North America Guitar Tour
Benton
July 5-6, 2014
It was a good idea to leave after midnight. The roads were clear and it was a comfortable drive in pitch black. I got a shiver when I passed a pickup going the wrong way on the way, but it was Independence Day night. I guess that's just how it goes. I just hoped the car wouldn't get into an accident while looking in the rearview mirror.
The translation ended in a terrible result, but it was also true that a weight was lifted off my shoulders. I wasn't feeling refreshed, but I was able to concentrate on the journey. After taking a nap at a rest area along the way, I arrived at my destination, Benton, Arkansas, just after 3pm.
When I went to the address of the music store I was given as the venue for the day, it was a gas station that looked like it had gone out of business, and a slightly bad boy-looking old man was baking frankfurters. Thinking that it must be some kind of mistake, I passed it and went to what seemed to be downtown, and it was a very charming town that looked like it could be used to film a Western movie. However, I'm not sure if an Asian like me who has no ties to the local area would be welcomed if I wandered in. I re-entered the address into my iPhone navigation and headed back to the former gas station. I had no choice but to ask the man who was baking frankfurters. I got out of the car and headed toward him, and he asked, "Are you Hiroshi?" Looking closer, I saw that there was a sign on the door that said "Guitar Lessons." This man was Mr. D, who runs this former gas station as a music store, and was the producer of the performance that day. He also works as a guitar teacher.
Soon, Mr. L, who invited me here, his husband's sister, Ms. R, and Mr. L's son and wife gathered, and after chatting for a while, I went inside, and the inside was still the same as it was when it was a gas station. Everyone had a strong southern accent, so it took me a while to get used to it. When I entered and opened the door on the right, there was a hall with a stage, and at the back there was a mixing booth with Pro Tools running. People started to gather one after another during the sound check, and before the show started, I was introduced to the person in charge of the cameras for the day, and I looked around and saw several cameras set up. The usual "Is anyone coming today?" joke instantly warmed the mood.
I'm sure it was the first time that everyone there had ever interacted with a Japanese person. At first, there was an air of Japan being famous for Sony, Toyota, Seiko, and Nikon, but I wondered what kind of person actually came from there, but by the time the intense stage ended, everyone was smiling, and by that time it didn't matter whether I was Japanese or not. I was reminded of the power of music.
That night, I stayed at Mr. L's son and his wife's house, and before going to bed, I did a little live performance in the living room. The next morning, I headed to Mr. L's house to see his husband, whose dog was injured and couldn't come to the show. His sister R was there, and the four of us chatted before heading for my next destination, Nashville. I think this was the only time, but she leaned out of the front porch to see me off until my car was completely out of sight, which was unusual. Thus, the first half of the trip ended safely.
*People appearing in the text are listed by their initials until their identities can be confirmed.
Contents
Introduction
Until Departure
Seattle
To California
Day Off
Sunnyvale
To La
LA 2 Days
To Tucson
Albuquerque
To Colorado (beginning of Miracle)
Berthoud
Denver
to Oklahoma City
Oklahoma City 2 days
To Texas
San Antonio
Georgetown
Dallas
Houston 2 Days
Benton
Nashville (CAAS)
Roswell
Tampa 2 Days
Miami
Orland 2 Days
Myrtle Beach
Chapel Hill 3 Days
Kingsport
To Indiana
Indiana State Fingerstyle Guitar Festival
To Staten Island
Manhattan
Phillipsburg
Nazareth (Martin Guitar Factory)
To Massachusetts (end of Miracle)
Methuen
To Montreal
To Buffalo
Meadvill A Day Before
Meadvill Ghost Hotel
Detroit
Chicago
Minneapolice
Spin Off #1
Spin Off #2 "EU Tour IN 2008 / Until Departure
Czech 1
Czech 2
London
Liverpool
Chesham
To Germany
Lemgo
Ingolstadt
Bregenz
To Italy
Florence
The Last Gig
Going Home