Growing up in North Dakota, I don’t see it with the fresh eyes of people visiting for the first time. My tour compadres who had not spent time in the state were blown away about the reception they’ve received in North Dakota. Kudos North Dakota, you may not have Mount Rushmore, but your people are much friendlier than stone faces carved on a mountain.

In between shows in Fargo and Bismarck, I booked us to play at the Angry Beaver Lodge in Oakes, North Dakota. Oakes, a town just shy of 2,000 people, was on my radar because I spoke to the high school and grade school last January. I’d befriended the high school’s computer science teacher, Larry. While chatting with him on Facebook while organizing my end of the tour from Guatemala, he offered to put us up and encouraged me to bring the tour to Oakes.

The owner of The Angry Beaver lodge had told me on the phone that he’d be happy to have us, but that he’d be surprised if anyone came out on a Monday night in August the day before school started. I told my touring amigos that we should not expect there to be a PA, or anyone in the audience at the Angry Beaver.

There may have not been a PA, but there were people! People not even came out, but they listened intently to every nuance of the songs. “That was the most receptive audience we’ve ever had!” Julianne said after the show.

But the whiskey on the cake in Oakes was getting a chance to hang out with Larry. At his house after the show he poured us each a glass of 21-year-old birthday scotch. The scotch was from his 50th birthday party he had celebrated earlier that year. We watched some videos that his students had made, which for high school creations were as amazing as Larry is dedicated to teaching his students how to make them. Then Hek and I picked up are guitars and played music that fit the moment. Larry, all our hats are off to you for your amazing hospitality and company. Seriously bud, cheers.

Travel Write Sing at Rhythm Records in Bismarck

To everyone who came out in Bismarck to our show at Rhythm Records, you have further blown away the Icelander and the Iowan/New Yorkers by how straight up nice people you are. Everyone keeps bringing up what a great guy Richard Loewen, the owner and mastermind behind Rhythm Records, is. I’m thrilled that a place like RR exists in Bismarck and I know where my little sister Mary will be hanging out this year. . .

As the tour goes on, everyone is meeting more and more members of my family. Most of the time, they come up on stage to collaborate with us. This time it was Jake Armstrong, who came up to sing about Ramblin’ Rovers and Pirates.

Pirate Song – Jake Armstrong

Ramblin’ Rover

For two days in Bismarck, we all had an ongoing blast. After the show, we had a Whiskey in the Woods with friends and sang campfire jams till the wee hours.

Yesterday we spent some time with Sky and his recording equipment to cut some rough tracks for a Travel Write Sing 2014 Tour EP we are going to be putting out. On their trip to Medora, Julianne, Tom and Heck picked up a harmonica player, Jerome, from the bar who could play the harp like it was built into his teeth. His brought his harmonica, energy and inspiration to our recordings. And with my sister Teresa’s friend Samantha playing the fiddle, the music had a special sound,

Basically, we are all still processing how much fun the last three days have been, and how wonderful people in North Dakota have contributed to this elation. I’ll stop writing about it, because you can only use the word “wonderful” and “amazing” so many times in a post. Here’s some of the highlights:

HEK “Whistling Around Town”

“Virgin” – Julianne Mason & Tom Hoy

“Little Red Beating Heart”

It of course would not have been a proper visit to Bismarck, without seeing my 85-year-old grandpa. Hek thought he was going to play a song just for him, but we showed up just in time for the rosary. A nun who was to lead the rosary delayed at my grandpa’s request so that he could play.

This however was not Hek’s first time playing in a church…