The release.

I had a wayy too brief but wonderful trip to Atlanta yesterday. Loaded up the Tahoe will all our guitars, amps, and overnight bags, and me, Kim & Susan, and my guitar player Andrew all buckled up for a 4.5 hour drive to Decatur, GA. I swear, it felt like it was taking FOREVER. It's like, knowing you're going to Disney World or something and your parents have to stop and get gas, and then to the store to buy snacks, and then you get lost, and blah blah blah. Haha. But we finally did arrive to Eddie's Attic just in time for soundcheck. Cute little venue. Basically just The Bluebird of Atlanta. Seeing Erika almost made me cry. I don't see her NEAR as much as I should and that blows. We're so alike it's creepy, and I knew that a visit with her was just what I needed to get my head straight. So we had a LOVELY show. A very appreciative, humorous, and easily entertained crowd. All my songs went over well, with the exception of 'What If I'm Gone', which I played guitar on as well and my guitar player didn't really steer the ship all too well on that one for me. I mean, hello? I'm obviously NOT a fabulous guitar player. Yet. I did "Lean", which I don't ever do. Ever. But it was a request from Rena, whom I've known forever online but only met a few times. This song means the world to her and got her through a VERY hard time, so there was definitely pressure. That, mixed with alcohol, mixed with the fact that I never sing it...I was TOTALLY impressed that I hit all the notes and remembered all the words. Also did my new song "Livin Up To Your Lies" which was probably the crowd favorite. Oh, it's so good to know that my anger issues have a pay-off at some point. Also did "The Only Thing Harder Than Leaving", which I haven't done in forever and that went over really well too.
Speaking of that song...

This is what we got today in our email from this week's Music Row. A review from Bob Oerman.

RACHEL WILLIAMS/The Only Thing Harder Than Leaving
Writer: R. Williams/K. Copeland/E. Corley; Producer: K. Copeland & R. Williams; Publisher: Sage House/Corleysongs, ASCAP; HER (615-429-5032)
—She has the goods. This creeps up on you with cat’s paws. The languid pace, echoing instruments, spacious production and her hushed, aching delivery are all immensely seductive. The lyric of leaving home is full of terrific details. And her falsetto leaps in the bridge are like little daggers to the heart. A mini masterpiece. This, by the way, is the third single in a row that I have raved about from this performer. So program her, already.


Perspective.
I'm so incredibly lucky to do what I do and have people dig it. Seriously.

In other words,
I'm seriously considering going sober for awhile. Last night, Erika and I drank SO much and don't get me wrong, it was totally fun. I mean, we totally stayed out of trouble, didn't drive. It was low key, just chillin and talking out on the patio, drinking. But then, when you wake up and you feel like shit, your head's going to explode...you then remember all the shit you drank and the junk food you ate while buzzed...it kinda makes you feel like crap. And I feel like every few days I'm like "Holy crap, I'm NEVER doing that again" or "I need to stop going out". Uhh...maybe I should listen to myself every now and then.

That, and I've been told that I'm "running my body to hell". Which, I suppose means that not only am I super busy, do I work out all the time, do bootcamp, sing my ass off, but I also PARTY? This person was in disbelief. And since I've been getting ill so often lately, I figure that staying out all night and partying probably isn't helping my body. At all.

So I'm going to try. Probably not going to be able to go COMPLETELY sober, but if I can resolve to going out once every 7 to 10 days...I think that's progress.

I need a nap.