Summer Greetings Everyone!
Speaking of harmony—we were speaking of harmony, weren't we?—I've been reflecting on my whitewater river runs with old friend Michael Lille. One thing we learned right away is that it's no use trying to fight the river. But when we could get in tune with the flow, the whole world felt in tune.
This month I've got some tasty news and music to share with you.
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Contents of This Newsletter
1. Just home from Ireland (& already looking forward to my 2025 tour)
2. Join my November tour exploring the REAL Nashville, REAL Memphis & REAL Mississippi Delta (2 seats left!)
3. Featured Song of the Month: Hard to Walk Out on a Deal
4. Poem of the Month: My Car
5. Wisdom for our time from journalist & author Jon Meacham
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1. Home from Ireland (& looking forward to my 2025 tour)
I'm recently home from Ireland after a splendid tour with a couple dozen big hearted vibrant souls. These tours are so special, the only downside being the leaving Ireland part!
(BTW it was a cool 58º when we departed County Clare, and it 98º when I landed in Memphis!
1. Which brings me to my 2025 tour
What: My annual Ireland Tour for Inishfree Tours
When: Tuesday, August 12 - Thursday, 21, 2025
Where: Counties Sligo, Mayo and Galway
What Else: Ireland is an incredibly beautiful, culturally rich, musically alive country, and I've been hosting these tours since 2011.
For More: Click HERE for lots of info about the tour at my website's Ireland page, and click HEREto visit the tour company's page.
Note: Inishfree's slogan is “Tours for people who hate tours.”
2. My November Music-Food-Soul Culture Tour: Only 2 (two) seats still are open on the bus (1 double room)
You're invited to join me and my longtime manager/agent Shauna Jamison for a very special tour taking a deep dive into the REAL Nashville, REAL Memphis & REAL Mississippi Delta. We'll explore these bedrock-of-American-music towns and places, will enjoy a lot of great food, share our own music, and much more.
Dates: Monday November 4, through Wednesday, November 13, 2024
Note: On Election Day (Tuesday, November 5) we'll have the evening to ourselves, so anyone who wants to watch the returns won't miss anything.
As of today, we have 2 seats (1 double room) open.
For a brochure and FAQ page, please email Shauna at shauna@tomkimmel.com. She'll also be happy to answer any questions you have. (She's the best.)
3. Song of the Month: Hard to Walk Out on a Deal
I've begun featuring a song-of-the-month at my website, and this month I've again chosen a song I wrote with my late, great friend Tom Prasada-Rao. As most of you know, he was an amazing talent and one of the most generous, loving souls I've ever known.
When you listen, you can tell what a blast we had writing the song. We recorded this “work tape” as soon as it was done, so it was truly hot off the press. And BTW it's on Light of Day, my album of vocal/guitar “work tapes.”
To listen, click HERE to go to my home page, then scroll down to SONG OF THE MONTH. I pray you'll enjoy it.
4. Poem of the Month
My Car
7000 vehicles stolen in Memphis
and nobody wants my car but me
25 years and counting, yes
and nobody wants my car but me
mouse in the heater, rust on the fender
rips in the seats and the tape deck broke
scars on the bumper, tread worn thin
the manifold burps
when the weather gets cold
fogged over headlights
trunk leaking, oil dripping
pulling to the right
and the service light blinking
stains in the drive
won’t start when it’s cold
front end shimmies
if I drive too slow
wind through the sunroof
mud flaps missing
puddle on the floorboard
cruise not cruising
wipers won’t wipe
it’s hard to see
and nobody wants my car but me
—BTW I took very few liberties in writing this poem, though obviously everything I mentioned didn’t go wrong all at the same time!
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5. Wisdom for our time
“Character, as the Greeks first taught us, is destiny.”
—Jon Meacham (b. 1969), journalist, author
Till next month, Maximum Peace, Love & Understanding.
TK
PS Thanks always to the folks at Elixir Strings for keeping me playing the world's best strings for over 25 years.
Pen & Ink drawing by James Polk (Thanks James!)