The tour is under way and the first three shows are done and dusted and most enjoyable too. Lovely venues, lovely people and wonderful audiences. The pianos so far have been really good but the one at Charlotte was an absolute cracker. It really makes a difference as a really great piano creates a musical love affair when you're playing.
There are 8 more of these final shows to go with the Cruise to the Edge being the filling in the middle of the tour sandwich.
These are the final one man shows in America although I will be coming back with either a vocalist or another musician in the near future, which will be a completely new show which takes quite a lot of pressure off me.
The one downside of touring here currently, are the hotels and especially their restaurants/cafes or should I say, lack of them. Most of the hotels have what they lovingly call a breakfast bar and if you're extremely lucky, powdered scrambled egg! It should help the weight loss except that after the show I'm starving and it's too tempting not to stop when we pass a pizza place on the way back to the hotel!
As well as the tour here in America during April. I have an interview planned with Mojo Magazine when I get back which is being done at Steinways in London, which is a pretty cool place… I'll be in my element!
I'm also presenting the BBC Magazine Awards in London on the 23rd, (Isn't that St Georges Day?) and I have a load more podcasts to record… the podcasts seem really popular which I'm really pleased about and already there is talk of a Xmas special and if the old Planet Rock Xmas Specials are anything to go by, then it should be a cracker. It will be in front of a live audience as well. I have to say a huge thank you to the podcast's producer, Mark Jeeves, who is doing a fantastic job as indeed he does with Charlie Higson and also the wonderful Hairy Bikers podcasts on which I was lucky enough to be a guest.
In the last two weeks of April, Erik Jordan will be putting the final touches to Melancholia, the new piano album and we are looking at doing the launch at The Granary where it was recorded and there's a good chance that I will play one or two of the tracks live.
I've also been asked to present another programme for Now Rock and that is being recorded on 28th and hopefully will be broadcast soon after.
On the 30th I have been invited to a BBC celebration of the life of the great Steve Wright. I don't know any more details at the moment, but I am sure the event will cover every emotion possible.
I hope you won't mind me now being somewhat self-indulgent, but I really want to pay tribute to my cousin Mark Wakeman, who passed away sadly a few days ago. Mark was only 52 and a very talented writer, particularly of plays, many of which he acted in. I last saw Mark in Portsmouth in November when he came to the Xmas concert even though his health made it very difficult. His passing has made me even more determined to try and bring to fruition as much as possible on my musical wish list.
Thanks to everybody who has come to these final one man shows in America, or indeed are coming to the last few shows which finish at the Hudson Valley Theatre Peekskill NY.
Cheers Rick
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