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WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 12TH,
2006 – DAYS ONE AND TWO:
Today
“we” left the U.S. for Japan. “We” is myself, Penny in my office and Trick
Pony, Jo-el Sonnier, Stonewall Jackson, and Ryan Holladay (12 year old bluegrass
artist)….33 people total. First stop for all of us is Kumamoto, Japan for the
17th Annual Country Gold Festival.
We all flew out of Nashville except for Jo-el’s group which flew out of
Houston. But, we all connected in Detroit for the long flight over. Stonewall
had never flown Business Class on an international flight and boy did he “LOVE”
it. He used EVERYTHING in the little amenity kit that the airline gives us.
He was sitting in front of me and I noticed that he had his hands over his
ears. I got up to see if he needed something thinking that his ears were
popping. But he said, “No. I just hope she’s not going to talk like that the
entire flight.” There was a flight attendant speaking Japanese over the
intercom system. J
I knew I would sleep on the flight because I had only gotten 2 hours sleep the
night before we departed. I was asleep and I heard the pilot come on and say
that there was a “fluid leak” and we would not be able to make it all the way to
Japan but that there was an island that we were going to land on to have the
plane checked out. I didn’t know if I dreamed this or if he really said it but
since I didn’t have a panic attack, I assumed I dreamed it. Then about an hour
later, I heard him say, “Don’t be concerned. We’re just circling and dumping
fuel and then we will have to prepare for a crash landing because the runway is
too short on the island to accommodate our aircraft. THEN, I did bolt upright.
But everyone around me in our group was sleeping and the flight attendants were
in the back chatting and working away. So, I dreamed that announcement, too!
Gosh, I hate to fly!!!
We flew on Northwest and for once had really terrific flight attendants. One
lady named “Judith” was especially helpful to us.
We landed in Osaka and made it all the way to Immigration when one of the guys
in Trick Pony realized he had left his cell phone on the plane. He went back to
retrieve it and we went down to pick up our luggage. It took longer than ever
for the luggage to come out. Then we went upstairs to check the luggage in at
the ANA counter – which doesn’t make ANY sense because the luggage is already
tagged all the way through to Fukuoka – where we are going. After doing this
for 17 years, I knew to have all the ticket coupons pulled out and in
alphabetical order and a count on our number of checked pieces. Only, this year
we had a new ANA representative who did NOT know how to organize things. He
lined us up in front of the scanner for our luggage and would not let us go
through. It took us longer than ever because he made each person check their
own luggage individually.
Flew from Osaka to Fukuoka and then took our buses to Kumamoto. We had a staff
meeting as soon as we arrived (1 am!) I then stayed up until 5 am answering
emails! Didn’t get to run today because of NO SLEEP.
DAY THREE
– OCTOBER 14TH:
Up early
for sightseeing and meeting with Deputy Government. I have a really terrific
group of entertainers on this trip. Everyone gave the Deputy Governor a gift
and he also gave them a “traditional Kumamoto” gift. After visiting with him,
we all went to the park for sightseeing and for a traditional Japanese lunch.
Everyone sits on the floor and has sushi, rice, noodles, tempura, etc;
After lunch, all the entertainers and their musicians went to the Kumamoto
Castle – except for Ryan Holliday. I took him and his bluegrass musicians to a
high school where they played a few songs and answered questions. The students
had a treat for us as well. They knew how to line dance! And, they had made
these huge cowboy hats out of poster board for themselves. It was awesome.
After the mini-concert, Ryan went outside to take a photo and got mobbed by the
kids wanting autographs. He said he felt like a “rock star”.
It had started raining when we came out (better today than Sunday!) and I sent
Ryan’s group to the castle while Liz and I went back to the hotel. I HAD to
get back in email….
Met several of the group for dinner at a sushi bar that I love. I had 2 pieces
of salmon, 2 of tuna, 2 egg and 2 shrimp handrolls. Freshest sushi ever eaten.
And the cost of mine was less than $12!!!!
We went to Charlie’s nightclub for a “Welcome Party”. Each artist gets up and
sings 2 songs after Charlie does his set. It was really, really fun but most of
us left immediately after the “jam session” Everyone is just really TIRED. Of
course, I’m on email until God knows how much longer!!!!
Jude
DAY FOUR –
OCTOBER 15TH:
Today
was “sound check” day. We take 2 buses and 2 of the groups go to the venue and
2 of the groups go to the volcano (when it is accessible, which it was today).
I got in a 6 mile run along the river before we left but it was HOT and HUMID
even at 6 am. Very unusual for Kumamoto at this time of the year. By the time
we departed the hotel, it was raining again and it rained all the way to the
venue. We had taken the scenic route which winds up and then back down a
mountain – a small one lane road with two way traffic. I guess I should have
taken something for motion sickness like I encouraged everyone else to do. I
think the fact that it was foggy and raining so we couldn’t see anything made it
worse. I was fine once we got out of the bus, though. The group that went to
the volcano said they weren’t able to see ANYTHING, so my first group decided
not to even try to go up after their sound check.
Stonewall wasn’t feeling well this morning and did not go to sound check. I’m
hoping he will be okay tomorrow. I know he takes a lot of medication and I have
a feeling that he isn’t taking it when he should be because of being 14 hours
ahead of Nashville time. I had talked to his wife before we left Nashville and
told her to talk to his doctor about what time of the day he should be taking it
over here. His son is with him and hopefully monitoring this.
Sound check ran smoothly thanks to my production manager – Scott Olson – and Tim
Curnew – a Canadian living in Kumamoto who helps us out every year.
We were back at the hotel by 6 pm and almost everyone went over to Angelo’s for
Italian food for dinner. Because we were such a huge group, it took over two
hours for everyone to get their food. Felt like I was back at a restaurant in
Europe where they spend 3-4 hours at each meal! A few people went to Charlie’s
club but most of us came back to the hotel to get an early night and be ready
for the big show tomorrow.
DAY FIVE – OCTOBER 16TH:
Woke up
to a gorgeous day….much cooler and lots of sunshine. Perfect day for a country
music festival at the base of an active volcano. Everyone was up and ready to
go long before departure time (jet lag still hanging on!). When we arrived at
the venue, there were already several thousand people sitting on the ground in
front of the stage. The stage is 3 stories high and the length of a football
field…at one time it was the world’s largest outdoor stage. Not sure if that is
still true. There is a dance floor built in front of the stage for all the line
dancers.
We, of course, started right on time with speeches from Charlie and his
performance with the Cannonballs. Everyone else either walked around and looked
at the booths set up by the food and clothing vendors or hung out in the Green
Room and chatted. After getting all the “signs” hung and everything coordinated
with Penny and Liz, I walked around to say hello to some of the many friends I
have made throughout the 17 years I’ve been coming to Kumamoto. Took a great
shot of a little dog wearing a tiny cowboy hat. Montana Beef is a huge sponsor
because Montana is the “Sister State” of Kumamoto Prefecture. But, with the
“ban” on U.S. Beef, they are unable to import any of their products for the
festival. But they brought “Miss Rodeo” with them and she was lovely.
Ryan Holladay performed after Charlie and the dancers kept right on dancing
throughout the blue grass tunes! Then Jo-el Sonnier went on stage and performed
a mix his Cajun/Country tunes. We threw beads out to the audience and they
loved it.
The Governor (female) and the Counselor from Fukuoka (female) came about halfway
through the show and made their speeches. How about that – two females “in
charge” in JAPAN! Times the are a’changin’! Both are absolutely lovely women –
inside and out – and very supportive of Charlie and Country Gold.
Stonewall Jackson took the stage and captivated the audience with his legendary
tunes. Then Trick Pony rocked the place. Everyone was standing as close to the
front of the stage as possible while they were performing. Everyone went back on
stage for the ‘FINALE’ and fireworks and we ended EXACTLY on time to the
second…..how often does that happen in the U.S. at a festival of this
magnitude????
We all went to the Green Room for a “campai” (toast) and then loaded the buses
for the ride back to Kumamoto City. Every year, the buses are packed and the
artists are pushing to leave as quickly as possible. This year, I couldn’t get
anyone to get on the bus so we could leave! I went out to dinner with Keiko,
Koji, and Keita so we could discuss this year’s event and plans for next year.
Then upstairs to pack. Everyone except me and Trick Pony have to depart at
6:45 am for the flight back to the States. We go to Korea for 5 shows for the
U.S. Army.
Jude
DAY ONE
FOR KOREA – DAY SIX IN JAPAN:
For the
past 5 days, I have been in Kumamoto, Japan with Trick Pony, Jo-el Sonnier.
Stonewall Jackson, and Ryan Holladay for the 17th Annual Country
Gold Festival. It was a big success! Sent everyone back to Nashville this
morning EXCEPT for me and Trick Pony. We are going to Korea to perform 5 shows
for the U.S. Military. Will be performing at a different Army Camp each day.
I was just here in May and hope to see some of my “friends”. Love coming over
here. And the General who is my friend and was in Iraq for the past 18 months
is now the Deputy Chief of Staff here. Looking forward to hopefully seeing him,
too, but Rumsfeld is in town, so things are a bit “busy”. We’ve offered to let
Rumsfeld open one of our shows for us if he’d like too. J
Got the other group off to the U.S. at 7 am this morning and then I departed
with Trick Pony at 9:30 am. We had to drive for 1 ½ hours to Fukuoka to catch
our flight on Asiana to Seoul. There are 12 of us and we had 28 bags to check
but 4 of us were flying business class and supposed to be able to check 3 bags
each. The lady at the counter remembered me from last year and was so sweet.
She was supposed to charge us excess luggage but didn’t (around $500 we
saved!). I gave her and her “manager” some nice gifts from everyone.
The flight was smooth and short. Landed in Seoul and my “case” had been tagged
for inspection so it took me a while to clear customs. I bring all these
“gifts” for everyone so they think I’m bringing goods to “sell”. Takes a while
to explain it. Mr. Hwang met us and we drove for about 45 minutes to the Grand
Hyatt Seoul. Shirley was waiting for us with our room keys. So nice! The
hotel is fabulous and Trick Pony is very happy. I don’t think I like it as much
as the Marriott because the Marriott is in a better location and has a better
gym and much better shopping and jogging. But, still, it’s really, really nice
– probably a 5 star hotel if it was in the U.S.
There was a knock on my door and Heidi was standing there with a beautiful
floral bouquet of roses. She bought them for me just to say “thanks”. (Stan,
you’d be proud of your band – just wish you were here with us!).
Going to order room service – a rare luxury – get caught up on some work, and
hopefully get in bed at a decent hour tonight. We have AFN radio and tv
tomorrow and have to get ID cards issued. Then I’m taking them to see my tailor
and boot maker….shop, shop, shop! Shows start on Wednesday.
Jude
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