Howdy Cats and Kittens from Springfield MO, I'm here in Springfield to open this little tour of the Midwest. I've been really busy this year with our new album. I still have to call it an album, not CD. After all, it is still an album. I've been so into it, that I can't remember much of what has happened this year. I know that we did do a fun tour of Canada with Huevos Rancheros. It was my favorite time in Canada. Stompin' Tom Rules. In October, we went down to Willie's studio on Lake Travis to work with Paul Leary and Stuart Sullivan on what is probably my best album ever. But, it seems that I'm never a good judge on those things. I will say that it was the most enjoyable session that I've had partly because of the setting -- the Texas hill country. Deer, Willie, wildlife, the lake, golf, nice people and gorgeous scenery. Everyone should visit Texas at least once. The hill country can be so rugged it is almost surreal. Cactus, rock, Mesquite trees that can cut you up. Rolling hills with views like no other. Lakes with forty foot cliffs. Bats. I love all of the caves and the bats. Anyway, Paul Leary is our producer this time around. He is the guitarist for the Butthole Surfers. I think that Paul is a genius. He restored an old '30 Chevy (or something like that) when he was fifteen. I have a lot of respect for what he and his band has accomplished. Their lead singer, Gibby Haynes, produced our second album, "The Full Custom Gospel Sounds Of The Reverend Horton Heat." Paul worked on that one too in preproduction. On this project, Paul had me going for more of the straight rock-a-billy and Rev.-style stuff with a little bit rawer sound than some of our later stuff. Actually, I'm glad Paul liked this direction I took back to the good old Reverend Horton Heat stuff that got me and my boys where we are today. We can always get a little "out' like we have done on other projects. And, over time, those projects will hold up. But, this project has some crazy stuff too. More crazy guitar solos, better singing, more Fender spring reverb, great bass slappin', great sounding drums that are as tight as Mae West's girdle. I would like to thank Paul Leary and Stuart Sullivan for all of their great help on this project. Now, what the silly critics say may be another thing, but, they can't deny that we are the best "Reverend Horton Heat style" band in the whole universe. So, I got back from my session in Willie World for Thanksgiving, and, here we are six days later -- on tour. I love it. I have to go now. I have to practice my guitar. Why? Our opening band is Los Straitjackets. Therefore, we are going to have to play really good. When the opening bands are this good, I know that this whole thing is getting crazy. I think one of the Straitjackets guitarists is Eddie Angel. He's a great player who was in a band called the Planet Rockers. They were pretty much one of the best straight rock-a-billy bands in the world. Check 'um out. Until Whenever, Jim "The Reverend Horton" Heath