Gypsy Life #2: Touring the U.S., Europe and Japan all the while writing in a journal to sort out the unpredictable moods, ridiculous hours, extreme alcohol intake, and the love-hate social unit within the van or bus. John Mellencamp called about now to have me play in support of his Big Daddy record. TV appearances with various bands include "Saturday Night Live," "Late Show with David Letterman," "The Tonight Show" "Late Night with Conan O'Brien and "Austin City Limits" and "The Today Show."

Solo Records: 13 ribs and Summer Crashing. Secret of the Monarchy Treasure should be here by spring. It's a cool mix of Prince covers and originals with the help of the Houda Brother Twins.

Alejandro Escovedo Tour Highlight: Hearing Tammy Wynette sing "Stand by Your Man" in Nashville the night Conway Twitty died.

Charlie Sexton Sextet Tour Highlight: Seeing a grizzly bear on its haunches out the bus window one morning near Calgary, Alberta, Canada.

Theatre: Cast in Frank McCourt's "The Irish & How They Got that Way" and "The Devil's Sonata" a play about Tartini's evil violin piece. Robert Cornelius auditioning advice "Just show them who you are."

Composing: Peabody Award winning Frontline "Children of Conyers County" and it's follow up "Merchants of Cool" which Rolling Stone called "well, kinda cool." "In MyRoom," "Prince in the Projects," and two long-running PBS educational documentaries "Getting your GED," "Workplace Essential Skills."