Listening to Heartside Hooligans on the way to DC. Keeps getting better.

APRIL 9 2012

I am still buzzing from our experience at COFFEE NATION in Bloomington.  I pounded so many drinks, just looking to try a new spot.  Iced Americano.  Iced Chai.  Banana Pina Colada Smoothie.  Iced Coffee with Peppermint.  I had the shakes, but it was totally worth it.  Everything was delicious, well prepared, and served with a smile.  Thanks so much to Coffee Nation for being so hospitable.  

APRIL 10 2012

One of the mantras for this tour was to play in cities that we have never been to.  Looking to try new places.  See some new fans.  Play some different versions.  So far, I am entirely happy with everything.  Big thanks to our fans for supporting this.  Today we sat at the green logo and spoke of the overnight drive that lies ahead.  Knoxville to Allentown PA, straight through the night.  The road is long, but at least we know it’s there.  I drank a few Iced Coffees with 2 pumps SFV and 1 pump SFC, and it was alright.  I’ve been really into chewing up all of the ice as well, which I think might be a bad habit.  It’s probably better than smoking cigarettes though.  The show was a lot of fun, because the crowd was rowdy…and they were excited for us to be here.  The show was so much fun, that we immediately booked a summer show there.  Cape Girardeau…see you soon.

APRIL 11 2012

OVERNIGHT DRIVE. OVERNIGHT DRIVE. OVERNIGHT DRIVE.

We pulled into Knoxville TN at around 4pm, and were blown away by how cool the location was.  We played Longbranch Saloon, which was crazy good.  Right down the block was Starbucks, Zaxby’s, and Cookout…a few of our favorite southern haunts.  We loaded in, and then immediately set up camp at the green logo.  Matt and I sipped iced coffee and talked about some pre-order ideas that are outside the box…at least we hope they are a little different than last time around.  The iced coffee refills and ideas were flowing and plentiful this fine spring day…something special is on the horizon. Tonight is the overnight drive…but we will stay awake and stay alive.  Stay tuned for more info.  Thanks for reading…it helps me write.

Support the cause:

www.jtwoodruff.bigcartel.com

www.hawthorneheightsstore.com

Love JT Woodruff.

APRIL 7 2012

I feel kinda bad.  I turned down an iced DD blueberry coffee today.  It would have been a great coffee for a nice 3 hour drive to Terre Haute.  But, I turned it down for tradition.  We have a tradition of playing THMV in Terre Haute, loading in and immediately heading to Starbucks on Wabash for pre-show java.  We sit and sip for hours and always seem to talk about Larry Bird.  Today I had Iced Coffee with Sugar Free Hazelnut.  I’ve been going with that lately, and it’s done me just right.  A good change of pace from the peppermint.     We love playing THMV, because the venue is out of the way and kids still seem to find it.  This town just loves rock and roll, and we always have a great time there.  Normally we get a Little Caesar’s Hot and Ready, because it’s behind the green logo…but we abstained this time.  PARTY SUB!  Show was awesome again.  Thanks for being a the hot spot, TERRE HAUTE. We will be back, July 9th.  

APRIL 8 2012

HAPPY EASTER.  One of my favorite coffee stops and record stores are not open today…unhappy easter.  I do want some Cadbury Mini Eggs though.  They are delicious. Since we can’t go to Chess Cafe, we stopped by the green logo for a cup…before we will have another cup later at COFFEE NATION.  I got an Iced Coffee with Sugar Free Vanilla and Sugar Free Cinnamon.  I’m not sure if I like it or hate it.  It’s a little spicy…it might need 2 pumps vanilla and 1 one pump cinnamon.  Mixture might be off…I need to develop the right formula.  It is effective as a change of pace, and a new taste.  I will let you know about COFFEE NATION on my next blog.  Keep the cups coming, and I will keep drinking.  I like to relax with a cup, and reflect about the shows and drives.  We have a long one coming up…Knoxville TN to Allentown PA.  Springsteen will take us through the night.  

See you soon.  Support the tour.  Get tickets at www.hawthorneheights.com  Support Solo at www.jtwoodruffmusic.bigcartel.com  

Love JT WOODRUFF

Friends and fans (Our parents just don’t understand)

APRIL 5 2012

I’m a fan of the Chicago-Land area.  I love the proper parts and the suburbs.  I love it all, and I hope it loves me back.  Every time we are in the area, our lunch spot is Portillo’s.  Home of amazing chili dogs and Italian beef.  We can never get enough, and we never will.  We played Barrington, which is a cool suburb of Chicago.  Nice little downtown area with the green logo on the corner.  I sat and I sipped for hours.  Working, writing, and just living in the sun.  It was a day where sugar free hazelnut seemed appropriate, so I kept filling up my cup.  I think I had four refills, but I lost count when my teeth started chattering.  I was kind of bummed that it was a little chilly outside, which makes the iced coffee seem inappropriate…but I like what I like.  I don’t need rules governed by the seasons and weather.  I sat in this corporate shop and pounded these refills for free, and felt like I bucked the system just for an afternoon.  Barrington, I love thee…

APRIL 6 2012

I love making new friends.  Being in new places.  Discovering the flavor accents of a new coffee bean.  Today has been one of my favorite days in a long time. I am sitting at a coffee house called Lemonjello’s that we are playing tonight.  I have been punishing Iced Americano’s since I got here.  The staff is so friendly, and the coffee is top of the line.  Holland Michigan is absolutely beautiful.  I want to take my lady on a weekend getaway here.  Hopefully the tulips will be in bloom.  I also had a green tea and almond muffin.  Life shines if you let it, and baby today I want it to shine.  The espresso in this Americano is bold, but not bitter…sometimes that’s a tall order. But Lemonjello’s does it right.  I wish I could stay here forever…but I can’t.  All I can do is promise myself that I will come back.  One of the opening acts was so awesome.  They are one of the top 5 best locals I have ever played with.  Everything was just so real and honest, they had me from the first chord.  I grabbed a line from one of their songs…check them out.

“I’M NOT RUNNING AWAY, I’M HEADING HOME.” —-Heartside Hooligans

Try to keep your head up, and allow the blue skies to make your heart shine.

Love JT Woodruff.

FRIENDS, FANS, and CAFFEINDS…

APRIL 3 2012

Yesterday we spent 4 hours at a Starbucks in Bowling Green Ohio, working on a new horizon.  The future is always bright if you want it to be…and I want it to be.  We didn’t really have time to go exploring for new beans today…just had to settle down with an old favorite.  I got a tall iced coffee with peppermint…even though I was already cold.  When I look outside and see blue skies, I really can’t bring myself to drink hot coffee.  I guess it’s just a mental thing…blue skies and iced coffee…get into it.  I had never been to Bowling Green before, but I really enjoyed my experience.  It’s a nice little town just a few dozen miles away from Toledo, another nice piece of Ohio.  BG had a very German vibe to it, which was cool.  A lot of the architecture reminded me of our trips to Europe, which were welcome memories.  I pounded 3 refills, which are free courtesy of my rewards card, and then went a walking…beauty abounds.  The show was at a place called Howard’s which turned out to be cool.  It was an older brick style bar, which was nice.  All of our friends were singing loudly during the set, which was so awesome to hear.  FANS ARE FRIENDS, I WON’T LET YOU FORGET THIS.  

APRIL 4 2012

The day is still young, but I have peppermint on my tongue…again.  It’s nice to have control over all of our new music.  The best part of my day, when we aren’t on stage, is just sitting around and brain storming with these guys about new ideas.  If we want to release new songs, we can.  If we want to go on tour, we can.  If we want to sit and don’t nothing, we can…but we don’t.  We thrive on ideas and productivity.  You have to think way ahead when releasing music for somebody else…but when you do it yourself, you just think about tomorrow.  We are currently sorting through demos to decide what will make it to the next EP.  I’m amped up after only two refills today, but that won’t deter me from getting a 3rd.  BLACK COFFEE AND ASPIRIN (this will make sense later)  Excited for the show tonight in Toledo, because we always have a good time at Frankie’s.  Ate at Tony Packo’s for lunch…got the 2 dog special.  Micah and I love that place.  Tomorrow we go to Barrington IL…hope to get loud.  Check back in a few days for more about coffee and music.  Love you.  reblog or follow, whatever works.

Love JT WOODRUFF.

Fellow friends, fans, and coffee drinkers…

I have decided to start keeping a chronicle of coffee.  Where I go.  When I go. How my cups are. How many cups I drink.  I hope that like it.  I hope you will come back to view them when I post them.  I’m always on the hunt for a new place to go…but consistency always brings me back to the green logo.  

Day 1-

April 1st 2012

This was sort of a hometown show for HH, but not really because we don’t spend a lot of time in Hamilton Ohio.  We heard about a local spot, but it wasn’t open.  So we put Starbucks in the GPS and it brought us to Jungle Jim’s…which is an amazing world foods grocery store.  It turns out Matt went to high school with a dude who was working there, so that was cool.   I pounded 3 tall iced coffees with peppermint.  I have decided to cut half and half out of my routine.  I don’t need the calories haha. The coffee was great.  The hang time was even better.  

April 2nd 2012

Holt, Michigan

We arrived at a venue that we have never played before called Building 21, which turned out to be very awesome.  Nice stage.  Nice sound.  And a built in coffee shop.  We were in straight heaven…so good.  The staff was great at the venue.  The only drawback was that we had to wait until 6pm for the barista to arrive.  I immediately got a 3 shot iced Americano.  3 shots of espresso over ice with a tiny bit of artificial sweetener.  It was divine.  I pounded it down and immediately had another.  6 shots of espresso later we played the show, and had an awesome time.  The ambiance was great…the people were great…the coffee was great.  GR8 GR8 GR8

I listened to Bruce Springsteen’s The River on the drive between shows.  So good.

I will post these a few days at a time.  

If you know anyone who likes coffee or music…please pass it on and follow.  

Be excellent to each other.

Love JT