Moby Grape

A band who should have been much more appreciated, harmonies that matched or exceeded Byrds, Beach Boys, CSN, three great guitar players, one of the first and best acid country rock bands but sadly mostly unnoticed...

New Mexico 2026

'twas a long trek, about two weeks in duration. Starting to blur a bit so excuse the abbreviated run down. Bit tired and used up.

It was a great two weeks, profits far exceeding my earlier pessimistic expectations. Always expect disaster and then be pleasantly surprised...

So last you heard I had narrowly averted said disaster, finding myself in Winslow with no money, credit cards or identification and not a prayer of getting home.

Found the wallet finally and was on the road again.

Thank you Bill.

But losing things turned out to be a continual theme the whole trip. 

Lost my phone once and it turned out it was in my hand. That was a trip.

Lost a rare weaving, caused a real kerfuffle. Losing it, man. Of course I found everything eventually.

Set up was non eventful. I had a lot of merch, used up about every inch of space. I have the whole setup thing pretty down by now after thirty five years practicing.

Thought I had 16' more of wall, they say they told me, I sure don't remember if they did. 

I rented a quarter of my booth out to my friend Steve. 

It worked but let's just say we have a different type of situational awareness, I could probably have used the room in the final analysis. 

We definitely had a different type of aesthetic but viva le differencé.

His clothes rack did bring more young people and gay men shoppers into the booth.

Didn't help me much but he made some sales. 

Found a really good Vietnamese place, Viet Pho, which was good because the place I liked on Louisiana closed down.

Had a great meal with Mark B. at a nice joint downtown, Antiquity.

 Great branzino.

J.F.

Saw some cool faces. The guy next to me is Stan, owns a guitar shop, friend of John Feldman.

Sold some paintings, sold steady, had a real good show.

Finished up the show, found out I didn't have a hotel for the night and extended.

Next day went up to Santa Fe and saw my buddy Ron, bought some pots and hung out.

He and his wife Lisa and I went to Paloma for dinner and had a nice talk.

Went to Tad and Sandra's Tuesday morning and had brunch with a bunch of smart folk. 

Wednesday I set up for what is thought of as the better show.

I brought some very high powered art and sold a high dollar painting right off the bat.

Was good because allowed me to coast a bit but business actually stayed steady the next three days.

Was a good week for food, new chef at Santa Cafe, amazing lamb dinner. Phenomenal hamachi crudo with melon balls appetizer. Elk carpaccio. Lobster rolls.

Best I have had in years there. I like Santa Cafe because not only is the food consistently delicious, I am claustrophobic and like to eat outside.

Next night was another great meal at Geronimo. 

I had the elk, which was good but I think the previous night's food was a smidge better. 

Did have two great bottles of Caymus.

People were great at the show, always see old friends there. Lots of no shows this year, not sure why. 

I met a tibetan man, told him I had been through initiation ceremonies with Kalu fifty years ago and gave him my tibetan name and secret handshake.

He said my third eye opened up then and there. Could have been, I was looking in the other direction.

I bought some great things, hung out a lot with Barry at our normal breakfast haunts.

I liked his hat, make america gracious again...

The best part of the show for me was when Emily, the late Chris's daughter, came up and hugged me and we shared a tear over her mother's passing. My memorial blogpost evidently really touched her. I also got a brother and sister who normally don't speak to share a picture and laugh together.

The important shit.

I bought a collection of wonderful baskets Monday morning, my friend Rick gave me a good lead.

Drove to Flagstaff, which had been hit by a flash flood.

The next day I headed home in the monsoon rain. Took the 66, all the way to Kingman.

At exactly 8:05 the song 8:05 by Moby Grape started streaming on the radio.

I looked up at the heavens and laughing said, "You've got a hell of a sense of humor. What happens at 8:06?"

 Back home now, all good.

I love you

Lost week

I am in the middle of my two show swing to New Mexico. I would like to give a quick recap to a very frenetic week. It has been mostly good but intermixed with a moment or two of terror.

I drove to Flagstaff first day, through 112° heat and high winds in Kingman. Three days before I embarked on the trip I received a recall notice on the van. Turns out the cooling fan relay could melt or catch on fire, starting an engine compartment fire.

I found a dealership in Temecula that could fic it, a five hour job Tuesday. They also informed me that there was another recall, a parking brake problem that was a two day fix, requiring that they drop the transmission.

I guess I will deal with that later. Had to fix the fan deal, didn't want to be driving in intense heat with uch a problem. 

So I get to Flagstaff after about nine hours driving Wednesday, I can't help it, I drive slow. Van ran fine, air conditioner worked, hallelujah. Stayed at the Hyatt, doordashed crappy pizza, which I mostly left in the room. Weird but post chemo have had little appetite.

I take off early Thursday, to mmet Bill and Shirley at the La Posada in Winslow when disaster struck.

I get our of the van and reach into my back pocket and there is no wallet there. I checked the cab and behind the seat for half hour. I call Bill and he comes out and checks too. 

Nothing.

I am freaking at this point. No money, no credit cards, no i.d.. Bill gives me a hundred bucks but I can't even get back home on that in gas. I called the Hyatt and they checked my room and the parking lot. Nada.

I was thinking about just cancelling my shows and going home, what choice did I have.

Bill and I decided to go through the van one last time.

I had paintings against the side door and we pushed them forward and opened it. And there, wedged, below the bottom box and the door was my wallet.

Hallelujah!

I am telling you it was salvation. I gave him his money back, or well, at least a dollar of it and had a mini epiphany. No matter what happened on the rest of the trip, I would be happy and grateful because I want to tell you, I had hit bottom...

to be continued...