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Japan: Between shows
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Day One 7/16/08
My host/road manager/tour organizer and great friend Shuichi Iwami in his hometown of Kure.
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Day One 7/16/08
When we returned to his home, Shuichi's mother had prepared a feast...including sushi....mmmmm!!!
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Day One 7/16/08
What a great meal. There's nothing like home cookin'.
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Day One 7/16/08
Pre-tour rehearsal in Hiroshima @ Pico a bar/rehearsal studio run by local percussion legend Tsuneo Mizuki
photo by Shuichi Iwami
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Day One 7/16/08
Tsuneo and I running through a tune on my first day in Japan
photo by Shuichi Iwami
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Day Two 7/17/08 Kure
Shuichi's mom made a terrific breakfast
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Day Two 7/17//08
Shuichi's Mother and I
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Day Two 7/17/08 Kure
Beautiful statue called "The Future"
I saw this on the way to catch the ferry to Matsuyama
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Day Two 7/17/08
On the ferry to Matsuyama
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Day Two 7/17/08
Checking out the lovely sea-nery
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Day Two 7/17/08 Matsuyama
Being driven from the ferry to the hotel in Matsuyama by promoter and great guy Yasuhito. Listening to this great music.
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Day Two 7/17/08 Matsuyama
The dragon.
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Day Two 7/17/08 Matsuyama
Lunch with Yas and Tsun-san before the soundcheck.
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Day Two 7/17/08 Matsuyama
And people often tell me I'm too serious.
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Day Two 7/17/08 Matsuyama
Standing in front of the oldest bath house in Japan.
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Day Two 7/17/08 Matsuyama
Mini-polaroids taken during soundcheck.
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Day Two 7/17/08 Matsuyama
Taxi's sign.
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Day Two 7/17/08 Matsuyama
Ticket for first show.
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Day Two 7/17/08
Post-gig dinner party at the Ethnic Cafe in Matsuyama.
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Day Three 7/18/08
Don't let the name fool ya (it's not made of sweat)
this stuff is great....wish I could find it here
photo by Shuichi Iwami
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Day Three 7/18/08 Matsuyama early morning
12 foot high wooden Buddha.....I don't see many of these in Texas.
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Day Three 7/18/08 Kure afternoon
Sure I came for the music, but, the sushi was a close second.
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Day Three 7/18/08 Hiroshima early evening
"Lucy" the owner of Jugem, the oldest bar playing rock music in Hiroshima. She took her nickname from her heroine Lucinda Williams. "Lucy" rocks!
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Day Three 7/18/08 Hiroshima evening
Just before the show on Saturday night. That's the wonderful Maggie behind the bar. She sang and played percussion during my set while serving drinks. True multitasking abilities.
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Day Three 7/18/08 Hiroshima post gig
Very unusual but delicious food.
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Day Four 7/19/08 Hiroshima morning
Kanpai means cheers in Japanese. These macchiatos were most excellent.
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Day Four 7/19/08 Hiroshima lunch
Yes, it was great.
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Day Four 7/19/08 Hiroshima afternoon
Bamboo trees at the Shukkeien Gardens in Hiroshima. Construction on these gardens began in 1620.
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Day Four 7/19/08 Hiroshima afternoon
More beauty at Shukkeien Gardens.
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Day Four 7/19/08 Hiroshima afternoon
More beauty at Shukkeien Gardens.
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Day Four 7/19/08 Hiroshima afternoon
More beauty at Shukkeien Gardens. Seemingly a geisha fashion shoot we stumbled upon.
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Day Four 7/19/08 Hiroshima afternoon
More beauty at Shukkeien Gardens.
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Day Four 7/19/08 Hiroshima evening
Katsu, the owner of Kapone in Hiroshima. A very cool guy with a very cool club.
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Day Four 7/19/08 Hiroshima evening
My real mission: One of the Escovedo's has escaped and I must bring him back. Hopefully Gary Busey will play me in the movie version.
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Day Four 7/19/08 Hiroshima
Maggie, who played percussion and sang harmony vocals both nights in Hiroshima.
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Day Four 7/19/08 Hiroshima evening
Miyuki, who sang on several songs along with Maggie.
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Day Four 7/19/08 Hiroshima post-gig at Kapone
From left, Kit (he played harmonica on a couple of tunes), Maggie, me, Miyuki and Tsun-san.
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Day Five Kure early am
Leaving our home base Kure to go to Kanazawa and Osaka.
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Day Five Hiroshima early am
Breakfast at the rail station. Soba noodles.
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Day Five late morning
View from the train heading from Osaka to Kanazawa.
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Day Five late morning
View from the train heading from Osaka to Kanazawa.
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Day Five early afternoon
View from the train heading from Osaka to Kanazawa.
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Day Five early afternoon
View from the train heading from Osaka to Kanazawa.
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Day Five early afternoon
View from the train heading from Osaka to Kanazawa.
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Day Five early afternoon
View from the train heading from Osaka to Kanazawa.
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Day Five afternoon
View from the train heading from Osaka to Kanazawa. Things started to get blurry and surreal.
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Day Five afternoon
View from the train heading from Osaka to Kanazawa. Things started to get blurry and surreal.
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Day Five afternoon
More of the same.
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Day Five late afternoon
The cool venue in Kanazawa.
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Day Five afternoon
Another sign for the club.
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Day Five late afternoon
Kyoko Inoue played percussion with me.
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Day Five early evening
Cottage Industry at it's finest.
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Day Five evening
Just before the show in Kanazawa.
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Day Five evening
The crowd right before the show. My battery in the camera went out after this photo. Sadly, I wasn't able to take some shots of the incredible meal afterwards.
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Day Six Kanazawa early am
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Day Six Kanazawa
Bacon and eggs.
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Day Six Kanazawa
Japanese Rail Pass
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Day Six Kanazawa
Group shot at rail station before departing to Osaka.
Hiromi, Shiji, me and Shuichi. (from left)
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Day Six Kanazawa
Great Eel at the rail station.
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Day Six afternoon
On the train from Kanazawa to Osaka. More greenery.
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Day Six Afternoon
More from the train.
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Day Six Afternoon
And more.
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Day Six Afternoon
What can I say that this photo doesn't?
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Day Six Afternoon
On the train to Osaka. I'm thankful I was not drooling in this shot.
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Day Six Osaka
My favorite keyboardist in Japan.
Shin Tsujimoto, age 10.
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Day Six Osaka
My name on the calendar at the Howlin' Bar.
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Day Six Osaka
Kasa Tsujimoto sporting an Amos Garrett look.
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Day Six Osaka
The awesome TeleKasater built by Kasa Tsujimoto at Scoop Creation Works. Click the link and check out his works of art.
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Day Six Osaka
Group shot after the show in Osaka. A fun group of folks.
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Day Six Late night
One more shot of the guitar I didn't know I was going to buy yet.......yeah, right.
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Day Six Osaka
Last shot of the club's sign.
Howlin' Wolf is one of my favs.
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Day Six Osaka midnight
Post tour blur.
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Day Seven early am (the wee hours)
The master and his work.
At Kasa's studio/factory where specializes in beautiful recreations of those famous American guitars from the '50's and '60's.
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Day Seven early am
Kasa's notes and work disc for my tunes.
Humbling to say the least.
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Day Seven breakfast
In the Airport food court I had an ugly American moment and I pigged out one last time on sushi and Japanese cuisine. It was good for me.
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Day Seven noonish
Big ol' Jetairliner.........
I hope to take another photo of a jet going back to Japan right before I board it. What an incredible experience.
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