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What an incredible way to kick off the tour! Because of my deep connection to Yogaville in Virginia, playing at the Institute in NYC has been a dream of mine since I started singing Kirtan. Setting up this particular night was the catalyst for booking this tour.

We had a very easy drive into NYC, and found the institute without any trouble at all.

The folks we met were all helpful and kind, and the presence of Gurudev could be felt strongly throughout the rooms and halls of the building. It wasn’t until after we set up all of our gear and did a level check in the Heaven room, where we would be playing, that they told us that room was Gurudev’s apartment in NYC! What a blessing!

This stop was the first one on the tour where I got to meet up face to face with a friend from the ilovefuzz.com forum, a place where you can find me pretty much every day discussing the joys of guitar pedal related joys.

Meet Steev!

Steev was kind enough to film a bit of the beginning of the set with Marshall’s camera:

The first kirtan tour is just around the corner. Right now the house is atwitter with preparations, interspersed with attempts to relax as well. This morning was spent folding all of the laundry in the world, as well as setting aside the bits that would be coming on the road.

I’m putting all of this aside to say:

Whether or not you agree with or support a/the war, let’s all take a minute out of the day to give thanks to those who have given up free time, holidays, sleep, their kids first steps to graduations, and in many cases, their lives. People like them are one of the reasons we are allowed to disagree with war, after all. Pray (or …wish, if prayer isn’t your thing) for their peace, and safe return.

And say another prayer to the families of those brave soldiers, another to those we have lost, and still another to those that have lost someone.

Om shanthi shanthi shanthi

The tour is approaching faster than I ever thought possible! I started planning this late last year, and as I’ve said on here before, it’s as much a labor of love as making Waves was. I have no label support, no booking agent, no management team. I’ve sent out what feels like a million emails, and received a lot of gracious response and offers of assistance from all over the east coast.

Here is the way things are standing at the moment. There are still a few holes in the schedule that I would absolutely love to fill. Open spots and general target areas are listed. If you’re in these areas and can assist us with contact info for potential hosts, or are willing to put up some wandering bhaktis for an evening, we are certainly ready, willing, and able to sing for our supper! Contact tour@jdavydwilliams.com if you think you can help.

Friday June 4th – Integral Yoga Institute, New York City New York
Saturday June 5th – Kitchari Kirtan, Cambridge MA, hosted by Tom Lena
Sunday June 6th – Venue TBA, Providence RI with the Inclined and Seismic Feedback
Monday June 7th – Currently Open! NY State, Massachusetts, Connecticut area would be ideal.
Tuesday June 8th – Ahimsa Yoga, Ithaca NY
Wednesday June 9th – Shakti Yoga, Buffalo NY
Thursday June 10th – Currently Open! Pittsburgh, PA area is ideal.
Friday June 11th – Currently Open! Morgantown WV is definitely on the path we’re traveling on, but so is Harrisonburg VA.
Saturday June 12th – Twisted Branch Tea Bazaar, Charlottesville VA

I’ll be bringing along my trusty Bina#26. Basement Bhaktis joining me on this tour will be:
Arcadia Williams: DJ/Loop Controls
Patrick Allen: Live synths
Marshall Camden: Live synths

…and of course, everyone will be singing.

You can expect to hear a mix of things from Waves, as well as a few traditional chants reinterpreted, and some new songs as well.

I am thrilled beyond words to get out on the bhakti path and meet and sing with a bunch of new people. We all are.

Om Shanthi,

We’re coming up quickly on my first Kirtan in Staunton Va. I will be hosted by the lovely Shanti Om Yoga studio on West Beverley Street. Doors are at 7, and the cost is $8 dollars in advance or $10 at the door. I can’t wait to see you all there!

P.S. – Make sure to check out the Live page for the latest dates in my upcoming Summer Bhakti Tour!

I want to take a second to put a spotlight on my pal, my homie, my BFF Bruce Stocking. Last week I had the honor and pleasure of attending his graduation from firefighters academy.

Here he is on stage getting “pinned” by his wife, Eliza. The pin is a gold bar with a “thin red line” in the very middle. There are lots of interpretations of what the “thing red line” signifies. One says it symbolizes the camaraderie between firefighters. Another is that the red line represents the firefighters, and it acts to separate good from bad, order from chaos.

I like to think that I’ve dedicated my life to serving others, but there are people out there, people like my friend Bruce, who really take service to the next level. They take it upon themselves to go to a person on what is likely the worst day of that person’s life, and put themselves in harms way for that person’s benefit.

I feel really blessed to be able to spend time around such a brilliant example of selflessness and service. Going forward in my life, when someone asks me what I think “service” means, it’s Bruce I’m going to think of. When someone asks what “one-pointed attention” and “meditation” I’m going to think of Bruce walking into a burning building to save innocent people. Bruce, and people like him, are Karma Yogis without a doubt.

Bruce with his mom, Cathy, and wife, Eliza.

Kudos to Bruce on his Graduation.

Om shanthi shanthi shanthi,

Jdavyd