Hey kids, it's moving day! Again! #27! Ha ha once again I'm in a room filled with boxes of books, half-cursing my addiction and half-giddy with delight. I missed them.

So this will be quick, but I wanted to say hello... and to let you know I'm making an album! It's awesome. I love it. You're gonna love it. I can't say anything more about it right now because it's swelling in this great big bubble of gooey sonic love and I dare not pop it... but if you're in NYC you can come hear for yourself this weekend because I'm playing a benefit at Silent Barn in Brooklyn Friday night and Rockwood Music Hall Sunday night! Yea! These songs are my favorites (but please don't tell the others).



I'm recording in NYC. Started last Monday. It was only my third day of being in the city since 2009! I sure have put a lot of miles on the car this year... and on my body. Which is also why I haven't been on the computer so much... apparently my eyesight has gotten pretty bad and I forgot my glasses in this farmhouse in Lawrence, Kansas where I always happen to leave clothing and whatnot so I've been straining the past couple months and developed horrific headaches and dizziness. Fortunately yesterday I finally made it to Fabulous Fanny's -



- which is truly fabulous. Oh my gosh! Thousands of vintage frames. So fun.

Really neat visiting my old street, though it's changed so much... fortunately Earthmatters still makes it's yummy very berry smoothies and Ludlow Guitars is still there to take good care of my babies.


Otherwise I'm chilling in CT... catching up, making music, feeling good. Crazy storms!



Loving the summer farmers market and the library book sale!!! Ha ha... I really am sick. Last weekend and went and only allowed myself an hour... so difficult. Got about 20 books. Found the autobiography of Beatrice Wood which is really cool because I'm currently booking a fall tour with some buddies I made out at the Beatrice Wood Center for the Arts in Ojai this spring... but more on that later! Gotta unpack :)



Good night!

I love two things - well, more than two, but what's relevant here -

1. the beach
2. CD contests

Here are some responses from the Miles From Nowhere giveaway to replenish our vitamin D while we weather these summer storms:

Sid in Brazil:

"I must say that my favorite hanging out spot was a little homemade hammock hanging on two palm trees in a beach called Praia dos Carneiros in the Northeast of Brazil. The beach is almost deserted and the scenery is just magical. The water is warm at all times and begs for midnight swims. That one hammock was the perfect mixture of a cool breeze with an absolutely gorgeous ocean making its comfy tumbling sound."

Katey in Indiana:

"I discovered a new favourite place this summer. My husband is a musician, so we go to A LOT of concerts and see A LOT of live music. This summer Verizon Wireless has had lots of $10 lawn tickets. We bought some beach chairs and take a blanket with a snack and listen to the concerts. It's been wonderful! Not only do I get to share something that we both treasure with someone wonderful but I get to spend time with a person that I treasure!"

Sarah in North Carolina:

"Leaving tomorrow for a 14 hr drive to Providence, RI for a friend's wedding can't wait for fun, friends, and food! (maybe the beach as well!)"

Bob in Maine:

"Boothbay Harbor, of course!"

Mike in Florida:

"well, the best place to hang out in fla is the beach,dont know how long thats gonna last. the next best place is the backyard, just got a 2 person $ 20 pool from walmart, I had a great lake to go to but the gators took it over.. oh its raining oil here tooo. dont be surprised if it works its way to you."

Robert in Illinois:

"Being already the proud owner of 2 copies of "Miles From Nowhere" (#'s 157-318) I will take myself out of the running for the free CD. I love being in my studio making art 24/7, if I need a break I can step right out the back door into my huge garden. There are fresh strawberries, tomatoes, beans of every sort, carrots, and fresh spinach...I can stroll through the raised beds and eat my lunch or dinner, even dessert. Enjoy the beach...hope we'll see you again soon at Sleepy Creek!!"

Chris in Illinois:

"i spend the first large chunk of the summer running from gig to gig, whether at home in chicago or out on the road, wearing pants when i ought to be wearing shorts (because shorts on stage is not a good look for me), and dreaming - dreaming - of the day when i can ride the bus to the beach. and then, one day in august, i'll finally have the free time to get there, and i'll do my damnedest to pack a whole summer's worth of awesomeness into one day. i'll be torn between going alone and bringing a frisbee partner. one day. fuck."

Ismael in Texas:

"My dream vacation is on a cruise to a foreign country. Its been something I have been seeing in my head for quite a few years now. I know this isn't the summer for me, but one day, I will take the trip. "

Randy in Massachusetts:

"My dream destination is a hammock -- preferably slung between two tall trees with a view of the water. Any water. Whenever I'm in a hammock, it takes me about 3 seconds after I close my eyes and I, too, am Miles from Nowhere."

Lee in California:

"My favorite hang-out is the Grapevine in San Jose. Ever since your performance there some months ago, I have gone back there every evening and sat at the very same table hoping you would show up again."

Joel in Florida:

"I am hanging out in Winter Park, FL for the summer.. working part at a coffee shop and interning in a counseling clinic. and I love free cds. haha"

Well, I love you guys. Reading your responses fills me with joy... feel like I've been on a bit of a trip just sitting here. Thanks for coming along!

PS If you missed it check out www.laurameyer.net to join the club and score a free track :)

Yesterday I was floating and nearby a little boy asked his dad, "Is this the Ocean?"

To which the father replied, "No, this is the Sound."

Some say we have it, some say we don't, and some say it's a choice.

I've come to believe we only have what we give someone else. (When we give someone knowledge, we see that we have knowledge, etc.)

We can give food, money, clothing, shelter, time... we cannot give ourselves, though. Because we don't have ourselves. Sorry, but these are just loaners.

But - perhaps if we broaden our perspective, we can see that "possession" goes beyond that which is material, fleeting, and mortal. We're all on this spaceship together, yes? And when we die and our bodies return to the earth they will continue to feed new generations, yes?

It's all or nothing, and it's all right here, under our feet and over our heads and running through our bodies.

There's a lot of chaos in the world right now, and even more peacefulness. Otherwise we wouldn't be here. It's helpful to remember that.

I celebrate the 4th of July with blueberries. They are my favorite food. And they are in season.

However when a perfectly ripe blueberry explodes in my mouth it could be fireworks in a dark sky or bombs in a desert or a gushing oil well. These events are happening simultaneously, and I cannot ignore that.

So I guess I was mistaken - we are all we have. Collectively.

So much for independence.



I became vegan a few years ago around the 4th of July. I had an epiphany while holding an egg, though as with any epiphany there were many events and experiences which led me to that moment.

I desire freedom, and therefore I desire freedom for all life.

Bob Barker is matching all donations to People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals received by July 4th. By granting an animal the right to live a life free of suffering and abuse, perhaps we will begin to see the same for ourselves.

Interestingly, if you Google "Bob Barker" you will find another Bob Barker, who is America's Leading Detention Supplier. This Bob Barker has made millions off of inmate uniforms and prison supplies.

However Bob Barker, the beloved game show host, has given millions to help save and protect animals.

I suppose it is a choice, after all: http://tinyurl.com/ichoosefreedom


Blueberry Pancakes & Tempeh at Flore Vegan in Silverlake, CA

For more information on animal rights and veganism see the PETA website or the links at http://laurameyer.net/links. The ultimate road food blog to come soon.

Happy July and thanks for reading.

So I think I got my track list. The studio time is booked. Now I'm just soaking these road bones, thankful for some clean, fresh water, and visualizing an end to this tragic spill. A bird in a cage ain't a bird at all...



A bird covered in oil? You know it ain't her fault! I read that BP is committed to covering the cost of cleanup - that is, the monetary cost. However you can still donate to the International Bird Rescue Research Center here: http://www.ibrrc.org/.



In other, less important, but more pleasant news... the final Southern shows were fantastic. I always stop at the Walt Whitman rest stop on the NJ turnpike and I wonder if this is what Walt envisioned when he wrote:

I sit and look out upon all the sorrows of the world, and upon all oppression and shame;
I hear secret convulsive sobs from young men, at anguish with themselves, remorseful after deeds done;
I see, in low life, the mother misused by her children, dying, neglected, gaunt, desperate;
I see the wife misused by her husband—I see the treacherous seducer of young women;
I mark the ranklings of jealousy and unrequited love, attempted to be hid—I see these sights on the earth;
I see the workings of battle, pestilence, tyranny—I see martyrs and prisoners;
I observe a famine at sea—I observe the sailors casting lots who shall be kill’d, to preserve the lives of the rest;
I observe the slights and degradations cast by arrogant persons upon laborers, the poor, and upon negroes, and the like;
All these—All the meanness and agony without end, I sitting, look out upon,
See, hear, and am silent.



DC show with Laura Tsaggaris & Rachel Platten was a blast! We each played short sets before doing a round with the three of us... I don't know if it was the crazy lightning storm or the abundance of high school friends, but I can't remember being so loopy or laughing so hard on stage in a long, long time.



Stayed with a friend in Atlanta for the Eddie's Attic show, where I made lots of new ones. I wish I could clone Eddie and put an Attic in every city. There's just no one like him. And no place like it.



Then a beautiful ride up to Johnson City...





Ah, and the scene of the crime - here is where I got bed bugs the day after I got swine flu, which led to a very uncomfortable couple weeks... which inspired the new album:



Fortunately I've graduated from motels to homes, so I was safe after the Acoustic Coffeehouse show...




which is always as entertaining from the stage as it is from the audience, if not more so...



Yes, painting and dancing and lots of alcoholic consumption -

Speaking of which! How 'bout the kombucha recall?! What timing... my mama (Charlotte) made a baby mushroom (Gwenevere) and we're onto our second batch of brew! It's still not as good as GT's, but we'll get there :)



Happy summer and see you soon!

Well, the bags are packed! Except this time it's just one bag... (and no, that's not the bag!). I'm about to head South for some gigs in DC and TN and of course Eddie's famous shootout in Decatur Saturday night and it's kind of strange to be leaving for such a short trip! Usually I just pack everything I own when I go on tour, so packing's easy, but last night I had to pack and unpack a couple times until I was left with just a couple guitars and a couple of changes of clothes and a bikini for Judy's hot tub. So excited!

Also excited because today THE MOTHER ARRIVED!!! Have you tasted GT's kombucha? Are you addicted?! My friends and I are pretty obsessed and while I try to limit myself to a bottle or two a week it's expensive! - both to my wallet and to the planet (all that packing and shipping... oooh but it's SO GOOD!!) - I could drink it 24-7.

I promise I'm not sponsored by them, by the way. Though if you work for them and you're reading this please email my marketing gal here :)

Anyway, one of my dear friends ordered a couple mothers so we can make our own kombucha and they arrived today and I am so ecstatic and yet sad that I have to leave her! My own mother is going to mothersit, and I think she's qualified... I will definitely update you on her progress as she makes babies. Right now I'm going to watch some kombucha-making videos while I package CDs to take with me on my trip. Just got a new shipment of Miles From Nowhere!

PS doesn't that look like some weird organ? She smells really good.

Hmm... what else? I guess I'm really excited, is basically what I'm saying. Excited and a little caffeined, maybe. I'm a little hyped about having to drive from CT to DC to Atlanta to Johnson City to CT in five days, but I guess being parked for a couple weeks made me a little wimpy. Fortunately in that time I've been able to get some acupuncture and walk and stretch and feel a little more normal, but feeling sensation in my legs isn't really normal for me after all so whatever.

I'm digging the domestic life a bit, and the shows at Rockwood and Club Passim were so fantastic this weekend I'm a little high from that too - played lots of new songs in NYC and such a fantastic crowd... if you missed it it's okay though because I'll be back at NY's finest venue August 1. It was my first time at Club Passim and the music was incredible and the audience even more so. Phenomenal sunset coming home, though it looks less phenomenal here:



Ahhh gotta go!

(If you don't see a video above click here: http://tinyurl.com/2009-10tour).

Heading out on a mini-tour this week and VERY excited. Here's the scoop:

* Fri, May 28 Rockwood Music Hall, New York, NY
6PM sharp! Skip the beach traffic and be the first to hear the new songs!!!

* Sun, May 30 Club Passim, Cambridge, MA
Campfire Festival! Tons of artists and only $10/day or $30/weekend.

* Thurs, June 3 Ebenezer's, Washington, DC
Acoustic show with Laura Tsaggaris and Rachen Platten!

* Sat, June 5 Eddie's Attic, Decatur, GA
Biannual Shootout Competition! Tables are already sold out so act now if you want a ticket!

* Sun, June 6 Acoustic Coffeehouse, Johnson City, TN
Most of the new album was written in/inspired by JC... come find out why!

Sweet dreams and see you soon :)

... but it's just too funny.

Finally got to unpack/clean the car today.

I just happened upon some videos of artists sharing their gifts on the street. (This is what happens when one has free time, I suppose... Youtube! Ha). Anyway I was very inspired to go play but I wanted to share these first:









Amazing...

7 months and 7 days... I don't think it's a coincidence that today is 5/2.

The exhaustion my body hasn't been able to feel for the past 7 months and 7 days (I swear I didn't plan that) is being felt. So I'm going to let the body drive for a while... if I think about how much I'm going to miss the road this summer I'm going to cry, and after all of the driving my eyes have been through (nearly 30,000 miles this tour) I just don't think it's fair to make them cry right now. They're going to miss seeing you, though (even though you know I sing with my eyes closed and they don't see too well anyhow). I miss you already... this is really weird.

I'm happy to see my mom, though. She's amazing. She clipped some lilacs and put them in a little vase by the sink. Lilacs are my favorite. Glad I get to see them bloom.

I have loads of pictures and videos from the road to share with you... and an album to make! That's really exciting. I have so many new songs the car was getting pretty squeezed. Especially with the trash heap in the passenger seat. I did that to deter thieves... and apparently it worked, though I have quite a mess to face tomorrow.

But for now, I sleep. Good night. And thank you, thank you, thank you for the best 7 months and 7 days of my life thus far.

xo