I'm writing this article with so much joy in my heart. I feel I've finally come to a place in my life where I've become aware. I feel like I've come alive or something.

I finished reading a great book on this last tour called The Seat of the Soul by Gary Zukav ( http://www.zukav.com). I don't feel as crazy as I used to...maybe just a little more evolved. The book talks about us humans finally developing another sense that is a combination of your current five senses. Kinda like instead of "seeing" the mountain...you feel it, or sense it. Also talks about intuitions and hunches and stuff that most people think is bullshit. I think he's on to something that many of us in this community of music listeners have been on to for a long time now. I honestly think this book could benefit everyone who reads it. It really makes you feel like you aren't crazy for not giving a shit about financial security, material things, possessions, selfishness, etc etc etc... I highly recommend reading it.

I'm really discovering a new spiritually with our music and my playing and being together with people in a room and creating something. I'm really beginning to not care about selling this band anymore. It's really not about selling. Its not about being big. Its not even about this band anymore. For god's sake its not a popularity contest like some people think. So many musicians are scrambling to find the best form in which to get there music out there. Its not important I say! Don't even fall victim to that way of thinking. Play from your heart and people will come. Don't try and sell yourself. I would say 99% of ALL bands out there are trying to sell themselves to you. All record labels will hound you until you get into the routine of saying: "Ladies and Gentlemen we have a mailing list right over there and we have t=shirts and cd's and shit over here". To me, I hate that. I can spot that a mile away. I want to know that when I go see a show, the band isn't forcing anything on me. I want to feel alive and part of the music and the experience. I don't want to feel like I'm less than who's on stage. I want to feel ONE with the people on stage. Is that lame? Why hasn't music popular music evolved this far yet? People still wanna see guys with hot pants, which ain't what I mean about emotional connections. People still want the fake smilers. Sometimes is just about that: having a great time and not getting to deep into it. But then sometimes its about more than that.

Why did music ever become a product!

Think about it. I unfortunately sat in my room one night and watched Titanic on HBO. The best part of that movie was the end when the string quartet was playing and the ship was going down. That is what music is all about! Everyone is in a mad scramble trying to save their possessions and the quartet just looks at one another and says: "What should we play???" ...and the one guy says: "It doesn't matter...nobody listens anyway". And they close their eyes and become alive.

It really doesn't matter. Why are you playing? To support yourself? To be part of a popularity contest? To make friends? What is it that you want so bad anyway?

Music is about getting in touch with your heart and bringing your soul and your personality together, and making an expression. I can't tell you how much I hate selling that. Buy our CD! Buy our CD! I hate it. My whole life my father told me that the only way to happiness was if I was financially secure! I've just sorta rejected all of that in a forceful way this past year. It's like I just stripped off the sweater I was wearing in July. It feel so good to breath and enjoy life. To be with people means so much more than anything else. To come alive and begin "feeling" again has been overwhelming. The whole soul stuff comes welling forth and you begin to recognize beauty more and more. I feel like I'm able to do that now more than ever. I feel it would be a waste of bandwidth to not wish that for everyone who reads this far.

When Jambands approached me to write articles every month, they asked if I would mind talking about our band and what we are doing and what's it like in a band, and what its like on the road. I'm feeling as though it would be incredibly selfish of me to sit and talk about us month after month.

I promise next month I'll give more of the straight skinny on the band...sorry for diggin a little too deep.

This last tour I met so many great people and being able to spend a little bit of time in each of their worlds was a great privilege.

Life is beautiful. Keep it kind!

PS. If you would rather read about something else from me, please feel free to send ideas my way. I'll stop the philosophical rants if they are becoming obnoxious. Like Eric Burdon says: "I'm just a soul who's intentions are good...oh Lord, please don't let me be misunderstood!"