamond and everyone sings along. It's a tradition here. I went down to the seats behind homeplate (after purchasing 3 bottles of water to get my maximum amount of change) and walked the aisle parallel to the field. I looked back at all the people singing and with my water, I sang back at them. I belted it out, pumping my water in the air. It was such a fantastic moment and it may sound cheesy, but Boston and I made up with each other right there. They said they were sorry, and I said it's okay, and we joined arms and sang Neil Diamond together.

I realized that I placed a lot of anger on Boston that was really meant for the circumstance I was in, as well as myself. Yes, this place is harder than most other places. That's truth. The weather sucks and so on... but in reality it's just another big stinky city with unhappy people and shitty weather, just like Chicago, or New York, or Detroit, etc. I placed the anger on Boston because I "had" to forgive my circumstance and the abuse it was putting me through and I "had" to forgive myself for tolerating it. It was easier to hate the city than my circumstance. At least that's what I've gathered so far.

Ah, self-awareness. I have so far to go but at least I'm finally going.

And "good times never felt so good".

TUESDAY, 5/4

I thought about what happened Monday. That and Mr. Ernie Harwell died.

To every boy and girl who grew up in Michigan loving the Tigers, he was a 3rd grandfather.

Love you Ernie. Thank you for everything and Godspeed, you beautiful human.

BUY JEREMY'S 2006 ALBUM "WHAT A DAY!" AT WWW.CDBABY.COM/JEREMYFACKNITZ!

NORTHEAST TOUR, DAY 2 - 5/2 - THE BURREN - SOMERVILLE, MA

2010-05-05T09:30:00.000-07:00

Teresa had invited me out to play Cambridge, Somerville and introduce me to the folk scene that had adopted her for ten years. This was something that I had missed in my year and half residency, and I wanted to see for myself that it existed.

Not only does it exist, not only is it chock full of quality people, but the talent! Oh! The talent! Jaw dropping. Left me asking what the hell I was doing there, hogging the stage.

I was able to bear witness tonight at The Burren. As I said Teresa and I hogged the stage for a majority of the night... it was a small crowd, it was good to practice, we needed the work and no one seemed to mind. Getting us off stage isn't always an easy thing to do. Plus, T's friend Kara was joining us on fiddle, jumping in on "Brushed Off By Julie Ray" and such, and I was just having a pant-load of fun with that.

My old pal Bylsma, a former co-drone from my job at TNT Vacations (see the song "Unemployment? Check!") came by to say hi and see the new "John Boy". My cousin Brad, in town on business from Michigan, was able to steal a few minutes for his jet-setting self and share a beer or three with us.

If you live in the Boston area, you owe it to yourself to peep some of these artists...

(list coming soon)

Thanks Burren.

NORTHEAST TOUR, DAY 1 - 5/1 - House concert in Waban, MA

2010-05-05T09:18:00.001-07:00

And so begins the trip back west. Or, so ends the midwestern tour.

Ah, who am I kidding? There are no endings or beginnings anymore. I do my thing in different places. When I go back home, it won't be for long, and I'll be gone again - and while I'm home, I'll be doing my thing back home. We all just keep going, right?

Tonight I played a house concert at Karen and David's in Waban, a village of Newton, Massachusetts. Julie (my ex) was the family nanny for many years and they were the first people I met out here in Boston. They welcomed me into their homes 6 years ago with open arms and have loved me ever since. They were my safe haven, my break from the intense intersection of I-90 and Shoot Myself Ave. where I lived downtown for a year and half. They are my Boston family.

Teresa and I joined forces again. This was our first official performance together in exactly one month after touring together and playing 21 shows in 3.5 weeks back in March. At times, it felt like riding a bike. At other times I wanted to stop the songs and say "What are you doing? What am I doing?" but I'm not sure the attentive and extremely sweet living-room audience of 26 noticed a hitch. That's the beauty of playing your original music for open people who aren't familiar with it. You can always play the "I meant to do that" card.

After the show, the fire pit was lit, booze was consumed and people partied 'til after two. I however went to bed, since I had been up early for hot yoga, helped prepare the house for the evening box social and was plum tuckered out.

Big thanks to Karen and David for putting me up, and hosting this fantastic event.

Welcome to my head with 7 weeks down and 3 weeks to go.

2010-04-30T12:40:00.000-07:00

I left Colorado Springs on March 8th. Since then and until this past week at my parents house, I had not spent more than three nights in one place.

When I first set sail with Teresa Storch that day, I felt as though a tremendous weight had been lifted off my skinny shoulders. All the planning, anxiety and second guessing was over. I didn't have to worry about doing it because, finally! I was actually doing it.

The two weeks that followed were what I call "the honeymoon period". I got real sick with sinus funk while in Oregon and I had a hard time finding my singing voice even when I felt well, but I was ecstatic over the fact that I was doing it. Me, with no other income. Me, in my new car. The only thing I had to do everyday was play a show... I had no lessons to teach, no tasks to complete for Paul Franco. I was living and working for me and only me, to feed MY belly and MY soul - making myself a stronger man, songwriter, performer. It was scary as all hell committing myself to getting there, but I realized that I had gone pro. What a high! I knew I had made the right decision.

When I went back to Colorado Springs over Easter for a few days, the gravity of that decision and what it meant as far as the changes in my life really set in. I went home, but I had no home. My "stuff" is in storage. I stayed with my close friends and I was "back", but I was essentially still on the road - sleeping in guest beds, waking up and wondering where the hell the cereal bowls were. It blindsided me a bit. I had no idea it would affect me the way it did. I didn't break down and cry, or search craigslist for an apartment that I can piss large amounts of money away on - a place I'll only be living in half the time - all for that "feeling" of having a home base. It's just that I didn't foresee this. That's okay. It's good information. I would like it if that by the end of this year, if I'm making more money, I could get my own place... but it's a financial burden that I'm not ready to bear at this time. So I gotta buck up and get back to looking for the damn cereal bowls, wherever they are. Wherever I am.

Touring alone this past month has been so educational. When I wake up almost every night or morning, I have that moment where I have absolutely no idea where I am. This bothered me for a month or so, it started back in Oregon. Then last week while sleeping in my brother's bed in Chicago that he so kindly offered to me, it happened again - but this time I said "Ok, well fuck it. I'm going back to sleep, and I can be wherever I want to be right now." So now when this happens, I let the mind take over and I fall asleep. So far, I've gone back home to where I grew up, and I've gone back to Colorado Springs numerous times. I call it my "dreamy dream land", and it's helped me grow more cognizant of my dreams. I've also slayed dragons, saved princesses and played professional baseball. Doing that stuff in dreamy dream land is far better than trying to figure out who's bed I'm in at 3:45 in the morning in the real world.

I would rather play 7 shows in 3 days than no shows in 2 days. Playing is less exhausting than not playing, because I'm not getting that connection, that high. The lack of THAT is exhausting. Downtime sucks. When you're in a town and you don't know a soul, killing time (sometimes a whole day) before a show, and you don't have the money for a proper room, it can get you down. Being a homeless folk dude playing shows is the best thing I've ever done. Just being homeless, on the other hand, is a far different feeling. I have friends who have done what I'm doing and have counseled me as to what to do when this happens and I feel I have a better handle on it now.

In the last few weeks I've had some personal and performance breakthroughs. After the honeymoon period fatigue set in and I still feel it, just a little. It's not a sleepy tired but rather an "okay where do I gotta go now?" tired. That's to be expected. It doesn't deter me.

Aside from the people I've met, the friends I've made, the beautiful countryside and the ever changing scenery (I hate routine), the greatest thing that's come out of averaging 4 shows a week is the fact that I'm finally on my way to being the badass I know I will become. I'm at the top of my game thusfar in my career. I get my guitar on and I go to work. I feel my worst performance of the week right now was my best performance of the month three months ago. I'm a traveling folk robot. It's not about how many people are at the show, who's listening, who cares, how I'm praised or not praised. I just go to work and I do it. And I love it wholly.

So for those of you who've been asking "how are you doing?", well I'm doing real well thank you. The freak outs come, the moments of doubt creep in but they are just moments. Everyday, the loudest voice in my head is the one that's saying "Go Jeremy. You're doing it man. This is you. This is right. I love you."

Then I usually kiss myself.

Soon, a northeastern tour will begin - tomorrow actually, here in Waban, MA. I'm touring with Teresa again, back to Colorado Springs. When I return they may not recognize me.

Thanks to all of you for reading. More to come.

BUY JEREMY'S DEBUT ALBUM "GIMMICK" HERE! www.cdbaby.com/jeremyfacknitz2

MIDWEST TOUR DAYS 15 and 16 - 4/23-24/10 - Billy's Roadhouse - Pontiac, MI

2010-04-29T09:28:00.001-07:00

Trying to put this first solo tour together on my own has been a challenge, and I'm very thankful to Matt Mansfield in Traverse City and Matt McClure in Waterford for their help. I put the fate of these last two weekends in their hands. I gave them dates and let them book it. I took off the control freak hat. I delegated. I focused on Minnesota and Green Bay and allowed them to take Michigan. They dealt with flaky venue owners, venues going out of business and last second cancellations (note this songwriter decided 7 years ago to pursue a career in performing elsewhere. See above as to why). They took on the stress while I shrugged and said "I know you'll take care of me", and they did. These are men of honor in the army of artistic expression, fighting towards our quest to not starve to death in the name of what we do.

Again, thank you Matt Mansfield and Matt McClure of Pied Cypher events.

Friday and Saturday, both nights at Billy's Roadhouse in Pontiac, MI. This place has come a long way in the last two years and I honored to have an extremely miniscule hand in that.

Billy is a class guy. Great crowds both nights. Sold 11 CD's. Gave away a ton of Jeremy fridge magnets. Saw old friends. Played "Not Home" per request of Teresa (Class of '96 Bronchos)... hadn't played it in years. Felt good, as I sang the second verse while pointing at the Wings game on TV. Sam Van Wagoner (Ken's nephew), TJ Kelly and Mike Stern all have talent coming out their ears and shared the nights with me. They kept me on my toes. I had to bring my A game.

On May 1st, the smoking ban finally goes into effect in Michigan. I missed it by one week, so I played in a fog of nicotine... this is my only complaint/regret.

Yeah I moved away, I had to... but I'll keep coming back.

MIDWEST TOUR DAY 14 - 4/22/10 - Good Beans Cafe - Flint, MI

2010-04-28T09:17:00.000-07:00

(Photos coming soon)

Home cookin' indeed. And I'm not talking about food.

I woke up at 8 to take my mother to the dentist/orthodontist responsible for the beautiful set of teeth in my mouth. It was good to see Dr. Murphy again, who informed me that he was now taking guitar lessons. In thanks, Ma Fack took me to Bittersweet Cafe in downtown Holly, MI. Bittersweet is a must whenever I come back to this small town of 5,000 or so, this town I grew up in. So is Red Devil pizza, Arcade Antiques, and Carrie's Delights (now no longer Carrie's Delights).

I couldn't live here now (actually, based on what I'm doing right now I can't really live anywhere), and when you're young and pissed you hate where you live, but it wasn't a bad place to grow up.

I enjoyed a relaxing day with the folks before heading north to Flint for one of my now countless performances at Good Beans Cafe. Ken Van Wagoner, owner, opened Good Beans 10 years ago and my brother and I have been folking it almost as long. Ken's swell and he always has us back whenever we venture back "home".

Small crowd, but high quality. Dan Gerics opened and did a fine job... then joined me on a tune of mine that he usually covers on his own, "Songwriter Strikes Back". Dan tickled the ivory's in Ab while I caressed the frets. It was lovely and captured on video. I'd love to share it with you but blogspot won't allow me, it seems. Youtube soon.

MIDWEST TOUR DAY 11-13 - 4/19-21/10 - Respite in Traverse City, visit to Chicago, back to Holly, MI

2010-04-26T08:17:00.000-07:00

MONDAY 4/19/2010

Monday and Tuesday have become my weekends, although many of the minutes in these days are spent busting tail on marketing, booking, blogging, updating the website, etc. I'm really excited at how my summer schedule has recently fallen into place and I look forward to taking a few weeks off from such dedication to the laptop to do other things that songwriters with "people" get to do, such as... write songs?

After three hours on the laptop I took the Mansfield's dog Owen, for a walk. I felt rather domesticated, rather normal. Anyone who passed us on the trail had no idea that this lovable beagle-lab mix wasn't my dog or that I didn't have a home nearby. It was a nice mental place to visit, just for 15 minutes. I often wonder what goes through the minds of fellow travelers when I arise from Ruby Tuesday around 6:30 am with floss in my teeth and dirty clothes plastered to my face. Then I realize that no one's really watching, anyway - and if they are, eff 'em.

Shannon made lasagna. I had a songwriting session with Matt. We watched the Tigers lose. It was swell. Big thanks to the Mansfield's for taking such great care of me.

TUESDAY, 4/20/2010

Sister Kara bought my ticket to see Ben Folds at The Vic in Chicago tonight. So I drove down to Michigan City, IN from Traverse City, MI this morning, to take the train into Chi-town and see my siblings.

Yes, the train. Thank you train. I will never drive in Chicago again. I've been burnt too many times with their "No Parking The Third Maundy Thursday Of The Decade When The Sun Hides Behind The Clouds And The Cubs Are In 4th Place..." my God. I've been towed and ticketed enough to learn that there's no reason to even bring Ruby into that windblown, overpopulated corner of the state. So I park in Michigan City and pay $15 for a round trip train ticket to and from Chicago.

Ben was great per usual. I think I've seen him 5 times now. I'm not even a big fan but when someone can perform your pants off you go back and get de-pantsed. Went back to Kara's and had a few drinks with little brother as well, who had to work tonight.

WEDNESDAY, 4/21/2010

Sis made us all a swell breakfast of pancakes, coffee, bacon and eggs. We walked over to the Brown Elephant to do some shopping (this is a place where they resell T-shirts for $2... most of my wardrobe has come from there, including the A.N. Pritzker shirt you'll see in most of my photos). I found a few things that perked my interest but kept what little money I have to myself for food.

My time with the siblings was far too short. Left Chicago on the 4:57pm train for Michigan City and arrived at the parents house, my former house in Holly, Michigan around 11 EST. Mom was up, we talked and watched the Tigers - win.

Home cookin'.

MIDWEST TOUR DAY 10 - 4/18/10 - Traverse City, MI - Union Street Station

2010-04-19T10:35:00.000-07:00

A tad hungover this morning. Damn you, you Right Brain Brewing Sampler, and your hops and barley deliciousness!

Went for a run, threw the pill around with Matt and headed to Union Street Station, one of the oldest bars in Traverse City (it used to also be a brothel).

Played from 6-8 pm, a Sunday afternoon show. Tough draw, as the Red Wings were on at the same time. Someone once wrote a song about that... "I bled for them, I sweat for them, I always did my thing. But they never stopped to listen 'cause they'd rather watch the Wings." Not one of my stronger lines but true true true.

Ah well, despite the hockey team on TV (losing, by the way), I grabbed the ears of a lot of the people in attendance who weren't expecting to pay attention to me. Thanks Ann and James for their kind words and CD purchases.

A great weekend in Traverse City. I will be back, maybe later this summer. Cherry Fest 2011, for sure.

MIDWEST TOUR DAY 9 - 4/17/10 - Traverse City, MI - Crema Cafe

2010-04-19T10:20:00.000-07:00

Had two shows booked for today. The show at Serenity Cafe disappeared when Serenity Cafe disappeared last week.

So a 4:30-7 show at Crema Cafe downtown, and then dinner and beers with my kin (Aunt Diane, Uncle Jim and Grandma Wilma Facknitz) who had come all the way up to Traverse City from Sterling Heights, MI just to see the Jeremy show (and do some shopping, see the bay, hit the casinos, etc.).

Small crowd on this cold and ugly Saturday afternoon. Two people who had seen the show last night at Horizon Books, Deb and Barry, had come back to see the show today at Crema Cafe and buy CD's. Awesome. And they got to see a Jeremy Facknitz show when Jeremy Facknitz is awake, because last night I scored about 10 hours sleep and was feeling like a thousand bucks again.

Matt Mansfield joined me on a few songs and played a few of his own. It was good to hear him again. He doesn't want you to know this because he's one of many musicians on this planet who are embarrassed to say they shared a stage with me, but we were in a band together when I was 19 and he was 15. We were... grrrreat.

Went out for walleye and booze afterwards. Tied a few too many on. Matt said something to rubbed me the wrong way and I said the "F" word in front of my Grandma. Apologized. Ah well. Great times.

MIDWEST TOUR DAY 8 - 4/16/10 - Drive through U.P. to Traverse City, MI - Horizon Books

2010-04-19T09:48:00.000-07:00

Oh.

God.

I feel rugged.

Okay, yes, I may have a lot of pride. Could I ask my folks for $50 so I can stay at a Super 8? Sure. Could I pull out my credit card, slap it on a counter and get a warm bed, a shower, and a complimentary breakfast? Of course.

But my German pride won't allow me to even think of doing the first thing, and my hatred for banks and debt won't allow me to even think of doing the second thing. My belief in my ability to suck it up, or as we used to say in baseball "rub some dirt on it", keeps both of these ideas on the other side of my world.

So I left Green Bay last night around 9 central. Crossed the Michigan border and lost an hour. Drove until midnight, 1 o'clock to Escanaba, MI where I found a Super 8, parked Ruby and jumped in back for some shut-eye. Two hours later I awoke and couldn't fall back asleep. I was hungry, as the previous day I had eaten an orange, banana and a muffin. The pain wasn't intense, it was just enough to let me know it was there. I also had to pee, but it was cold in Escanaba last night. It is April, and when you find Escanaba on the map you'll realize that wow, this is north.

So I muttered a myriad of obscenities around 3:30 am eastern, climbed back into the drivers seat, got a weak gas station coffee-water and started making my way to Traverse City.

Going through the western U.P., a place I hadn't been since my youth, watching the sun slowly rise, stopping at each rest area along Lake Michigan... even in my sleep-deprived delirium, it was quite romantic. I love it up here. At one point I felt myself getting just a tad emotional about this homecoming, but that may have just been sadness over the shitty water-coffee I bought in Escanaba.

Drove over the bridge around 8 am. Filmed it... it just so happens Sufjan Stevens was in my CD player, the CD was "Michigan". I didn't plan this or stage this, it was all just happening, and timing. I don't know if this will upload or not (ugh. Video coming soon).

Got to T.C. around noon, and was so happy to see Mr. Matt Mansfield, his shower, his toilet, and his house. It was a palace because it had these three things.

Slept for a few hours and went to the radio station to promote the upcoming shows. Matt's a radio DJ.

Played a "Songwriters-In-The-Round" show with Rick Buist and Co., who were fantastic. We swapped songs for an attentive audience of about 40 or so. When I wasn't playing, I was sitting. Trying not to pass out. I stood up to play "Vaguely Alamosa" and realized I had no idea where I was, and thought that I might fall down. I then said "I'm not really here sometimes. I haven't slept. I'm sorry. Bear with me."

Despite my exhaustion and lack of energy in the voice, I sold a tour high 9 CD's. A fantastic audience. Thanks so much. Good to be home in the mitten.

Went back to Matt and Shannon's house I guess. Woke up there anyway. I honestly don't recall a thing after 9:16 pm.

MIDWEST TOUR DAY 7 - 4/15/10 - Green Bay, WI - Harmony Cafe w/Z-Man

2010-04-19T09:35:00.000-07:00

Last night I got 9 hours of sleep in the back of Ruby Tuesday. This is a solid victory. Victory is nothing new to this town... I slept in a hotel parking lot in the shadows of Lambeau Field, and I'd like to think it rubbed off on me. Victorious in the battle for sleep.

I still hate the Packers, but I respect them. Just like the Twins. These franchises tend to make my Detroit franchises their proverbial "prison girlfriend", year after year after year. So I hate them, but I respect them.

Lambeau is surrounded by post-war suburban houses. Downtown Green Bay seems dwarfed by Appleton. Yet an NFL franchise resides here, arguably the most celebrated NFL franchise, and it is owned by the townspeople. In this day in the age of professional sports, what exists here is very, very special.

After visiting the site of countless Detroit Lions embarrassments (there are so many!), I made my way to Harmony Cafe, the Green Bay version.

Z-Man is an awesome performer with an A1 personality to boot, and opened the show for me. Thursday in Green Bay was nearly as tough as Wednesday in Appleton... small crowd, but as it was in Appleton last night those in attendance were quality. I sold 5 or so units, and people were extremely complimentary ("inspirational", raves the college aged beauty that only witnessed three songs).

Tonight I'll hit the road and travel north to Escanaba. I'll be in Michigan, the state that birthed me, for the first time since Christmas. I'll be in the upper peninsula for the first time in 13 years.

MIDWEST TOUR DAY 6 - 4/14/10 - Appleton, WI - Harmony Cafe

2010-04-18T09:21:00.000-07:00

Had a rough night's sleep last night. Had to pay off the credit card I had to use last week to survive and get me to Minnesota, so I'm back to zero... but that means I'm back to famine. So I'm tired, and can't really afford food, and I really don't know anybody in this town except my ex-girlfriend's childhood buddy. Oh, Minneapolis, how I miss you.

Took catnaps in the car throughout the day in anticipation for the folk show at Harmony Cafe. Harmony Cafe is located in the heart of downtown Appleton and I had little idea just how big Appleton was. I wrote some lyrics before the show. Being a Wednesday night, it was a tad rough... I played for my sound man Donovan and about 6 others who came and stayed (or went) over my two hour period. The small crowd allowed me to relax and try some new things, dust off some old songs and practice a bit (how long has it been since I played "All Of That To Me"?).

I considered the night a loss, but was pleased to find afterward that I actually sold 3 CD's. That equals up to sales to half my audience. The buyers had left by the time I had wrapped things up, so I never had the chance to thank them. So thank you. Driving on to Green Bay tonight to find a hotel parking lot in which to park Ruby Tuesday, climb in back and get a good nights sleep. Yes, I will sleep tonight.

Thinking positive.

MIDWEST TOUR DAY 4 AND 5 - 4/12-4/13 - Minneapolis, MN - Booking, chilling, fattening up on cereal

2010-04-18T09:10:00.000-07:00

Monday and Tuesday. "Days off".

Or rather, hours spent on the laptop, booking. I'm really trying to fill some holes for the east coast tour in May and west coast tour in June. I realize that the venues don't have the same urgency that I do when it comes to nailing these dates down, so I try my best to stay patient and be persistent without becoming a pest. Gentle nudging, every four days or so. It will all fall into place.

Jen and Chris have spoiled me with food, glorious food! Pizza, steaks and cereal, oh my. Garlic mashed potatoes. Beer. Food wise and sleep wise, this tour has either been feast or famine with little in between - and right now I'm reveling in the feast.

Thanks to Jen, Chris, Joe, Faulhaber, Tim and the state of Minnesota for treating me so well these past few days.

MIDWEST TOUR DAY 3 - 4/11/10 - Minneapolis, MN - Acadia Cafe w/Leftmore

2010-04-18T08:50:00.000-07:00

A day of blogging, another solid breakfast from Faulhaber, and a show at Acadia Cafe in downtown Minneapolis.

Acadia Cafe is a great spot just east of the Homer Dome (see pic of the roof that Don Kelly and countless others have lost baseballs in over the years).

I was excited to see Mr. Ziegler of Leftmore, who was headlining tonight and was oh so kind enough to put me on the bill.

Chris and Jen came by, my hosts for the next few days. Jen's been coming to my shows for nine years, going back to the old black and white days of the early 2000's at Good Beans Cafe. It was good to hear her noise after my songs as it took me back to the salad days of my career.

Tonight, I felt it. I got a few nights of good sleep. I was back in the rock element, the venue element, the element I love where I'm playing through a house system and my noise is blasting back at me through the monitors. My voice felt on, I felt relaxed and everything seemed align for the first time on this tour.

Life is good when that happens. It's been an adjustment getting used to this life, throwing myself into it - but tonight is what it's all about. No cover songs, an attentive audience and great bands to share the stage with. My God I was high on life after this show.

MIDWEST TOUR, DAY 2 - 4/10/10 - Superior, Wisconsin - Red Mug Coffee with James Moors

2010-04-11T12:50:00.000-07:00

After a wonderful breakfast feast fit for a king, cooked by none other than chef Faulhaber, I made my way north to Superior, Wisconsin (which is right across the water from Duluth, Minnesota) for my show with fantastic talent and friend of Teresa Storch, James Moors (www.myspace.com/jamesmoors).

James just got back from touring Europe in tight, new, foot-blistering boots. He makes his home here in the greater Duluth area and was kind enough to allow me to open up for him, so that people would be there when I took the stage.

Drove north from Minneapolis on I-35 and came over a hill just south of Duluth that looks over Lake Superior. Now, I love my Colorado. I love my mountains. But I felt something when I saw all that fresh blue water. I guess you can take the boy out of the Great Lakes, but you can't take the Great Lakes out of the boy. I still have that water sloshing around in my lungs from all those boyhood swimmin' Michigan summers.

Still coping with the flem issues, I folked my way through a 45 minute set before James took over. Sold a few CD's and got some much needed encouragement from James and his lovely fans. I'll be returning in August. Thanks James, and Superior.

66 and sunny off Lake Superior today. People say it's a like a day in July here.

MIDWEST TOUR, DAY 1 - 4/9/10 - Mankato, Minnesota - KMSU Interview, The Coffee Hag

2010-04-11T12:16:00.001-07:00

The above video was shot by Jeremy Facknitz' PEDAL CAM. Trivial Pursuer/Pinky and the Brain. Shot in the middle of my show at The Coffee Hag in Mankato, MN - 4/9/10 (ugh. Video coming soon).

I was sick, I was weak and I had started the song a step higher than I normally play it (too focused on filming the damn thing), but the good group of peeps at the Hag pushed me through. We had a grand time.

Earlier in the day, I played at the local college radio station KMSU. I unleashed the new Jeremy hit, "Cup O' Noodles" to the world... but I don't know who heard it. I wasn't sure if the segment would be live or pre-recorded to air later. Alas, it was indeed live and not recorded at all. So I didn't get the proper word out as to where to listen in. But Gully and I had a great time, they recorded "Cup O' Noodles" live and Gully said they might add it to their play list.

Thanks so much to the Hag staff who were so supportive and kind, who called up all their friends and insisted they get their asses to my show after hearing my soundcheck. That's special.

Faulhaber (he's like Prince, he just has one name and it's Faulhaber) came to the show. Brought some friends down from Minneapolis. He's an old fan/friend from Colorado Springs, my old Mile High Saloon days of 2007/2008. He offered me his floor. Tonight, I will sleep well.

TRAVEL TO START OF MIDWEST TOUR, Monday April 5th thru Thursday, April 8th. Nebraska to Minnesota.

2010-04-11T11:25:00.001-07:00

After taking what ended up being my last shower and shave for a while, I left Colorado Springs once again on Monday April 5th. This time I was flying solo, and I was headed in a different direction, towards the midwest.

I didn't have another engagement until Friday at KMSU in Mankato, Minnesota - a radio interview. Thinking back, as low on fundage as I was, it may have been wiser for me to stay with Nick and Lisa Davey, or Mr. Joe Taylor, until Wednesday or so... then drive to Minnesota. I guess I was just chomping at the bit to get alone, or to get going. So rather than a comfy guest bed, I spent Monday night in the back of Ruby Tuesday in a Wal-Mart parking lot. At least I was in my space.

TUESDAY, 4/6

I woke up Tuesday and sat in a little cafe in downtown North Platte. I read a book that was on the shelf by the big red chair I had planted myself in (by the outlet, in order to charge my phone) about animals and their unconditional love for us, and what it does for us. I had a moment, a thought, a twinge that made my butt pucker - you know, the kind of feeling I imagine motherless women feel when they reach their upper 30's and they see a baby. My thought was, "I WANT A PUPPY!"

Yuck. There's plenty of time left in my life for that domesticated doggy dung. I'm a traveling troubadour right now, and "they say the road ain't no place to start a puppy" - they being "Journey", and it goes something like that.

I booked a gig at the North Platte Community Playhouse for August 21st, complete with radio interview the day of. Should be a grand time. Might make a mini-tour out of it, come as far east as Minnesota and head back west down on I-70. Sorry, just thinking out loud here.

I drove all day in the rain across Nebraska, avoiding interstates at all costs. Pulled into the Arby's in Sioux City Iowa around dusk. There wasn't a soul in the place except the man that had followed me in. We struck up a conversation over our beef and cheddar melts.

His name was Guy. He had just flown back in to Sioux City from LA, where he was visiting his wife and kids. He was working and living in Sioux City because this is where the job is. I told him a bit about what I was doing and he offered up his sofa. Exhausted and already starting to smell, I agreed.

The sickness that had returned to me was at it's peak, so I drank a dixie cup of NyQuil-equivalent that I had purchased earlier that day, and slept hard for 10 hours.

Thanks so much Guy.

WEDNESDAY, 4/7

Woke up rested, but felt like shit. With money running low ($60 in my checking), I knew that a night in the cold car would only worsen my ills. I talked myself into purchasing a room at the Super 8 at around 1pm... so that I could shower, rest and get a good 22 hours in a warm room all to myself. Karen at the Super 8 in Sioux City was kind enough to give me a 10% discount after I told her what I was doing. She was very sweet.

In the next 12 hours I took two baths, a shower, booked gigs, contacted venues and poetry slammed with another songwriter via the blackberry. I wrote a bad song, but I'm learning it's important to allow myself to write bad songs. You'll never hear it.

I think the only two rooms occupied in the whole place that night were by myself and this older couple in their 70's. I saw them as they were helping each other out of the car that morning. Why they put us in rooms next to each other I don't really know.

At about 11:30, their bed in the room next to me started pounding a slow and steady rhythmic beat. It didn't last long. It was funny, it was odd at first, and then I realized how beautiful it was, and how it gave me hope for growing old.

Of course, it could be that they were just fidgeting. Or having a seizure.

I chose to believe they were knocking boots.

THURSDAY, 4/8

Woke up refreshed, but man. Had it really only been three days since I left the Springs? This is tough. Being homeless and doing the music thing, getting the praise and love back, connecting with people.... that's good stuff. That's far different than being homeless and just being homeless. Passing time. This is the glory of what I do. This is touring alone with no shows booked for three days. It's far more exhausting than 6 shows in three days. I'd rather have that.

The rain in Sioux City had stopped and I made a beautiful drive north to Mankato, MN for my radio interview Friday and show at the Coffee Hag.

Snapped a few shots of the train depot for my father. He's a "Schnerd" or "Foamer", which are affectionate terms for "train geek". He's worked for the railroad for 100 years now, and I grew up on train tracks. Didn't live near 'em, but we drove to 'em all the time. In my life, the first sounds of live, knock-my-ass-over rock and roll came from these massive steel diesels that charged down the rails like bulls and blew their deafening horns when you least expected it. It always scared the shit out of me, so I'd want to cover my ears, but my dad and his fellow "Foamers" never covered their ears and I wanted to be tough(?) like them. So I would let it deafen me, and then pee in my pants a little.

Anyway, the depot shots are included. Mankato is awesome. Tonight I'll return to the not-so-comfy-confines of Ruby Tuesday and get ready for what I'm out here, drifting, to do.

Folking.

NORTHWEST TOUR OVER! RESPITE IN COLORADO SPRINGS! April 2nd through 5th

2010-04-05T13:04:00.000-07:00

Oh shit. I might get in trouble here... yes, I was in Colorado Springs for 3 days. I knew that between Easter brunch with the Davey's, restocking my supplies for the next tour and other errands, I would not have time to see everyone. So I laid low.

Please don't be offended (although, I can only think of one person that MIGHT be offended - really, the previous words typed are little more than self-loving, ego spew).

Easter brunch. Dinner and a lovely hike with a close friend. Bocce ball. My sinus troubles returned.

That's about the long and the short of it.

It was wonderful.

Monday night (with no sports to watch since MSU bowed out to Butler on Saturday), I begin heading east to Minnesota for a busy weekend of performances. Touring alone, for the first time ever.

Damn I'm psyched.

Go Bulldogs.

Day 24/25 - March 31st and April 1st - Driving day from Bozeman to Longmont, show in Fort Collins at Avo's Number

2010-04-05T12:52:00.000-07:00

We've run the gamete of seasons on this tour. From the warm sunny skies of Sacramento to the blustery white outs of Wyoming, we've seen a years worth of weather in these few weeks. It's kind of like - living in Colorado Springs during March and April?

Long drive Wednesday. I love Ruby Tuesday, but I'm ready to break out of her. The lower back has felt better, I have to admit.

Despite her cruelty towards my lumbar, I lovingly cleaned her out and washed her down Thursday afternoon. I left Colorado Springs 25 days before with 997 miles on her. Today, she reads over 6,100.

T and I made our way to our last show together until April 29th... Avogadro's Number in Fort Collins. Michael and James attended. They are Storch fans and hopefully, now, Facknitz fans as well. They seemed entertained by our now tight theatrics and bought us drinks afterwards. We played really well for the enthusiastic crowd of 4, and Rob compensated us more than fairly. I would LOVE to return. Very cool place.

Tomorrow, home. The city of Colorado Springs is calling. I wasn't going to go back this time, but the county of El Paso requests $408.03 for two pieces of tin and stickers, a.k.a. plates for Ruby Tuesday. I love car ownership! I love car ownership! I love it!

Not that I have a choice with what I'm doing here, anyway.

Day 22/23 - March 29th, 30th - Off day from Spokane to Bozeman, show at The Filling Station

2010-04-05T12:39:00.000-07:00

Monday morning, Spokane Washington. Sunday, after breakfast and basketball, we hopped in Ruby Tuesday and began our long trip back east to Fort Collins, stopping again with Karl in Spokane. After hours booking and emailing at casa de Karl, we continued east to Livingston where we would crash out at Ani's house, former life-coach to the star, T. Storch.

Ani is cute. She could run a successful B and B if she had such desires. Talk about presentation; candles, folded towels, notes... everything short of the mints on the pillows.

Tuesday we worked some more(quite sick of the laptop, would like to trade it in for a pen, paper and my guitar) before making our way back west a half hour to Bozeman for our show at The Filling Station, opening for the Tom Cook Band.

Ran into Mr. Peter King, with whom I had shared a bill with in Pueblo last year. Got to see him with the band, and it was all quite tasty. Forgot that he lived in Bozeman. The Tom Cook Band was equally tasty. The snow storm kept the numbers down, but we had a swell time nonetheless.

T and I celebrated our last out-of-state performance for a while with a couple of Fat Tires. I'm tired. I'm looking forward to the weekend, getting a few days off and heading out east fresh - and alone.

Day 21 - Off day, Seattle - Watching the Spartans on Gail and Denny's bigscreen TV

2010-03-28T15:15:00.001-07:00

FINAL FOUR, BABY! GO SPARTANS!

Plus, pancakes, fresh strawberries, sausage, coffee and other great achievements of hospitality from our hosts Gail and Denny. Thanks for letting me beat the hell out of your couch throughout the game.

Life is so good.

Back to Spokane tonight for another evening with Karl.

I hope he knows we're coming back.

I left my clothes in his den.

Day 20 - 3/27 - Empty Sea Studio's, back to Seattle!

2010-03-28T14:54:00.000-07:00

This Washington I-90 drive is stunning. I've been the driver on these passes from Seattle to Spokane and back since T has been doing day job work. She edits textbooks or something, and works remotely. She pays me to cart her diva butt around by picking up the tab for beer, something I wouldn't be buying for myself since I don't have a day job editing textbooks (or something).

(She's really not a diva. She's great. I'm just jealous she makes more money than me.)

On these drives back and forth I have, on more than one occasion, uttered the words "I have the best life in the world." Sometimes, I truly believe it. Even after some difficulty in Seattle earlier this week, I can't help but feel as though I'm extremely fortunate to have the drive and know-how to make a living LIVING like a retired person... taking in all the beautiful beauty that these states have to offer, meeting new people, sleeping in until noon and doing only that which brings me joy. The icing on the cake is that I actually get praised for it with applause and overly kind words of encouragement from the audiences we've played for.

With this good perspective I drove the tour bus (the Honda Fit) back to Seattle for our show at Empty Sea Studio's. Some bigger acoustic folk names have graced the stage, many of them Teresa's friends (Chuck E. Costa, Danny Schmidt, Sarah Sample, etc.). The crowd was solid, considering our newness to this fine city... Teresa brought some extended family. A couple who had never heard of either of us came up from Olympia, and I like to think that was based off my marketing efforts.

It was a great change of scenery, coming from the loud Whitestone tasting room in Spokane to this hushed, quiet and attentive crowd at Empty Sea. I usually get a little nervous when it's that quiet and I'm not used to it. Then I mess up a song I've played 2,365,928 times in the last nine or ten years, laugh at my self and from there I'm all good. Just gotta make that first goof.

Great crowd. T and I are tightening up the duo act quite nicely after 18 shows together.

Came back to Gail and Denny's place in Lynnwood and played pool and chatted until the late hours... make that early hours. Thanks so much guys.

Day 19 - 3/26 - Whitestone Winery in Spokane, Washington

2010-03-28T14:45:00.000-07:00

The original plan was to hit Seattle during the week and spend the weekend in Spokane. Friday was booked early this year and offered guaranteed compensation. Then, T booked Saturday at Empty Sea back in Seattle, an awesome folk/acoustic venue, so awesome we just couldn't pass up the opportunity to folk there. We hmm'd and ha'd about it for a while and thought "what the hell." Hence the day trip to Spokane before returning to Seattle tomorrow.

Whitestone Winery is located about and hour and a half from Spokane, but the tasting room is downtown, and that's where we did our thing, or "thang".

Provided background sounds for 3 hours, trading off sets. Collected our pay and had a delightful time swilling merlot. Then off to Andy's across the street with Karl (who helped us land the gig and also put us up in his pad and took us for an awesome hike, thank you Karl) and went back to his place for whiskey tasting. By far the heaviest drinking night thusfar.

I nearly partied like a rock star.

Nearly.

Days 17 and 18 - March 24 and 25 - Tipless, Fanless in Seattle

2010-03-27T09:28:00.000-07:00

We pulled into the big city of Seattle around 10pm Tuesday. I'm not a big city person but if someone held a gun to me and said "you gotta pick a city with more than 2 million people to live in NOW", without hesitation I'd say "Seattle."

I've been here before. It's a great sports town AND arts town, and it's proof that - yes - both groups can coexist and thrive in one city (other mass "metropolisis" take note).

Although, Thursday night at C&P Coffee, we lost in our battle against the Washington Huskies Sweet-Sixteen tilt. We played for two people, Frank and Dave. George behind the counter was the only one to sing along with Teresa's drunken sing along, "Holiday". At this "tips only" gig, we made $6.

Which was $6 more than we made the previous night, Wednesday at Skylark. Way back in January I booked The Green Frog in Bellingham, Washington. We were bumped, but at least we were given plenty of notice. Rebooking the night proved difficult until we hopped on the open-mic at Skylark Bar and Cafe in SW Seattle as a touring headliner. We played last, which allowed us to listen to some swell musicians with major "skillz" here in Seattle... but kept us from playing in front of more than three people. We really appreciate those three extremely talented people, although I can't recall their names.

I'm horrible with names.

We met Mauri and Meiko, who are staying with the same friend that we're staying with. Mauri's moving here from Salt Lake for change, and looking for jobs and shelter. Meiko is her pug, who so adorably "daps" or fist pumps you if you offer your closed fist (see pic). The three of us touristed the Pike Place Market. This was probably the highlight of our first of two trips this week to Seattle.

Tomorrow (Friday 3/26) we head east for guaranteed pay in Spokane, then back to Seattle Saturday for our show at Empty Sea, the big one. The one we've been pushing hard. The adventure continues.

Despite the two show/$3 pay days, I'm in good spirits. I'm in Seattle, running, staying healthy, feeling good.

Days 15 and 16 - 3/22 and 3/23... respite!

2010-03-24T09:52:00.000-07:00

After ten shows in ten days, plus countless hours on laptops and phones trying to book May and June, a brief holiday was in order... and what better place to take a holiday than Yachats, OR.

Sunday night we stayed with Linda, who had booked us at The Drift In. Monday, we decided to book a hotel at a discounted rate (thanks to Linda, again) and stay in Yachats. Angie, a local shop owner, said someone from MASH had a house there. I kept an I peeled for Alan Alda but never cross paths with him.

The pictures tell the stories better. Spent the days strolling slowly, window shopping, sending postcards and setting aside time to get the hell away from each other, as we're starting to feel like Teremy Storchnitz.

Spent Tuesday morning struggling to leave this beautiful little jewel and make our way to the big city of Seattle.

Oregon!

2010-03-22T22:07:00.000-07:00

Day 14 - 3/21 - Portland Church to Drift In! Yachats, Oregon

2010-03-22T21:53:00.000-07:00

Long day.

Didn't get much sleep last night, as I was up late writing lyrics.

Hit the PCSL for a morning service. Two songs with the church band, who rocked (thank you crew of three-letter names; Don, Ken and Jim!)

T sold many a CD as she usually does. Sometimes I feel a little jealous that churches have little interest in songs like "Songwriter Strikes Back" or "Trivial Pursuer". But, I get over it. Usually about the time that T pays me a handsome amount for playing guitar for two songs.

We drove to Yachats, Oregon back down south a ways, on the coast. The Drift In is a family restaurant that has decided to hire our folk stylings for the evening. This is our tenth show in as many days, and the fatigue is present. It's odd. It's not that I'm not getting enough sleep or working some grunt, manual labor job. It's an energy I try to summon for my shows, it's the focus - and it's EVERY night. But it's such a nice, swell, "good" tired. My dad calls it "sleeping the good sleep".

Stayed with Linda, the venue owner. Thanks so much Linda.

Day 7 in Oregon.

We finally saw some rain.

Day 13 - 3/20 - Flipside Studio's, CANCELLED! Portland, Oregon

2010-03-22T21:25:00.000-07:00

Dana's plans changed, so we stayed at his house longer than expected... listening to music on his fabulous mastering speakers. MFTOMPS, after 6 months without listening to it, sounded, um, good? In my critical ears? Yes.

After stalling as long as we all could (Teresa taught us yoga while we listened to the latest "Gomez"), we made our way to Hon-ri, a coffee shop Dana had referred us to. The day was bright and very warm. T-shirts were all we needed. The pretty, young hipster ladies brought out their hipster, spring wardrobes. Many bikes. Many smiles.

Day 6 in Oregon and still no rain. Oregon is romancing me.

Thanks much to Matt Kin, who supplied us with the empty Kin condo downtown (it truly is amazing that we've gone this far into the tour and have yet to lay down coin for a hotel room).

On the way to the gig, we passed many fine restaurants and many fine record stores. Tired from all the recent folking, I vocalized to Teresa "man, I almost hope we don't have a show tonight... go get dinner, go record shopping, go back to the condo and go to sleep".

Careful what you wish for.

Last week, Muddy Waters closed. No one told us. We received an explanation for the shows cancellation and it involves things I won't talk about here because it involves the state of Oregon and bullshit like that and anyone who's anyone knows you don't mess with the state of Oregon... I guess... but the reasons were valid, we were okay with it and we wish the owners well in their future endeavors.

We crossed the street to a cafe and treated ourselves to black cherry porters and other swell things.

Went back to the condo and decided to attempt a writing session.

Now, I'm going to let you in a little bit about Jeremy Facknitz as a songwriter. I love composing music. Music comes to me on the wings of hot, naked female fairies (like Tinkerbell, but hotter). Melody is my mistress. She comes to me in a similar way, although sometimes she's coy and plays hide and seek with me. It just turns me on more, so I'm okay with it.

Lyrics are a smelly bitch.

I hate writing lyrics. I hate it. It's labor. It's puzzle solving, and I hate puzzles. I like pictures far better than stupid, smelly puzzles. And I wish to become a better songwriter, I wish to delve deeper into my soul and bare more. So these accountability sessions that I've begun doing with other songwriters are a necessary evil. Still, I kick and scream the whole time.

While trying to write lyrics about a very difficult subject for me, T was trying her damndest to keep me focused while I looked out the window and tried to figure out how many seconds it would take my face to meet the pavement if I jumped. That's how much I hate writing lyrics.

But, good came of it. I thank her so much for her patience and I feel I'm on the right track.

Sometimes, it's good to have gigs get cancelled.

Day 12 - 3/19 - House Concert in Portland, Oregon

2010-03-22T20:57:00.000-07:00

With Teresa feeling less than stellar and me being my usual laid-back self, only the warmth of this northern Oregon morning could awake us from our slumbers. 11:34 am, PST, I crawled out of bed and laughed at the the idea that some of my peers in the eastern time zone would be leaving work soon.

Dana and Candace waited for us before eating breakfast, which was wonderful - and now entitled "lunch". T scored some free acupuncture and sat out in Candace's garden. I pet (pat? Patted? Petteded?) the soft belly of the cat who had defeated me soundly in our "laze-off" (she slept all day, every day).

The House Concert was actually an Office Concert, as it was held at Candace's Acupuncture office. 15 or so in attendence. Cheese, crackers, salmon, chicken. Wine was flowing, 14 bottles of wine and 15 people, 4 of which proclaimed they didn't drink any.

Thanks so much to Dana and Candace for their office and their hospitality.

BUY JEREMY'S FIRST CD, 2002'S "GIMMICK" AT:
www.cdbaby.com/jeremyfacknitz2

Day 11 - 3/18 - White Eagle, Portland Oregon

2010-03-22T18:37:00.000-07:00

I apologize to western medicine for the slam in yesterday's blog.

I don't know if it's the nasal spray or time that has healed my ache, but damn! I'm like a puppy that just took a dump. Life is good, my tail is wagging and I'm ready to play. I haven't felt this good in weeks.

Sadly, it appears I've handed off my illness to my tour partner, who is now complaining of an earache.

Drove up from Ashland to Portland. I have friends in the Springs who talk about Portland like it's special, so I'm kind of waltzing into this town with my arms crossed. Okay, P-town, show me whatchya got.

White Eagle is a quaint pub. Alex told us that we'd have to bring the crowd, and he wasn't kidding. For most of the show, the 6 people in attendance were fans/friends. The Kin brothers showed up and brought along Allan, a Montana Grizzly fan who saw his mighty 14 seeded basketball team bow out of the tournament and gave our tour a new slogan: "even in defeat, there is success" (the defeat tonight? The failure to get people to come out to a show at a bar the day after St. Patty's Day).

We did get a few stragglers come in near the end, and sold CD's to just about every one of them.

Stayed with Dana and Candace in Tigard, just south of Oregon - tomorrow, a house concert at Candace's office of acupuncture.

Day 4 in Oregon, still no rain.

Day 10 - 3/17 - St. Patty's Day House Concert at Liz Love's and Jeremiah's House

2010-03-18T02:09:00.001-07:00

5:30 am. Jolted from a sound sleep by the throbbing pain of my right ear.

I've been sick, on and off, for almost two weeks now. I ignore it the best I can. The pain comes and goes, I'm having a blast on this tour and therefore often forgetting about my discomfort... but mostly, I ignore it because I'm one of the many Americans that do not have health insurance! So I don't exactly set appointments with urgent care clinics unless I can't stop the bleeding or I'm missing a limb.

But this is ridiculous.

So I go to the doc-in-the-box, in fear I have an infection and at the begging and pleading of my mother and grandmother. I get tossed around a bit... "This" place won't help me because I'm not a resident. "That" place won't help me because I'm uninsured. Finally, in Medford, I find a saving grace that will happily rob me of $140 dollars in exchange for some doc to touch my neck, look in my ears, prescribe a nasal spray and say "it's viral."

And that's exactly what happened.

Well at least I got my nasal spray. Thank you, western medicine.

On to happier things, like the show. The house party, hosted by Liz and Jeremy. T and I plugged in upstairs and played our 8 song set. Not having packed anything green, I donned one of Jeremy's shirts that read "Need More Cowbell", and some sexy red-suspenders (pics coming soon). We sold many a CD to Liz's friends. Ate hearty and healthy. Wrote songs on the spot with the loop pedal about "politeness" and how "too much tea makes you have to pee."

This is our 4th night here invading their home, and they have been so incredibly kind, tolerant and loving. Thanks so much guys.

Tomorrow, on to Portland.

Day 9 - 3/16 - Paschal Winery in Talent, Oregon

2010-03-18T01:51:00.001-07:00

Paschal Winery in Talent, Oregon. The sign says they close at 6, but... we're supposed to start folking at 6. Teresa and I have a plethora of true horror stories that start along these lines.

No worries though, the place filled as the night wore on. Some fine people from Indiana, now living in Seattle (they promised they would come see us there next week!), and our new friends above proved most supportive of our efforts. Andrew and Amanda purchased the entire Storch/Facknitz catalogs and then invited us over to their friend Andrew's (another Andrew) house for jamming and more wine drinking. How, oh how could we resist?

Walking through the entire home of Andrew B. is like walking through a gem of an antique. His grandfather was an animator for Disney and built the place himself. As an appreciator of all things old I couldn't help but squeal with glee over the untouched furniture, the hundred year old baby grand and the listening room complete with built-in "mono" (that's right, not "stereo", but "mono").

We shared tales of heartache and the road. Good conversation, good wine, a few songs. Thanks to these three great folks for letting us traveling gypsies into their lives for an evening. We'll see them again soon.

Day 8 - 3/15 - Liquid Assets in Ashland, Oregon

2010-03-18T01:38:00.000-07:00

We pulled into Casa De Liz Love and Jeremiah just outside of Ashland, OR late last night after a drive up the coast and temporary goodbye to the water (see previous "blog").

After another day of gently nudging venues in Vermont, New York and Pennsylvania to book the rocking duo you see above (we'll be there in May), we made our way to Liquid Assets to show that beautiful, empty, Monday night wine bar the rockingist, folkingist act this side of Ashland on this particular Monday night...

No no no! It wasn't empty! The aforementioned Liz Love and Jeremiah (a.k.a. Invisible Dominion) attended, as well as 8 or 9 locals, many of whom took home free Jeremy Facknitz refrigerator magnets and purchased CD's. We each earned a free glass of Merlot which, to go along with my overdose of Sudafed (still trying to kick this earache), gave me quite the interesting high.

Kids, do not try this at home. I'm a professional.

California

2010-03-18T01:23:00.000-07:00

Day 7 - 3/14 - Unity of the Redwoods, Eureka, CA

2010-03-14T15:28:00.001-07:00

Behold, my road-weary face. Every gig that passes means one less gig on the schedule, so every few days you gotta locate a wi-fi connection, take off the rock star hat and put on the manager chapeau. Neither one of us do what we do to sit at a godforsaken laptop but if we don't book 'em, no one will. Hours upon hours, updating the blog, emailing venues. Right now we're trying to book May, our return from Boston through Vermont, New York, Pennsylvania, Michigan, Chicago and so on.

Downtown Eureka is adorable, the outside day is gorgeous and we swear we're hitting the ocean once we get done here at Old Town Cafe.

This morning we awoke in Weaverville, I on the floor and T on the couch. Many thanks dear Charlene. A massive earache tore me from my slumber at 5:30 am. Don't know when I'll be well again, but damn am I looking forward to it.

Drove to Eureka for some churchin'; an appearance at Unity of the Redwoods. We played a couple of Teresa's songs... because tunes like "Songwriter Strikes Back" and "Cup O' Noodles" don't fit so well into a church service.

Left early, before sunrise, and snapped a picture from above the clouds. Tonight we'll drive to Ashland, Oregon for three shows this week. A chance to do some laundry, write, rock. Despite the illness and tired eyes, this first week has been amazing and has far-exceeded all expectations. New friends. Great turnouts. Great CD sales. May the love and the money keep rolling in.

BUY JEREMY'S FIRST ALBUM "GIMMICK" AT WWW.CDBABY.COM/JEREMYFACKNITZ2!

Day 6 - 3/13 - Mamma Llama's, Weaverville, CA

2010-03-14T14:04:00.000-07:00

One week down, two to go on this first leg. You know, it's interesting touring with a woman you're not "coupled" with. You're together a lot of the time, traveling, sleeping often in the same room. A lot of the "couple" elements are present... I open the shows for her, talk her up. She is the rose to my thorn. I've been feeling ill since we left with sinus troubles, so she's been pumping me full of over-the-counter drugs. One will get breakfast, the other will get dinner. She knows all about my bowel movements, and their frequency - or lack thereof. She isn't happy about that last part, but this is touring. In return, I get the door for her when I can, do most of the "roadie" work and sing the best back-ups I possibly can on her awesome songs. I think it's a fair trade.

Wonderful, wonderful time at Mamma Llama's. What a fantastic venue, thank you so much Steve and Donna. They got us in the local paper and did a fine job bringing a bunch of classy people to a show featuring two songwriters they had never heard of. Steve has a listening station in his store and takes pride in offering the space to touring, talented singer-songwriters who are not well-known... like us.

Thanks to Char for putting us up tonight, and feeding us beer and girl scout cookies.

Day 5 - 3/12 - Zelda's On The Beach, Capitola, CA

2010-03-14T13:40:00.000-07:00

See that cute kid up there? That's Sean (or Shawn, never got the correct spelling). He's 7. I woke up to find he had come down to the cabin/guest house to challenge me to a game of "Horse". I said, "Sure". He then said, "I'm sorry, but I am going to dominate you."

I liked his spunk.

Little did he know I played intramural basketball in high school, and rode pine for the 7th grade Holly Middle School basketball team.

I crushed him.

Then, just to reinforce who was boss, I lowered the rim to 8 feet and we played one-on-one. It wasn't easy but I was able to use my massive "ups" and buried insecurities about my athletic abilities to reverse-dunk on him. I then screamed and informed him this was indeed "my house."

Jeremy 10, Shawn 0.

After Putt-Putt with the family (thank you Kathy) we performed a bar-gig at Zelda's On The Beach. Made a few new friends, Chris and Joel. They invited us over for Foosball after the show, but T and I were pretty wiped from hanging out with the kids all day. Besides, those of you who know me know my Foos skillz far-exceed even my streetball skillz, and I really wasn't in the mood to do any more demoralizing. Best to rest up for the drive to Weaverville tomorrow.

Thanks guys, for the beers.

Day 4 - 3/11 - DAY OFF, Sierraville Hot Springs to Watsonville, CA

2010-03-14T13:21:00.001-07:00

This afternoon we considered ourselves well compensated for our "folk and roll" last night with a complimentary room for the night and a dip in the hot springs. Clothing optional. Enjoy the pictures above that were taken with the camera pointed AWAY from my awkward, snow-white body. You are very welcome.

Drove west in preparation of our show in Capitola tomorrow. Staying with Teresa's cousin Kathy... the guest house at the base of their hill on 19 acres of property just miles from the coast. We came down from the mountain towards Sacramento and entered spring time. Green leaves on the trees, not a cloud in the sky and 64 degrees or so.

Ah. Northern California is pretty bad ass.

Day 3 - 3/10 - Salt Lake City, UT to Sierraville, CA - show at Sierra Hot Springs

2010-03-11T00:10:00.000-08:00

The first few days of this leg and the last few days of this leg will include the most taxing drives. 8 hours from Colorado to Salt Lake and then another 8 hours from Salt Lake to Sierraville, CA (then Seattle to Bozeman, Bozeman to Fort Collins). Once we're in California we work our way up the coast and the shows are much closer together. This is good, because 8 hours in the Fit (which my mom has named "MR. BUMPY") makes my lower back rather unhappy.

We packed the car, bid our adieu's to Rex, Renee and the cats that DIDN'T try and rip the noses off our faces and headed west through the flats and Nevada. Breathtaking country out here, none of which is captured properly whatsoever in the pictures you see above.

Arrived in Sierraville and the Hot Springs about an hour before show time. Very few people here, pretty much what we expected. Our pay was a free room and dip in the springs, and that was pay enough. Although the pics show little to no one, we did make a few new friends as the night wore on and attracted 8 or so guests to our greenroom with our folky-pop-blues shtick. We even sold a few CD's. Bonus.

Too exhausted for the springs-dip tonight, but I'm soaking myself all day tomorrow, as it is a day off.

Day 2 - 3/9 - House Concert - Salt Lake City, UT

2010-03-10T23:40:00.000-08:00

My tour partner was mutilated by a cat this morning. She bent down to pet the wild bitch of a beast and it scratched her nose. It drew blood. I went up to the cat and said "Listen, you 12 pound bully, I've hitched my little boat on to the Ford F150 of her talent so if you mess with her, you mess with me" and the bitch cat just meowed at me.

Rex came home and took a long lunch from work. He's a swell guy - bought us lunch at the Blue Plate Diner, where the waitress said they had this amazing hollandaise sauce. It was okay. By far the best hollandaise sauce I had ever had in Utah (this being my first time in Utah).

Afterwards we went back to the house and recorded some live tracks. Don't know how they turned out - I am quite ill and we're not really that well-rehearsed yet. I think the word I'm looking for here is "raw". "Raw" is the word I'm looking for. We were "raw".

Went downtown for the concert. Thank you Ike and Tiffany, our hosts. 20 people, Teresa and Drew (her friend and talented bass player from Park City) and myself crammed ourselves into their fabulous apartment as the rain poured outside. This was my first house concert and I had a blast. I squeaked and squawked my way through a solo set and then enjoyed T and Drew, before the three of us closed the night as a trio and blended so well that I think we even surprised ourselves a tad. Then we conversed with many lovely people, signed CD's, I gave a lesson on how the "magic" loop pedal works (pay no attention to the man behind the curtain) and tasted some of the best lemon squares I've ever tasted.

Rex was plucking a guitar by the fireplace when we came back. I joined in and before long we were sharing songs and serenading the cats with F.H.G. by Tenacious D. The perfect lullaby to end a pretty much perfect day. Thanks to Rex, Renee, Ike, Tiffany, Drew, Jeff, Jenny and all the guests who made tonight special.

JEREMY's FIRST CD, "GIMMICK" for sale HERE: www.cdbaby.com/jeremyfacknitz2

Day 1 - 3/8 - Colorado Springs to Salt Lake City, UT

2010-03-10T23:07:00.000-08:00

I woke up around 8:30am to say goodbye to Paul Franco and Associates. No real need to rush as I've been packing since February. I was beyond sick of the planning and thinking and beyond psyched to start doing. Paul was late (so unlike him) and had a client waiting so I didn't get a proper goodbye from him... no fist dap, no high-five, not even a pat on the ass. It stung but he is forgiven.

I had one last I.T. job in Littleton (I work as a freelance tech for Advanced Service Technologies out of Centerville, OH. They throw me a nice chunk of change every year, I'm called to do a job a month or so and it usually entails quite complicated tech stuff like color coordinating CAT5 cables or hooking up a printer) and then it was off to Longmont, home of my tour partner Teresa Storch.

T (as she is called by myself, because Teresa takes forever to say) would like everyone to know that this is her tour, and I've been invited along. She's right. Although this is also her first time in the northwest as a performer, she has friends in high places, low places and about 134 more friends in between. To be successful in this business you need to know people, and I hope to someday know half as many people as T. Storch.

We took the new Honda Fit, my car, aka "Ruby Tuesday". Left around 3pm and made our way west to Salt Lake City where we will perform our first show, a house concert downtown tomorrow night. Staying with Rex and Renee - T knows Rex from "Song School". I'm headed to Song School in August... it's in Lyons, CO. I've already bought my new tennies and Michael Jordan Trapper Keeper in hopes that the other songwriters think I'm super cool.

8 hours, a few snow squalls and a Subway sandwich later, arrival in Salt Lake City. The hosts are asleep. I got my own room in the basement, with the cats. It is cozy, warm and far quieter in suburban Salt Lake than it was the night before in downtown Colorado Springs.

Organs For Sale and March's Newsletter

2010-03-02T10:07:00.000-08:00

Anyone want to buy my organ? I could use the money.

Here I go. All the planning, the life changes, the single life, the purchase of a new car, the quitting of the only "job" that provides a steady stream of income, moving my belongings into storage rendering myself (in a way) homeless. It leads to Sunday March 7th when I hop into a tiny, red hatchback with fellow singer/songwriter Teresa Storch and head west.

The plan is to tour on and off for the next year until February, 2011. At which point I'll assess where I'm at and figure out where to go from there. In the meantime, I will have no real residency. I will stay with friends and family and pay them rent with beer, pizza and my smiles. When a friend isn't readily available, I will sleep in the car.

I'm off to a good start already, touring this first leg with the amazingly gifted and long-time road warrior Teresa Storch (www.myspace.com/teresastorch) who has been living this way for the last 6 years or so (although she does have a remote day job and a condo in Longmont). She has much to teach me and I am an attentive and willing student. We have 20 shows booked together in the month of March alone.

SHOWS, THE MONTH OF MARCH.

Saturday, 3/6/2010
DOWNTOWN BAR
103 Central Plaza * Pueblo, Colorado 81003
10PM - $3, 21 and over

TOUR DATES, PACIFIC NORTHWEST WITH TERESA STORCH

Tuesday, 3/9/2010
House Concert in Salt Lake City, UT

Wednesday, 3/10/2010
SIERRA HOT SPRINGS RESORT AND RETREAT CENTER
With TERESA STORCH (www.myspace.com/teresastorch)
* SIERRAVILLE, CALIFORNIA 96126
http://www.sierrahotsprings.org/map.htm
More details to come!

Friday, 3/12/2010
ZELDA'S ON THE BEACH
With Teresa Storch (www.myspace.com/teresastorch)
203 Esplanade * CAPITOLA, CALIFORNIA 95010
9pm - midnight, no cover.
Call Zelda's at (831) 475-4900‎.

Saturday, 3/13/2010
MAMA LLAMA'S
With TERESA STORCH (www.myspace.com/teresastorch)
490 Main St. * WEAVERVILLE, CALIFORNIA 96093
Doors 7:30, Music 8:00 - $10 in advance, $12 day of show. Call Mamma Llama’s at (530) 623-6363.

Monday, 3/15/2010
LIQUID ASSETS
With TERESA STORCH (www.myspace.com/tereastorch)
96 N. Main St. * ASHLAND, OREGON 97520-2790
No cover - 7-9pm. Call Liquid Assets at (541) 482-0149.

Tuesday, 3/16/2010
PASCHAL WINERY
With TERESA STORCH (www.myspace.com/teresastorch)
1122 Suncrest Rd. * TALENT, OREGON 97540
6-8pm, FREE! Visit http://www.paschalwinery.com/Contact.htm for more information!

Wednesday, 3/17/2010
House Concert in Ashland, OR

Thursday, 3/18/2010
WHITE EAGLE
With TERESA STORCH (www.myspace.com/teresastorch)
836 North Russell Street * PORTLAND, OREGON 97227-1732
8:30-11:30pm, no cover - call White Eagle at (503) 282-6810.

Friday, 3/18/2010
House Concert in Portland, OR

Saturday, 3/20/2010
FLIPSIDE (behind MUDDY WATERS)
With TERESA STORCH (www.myspace.com/teresastorch)
Opening for local acts STEEL FOR SCENERY and MOLLY BANG
2908 SE Belmont St. * PORTLAND, OREGON 97214
Call (503) 233-1923 or visit http://www.muddywatersportland.com/ for more information!

Sunday, 3/21/2010
DRIFT INN
With TERESA STORCH (www.myspace.com/teresastorch)
124 U.S. 101 * YACHITS, OREGON 97498
6:30-9PM, no cover. Call The Drift Inn at (541) 547-4477 for more information!

Thursday, 3/25/2010
C&P COFFEE
With TERESA STORCH (www.myspace.com/teresastorch)
5612 California Avenue Southwest * SEATTLE, WASHINGTON 98136-1515
6-8pm, no cover - call C&P Coffee at (206) 933-3125 for more information!

Friday, 3/26/2010
WHITESTONE WINERY
With TERESA STORCH (www.myspace.com/teresastorch)
111 S. Cedar * SPOKANE, WASHINGTON 99201
6-9pm - no cover. Call Whitestone Winery at (509) 838-2427 for more information!

Saturday, 3/27/2010
EMPTY SEA
With TERESA STORCH (www.myspace.com/teresastorch)
6300 Phinney Avenue North * SEATTLE, WASHINGTON 98103
This is one of the finest listening rooms in the country. Doors 7:30, music at 8pm. $15
Call Empty Sea at (206) 228-2483 for more info.

Tuesday, 3/30/2010
THE FILLING STATION
With TERESA STORCH (www.myspace.com/teresastorch)
Opening for THE TOM COOK BAND
2005 N. Rouse Ave. * BOZEMAN, MONTANA 59715
Opening for The Tom Cook Band (www.myspace.com/thescumbags2)
8pm - no cover! Call The Filling Station at (406) 587-5009 for more information!

Thursday, 4/1/2010
AVAGADRO'S NUMBER
Wih TERESA STORCH (www.myspace.com/teresastorch)
605 S. Mason St. * FORT COLLINS, COLORADO 80524
8pm, all ages - More details to come

From Fort Collins, I face south, wave to Miss Colorado Springs 2.5 hours south of me and keep moving east through Nebraska, Minnesota, Wisconsin and on to Michigan in April. May will find me in Boston, Vermont, New York, with stops in Chicago and Nebraska on the way back to Colorado Springs. Then in June after a 3 week respite, I'll head back to the west coast again.

If you're like me, you probably have friends and/or family all over the country. I rarely ask anything of you (okay, aside from "come to my shows", "watch my video", "buy my songs", etc.) but I need your help.

If you see that I'm going through the neighborhood of someone you know out there, tell them to come to my show. Tell them they have to go or you won't visit, call or even Facebook (GASP!) them anymore. Threaten them the only way you know how.

As always I CANNOT thank you enough for your support over the years. I CANNOT be successful at this without you. As much as it makes me wince to to admit I need anyone, I need you. If you like my music, please share it with as many people as possible. I don't mind if you burn what you have, file share and give it to them for free - because at this point, I don't mind losing that massive .07 cent paycheck I get from an iTunes sale (bastards) if you think one of my tunes might win over a friend. I need to be heard. I need that chance. So share, share, share.

Follow this blog. Come on tour with me.

I'll see you out there.

BUY THE FIRST ALBUM, "GIMMICK" (not available at shows!)

www.cdbaby.com/jeremyfacknitz2

Visit my rather unprofessional (yet expensive! Great combo!) website!
http://www.jeremyfacknitz.com/

Or just go to the free myspace page for some tunes.

www.myspace.com/jeremyfacknitz

My Valentines Date with My Neighborhood in Colorado Springs

2010-02-14T11:59:00.000-08:00

This morning I awoke to find I had no voice. It might just be a cold, although I don't have any other symptoms. It started Friday night at Rico's performing with Nick and then after 3 hours of squeaking and squawking my way through a set at Boondock's in Pueblo West (great crowd!), it's all but dead.

Which is fitting, because our elders always said "if you don't have anything nice to say, don't say anything at all" - and today is Valentines Day, and whether I've had a significant other or not on any given February 14th, I've never had anything nice to say about Valentines Day. Being recently engaged and now... not, I'm even more sour than most years.

I can still type.

Nothing is as insulting to the male intelligence as those Jared Jeweler commercials. If you've missed them, they sort of go like this: Woman excitedly tells her friends she's engaged by exclaiming "He went to Jared!" and all her hot friends jump up and down, squealing and declaring her the luckiest girl on earth. The message Jared is trying to get through to me is "if you give 1/4 a years salary to Jared (and ONLY Jared) for a ring for your special lady, not only will SHE have sex with you, but all her friends will want to, as well!"

Valentines Day is almost (almost) as insulting. Have you seen the commercials selling 5 foot stem roses at $50 a pop? The ads scream "Attention males! You poops! Buy these to prove you love her! Buy these to prove that your love for your girlfriend is a good 4 inches larger than your buddies love for his girlfriend. Buy these and get praise and good-lovin' for Valentines Day!"

My Valentines Day gifts to my lady usually consisted of cooking breakfast, a kiss on the forehead and a "Happy Bullshit Hallmark Holiday." I usually did not "get any" on the 14th, but the Mrs. (whoever she was at the time) usually came around to give me good lovin' by the 16th - and I'm used to waiting, anyway.

I always figured if you needed Hallmark to remind you to show your woman that you love her, or your a female that bases love on how big the gift is when he's told by society to buy it, you're probably a real shit. It just seems unromantic to me. Maybe this is why I'm single now...

But I digress.

This is about my Valentines date with Colorado Springs.

Today, I called my dad. It's his birthday. He's 58. Couldn't talk long because, well, I can't talk.

Then I went for a walk around the neighborhood. It's a bitterly cold day but beautiful. I moved north to Dogtooth Coffee and popped in for white hot-chocolate and the cute coffee girl said "did you know it was Valentines Day?" Her eyes twinkled with excitement so I didn't have the heart to tell her to shove my white hot chocolate up her bum. Then she gave me a kiss. The Hershey's kind, from a bowl on the counter. I took two more. That's my good lovin' for the day.

I walked west to Cascade - passing the houses, runners, smiling faces, families and puppy dogs barking "hello".

I came to my house. It's already my house. My stuff isn't in there yet, but it's already mine. It's a mansion on Cascade and I won't tell you the address because it's mine. I'll invite you to the housewarming party come spring 2014.

I walked and walked, pausing only to steal glances of Pikes Peak. As long as I was in the sun, not facing the southbound wind, I was warm, and - wait for it - I felt love. On Valentines Day.

I love this town.

It has so many faults. If you live here, you know. It leaves it's socks on the floor. It forgets to take out the garbage. It can be a real disappointment sometimes. It's an odd melting pot without a solid identity; a college town, a military town, a hippy town, a Dobson town. It seems everyone who lives here is from Minnesota, Michigan, Texas, Missouri... some of us move here and buy western gear to try and fit in with all the other people who wear western gear and aren't from the west (actually, I've found that you can almost be sure that anyone wearing western clothing in this town was born east of the Mississippi River).

Despite all it's faults I realize I am in love with it - and today I was able to stroll in the sunny cold, touch it's face gently and say "You dumb ass. I love you. Happy Valentines Day!" and really feel it and mean it.

I've been so focused on getting out of here - marketing for the tour, booking it, hustling - that I had forgotten. But I'm really gonna miss this place when I take off in 3 weeks, and it was good to have that romantic feeling and share that time with my little-big town this afternoon.

How about that. Jeremy Facknitz felt romantic on Valentines Day.

But I'm not going to Jared and I'm not buying 5 ft. stem roses.

Colorado Springs will just have to deal with it.

Tim Reynolds Show, 1/22/2010

2010-02-08T21:36:00.000-08:00

A few weeks back I was fortunate enough to open for Mr. Tim Reynolds (of "Dave Matthews Band" fame). Stargazers Theater offered Jeremy the opening slot after some gentle nudging (read as: me calling John @ Stargazers everyday waiting for Reynolds' management to approve) and I cannot thank them enough.

T'was an honor to support a talent like Tim's, t'was an honor to be able to shoot the shit with the man and TR3 (Dan and Mick), fine chaps from the outer-banks of North Carolina.

T'was an honor just to be onstage with his guitars.

FACKNITZ SET LIST:

Bijou Bridge

Vaguely Alamosa

Better Than Us

Trivial Pursuer/Pinky and the Brain

Riann

Songwriter Strikes Back

Thanks to all the friends who came out and made big noise for me.

It Really IS All About Me, Isn't it God?

2010-01-14T20:07:00.001-08:00

Welcome to my blog. I am Jeremy Facknitz. You can piece together a lot about me and who I am and what I do to pass life by typing my name (Jeremy Facknitz, in case you've forgotten) into the Google search engine.

That's something you may feel like putting off at the moment. You may be so deep into this blog, so entranced that you've already lost yourself in the previous 5 lines (author pausing, sitting back, grinning). It happens to me all the time. It happens whenever I can steal a reflection of myself and gaze into my own dreamy, hazel eyes.

Where was I? Ah yes - you see, I build myself up right now because that's what I need to do to survive. Truth be told I'm just a scared little boy. For those of you who haven't left these blogged (pronounced blah-jed) words to Google search my name (or forget about me completely), I am a 31 year old singer/songwriter from Holly, MI. I've recently "divorced" my fiance/girlfriend of five and a half years because she had developed a habit of not liking me very much at all! Actually the divorce was more her choice, so I guess I LIKED being not liked, at least enough to stick with it. Sigh! What hopeless romantic I am - er, was.

On the career front (author sticking out chest as he's about type for you the 9 year-old claim-to-fame story) I won a Detroit Music Award WAY back in 2001 as a member of "The Ottomans". We beat out "The White Stripes" that year as the "Best New Alternative Band". A year later they were mega-famous and The Ottomans were history.

I've worked tirelessly for the last 13 years at music. Nothing else on this planet has brought me so much joy. Now, as far as pursuing it as a livelihood and career, nothing else has brought me so close to throwing myself off a 6 story building on to the concrete courtyard below (but we'll talk more about my time on opium in Boston, MA at a later date, mkay?).

Music music music. Writing it, recording it, performing it. Chances are you've never heard of me. That's probably due to certain realizations I'm coming to about myself; A) I've worked very, very hard, but not always very, very smart. B) I've done everything on my own. No lessons or mentoring of any kind, ever. Until recently. This was a mistake. This has caused a lot of failure, which yes builds character but makes the trip that much longer and more painful at times. C) It's possible I'm just not as good as I or you or my mother would like to believe and D) I love "B sides", therefore I write "B sides" (FOR THE KIDS: A "B side" refers to the lesser side of an archaic music listening device known as a "45 record" made popular in the mid 20th century. It's was considered the lesser side because it typically housed the song that showcased the artists "art". It was placed on the flip side or B side of the "hit", which was placed on the A side. EXAMPLE: The song you recognize and sing along to at the concert is an "A side", as opposed to the song you buy beer to and take a piss to at the concert, which is a "B side).

In any event, here I am. 31, single, no health insurance, a wedding that was planned for June that now is not, no salary, no prospects, no 401K, no kids, no dogs, no cats, no goldfish, 3 albums, 65 or so fans, 13 years under my belt and a microphone screen that still has tar in it from all the smokey bars I played in Ohio and Michigan 8 years ago. I make $20,000 per year and sometimes I'm really, really tired.

So what do I do now? Quit? Go back to school? Man, I am sick of those human tool sheds who interrupt Judge Judy at 2 in the afternoon and tell me what a loser I am because I don't have my degree but... umm... maybe they're right? Maybe then I can find a good woman to make me some babies, find a good job with good benefits to feed them all, buy a 3 bedroom house in Castle Rock, CO so the Mrs. can shop at the outlet stores every week while I slowly climb each soul-crushing rung of the corporate ladder?

Nope. As far as the music career goes, I'm just getting started my friends.

This blog is for me and anyone else who knows what it's like to have to follow your dream because you know in your heart of hearts that there is absolutely, positively, no other option.

YES SIR AND/OR MA'AM! That's what this blog will be about. Here we go! On tour in March with a woman I barely know (www.myspace.com/teresastorch) in a place I've never played before! 3 weeks in the car together! Then back east to play for more people who can't pronounce my last name! Then on to Boston for... closure! Living out of my car! Still no health insurance! Playing for tips and CD sales! Busking! Gypsy! $20,000 will seem like a posh existence! I'm scared shitless! I'm so excited! I can't wait! I'm having an anxiety attack! NOW NOW NOW! This must happen NOW! While I'm still young and somewhat pretty! While there's still a smidgen of life left in these hazel eyes! This is the time. NOW! WHY IS MY CHEST SO TIGHT?

Pictures, video coming soon.

Are you ready to come with me?

Stay tuned...

(author sitting back, exhausted)