We were in Memphis for Folk Alliance, a gathering of musicians, dancers, festival talent buyers, journalists and others dedicated to keeping folk idioms alive. Participants ranged from ultra-traditional, old-timey folk artists to country songwriters to pop-rock hybrids like us. Showcases were held in conference rooms, in hotel suites, in the lobby, in the hallways -- everywhere, well into the wee hours -- the WAY wee hours.

Our showcase was with some old friends and a few new ones. MC's were Roz Larman, host of KPFK-FM radio's "Folk Scene", and Rod Kennedy, founder of the Kerrville Folk Festival. Headlining was our buddy Joel Rafael (composer of "Gold Mine"), plus Jack Tempchin (writer of "Peaceful Easy Feeling" and "Already Gone"), Chuck Pyle (written for Jerry Jeff Walker), Warner Western recording artists Bill & Bonnie Hearne, Tim Bays and Leslie Tucker. Even though performers did only five or six songs each, we still didn't hit the stage until 1AM -- to a small but enthusiastic crowd.

The next day we sang for patients and parents at St. Jude Hospital, a gratifying and moving experience. Then we made a pilgrimage to Graceland. We wound our way through the shag-carpeted, garishly-furnished TV-bedecked rooms (none with bulletholes), imagining what it was like when the King lived there. Finally, in the Meditation Garden, where Elvis is buried, we broke into a spontaneous harmony version of "Heartbreak Hotel". Luckily we finished before we were asked to stop.

We flew on to Atlanta to sing at a local radio station, WRFG ("Radio Free Georgia"), where we sang and yakked for an hour. The next day we played at a local CD shop and performed at Eddie's Attic in Decatur. It's where the Indigo Girls are reported to have gotten their start. The owner is an affable gent named Eddie Owen, and after the successful set, we closed the place with long stories and longer bourbon shots.

We carried on to Nashville to help kick off Extravaganza, a music fest with hundreds of artists performing in venues all over town. Our show at Caffe Milano (one of the premier new venues in town) was with Gretchen Peters, a superlative writer and singer best known for her country hits "Let That Pony Run" and "Independence Day" and Bryan Adams-Bonnie Raitt rave "Rock Steady". She also released a terrific album last year ("The Secret Of Life") and happens to be our co-writer on "Cry". The show was very well attended, probably our best turnout ever in Nashville.

We wrapped up our ten-day excursion with a drive to Atlanta and an argument with a Northwest supervisor over guitars in the cabin. We missed our flight, switched to Delta, who were much more accommodating, and finally flew home. Now that we're back, it's been busier yet. We shipped the fanclub tape replete with with rarities, curios and blackmail material. And we have continued trying to secure a new record deal so that there will be more new music. We just may have some good news on that front in our next letter.

Love,
Dan & Eric