The Rev. Peyton’s Big Damn Band

BIG DAMN BAND IN THE AMERICAN WEST

On the way to the first show of the tour in Phoenix, we passed through Oklahoma, Texas, and New Mexico. This photo is in front of an abandoned adobe church located at 88431 New Kirk, NM off Route 66.

The terrain in Arizona is beautiful. We were amazed at how much life there was in the desert.

I chased these coyotes up a mountian. They were howling in broad daylight.

The superstition mountains are amazing. Near this spot we saw a fake gunfight, and we toured an abandoned mine.

The show in Phoenix was so much fun. The crowd was awesome, the other bands were killer, and there were kissing booths, live chickens, and…

…pudding wrestling.

Hey who wants to put their boob in my scotch?

She does! Wooo!

Bob Log III is awesome. There is no doubt. A group of people came to our show in Portland who said that Bob Log told them that they had to check us out. What an honor!

Pinkus from the Butthole Surfers opened the show with his band HONKY. They are on tour with Nashville Pussy now.

These ladies danced to the side of the stage in cages made of chicken wire, wearing these chicken and guerilla masks.

On the right you will see Keith and Ryan the folks in charge of Hillgrass Bluebilly Entertainment (the promoters of the Phoenix show). They wanted to do a group picture with Grandaddy Log, The Big Damn Band, and these dancers. The drunk chick in the wig snuck in the photo!

Before we went on, the dirty old one man band from Hell - Mr. Scott Biram played. It was a fun bill!

We had a such a fun time in the desert it was hard to say goodbye, but it was only beginning!

When we got to LA we stayed with my friend Jon Rowland. He is an actor, and he must be doing pretty well for himself. This is his view, and his apartment is HUGE.

True to Rock Star form we had to throw pumpkins off of his balcony.

On the way to our show in Ventura we stopped “8 miles North of Malibu out on that PCH.” Just like the Otis Gibbs song.

The Pacific Coast Highway and Southern California was pretty beautiful, but if I don’t get back to LA anytime real soon I won’t cry about it.

Ventura, however, was beautiful. I watched this sunset while Jayme and Breezy took a nap. A woman was crying watching it about 50 feet to my right. A guy walked up behind me and he whispered, “That is why it costs so much to live out here.”

First thing we did when we got to Frisco was go across that Big Damn Bridge.

Jayme stands proud.

Jayme in front of The Rock.

Haight Ashbury was a fun district. San Fran has very few rules.

The venue we played at in San Francisco was called 12 Galaxies because of a fairly famous (maybe crazy) guy who protests all kinds of strange things all over San Fran. Apparently his signs don’t make much sense, but they always say 12 Galaxies. Places like that are great. No chain stores here.

I fell asleep on the way to Oregon, and when I woke up we were on a mountain and it was snowing. That was nothing compared to the Cascade Mountains.

So many great people took us in and on this trip, and one of those was a songwriter named Jon Itkin who we had never met. He made us breakfast, and his place was great. We were able to use his washer and dryer and the internet!

Portland was one of my favorite shows. This gentleman is Chopper. He is a boot black at the venue that traded a shoe shine for a CD. I told him that the shoes couldn’t be shined, and he said he could shine anything. He was right, and I think there is a song in there somewhere.

Playing with Jason Webley was a killer experience. In Seattle he has more than fans. He has a cult.

The place was packed, and it was our first official “all ages” venue that we have ever played. When we go back we’ll probably try to find an all ages venue since I think 100 people that signed our email list are under age!

Jason’s show cannot be described. I am looking for more pictures online. We just couldn’t get any of our to work. You can see here the Tomato Scout Anthem being pulled across on a giant scroll by a group of girls in party dresses. The crowd was told to follow the dancing tomato for lyrics. At one point Jason lubed himself up with crisco, put on a swimming cap, and got into a giant balloon and bounced around the stage. He and his crew threw tomatos and feathers at the crowd. At one point he does battle with his nemesis Alex Xavier the 11th and the whole crowd was given tomatos to throw at a guy in a tuxedo. In Seattle he plays with a whole band, and his show extensive.

Meeting Jason was one of the highlights of this year. He is a one of a kind human being. For breakfast he made us artichokes.

We are about to say goodbye here in this photo. Jayme is holding a cattle prod (yes a real cattle prod Jason actually shocks fans with it). We are holding some left over tomatos, and we are standing in front of a giant paper mache tomato that was used in the show. Jason must have spent a fortune on props. Everyone was entertained though, and I must say I have never experienced anything like it.

Jayme hates getting up in the morning.

The rain in Seattle let up for a time, and we decided to see some sights on our only day off.

Before we knew there was trouble ahead we stopped off at this strange lake in the Cascades.

Little did we know that the only interstate east from Seattle was out due to a landslide. The was a winter storm in the mountains, and when we finally made it to the end of the road, it took an extra 8 hours to get around Mt. Rainier. The roads were hairy to say the least.

We might have been a little freaked out.

So we didn’t get a day off. We had to drive all night to Boise. Nobody said it was easy. The show in Boise was worth it though. We had a great time.

The Great Salt Lake is a dead damn place. They say that Brine Shrimp (Sea Monkeys) are all over the lake, but it and the miles of flat salt surrounding it stink and look like death.

The venue in Salt Lake was great though. It is apparently owned by the director of SLC Punk and his brother. I can’t wait to play there again.

This is Matt Fecher. He has a music website in Indianapolis, and he runs music festivals in the west. He is keeping it real in his Melody Inn Hoodie.

Here is the view from Fecher’s Balcony in Denver. Fecher showed us a good time, gave us a place to stay, and he even helped promote the Denver show.

We had to up the ante a little from LA, so we decided to throw a banana tied to a helium balloon off of Fecher’s balcony.

Here it is in flight.

The folks in South Park, CO threw a harvest Dance around our performance. They dressed in 1800’s outfits and tried to call out the ghost of Julia who haunts the Fairplay hotel. Then they put us up in the Ghost room. This is no joke… Breezy and I watched here makeup bag climb out of the sink in the bathroom, flip over, and fall upside down on the floor. It was in the middle of the sink!

Despite battling ghosts, the South Park show was awesome as usual. We love those people. Jayme hates getting up in the morning though.

While driving through Kansas we kept seeing signs for the World’s Largest Prairie Dog. I had to see it. We followed the signs for 70 miles, and when we got there it was put away for the winter. So I found this picture on the internet. We should have been standing right there with it. We’ll be back though. The venue was awesome.

In St. Louis we were paid a visit by a legend. Yes… Beatle Bob.

It wasn’t a bad way to end the tour. I can’t wait to get back on the road. This was my favorite tour to date. A big thank you to the fans, friends, venues, and the people that helped along the way. We played with some great bands, and we were treated to some fine hospitality by a great many people.

See www.bigdamnband.com for a complete list of shows. I edited down 500 pics to this. I have some video of the Phoenix show that was taken with my digital camera that I might post as well.

I am going to try not to leave anyone out!  

Yeah we ended up hanging out with AXL F*cking ROSE.  For the whole story and for pics of Jayme doing shots of petron tequilla with him on his birthday you’ll have to read on. 

We stayed with Erin Rodda and her husband Aaron in Phoenix.  They helped us with a package I had delivered, and they made us a great meal.  It was very nice to get away from gas station peanuts. 

Here Jayme is sweating out the beats in AZ.  The show in Phoenix was great.  Thanks to all the people that came out, and thanks especially to Ryan and Keith of Hillgrass Bluebilly Entertainment.  They are our desert brothers. 

Marilyn and her friend Katie helped us sell our merch.  I know we did better thanks to them.   Could you resist buying stuff?

The first night with Derek Trucks was awesome.  I am trying to gather pictures from the show, but regardless this is Chris Edwards.  He is the tour manager for the Derek Trucks Band.  He, Derek, and the whole band and crew treated us like family.  We’ll never forget it. 

This is Howard Emmons.  Luckily he was at the show at San Luis Obispo.  Jayme broke a drum head, and he really hooked us up at his shop in town called the Drum Circuit.  We can’t thank him enough.

I am working on gathering pictures from our show at the Doll Hut too.  That place is great.  It is one of those real jukes like the Melody Inn in Indianapolis or Burt’s Tiki Lounge in SLC, Utah.  It was packed, and the crowd was amazing.  The owner was one hell of a nice guy too.  Thanks to Rose’s Pawn Shop for inviting us, and thanks to all of our friends who came out.  Thanks to the band Hill Stomp for staying an extra two days in LA just to see the show!

After the Doll Hut show we went and stayed with Sean Junkins an old friend.  It was great to see him out there doing well.  Here he is in the Green Room at the Roxy.

We met up with Chris Francis before the Roxy show.  He is an amazing human being, and a real inspiration.  He took all of these photos of us at the Roxy.  I’ll write more about him later on in the blog.  Here he is backstage, in the green room.

The Rev. Peyton’s Big Damn Band at the Roxy!  The place was sold out, and the crowd was great.  We had a lot of fun playing.  Doing these dates with Derek Trucks was nothing but positive for us. 

Breezy at the Roxy.

Jayme and Breezy at the Roxy.

Here Jayme and I are on the Roxy stage.

Another fun one of Breezy. 

When Derek Trucks took the stage he brought out his wife Susan Tedeschi.  It was magical. 

Not only are they talented people, but they are good people too.  After the show everyone was having a great time at the VIP after party at “on the Rox” above the Roxy.  I know I was laughing pretty hard.  Jayme was having fun!  Axle Rose was there too. 

At midnight it became Jayme’s Birthday.  Axl Rose insisted on paying for drinks in honor of the occasion.  He was really nice to us, and we spent a long time talking about Indiana.  (He is from Indiana too).  It was great to hear his stories.

This is Trevor, the GM of the Roxy.  He was so kind to us.  I had heard that the Roxy had a bad reputation among bands, but man they were really good to us.  Everyone went out of their way.  They really made us feel at home.  Thanks to all of them. 

We continued the party on Derek Trucks’ tour bus when the bar finally threw everyone out.  This picture of Axl Rose, Breezy, and me was taken by Derek Trucks.  I promised him I would credit him for the photo!  Trucks had us listen to some great mix CD’s, and Axle played everyone tracks from his CD that will be coming out soon. 

After we left the gang on the bus, we went to the lodge.  That is the home of Chris Francis.  He is currently a carpenter in LA, but at other times in his life he has been a sword fisherman, a tree topper, and a freight train jumper.  He is a legend.  Not only that, but he is only 29, and he already a hero amongst stencil artists.  You can see his work on the covers of Otis Gibbs’ albums and Utah Phillips’ albums (among others).

He makes his home like a lodge in Montana, because he said it helps him live in LA.  The smell of burning cedar chips and the sound of 78 records soothed us to sleep and I think had a healing effect.  I forgot all about the traffic!

I can’t wait to get back. 

All of these pictures are at the Belly Up in Solana Beach.  They were taken by Mike Sherry.  He is obviously an amazing photographer. 

The crowd was awesome. 

RPBDB Belly Up, Solana Beach, CA

Breezy destroys it in Solana Beach, CA

I like to play guitar in Solana Beach, CA. 

Thanks to the Derek Trucks Band, Derek Trucks, Susan Tedeschi, their son Charlie, and the whole crew.  They were awesome.  It was fun talking slide guitar with Trucks, and Susan gave us some great info.  It was just great getting to know everyone. 

This is Daniel from the band Slab City.  Thanks to him we had a great show at Tommy’s Casino in El Centro.  He is the one that hooked us up there.  Next time we are staying with him.  We slept in the van. 

Everyone in El Centro was awesome.  It got a little rough when a fight broke out, and some guns were drawn.  But the bad guys were removed with malice by the guy at the door and I think Slab City!  The show was great.  These are the last few people still hanging out after the bar closed. 

Keep spreading the word, and we’ll keep living in our van and sleeping on floors.  This one was easy though.  Look at the scenery

Breezy is a little too close to this cliff for my taste!

Between Arizona and New Mexico.

In the desert of the Phoenix Valley

This Chicken lives at the rest stop off of I-40 near Sedona.

Jayme, Breezy, and the Pacific. 

Jayme is also too close to the edge!

This woman helped guide us on an Indian Reservation, and they gave us petrified wood. 

Breezy and I in Sedona.

The Pima Indians got the shaft. 

Sedona.

These squirrels came up to us and ate out of our hands. 

Pretty awesome. 

Thanks everyone.  It is through your help that we stay on the road.  We are forever grateful

BIG DAMN TATTOO

Well I think one way or another we have made it.

Yes Gang that is the tattoo of Craig a Big Damn Fan from Pekin, Illinois. He took this…

And he modified it to make the tattoo. We love it of course, and we couldn’t be more proud. We have some amazing things happening this year, and the last few weeks have been really special. Be on the look out for another BIG DAMN photo blog coming in about a week. We have a busy week coming up, on tour with Flogging Molly, SXSW, etc. Come out and say hello if we are in your town, and tune into Sirius Satellite Radio on March 15th for the My Old Kentucky Blog Radio hour. We are performing live, and talking about some stuff coming up.

If you have fan pics, tattoos, fan art, photos, etc., please send them in - we’ll put them on our blog and love you forever.

I thought some people might like to see these pics, and hear a little about our South East Tour. The best is near the end, and I mean the best. Let the nudity and debauchery ensue. Pheno took the ones of us performing, or with me in it. I took the rest.

On Breezy’s Mom’s side of the family they claim to be related to Col. Sanders (their name is Sanders), and they also claim that the family came to Mars Hill, IN from Corbin, KY. As it turns out there is a Corbin, KY and you can find a museum dedicated to the Col. of Fried Chicken himself. SIDE NOTE: The Col. sold his recipe to a corporation and died broke. They didn’t mention that at the museum (in a KFC).

Here Breezy, with the help of Pheno, gets aquainted with her kin, before we get back in the car and head to Monday night’s show.

The first night we played in a place called the Hideaway in Johnson City, TN. The folks there were very friendly, and we had a great time. Sorry - I just liked this picture.

When we got to Georgia, we stayed with my Uncle Larry in Kinston, GA about a half hour from Hotlanta. Near his place you’ll find this old covered bridge. You can see Jayme standing in the light.

In Hotlanta we played at the Ten High Club. The kitchen manager got so into it, that he decided that we could have anything we wanted to eat for free. There was a nice restaurant above the bar, so we ate calamari, and a whole assortment of things. It was dark, and it reminded me of the Patio.

This is us in Nashville, TN at the Gibson Showcase.

This is Breezy showing Nashville how to rock a washboard.

After we performed they had a blues jam hosted by the awesome Nick Nixon (he rules, and was an awesome guy. It was an honor to make his aqcuaintance). This guy is not Nick, no I don’t know what his name is, but his mullet was the most amazing mullet I have ever seen live. He was wearing a kind of weird purple zoot suit, and he got way too into performing songs like Mustang Sally.

This is Breezy and I in the Smoky Mountains - somewhere near Asheville, NC. Breezy got pneumonia - seriously. Before this photo was taken we had to take her to an immediate care place in Lenoir City, TN. They gave her a steroid shot, but they didn’t wear rubber gloves when she started to bleed they had to go find them in another room. The place was at the foot of the smoky’s, and it wasn’t the cleanest facility. It doesn’t stop Breezy from rocking out before or after though.

Breezy is cold. Up in those mountains it even snowed while we were driving in the middle of the night. It was pretty messed up. Pheno and Jayme thought I was going to kill us all. We survived.

We played live on WSGE in the Charlotte area. The folks there were about as nice as you could possibly be. The radio station has an awesome playlist, and they love Otis Gibbs. We knew we had found some friends there.

WSGE

WSGE

We rolled into Greensboro, NC to perform at Guilford College. This is the scene from behind the stage before the party started. Guilford College rules. It is apparently one of the most liberal colleges in the US.

The stage and lights were killer, and the crowd was awesome.

Despite the way below average 35 degree weather, we had a kick ass time from song number one to the end.

Both we and the crowd started sweating…

Jayme rocks the bucket on a song.

Before we knew what was happening, the crowd starts taking off their clothes. (I didn’t see any nips in this photo - it should be work safe).

I censored this one for those at work - this was the last picture before the camera died. Too bad. The crowd just got even bigger and more naked. It was a wonderful thing. We all just had fun together, and danced so much we sweat in the cold. It was a beautiful night.

This is Pheno’s view from behind the merch table. She was awesome all week selling our wares as we moved around like gypsies. Thank you to her!

We came here to take funny pictures, but At the Dale Earnhart memorial in Kannapolis, NC, we saw a family from Kentucky weep at the foot of this statue. The “Dad” tried hard to sound out the words on the plaque. It was obvious that he had a literacy problem. It is sad to think about the people that we raise up in our society, and the money we’ll spend to honor them, while some of us can’t even read.

This picture needs no caption.

Pheno took this picture in Charlotte near the Evening Muse. I thought that some people might find it interesting. It is creepy and on an old fridge.

Here we are at the Evening Muse in Charlotte. I loved this place, and Joe (the owner and soundguy) has worked very hard to make this room sound great. That crowd was awesome.

We made a lot of new friends, and we had a great time. I can’t wait to go back. Excuse the length here. I guess I got on a roll and lost track of time. Excuse any typos

Here are some random pictures from Colorado, Indiana, Iowa, Illinois, and more!

Someone is raising their kids up right.

Custom BIG DAMN BAND Harley Helmet. Photo taken in Kalamazoo, MI.

Jayme hanging out with our friend Patrick (on tour with us helping to sell merch)on the coast of Lake Michigan in Chicago, IL.

Is it Maine? Florida? Is it SoCal? Nope - Michigan City, Indiana.

This Bison is sticking his tongue out at us in the Black Hills of South Dakota.

Jayme and Breezy sitting on the bank of the South Platte River in Bailey, CO.

Here is a pic from the Uptowner in Charleston, IL.

Eat Here Get Worms on a VERY cold day right where the Illinois River meets the Mississippi River.

Wall at the same place.

My secret fishing spot, Southern Indiana.

A Bass that was a team effort catch by Breezy and I. It bit on her pole, but broke the line on some reeds. I jumped in the lake to get it. I claim the catch since I actually brought it to shore, but Breezy technically caught it on her line. I just didn’t want it to have to live life with a hook in its mouth. We just catch and release so we can catch again another day.

This is a shot out the window of the van somewhere in Iowa.

These are photos from the Pre Bonaroo Party at 12th and Porter. All Photos by David Pelham. Captions by Breezy.

The whole damn band

I love this photo of the Rev.

The Rev. Peyton is a happy man

Jayme “Johnsonville” Peyton

Jayme “Johnsonville” Peyton (these are the first decent photos that have ever came out of him while playing)

I was a little excited here.

This is at Jimbo Mathus’s Delta Recording Studio. They said, “Hey you want to make a record?” When? “Now.” So we did.

This is Jayme - he is part monkey.

Breezy rocks the washboard beneath a photo of Charley Patton.

Here we are playing at Sarah’s Kitchen, one of the last real Delta Jukes.

We invited Mr. Tater the Music Maker on stage with us. He plays some of the most wild Hill Country Boogie I have ever heard.

This is me with Paul “Wine” Jones. There is a funny story here. He rocked Red’s on Friday night.

Here we are on the Delta Ave. Stage.

This is at Sarah’s Kitchen we invited Mr. Tater the Music Maker on stage, and also this sax player that showed up.

Me and Mr. Tater

This is the great Robert Belfour. He watched our whole set, and then he and I hung out all day long. He shared with me his “secret” tuning, and he gave me a copy of his new CD. He told me about Europe, picking cotton, living in Memphis, everything. It was awesome. He said, “They would really eat your slide guitar up over in Europe - You should go.” He had just got back. He also lamented having to play with some drummer. He looked over at Jayme, and he said, “He could play drums for me.” The whole thing was awesome.

Then when he played - Jessie Mae Hemphill and Sam Carr showed up. It was amazing.

The Rootsway Festival put us up in Bed and Breakfasts most of the time, and it was really nice. It sure beats sleeping in our van.

This is Ivan He owns this B&B. We gave him a shirt, and he gave us this bottle of wine.

These are the awesome people that took care of us in Rome. I really miss them. That was a special group of people. I cannot wait to return.

This is Sylvia she was our translator in Rome, and she looks exactly like our mom when she was younger. It freaked me and Jayme out.

This was the view from the stage in Bellinzona Switzerland. It rained so fewer people showed up (it was still in the thousands). They danced in the rain until a really bad storm came. The four and a half songs we got to play earned us a spot on the front page of one the national newspapers in Switzerland. What an amazing place. You can see a castle in the distance.

Another Swiss Castle.

Here I am in the courtyard of a Swiss Castle.

And Jayme is hanging out in an old tunnel under a castle.

I love this Breezy self portrait.

I took this picture.

In Rome we hung out with T-Model Ford, Spam, Big George Brock, Bill Abel and Jennifer and Roger Stolle (all some of our friends from Mississippi). T-Model kept us laughing all night. He loved Breezy. He told me that I needed to watch her, and, “If she flags my train I am gonna let her ride. “

Here Jayme is with Spam.

T-Model wanted to play my 1930 National Triolian. He started to play, but he didnt know the tuning. He handed it back to me, and asked me to play him a song. So I did, and I started clowning and showing off. After it was over people clapped, and he said, You had to do it didnt you you had to show me up well I dont blame you Your old lady has been looking at me all night. We were in tears laughing.

This is Breezy rocking out in Rome.

I love this pic of Jayme.

In Rome.

This is Jennifer Stolle with T-Model. Jennifer and Roger Stolle run Cathead in Clarksdale, MS. It is one of the coolest places on the planet.

This is Big George Brock on stage.

The World Cup is a huge deal in Europe, and here some Italians are celebrating a victory. I am so glad they won the whole thing. Everyone in Italy really wanted it too happen, and to be honest we were attacked by mimes and clowns on our layover in Paris. It was very frightening. It made it hard to root for the French in any way.

The food in Italy is amazing. No preservatives, no artificial colors or flavors, all natural it is the law. The stuff they call Parmesan cheese in America isnt fit for human consumption once you compare it to the real thing in Parma Italy. But they dont make a good hamburger! Dinner in Italy is a five plate undertaking that take 3 hours to finish, but Italians are skinny because the food is so much healthier.

I took this picture in rural Italy, because I thought it looked like a Monet painting or something.

We got to play on the Radio in Italy too, and during that leg of the tour David Lee Durham was on the road with us. He is one of the keepers of the Indianola, MS sound (like BB King). He is a kind hearted talented soul. It was a pleasure meeting him, and he asked me to play rhythm behind him on the radio.

Then I played a song by myself. There wasnt room for the whole Big Damn Band in the room.

After the radio show I played more in the lobby, and David and the DJs danced. It was awesome.

On the last leg of the trip we stayed at the same bed and breakfast on a 1000 year old farm, and they drove us from gig to gig and back to the farm to stay. It was awesome. We thought it looked like a scene from the Godfather II.

The cars in Europe are a little small. This van drove us around once we got to the farm.

Another photo of the farm.

This goat was fun to play with. He would head butt you and try to eat your pants. Pretty normal for a goat.

Over the thousand years that the farm has been in there many different groups have taken over. This is what remains of one such group.

On the property there was a 1000 year old catholic church.

This fresca painting was uncovered at that church recently. It was painted over during the plague to sanitize the area, because the church was used as a hospital. This one is especially interesting Mary the mother of Jesus is shown nursing here. A rare glimpse at the breast of the mother of god. It is the only one of its kind that is known. They figure since the church was dedicated to the life of Jesus, that made it ok, only in the walls of this church. Also, some rich nobles of the time period had themselves painted into the fresca in the middle as though they were there during the birth of Jesus. Pretty interesting.

This is Tony Negri and his wife Janice. They are responsible for this tour happening, and they really took care of us. Tony has an amazing story himself. He lived in an orphanage for a while, and when he came to America from Italy he only spoke Italian. No one taught English from Italian, so he had to learn Spanish first so that he could then learn Spanish to English. He is the real deal.

I cannot wait to get back, and I am going to try to find more pics and links. I cant stress enough how kind all the people were too us. It was like a dream come true.