All the best to you and hope to see you somewhere.

Mikey

First of all, I have two co-written cuts on Macy Gray’s new album, Big, coming out March 27. Please buy it and send Travis and Justin to college… I also got to work at the Hive with Nick Hexum and 311. I played trumpet on a slammin 311 reggae track for a Sony animated feature. And I am going back to produce more tracks for Nick’s solo record as well.

We did a week of sessions for Kirk Wheeler’s new record at the world’s coolest studio, The Bank. He and I co-wrote two tracks for it. By the way, you can check out our previous co-write Drunken Eyes, in the audio section. The musicians that played on the session are some of the world’s best. No joke.

I am also playing piano and keyboards for the Reprise Production of Sunday in The Park With George, directed by Jason Alexander and starring Tony Award nominees Kelli O’Hara and Manoel Felciano. And I played with Daniel Powter on the Tonight Show with a massive great band, including Dave Levita, Sean Hurley, and Victor Indrizzo.

I hope February is half as exciting…

Luxembourg City was a real surprise. Although it is small and sleepy, the town is very picturesque with a steep-walled canyon cutting through the middle of it. We were treated to a Christmas fireworks display and a charming Weinachtsfest, a German-style Christmas fair. You can buy all sorts of unique gifts, old-fashioned toys, jewelry, candles, various arts and crafts, and the occasional glass of gluhwein.

And now for something totally different...the city of Berlin. I visited Berlin in 1996 and the city continues to change at a rapid pace, especially in the former Eastern sector. Although there are plenty of creeping reminders of the West (Starbucks at the Brandenburg Gate), there's a local flavor emerging too. Jesse and I visited Tacheles, a squatters colony of artists, painters, and DJs. It was an inspiring evening, full of counterculture, graffiti, and off-license bars.

I must admit I am looking forward to Manchester. The gigs there should be a triumphant finish for 2006. See you there?

We had a short break between Chicago and our return to Europe. I got to spend Thanksgiving with my family in Park City, Utah. Justin explored a strange, powdery, frozen substance called snow. I have so much to be thankful for.

Despite my bleary jet lag eyes, the shows in Greece were outstanding. Athens was most appreciative and in Thessaloniki we played a club called the Principal. It was nice to feel the proximity of the audience in a smaller room. After a few days off in London, we played the Russell Brand Show. Now the proper European tour begins...

We played the Aragon Ballroom in 2004 on the You Are The Quarry tour. It was one of our best shows on that tour and this time is no different. The crowd is lively and jam-packed and the sound quality at the venue is very good. I had some family and friends out to the show since this is my part of the country. They enjoyed it a lot.

Kristeen Young is opening for us again on this tour. She has Jeff White on drums with her and they sound very powerful, especially for a two-piece. She is talented and charismatic - I hope that the world discovers her.

Monterrey was another excellent Mexican gig, although not as hyped as Mexico City. We played The Youngest Was the Most Loved for the first time on this tour. And we got to see some of Jesse's family after the show, including his mother Josie.

Monterrey as well is a lovely city, tucked against the mountains. It is smaller and more manageable than Mexico City and the quality of life here seems higher. We all know the problems of poverty, corruption, and emigration that face this country. Still I feel the beauty and sincerity of Mexicans and their culture and it's sad that tomorrow we leave Mexico behind.