Guten Morgen,

I'm writing this blog rather early in the morning (well, "early" given the times I've been able to go to bed over the last few months) and from one of the prettiest locales I've probably ever seen: Tubingen, Germany.There are around 85,000 people living in this very picturesque, and currently snow-covered city, and I was honored to play a sold-out show to an incredibly warm and engaging audience last night. Definitely another highlight of this very inspiring trip; my first ever travel to Europe, and my first ever shows here.

I need to begin by sincerely apologizing for not writing sooner.  I've had many things come up over the last couple months that I definitely wanted to share, but given the dearth of free-time I've been able to come up with, with all of the touring lately, most of my non-music time is spent either lying down to rest, or staring at a wall.  Fortunately more of the former.  :)  But I am sorry for not having connected with you sooner.  I will absolutely attempt to write more often  in the near future for certain.  In any case, I suppose giving an update now might be wise.

The recent US tour over October and November was amazing, but went by way too quickly.  I was very fortunate to be able to tour with a fantastic band and group of guys named Slow Runner who played as my band, and I sat in on guitar with.  We played a lot of music, drank a healthy amount of Guinness (let's consider the word "healthy" as used relatively here ;), and didn't get much sleep.  So overall it was the perfect tour.  Also joining us was my friend (and album contributor) Caitlin Crosby,who perfectly opened up the shows every night, and who has the kind of voice that makes you want to hook her up to one of those old machines in 60's Sci-Fi movies that allows you to trade personalities and qualities with (you know the one, where you sit next to each other with a big metal strainer on top of you head and electricity flowing between the two people), just to get maybe a touch of that beautiful voice of hers.  (hmm...that was probably slightly more creepy sounding than I intended).  All that said, it was a great trip, and I was so happy and excited to get to play to truly wonderful groups of people every night.  Thank you for taking the time to share the evenings of music with us.  And for those of you that weren't able to make it to the shows, please do yourself a favor and check out Slow Runner and Caitlin Crosby today. 

Following the end of the US tour, I went home for nearly 12 hours, hopped back on a plane, and woke up in Frankfurt, Germany, not quite sure how I got there.  It was rather surreal to walk outside and have this keen sense that I wasn't anywhere near home.  But I have to say that over the last several weeks, I have never felt so welcomed so immediately, and I'm confident and proud to think of Germany (and Belgium, France, Austria and Switzerland :) already as a home away from home.  In every city we've arrived in, we are met with kindness and good-nature, and some of the most fun and receptive audiences I've had the honor of playing for.  I've also had the great pleasure of meeting so many wonderful people here after the shows and can't wait to return and share more music with.  Europe has had such brilliant people, architecture, geography, and food, that I'm starting to ponder the idea of finding a nice little home over here someday.  It honestly is an awe-inspiring continent, with beautiful people to match.  And to all my wonderful new German and European friends who came and shared the shows with us, I can't thank you enough for welcoming me and my little songs so very well. Please accept my humble gratitude and know I already can't wait to return and see you again!

I'm not certain what the new year will bring, but at the very least I will do everything I can to get back to Europe soon.  To those of you who didn't get tickets in time for the sold-out shows, we will definitely come back and play again soon.  Please keep on the look out for tour announcements and pre-sale tickets when we do return!

I will also likely be doing some touring in the states soon in the New Year as well, so please do check back in for any related announcements on that.  

As for right now, we have about a week left of shows remaining, so I'll look forward to seeing many of you there.  

After this trip, it's back on a plane (and three movies and one ipods worth of music later) back home to Illinois.  I will spend the holidays catching up on sleep, spending time with friends and family, drinking hot chocolate, watching Scrubs and Office DVDs, and throwing snowballs at neighborhood kids.  Now that's what I call living :)  I'll also be sure to write another update which includes some pictures from the European tour so you have a good idea of the amazing things these eyes have been lucky enough to see.

Thank you so very much to all of you who continue to support me by buying the music, coming to the shows, and spreading the word.  I'll never be able to thank you enough.  But I will continue to try.  

Talk with you soon,

- William