December 4: Orange Crate Art

Just letting the converted know that I have had a most excellent North-American tour. I want to thank the folks who came out see the shows, along with those who don't live in the immediate nearness of where I played. Hopefully I'll be closer next year when I bring my beautiful band over, The Faces Down, to play again. And, as you probably already have understood, this will allow some of you to more easily attend the show. This goes for America as it does for Europe, and - who knows? - Japan.

I've had some bad throat nights and more complication with the voice than usually, but I enjoyed the concerts very much. And I got to play Van Dyke Parks' "Orange Crate Art" - the prettiest song I heard all year - every night, for the people present. All our favorite cities were sold out and we even had Thanksgiving dinner with friends in the greatest of them all, namely San Francisco.

Yesterday I played at Union Station, DC while a legendary Norwegian Cross Country skier lit the Christmas tree lights on behalf of the Norwegian Embassy. Music works in mysterious way and I'm lucky in that way, I can let the music do the talking. Except for when my inner talkshow host gets carried away between songs in my sets. Strangely, the embassy did not ask for a speech.

The whole embassy thing was surprisingly amusing, and we met som nice folks, both Norwehian and non-Norwegian. The great pianist Haavard Gimse plays a free show in one hour. A show all three of us (Joergen, Atle and myself) are truly sad we will miss. The airport calls upon us, and we have no choice but to reply with our own selves and passports.

Two more things: I have named my dear new record. It is to be called "Two Way Monologue", as you may already have noticed on the front page of this publication.

I am now returning to Bergen to put the songs together and send the record away. And what a joy this last seremonial gesture is. I can't wait till you hear it. I will have to contain myself, ever so long. Come last week of February and we can all share this thing. If you will. If I may.

Even the cover pictures are taken, during what was a very special photo shoot in NYC last Monday. I won't be quoted on saying who I worked with - yet - but we had a ball shooting the bastard (me).

Now I cross the Atlantic with my nose full of stuff and my pocket full of pills. No, not like that, I've caught a severe cold. (that joke never fails. Let me know if it just did.)

Your Grinsch,
Sondre Lerche