Hello everyone,
Sorry it has been so long since I have posted.
The tour has been going really well overall. We moved through the west coast, down across the southwest USA, and headed back to the southeast. Most of the shows have been really well attended, and I just wanted to say thank you for that. We are almost finished… we will play our hometown (O.K., none of us are really from Tallahassee- but its where we live when we are not on tour), New orleans, Austin, Monterey Mexico, & Houston- and then we are done! A very long tour… starting in Europe back in May. But its almost finished.
We all had a couple of days off. I would be happier about that if I had not come up with FOOD POISONING!!!! Nasty stuff. But I seem to be getting over it. I just finished a short interview for Sonic Seducer… they asked me to reflect on 2004. It got me doing just that, and I have to say this was a difficult, yet important year indeed.
We had some personnel changes, major equipment changes, a new cd, another re-mastered cd, a very long tour, and worked on our upcoming DVD. All kinds of things happened behind the scenes… from a flooded studio to the death of my grandfather, lost luggage and broken down touring vehicles- and we still somehow managed to pull through. We got our music into the itunes store, went to several new countries, and added backup singing with the dancers. Even after one of our dancers left us on very short notice, we quickly found a replacement and lost no momentum. It was hard. I think that sometimes people have no idea the toll that doing what we do takes. But I have to say, with some degree of satisfaction, that we did it.
I really believe the difference between succeeding and failing is often vision, desire, & resolve. By hook or by crook, we have stayed on target. Now I am not saying things will get easier, or that we have hit the zenith or anything- or that there won’t be issues of people coming and going… but I think given the dramatic stumbling blocks we faced, that it is clear that as long as we believe, and as long as our fans believe, there is a high probability of our continued success. To that end we will give our most, and try our best.
We have some great plans for 2005. A new album perhaps, a dvd, another European Tour is being booked as we speak. I think that CXS will take some stabs at higher profile media coverage, a higher profile tour (although maybe shorter in length), and with our fan-base continued support… well, anything is possible. We will be continuing to improve our show and our music, as well as update our equipment.
Aside: In fact we have replaced the ibook we used as a master computer with a high end apple powerbook. The gains to our capabilities have been… well, impressive.
Anyway, Thanksgiving is almost here. CXS will spend it on the road, traveling between New Orleans and Austin. I guess the thing I am most thankful for is the support of the fans, the dedication of the band, dancers, & crew, and the opportunity I have had to make a positive impression (hopefully) through music and art. I would ask any of you who want to let Rachel, Chris, George, Jessica, or Sarah know that you appreciate what they have done for the CXS, please feel free to email them. The letters of support from our fans really does mean a lot. I know it sounds kinda funny- but morale can drop a bit when you are out on the road for so long… and I think its important that the band remembers why we are on the road in the first place.
I guess that is all for now. Obviously i am in a strange mood, perhaps more introspective than normal. But it is the tours end- and before its over- i want to say with all sincerity, THANK YOU to all our supporters, friends, fans, & families. You make it all worthwhile.
Live, Love, Be, Believe
Rogue