Guest Writer: Gerry Joe Weise An Aussie in the USA

I asked Gerry Joe Weise to be our guest writer this week. Gerry is my friend on myspace. I know that many think FACEBOOK is the answer. But, I'm still a fan of MYSPACE since I can get to know more about the artist. I've been watching Gerry's moods for a while and he seemed to be a guy on the move. From his writing below, he confirmed it! Yep! He definetely is! Let's see what Gerry has to say.....Monica

I guess the hardest part about traveling overseas, are the airline companies, and more precisely concerning the musician's baggage. After I flew to Portugal with my three guitars and suitcase at no extra cost for the June Blues Tour. I was faced with the dilemma of choosing only one of my guitars to take with me to the States and leaving two of my best guitars behind in Paris, due to baggage restrictions in July. But that was alright as I bought a lovely all original vintage 1960 Airline Town and Country guitar from Arizona's Badlands' bassist during my stay in Phoenix. I tuned it to open G for slide guitar, and I was ready for the July US Blues Tour for four weeks.

It was great roaming around the Arizona desert in the sweaty heat, a sultry 110 degrees, that makes you want to play those smoldering blues. The Blues Tour kicked off to a great start at the Paradise Valley Country Club, with fellow musicians Pablo Richards on bass and Jimbo Gibbons on drums. We played a full set of popular originals like "B Good 2 Me", "Dreamtime Shuffle", "Broken Hill Blues" and the blues ballad "Blue Ice". The two main concert dates were at the Ruby Room, a colorful venue painted in red situated in downtown Phoenix, on a very hot Tuesday and Sunday night. Rocking the stage and bluesing through some of our favorite covers, such as "Hoochie Coochie Man", "Voodoo Chile" and Hound Dog Taylor's "I Just Can't Make It". These two concerts were captured live on video.

I was well accustomed to playing in the Australian Outback, especially up north in Darwin during the cyclone season. So I braved the Arizona heatwave, driving around with my guitars to picturesque places, playing solo in Cave Creek, Tucson, St Xavier, Picacho Peak, Superior and Gold Canyon.

Jimbo, Pablo and myself, stopped at the Leefelt Recording Studio in Tempe
Arizona, to record the original composition "B Good 2 Me". The seance was augmented with Christian Leefelt on rhythm guitar himself. The track has been signed to Metal Doll Records in Texas, and will be featured on their compilation "Native American Uprising" later in 2009.

While we were waiting for the plane to leave Phoenix Airport, everyone had to remain seated for about 45 minutes due to maintenance, the air conditioning wasn't working on that plane under that hot afternoon desert Sun.

A few hours later, I arrived in a much cooler Chicago. I checked out Chi-Town and the pier, I then hopped on down to Buddy Guy's Legends Blues Club for the jam night.

Meeting Buddy Guy once again was a real blast. I had guest supported him in the past at the Jazz Festival in Amiens, France, way back in 1993. Where we both stayed at the same luxury hotel, and rode the same limousine together. That was a great way to end the Blues Tour. Next stop for me in August, was to be performing at the Woodstock 40th Anniversary Tribute Festival outside of Paris.



When I left the States at the end of July, and arrived at the Paris Airport, there was yet another incident, where the plane parked a few feet short from the gangway, and we had to wait nearly an hour to be towed in. I guess I can go and write those "Airport Blues" now...




To read more about Gerry, click here!

Gerry thanks for sharing your trip and BTW-You rock! Readers Enjoy!





Copyright © 2009 Monica L. Yasher/Gerry Joe Weise. All Rights Reserved.
Photo Copyright © 2009 Gerry Joe Weise. All Rights Reserved.

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