This weekend finds Drunken Prayer starting 2014 as we did ’13: giving praise to the disputed King of Rock and Roll at Elvisfest! in Chapel Hill, NC. TRUE FACT: my very first public gig was a 4th grade talent show – I sang “Hound Dog” in a white bespangled jumpsuit my mom made for me. What’s that? Of course I won! I was so good that later that day I was mugged in the street by a large Italian boy who insisted I “SING ELVIS” under threat of punching. This was my introduction to show business.
Here’s a look back at 2013:
- House of Morgan recorded at home in Asheville, NC, released on Fluff & Gravy Records of Portland, OR. Brain dump.
- Elvisfest!
- Opened for the lovely Freakwater in Chattanooga, TN, got compared to Leon Russell by Janet Bean
- “The Missionfield” (official video) featured at The Music Video Asheville Festival. Smile!
- Played the last DooNanny Outsider Folk Art Festival in Seale, AL. RIP.
- Cop put a gun to my head in Birmingham, AL
- Played our debut shows at the Double Door in Charlotte, NC, the Alabama Music Box in Mobile, AL and Slim’s in Raleigh, NC
- 8 visits to the Research Triangle. Came back dumber.
- A triumphant return to The Heavy Rebel Weekender. Not as scary as it sounds.
- Played memorable shows with Sally Timms, Janet Bean, Denim Wedding, Brother Dege, The Piedsmontsmen, The Krektones, Unholy Trio, Truckstop Darlin’, Blue Rags, Root Jack, Them Teasters, The My-Oh-Mys, The Mutineers, Casey Ruff & The Mayors of Ballard.
- KZME & Asheville FM radio shows. FCC be damned.
- “met” Father John Misty
- Recorded a set for Daytrotter. Finally hip.
- 2 midwest tours: Louisville, Chicago, Detroit, Cleveland, Columbus. Saw lots of “keey-ows”, and the last police officer in Detroit.
- 2 northwest tours: Portland, Bellingham & Seattle.
- Portland Mercury said something nice about us
- The Next Waltz
- #1 on Reverb Nation all the time!
- Recorded “The Selfishness in Man” for The Deer Lodge George Jones tribute album
- Played a Gene Clark/ Gram Parsons tribute at The Grey Eagle (Asheville, NC). Killed it.
- Mountain Xpress video interview. “No more interviews”
- A new album written, recorded and mixed at Collapseable and Fluff & Gravy studios; featuring Dallas Good of The Sadies and the artwork of Jon Langford; to be released sometime 2014.