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03/02/2009: "MEMPHIS...my stomach will go on"
I went to Memphis last week. I've been a few times before, touring South, but this time I went as a participant in the North American Folk Alliance Conference. And you're right, you may not think of me as folk, but pretty much once you strip away all of the electric instruments don't most songs sound folkish? Well at least thats how I feel about my music, and I think it's a good thing. But, this was my first year experiencing that which is the Folk Alliance and...wow, it was unique. Spanning over 4 days and nights, with a couple hundred acts, a couple hundred presenters (bookers, folkfest buyers, industry people in general) and 1 hotel. It was intense. With workshops in the day and showcases at night there wasn't much time to leave the hotel and there was too much to do on the inside. I brought Rob down to the conference because I sort of figured "guys with acoustic guitars" were probably a dime a dozen, and any addition let alone the great playing of Robert would be useful. Correct. But what were these goals? What was I coming to accomplish? I don't know. At least I didn't when we left.
So we arrived on Wednesday evening and I did have a funny happening on the plane. One of those moments you're not sure who felt more awkward but it goes like this. My flight from Winnipeg to Chicago had me sitting beside a woman around the same age as me, and at the beginning of the flight she offered some gum, and made some pleasant small talk. As soon as the plane reached it's cruising altitude, I promptly put on my headphones for the duration of the flight. Not because I'm a jerk, but mostly because I was tired and would have been faking the whole conversation, and thats rude to her. So when we landed the pilot mentioned we would be taxiing for a bit on the runway, and the whole plane started to chat with the person next to them...okay, okay.
JP: "So are you on business or holiday, or going home?", I inquired politely?
Gal: "I'm going to a conference in Texas. I work for ACME, and you?" she said.
JP: "Conference in Memphis, music related."
Gal: "Oh are you a musician?"
JP: "Yup"
Gal: "Are you in a band?"
JP: "Yup"
Gal: "What's the band name?"
JP: "J.P. Hoe"
Gal: "Oh my god I have your albums in my car right now! I've been to one of your shows."
JP: "Fantastic, thanks for the support."
Gal: "I have a friend who went to school with someone in your band, his name is John Smith"
JP: "Hey yeah I went to school with him! He was great guy. I don't see him around much, but he was a good guy."
Gal: "Oh wow, yeah he is a good guy. So what is your name?"
JP: "JP Hoe"
I love when those conversations happen. I feel bad if she felt bad, but I doubt she did, and I'm glad for that. So we made it safe and sound to Memphis, and it was a weekend filled with folkies, comfort food, and good will. There was a great delegation from Manitoba (Jackpine, Lindsay Jane, Jacob and Lily, Romi Mayes, Matt Epp, Kerri Woelke, The Duhks, Alana Levandoski), let alone Canada, who were there and kept me from feeling too much like a fish out of water. I had the chance to meet one of my favourites, banjo player Bela Fleck as well as hugged Abigail Washburn and remembered how thankful I was for playing last year's Winnipeg Folk Fest.
The evenings were spent walking from hotel room to hotel room on the top three floors of the hotel, as artists showcased their stuff. There were moments it was surreal, like when I sat in a room (front row) with 9 others for a Joel Plaskett concert. It was great. Another room, sponsored by a festival in Louisiana had free beer, wine, redbull and strike me dead if I'm lying, the world's best GUMBO. Nights were super fun, mornings were generally painful.
If you're wondering if we went to Graceland, I have luckily already been there with my pal Matt Worobec (TELE) many years ago, and so didn't make it back, but it is a strange and beautiful place anyone who appreciates music history should visit.
BBQ. I went twice, the first experience went like this.
"Chris Frayer, Rob, and the fellas from Jackpine and I went to the Rendez Vous. The same one found on most "Best of Memphis" BBQ tv shows, and it lived up to expectations. It's located in an alley. Smoke billows from the huge concrete wall towering above the basement entrance. You emerge through the dry chalky air like super heroes in their movie trailer clips, and head downstairs for an experience. It's busy. Red checkered plastic table clothes, wood panelling, and memorabilia some tacky some tasteful, scattered on the walls. The servers sway through the maze of tables, but they seemed a blur to me. I floated to our table, didn't need to look at the menu and had a delicious full rack of ribs. Rendez Vous has a dry rub style. You can add sauce if you want, but it's clearly not necessary. The side of baked beans go down smooth, and the mustard tinged coleslaw made for a terrific counter point to the salty/savoury baby backs. the buns seemed softer than usual, and perfect for the sponging procedure that takes place to capture the last bits of juice, seasoning, beans or slaw on my plate. Good friends, soft American beer, and Rendez Vous ribs, you're probably thinking what I'm thinking...honeymoon!"
But most importantly the weekend is about the people. Friends from Memphis I haven't seen in ages, new friends from around North America and shaking hands with those from the industry which would be difficult to strike up otherwise. I'll leave this blog on a final anecdote:
I was manning the Manitoba Music booth in the exhibit hall for the last hour on the Saturday afternoon. The exhibit hall has at least 50 booths all geared for music and music industry people stopping in, glad handing and the sort. So, I was there, Rob was here and there and a gentleman approached the table.
(abbreviated version)
Gent: "Hello"
JP: "Hello"
Noticing a few promotional copies of the Dear John Letters on the table he inquired.
Gent: "This JP Hoe, he was on my list to see this weekend. Do you know if is playing tonight again?"
JP: "No, unfortunately he is done showcasing, but you're more than welcome to take one of his albums."
The gentleman then grabbed the CD and pulled it close to eyes checking out the art work and the track listings on the back.
JP: "So as you know, he's a singer-songwriter, and this record is the full production version. Some rootsy, some pop, but all in all it's a good listen."
Gent: "Yes it is too bad he is done but I will give this a listen."
JP: "Certainly do. I hope you enjoy."
What is wrong with me? A few things I think, but this felt like a Larry David moment. I couldn't stop myself. All weekend it was self promotion this and self promotion that, I'm not quite sure what came over me. I was hoping to run into him somewhere in the hotel, but it was not meant to be. Funny thing was, I was relaxed, comfortable and poised with him. Selling yourself from the third person perspective enjoyable. Now whether anything comes of it, time will tell, and will he recognize the photo in the liner notes was me, time will also tell as well as how good or bad his vision was. This moment reinforced how difficult being an independent musician is on the soul. I get panicky and anxious when I have to sell myself, and I never feel it comes off as successful as when someone else is working it for you.
Thanks to Sean, Sarah, Manitoba Music, Rob, Chris, Curtis, Carrie, Holly, Lindsay, Jackpine, Jacob and Lily, Bela, Abigail, girl on flight, pig I ate, and anyone else who made the weekend so fantastic.
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After reading about your encounters, I don't think it would be overbearing for you to wear a t-shirt reading "I am J.P. Hoe". That or a tuxedo t-shirt. At least you would look classy while people don't recognize you.
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After reading about your encounters, I don't think it would be overbearing for you to wear a t-shirt reading "I am J.P. Hoe". That or a tuxedo t-shirt. At least you would look classy while people don't recognize you.
