Coming to a City Near You – Two

Earlier this week  Elizabeth and Sutton set out on a grand adventure.  They are off on a three country – yes country – musical tour.   So much for a once a month, week-end hobby.

Elizabeth has always been a traveler.   She likes to see places. Experience.  Explore.  She’s drawn to ideas and people rather than things.

Sutton is the same.   He’s traveled much of the world and explored other cultures.

While most couples take a honeymoon after they marry, Elizabeth and Sutton drove from California to Michigan and  flew off for six weeks to attend the 2010 World Cup soccer matches in South Africa.  They attended three matches, explored Africa by car, met new people from around the world, ate new food, went on a safari, and tried to get killed by a hippopotamus that attacked them  while taking a leisurely canoe ride with the local crocodiles.

After they returned to the states, they bought a new car, camped their way back to California and discovered what the northern states have to offer.  They arrived back home in California after another six weeks had passed.   This was not your typical honeymoon.  It was an adventure.

They both have had somewhat “normal” jobs for the past several years.   Elizabeth is a licensed clinical social worker and served as the director of a residential treatment center for troubled youth in San Diego. She’s also written a couple of “hope to be published” books and continues to expand her passion for writing.  She has started her own, “Kissing With Hats”, blog.

Sutton has held several jobs in the food industry.  He’s also expanded his passion for music by developing a “solo” musical act.   He’s sung in several establishments throughout Arizona and California.  He’s always accompanied by his constant, silent companion, Phil the Tip Jar.

After moving to Flagstaff two years ago, Elizabeth utilized her social work training to provide guidance to local college students and visitors to the Grand Canyon while serving drinks from behind the bar at a popular local “watering hole”.  Sutton sold restaurant supplies in Flagstaff and the surrounding area.  He rose through the ranks and has been offered promotions and been the target of several “head hunters”.  (United States head hunters, not African)

I expect that their experience has led them to a common conclusion.   For Elizabeth, there will always be people in need of her counsel.   As for Sutton, he knows that he can “sell sausage and napkins”  (his words) anywhere in the world.  These revelations have led to the grand adventure.

They have taken their show on the road.   Sutton and Phil will be singing their way through Mexico, the United States, and Canada.  Elizabeth will be expanding her blog, writing more books, and recording their journey.  (She also plays a mean tambourine)  While the visits to Mexico and Canada will be brief, they make this an international tour.

They’ve leased their Flagstaff home to others for a year, bought a new vehicle, and trained their dog, Jonesy, to sleep in a car.   While their tour schedule is in a constant state of flux, they’ll be Coming To A City Near You.  You’ve already missed two shows in Tucson, but if you leave right now you may be able to catch their final show at the Tekila Bar in Rocky Point, Mexico.

4/22 Che’s Lounge/Tucson
4/24 49ers Country Club/Tucson
4/25-4/30 Tekila Bar/Rocky Point, Mexico
5/2 Monte Vista Lounge/ Flagstaff
5/3 Black Bridge Brewing Co./Kingman, AZ
5/4 Southgate Brewing Co./ Oakhurst, CA
5/9 Beaumont’s/ La Jolla, CA
5/16 Beaumont’s/ La Jolla, CA
5/18 Barley Mash/San Diego, CA
5/19 Helix Brewing Co./La Mesa, CA
5/20 Solace Moonlight Lounge/ Encinitas, CA
5/21 Host Open Mic Night Pappy & Harrietts/Pioneertown, CA
5/23 Ohana Kitchen/Sunset Beach, CA
5/26 Malibu Wines/Malibu and MadeWest Brewing Co./Ventura, CA
5/27 The Deer Lodge/Ojai, CA
5/30 The Cats/Los Gatos, CA
5/31 Jam Cellars/Napa, CA
6/1 Brian Arden Wines/Calistoga, CA
6/2 The Starling Bar/Sonoma, CA
6/6 Ax and Fiddle/Cottage Grove, OR
6/7 Central Saloon /Seattle, WA
6/8 Lazy Boy Brewing Co./Everette, WA
6/9 Big Rock Brewing Co./Vancouver, BC
6/12 Laurel Thirst/ Portland, OR
6/13 Reef/Boise, ID
6/16 Pinky G’s Pizzeria/Jackson, WY
6/20 O’Dell Brewing Co./Fort Collins, CO
6/22 Black Shirt Brewing/Denver, CO
6/23 Gary Lee’s Motor Club/Denver, CO
6/26 Mark Twain Brewing Co. Hannibal, MO
6/27 Evangeline’s Music House/St. Louis, MO
6/29 The Brass Rail /Fort Wayne, IN
6/30 Deck Down Under/ Jerome, MI
7/10 East Market Brewing Co./Detroit, MI
7/11 Phog Lounge/Windsor, Canada
7/13 Boatwerks/Holland, MI
7/14 Shady’s Tap Room/Brooklyn, MI
7/19 Dark Horse Brewing/Marshall, MI
7/21 The Deck Down Under/Jerome, MI
7/23 Private Event/Big Twin Lake
7/24 Paddle Hard Brewing/Grayling, MI
7/25 Short’s Brewing Co./Bellaire, MI
7/26 The Shed @The Beer Garden/ TC
7/27 Snowbelt Brewing Co./Gaylord, MI
7/29 Tahquamenon Falls Brewing Co.
8/2 Blackrocks Brewing Co./Marquette, MI
8/3 Ore Dock Brewing Co./Marquette, MI
8/4 Blackstone Pizza Co./Iron Mountain, MI
8/5 Freshwater Tavern/Escanaba, MI
8/8 Lake Ann Brewing/Lake Ann, MI
8/9 The Shed @ The Beer Garden/TC
8/10 Cheboygan Brewing/ Cheboygan, MI
8/11 Grand Traverse Distillery, TC
8/12 Creston Brewery/Grand Rapids, MI
8/14 Stagecoach Inn/Marshall, MI
8/23 Eastern Market Brewing/Detroit, MI
8/24 Stormcloud Brewing Co./Frankfort, MI
8/25 Loggers Brewing/Saginaw, MI
8/26 Luddington Pub/ Luddington, MI
8/30 Grill 44/ Bear Lake, MI
9/1 The Shed @ The Beer Garden/TC
9/6 Eastern Market Brewing/Detroit, MI
9/7 Northville Winery and Brewery
9/11 John & Peter’s/New Hope, PA
9/15 Wigle Whisky/ Pittsburg, PA
9/19 Mark Twain Brewing/ Hannibal, MO
10/15 Monte Vista/Flagstaff, AZ
10/16 Page Springs Cellars/Cornville, AZ
10/17 Vino Di Sedona/Sedona, AZ
10/18 Spirit Room/Jerome, AZ
11/1 Adelbert’s Brewery/Austin, TX
11/16 Red Silo Brewing/Cookeville, TN

I am excited for my two travelers.   I couldn’t do it, but I’m happy for them.  Some dreamers just dream.   They are acting upon theirs.  They have only each other, and Jonesy, to account for.

So take a look at the schedule and mark several dates/locations on your concert attending calendar.  Save your five dollar bills to help fill Phil.  I promise to update you each month as new viewing/listening opportunities are added to the list.

One final note:  As I said when Sutton first asked if he could have my permission to marry Elizabeth, not that they need to be taken care of, I want them to take care of each other just the same