We’re All In This Together

I’m in Lubbock, TX right now.  The home of Buddy Holly.  You know, Elvis was the King and all, but at the end of the day I like Buddy Holly more.  He never became a joke.  Of course, he may have become one in later years, but even if he hadn’t died in that plane crash I don’t think he would’ve been a Las Vegas freak show.  I certainly can’t see him singing That’ll Be the Day in a glittering leisure suit with a butterfly collar. 

I’m not saying Elvis sucks.  Relax.  I paid my respects a couple weeks ago.  I’m just saying Buddy Holly was the one with street cred.  Elvis was the one with everything else. 

I drove eleven hours from Alabama to Dallas yesterday.  Not my longest ever, but I was a little tired when I loaded in to Opening Bell Coffee.  I began my first set and noticed some people in the crowd seemed to recognize the songs.   So, after I finished and took a short break, I went up to them.  Turns out, one guy saw me in New York and bought all the music I had available at the time.  He just moved to Dallas, came to see me, and requested Maybe Tonight.  Another girl saw me in Atlanta when I opened for Drivin N Cryin at The Roxy.  She had just moved from Nashville to Dallas, and is starting a booking company with a friend. 

I think one of my greatest fears is that my songs will never be heard.  That I will be insignificant and obscure.  

Each time I see more people out at shows, get messages on Myspace, Facebook, etc. or run into someone randomly that has heard my music that fear goes away a little more.  

You are my weapon against obscurity. 

And you know what?

We’re winning.  

We are all in this together.  

Someone commented on the last blog I posted, “So, what’s been going on lately?”

It’s been almost a month since I last wrote on here.   Apologies.  I’ll try not to let so much time go by from now on. 

Since July 12, I’ve been enjoying playing a few shows with my Martin again.  (I really should name her.  Any suggestions? ) Most notably, I played Iota in Arlington, VA with a drummer/keys player - Mr. Pete Lim.  It was a little Icky Zipf.  Es macht spass.  I think I’ll rip Jack White off again sometime.  Some people from the local NBC station came out to film it.  I think it will turn up on Youtube very soon.  Stay tuned for that.  I also played a show in Philly at a place called Circle of Hope with some of my very good friends - John Francis, Kelley McRae and John Mallinen.  You really need to check them out.  They are all on Myspace, etc.  Go see them live!  They give me hope, indeed. 

I also read Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows.  It was great, like I thought it would be.  I’m not ready to admit to myself that it’s over, though.  I’ve got a couple more movies to help with the denial.  I think if I could be a Weasley in one of the last couple films, it would make every Never Ending Story dream of mine come true. 

I’ll be leaving for tour in a couple weeks.  August 23 is the first date in Charlotte at Evening Muse.  There will be a lead review of The Long Tail in the Sept/Oct issue of Performing Songwriter Magazine, so that will be good timing.  Hopefully, it will bring a few more people out to the shows that wouldn’t have known about me otherwise.  Which brings me to:

The Andy Zipf Super Hardcore Fan Information Emission Test

Please take a moment to answer these questions, so we here at Andy Zipf and Keep On! Music, LLC may learn to better serve you.

1. Have you seen AZ live? If so, briefly describe the experience.

2. Which do you prefer: AZ live, or AZ recordings? Why?

3. What kinds of songs would you like to hear more of from AZ? ie: rock, mellow, full band, acoustic, acoustic with band…you get the picture

4. Where would you like AZ to stop on tour, if he has not come to your very awesome city? 

5. What is your favorite AZ song?

I’d really appreciate it if you answered these questions.  It will help me connect with you all better.  That is, after all, the whole point. 

We are all in this together, my friends.