This snapshot was taken at a beautiful old diner in Chicopee, Massachusetts.

Imagine me sitting there quietly while I try to figure out what Louisville, Nashville and Houston have in common. This is one of life’s great questions that’s baffled folk singers throughout the ages.

Louisville gave us Muhammad Ali. I’ve heard stories of Ali visiting the Club Del Morocco in Nashville and watching a young and unknown Jimi Hendrix playing in the house band. Ali fought four times at the Astrodome and Houston is where he first declared himself a conscientious objector.

Ok, not a bad start, but what else do they have in common.

Townes Van Zandt lived in Houston and recorded his greatest album at The Old Quarter. He was part of the wave of great songwriters that moved from Houston to Nashville. He later lived in Louisville. I had a late night conversataion about 25 years ago at Air Devils in Louisville with a guy who let Townes live with him for a bit, but that’s another story.

Now we’re rolling.

My favorite actor is Harry Dean Stanton. A large portion of Paris, Texas was filmed in and around Houston. Harry Dean Stanton became friends with The Call and they did a tour with him as his backing band. That tour played for a very small, but lucky crowd at Uncle Pleasants in Louisville. I wish I could have been there for it. I’ve seen quite a few screenings of Harry Dean’s movies at the Belcourt Theatre in Nashville. That’s a bit flimsy on the Nashville connection, but it’s the best I have at the moment.

I’ve been known to sit quietly for hours contemplating such things. It’s good for the blood pressure, it’s cheap entertainment and it reminds me of the things I enjoy.

Having said all of that, the most important connection between Louisville, Nashville and Houston?

I’ll be playing in all three cities and the pre-sale starts today. If you’re anywhere near these cities, please come out and say hey.

10/26 Louisville, KY – Zanzabar (Full Band)

11/9 Nashville, TN – 3rd & Lindsley w/ Thomm Jutz (Full Band)

11/14 Houston, TX – Continental Club Houston’s Big Top

Presale code is, TRUST. https://laylo.com/otisgibbs/afEUR3