Things are going well here in GA, I’ve been able to get a bit of work doing carpentry, but nothing stable or full time yet.

Abe and I have been writing some new songs, as well as working on HV songs and some new covers … We hope to be gigging around the area within the next few weeks or so.

As far as the studio goes… We have been working on soundproofing the walls, because we really don’t want the cops showing up during our first recording session. So, once that is done, we’ll paint the walls and lay down the hardwood flooring, and we will be pretty close to finished with ‘er.

Well, I’m back in Georgia. Seems like I keep ending up here when I least expect.

Abe and I are going to start playing shows in the area after we have some time to adapt.

We hope to help build and finish our Dad’s home recording studio as soon as we can, so we can get in and record some new material… We’ll also be working on HV stuff simultaneously as Jake and Ferrick will be doing the same in Houston.

I’m getting really excited about writing some fresh music.

Will keep you updated.

By Dave Houck

Driving towards Austin from Houston for the first time was a beautiful experience in itself; nothing else could have put me in the right mindset than to gaze out over the fields and Savannah-like terrain. With the sun pouring down upon us, and the cool, spring air rushing in the car, I found myself thinking that I was in South Africa, more than once. And almost found myself looking out the window, trying to spot an animal.

We arrived in Austin around 2-3 pm and the weather could not have been better. Driving towards our destination, which was the venue we were to play at later that evening, had an almost medicating touch to it. I came upon the realization that all of these tons and tons of people (including all the beautiful women) that we kept passing by, are here because of one thing, music! Now, I have raised my respect level for music itself. It is powerful!!! It’s art that brings thousands of people together, changes moods in an instant, and can make someone’s not-so-great SXSW into the best day or week of their life (so far).

I saw a few talented musicians, but there was one that I must say truly gave me an inspiration that was long needed. Ferrick called me at 2:30 and said that M.Ward was playing in an hour or so. So Abe and I rushed down to see if we could catch the show. We got there just in time, Matt walked out on stage and Abe said to me, “look, he’s not one of these kids.” He didn’t have to look like someone special. He came on stage, very casually, and played the best solo show I have seen, to this day.

Thank you to all the folks that came out to see our show, and to all who helped make this thing a success.