'By the Ton' at Burning Man

I love playing at Burning Man. Last year the way people's hearts were open to the music inspired me to really pursue my path as a musician. This year I came back with the album I began to pour myself into immediately after the Burn 2009. It was rewarding to give the album back to Playa and play the old songs and the new songs all week. Friday was my big gigging day. The night before I had passed out from exhaustion in my friend's living room dome structure - they tried to wake me before going out but I wouldn't budge, I subsequently woke up entirely confused, "Where am I? I'm at a festival...Burning Man....Nevada?" Then I saw the note Shana and Ben left me...I still have it. So I wobbled home on my bike and woke up barely in time to play at Centre Camp Stage at 8am. My voice was raspy so everything had a slight Ray LaMontagne vibe to it. I made a bold request for a Latte when I started my show and a somewhat boisterous man said he would - I nearly regretted asking - and asked whether I wanted a "grande mocha frappe fag-o-cino?" "Wow," I said taken aback along with everyone else, wondering whether to laugh or be offended, "I'll have whatever you're having mate, thanks" I said and began my first song of the day. It was a lovely show, Robin Layne came on stage for my second song and played cajon and shakers. Later that morning I played at By the Ton on the esplanade - it was the place with the huge meditating iron man and the folks responsible for the large iron flowers with rolling flames at night. Gibbon set up a sweet warm sound for me and I played non-stop for over two hours. After the show, my camp buddy Melanie and I chased after the water truck wetting the playa for a drive-by shower - I almost managed to whip my pants off while jumping in the air! Then it was off to Reverbia and, later, an evening show at Dust Fish. Lord Huckleberry welcomed me very warmly to the latter venue, requesting to see my bottom as I was loading the stage - I obliged the old gent making a monkey's ass of myself in the most gracious of manners and played my final show at Burning Man. That evening it would be my turn to enjoy the raving and dancing to the loudest soundsystems on the planet 'til the sun rose over the playa...