Like us, this gorilla feels conflicted about the end of the tour... 

We landed in Houston last night in the wee hours after playing a show in Nacogdoches.  Tonight we head to Galveston for a show at the Old Quarter and tomorrow night, it's Austin to play with Owen Temple and Adam Carroll at Flipnotics.  

Although the Summer Ramble comes to a head this weekend, we've got more shows together coming down the pipe... but this website will probably stop being updated until 2012, should the Summer Ramble be reprised!  Please keep up with me and Matt's musical exploits at our own websites: www.brianhudsonmusic.com and www.mattharlan.com.  Thanks for visiting folks and thanks to everyone who helped make this tour happen.  And thanks to my mom for taking care of Miss Linda.

We’ve been having a great time folks.  We’ve had the privilege of seeing much of the American Mid and North West and have been enjoying the cooler weather up in these parts. 

Since Harlan won the million dollar guitar and got to perform at Telluride almost three weeks ago, we’ve been through Utah, Idaho, Montana, North Dakota, and Minnesota playing gigs, seeing old buds, and making some new ones on our way.  We’ve performed at yoga studios, wineries, bars, coffee shops, parties, and after-parties as well.  One after-party in particular landed us under a brilliant display of stars beside a scene at Idaho’s Red Fish Lake that might make old Bob Ross blush with envy (if he wasn’t dead). 

We also played a gig where there were more dogs than people.  It got me in a sentimental mood missing the hound I had to leave on the farm. 

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Now before we part ways, Harlan and I want to point you guys toward a very special upcoming show at Flipnotics in Austin on July 23^rd.  Not only will this be a homecoming show of sorts me and ol’ Harl, but we’re also going to have the privilege and honor of hearing the great Owen Temple and Adam Carroll as they interpret the music of legendary country music songwriter Gary Floater.  Me and Matt might end up doing a Floater song as well, so save your ears for this great bill folks!

Matt and I also want to thank the following people for the kindness they’ve shown us on our tour: John Wilson in Houston, John and Lori in Duluth, Mike Swenson for the hang in Bismarck, James in Bismarck, Reba in Ogden (for a rich hang on a work night), Lee Penn Sky and Callie for digs in Boise, Marsha and Denise in Sandpoint, Mary Louise and Patty Zapp in Missoula, and Parker Graves and family in Billings. 

Check out the new newsletter for more propaganda!

We got to the Telluride Bluegrass Festival on the 16^th.  My tour partner Matt Harlan won a slot, out of 600 contestants, to compete against nine other singer/songwriters from around the country in the Troubadour Competion held here annually.  Anyway, he won first prize yesterday, and so we’re gearing up to watch him singer-songwrite his way into the hearts of about a zillion stoned Festivarians tonight before the Decemberists take the stage!   Way to go Matt!

The Telluride Festival gets the Hudson/Harlan thumbs up.  Also, big thanks to Mateo Meany and his roomie Sarah for the Denver digs and the morning hang and big breakfast.  

Somewhere between Ft. Davis and Marfa, TX.

Yesterday we got into Marfa, TX after a stay at the La Quinta in Ft. Stockton.  On our way we stopped off at the Balmorhea swimming hole and took a dip there.  So far, we’re having a lot of fun... we’re hitting some old haunts and some new ones too... hanging out with old friends, hanging out with new friends.  I’d like to just real quick thank our gracious hosts in Angelo: Shawn Lewis for the digs and house concert and Toni at Fifi’s for the gig.  Also, big thanks to the Library in Ft. Stockton for funding our concert at the Zero Stone Park. 

Okay, so Marfa, in case you hadn’t heard has a reputation for being a strange and interesting place.  But it’s not just empty promo buzz; this place is unlike any small town I’ve visited.  There’s an eclectic mix of hipsters and cowboys haunting the streets on Saturday night, and people are talkative, snarky, and like to mix it up.  That seems to hold true for the locals as well as the visitors.

Last night, we met and got to hang out with a writer from Pitchfork, the lead singer of the El Orbits and Banana Blender Surprise (Sir David Bebe), and also, good ol’ Bo Hill just happened to be in town buying an airstream. 

It was an oddly familial gathering.  By some Marfan magic, Bo happened to know David’s little brother, the writer chick (who was visiting from New York) knew some member of David’s family, I knew Bo, and Matt and David knew each other from Houston.  As Matt noted, despite our somewhat random convergence in Marfa, there was a nexus connecting all of us to one another. 

Speaking of things no one seems to be able to account for, we’re going to try to see the Marfa lights tonight.  And tomorrow we’re going to play on Marfa public radio (93.5), and head down to Terlingua for a gig at the Starlight Theater, and then we're off to New Mexico.  Tell your peeps!

Note to Mama... so far the road has been friendly kind to us.  The van seems trust-worthy, we're eating enough, and almost sleeping enough.  

More soon...

Hey y'all, Brian and I have officially kicked off the Summer Ramble 2011! And if our first shows in San Angelo and Ft. Stockton are any indication, this is gonna be an excellent tour! From our temporary headquarters at the La Quinta we are planning the route to Marfa with a little detour to Balmorhea in the cards. We'll be posting more pictures and exploits here soon, but we wanted to let y'all know that we've got a few new shows posted and an excellent poster that our buddy David Richardson created. If you're interested, we can probably even print you up a copy or two...let us know what ya think and stay in touch y'all!

Folks, this is the first in what will surely be THE blockbuster travel blog of the summer. For now though, the story is that our tour is in place (though a few more shows are coming down the pipe), and y'all oughtta check it out.  Go on!