The Good Cowboy

As I write this it’s 4 a.m. in Louisiana, and we’ve just checked into a roadside hotel after our show in Houston.  Tomorrow is a drive day, during which we’ve got 16 hours to go, en route to begin the final leg of the L(i)fe on the Road tour in Orlando.   The show’s have been incredible, and it’s been an emotional trip to say the least.

Checking my email before bed, I found this waiting in my inbox:

“Hello B,

This email address was the only one I could find for you, I hope you don’t mind. But I thought this would be something that would touch you…help you realize your affect in the world, if only on what would be considered a small scale.

About six months ago my four year old son and I were driving cross country. It was the middle of the night and I thought he was sleeping, my iPod was on shuffle and your track Still Electric played. When it was over I was surprised to hear a little voice from the back seat asking to hear it again. I obliged….three more times. I asked him what he thought about it, and he replied, “The robot is sad because he is breaking.”

So I decided to play The Failure for him, a very edited version of it. And he was completely enthralled. When we got home I made him his own playlist of your work that had, for the most part, age appropriate language. (I might be a terrible mom) But as a result when it’s dinner time and his turn to pick the music we listen to you, when he cleans his room, when he plays and colors, when he gets ready in the morning for sure you are playing somewhere in our little apartment.  He loves the tracks where you, whom he calls “The Good Cowboy”, and “The Sad Robot” sort of duet and interact.

I wanted to thank you for inspiring Ben the way you have, what you have created has become his first love and inspired countless games and imaginary adeventures for The Good Cowboy and The Sad Robot. I’m not sure what you’re hoping for or expecting out of you career as a poet or hip hop artist but I think you’re a complete success.

I attached a photo of a painting Ben did in class…”

Click to Enlarge:

The years only halfway over and already it’s been an incredibly long haul that’s required a number of difficult personal sacrifices.  I can’t really describe what this message meant to me, and the many like it I’ve received from you all in the course of the year.

Just this morning I was thinking about a similar story a friend told me about her son’s connection with ‘The Failure,’ and trying to wrap my brain around the idea.  I remember being that age and having a wooden spoon for a microphone, with a sequined glove my grandmother made me, pretending to be Michael Jackson.  The idea that the deeply personal things I’ve made could be occupying that place in someone else’s life is totally unexpected and overwhelming…

Anyhow.  Just wanted to take a moment to appreciate all of your appreciation and show you this.

See you soon,

The Good Cowboy

B. Dolan will be joining Sage Francis on the following upcoming Tour Dates:

US:
Orlando, FL – Club at Firestone – 6/18/10
Atlanta, GA – The Loft – 6/19/10
Carrboro, NC – Cat’s Cradle – 6/21/10
Washington, DC – Rock and Roll Hotel – 6/22/10
Baltimore, MD – The Ottobar – 6/23/10
Philadelphia, PA – Trocadero – 6/24/10
New York, NY – Webster Hall – 6/25/10

Europe:

Sage Francis with B. Dolan:
Sept 15th – Bristol, UK – The Fleece
Sept 16th – London, UK – Scala
Sept 17th – Brighton, UK – The Freebutt
Sept 18th – Manchester, UK – Roadhouse
Sept 19th – Glasgow, UK – Stereo
Sept 21st – Lyon, France – Ground Zero www.grrrndzero.org
Sept 22nd – Poitiers, France – Confort Modern
Sept 23rd – Nantes, France – Pole Etudiant (FREE SHOW!!!)
Sept 24th – Marseille, France – Marsatac Festival http://www.marsatac.com
Sept 25th – Metz, France – ZIKAMETZ FESTIVAL METZ
Sept 26th – Paris, France – La Machine http://tinyurl.com/2flzkm2
Sept 28th – Copenhagen, Scandinavia – Lille Vega http://www.billetlugen.dk/
Sept 29th – Lund, Scandinavia – Mejeriet http://www.kulturmejeriet.se
Sept 30th – Oslo, Scandinavia – Living Room http://www.billettservice.no/
Oct 1st – Upsalla, Scandinavia – Ordsprak Festival (POETRY SHOW)
Oct 2nd – Stockholm, Scandinavia – Södra Teatern http://www.sodrateatern.com/
Oct 5th – Brussells, Belgium – Botanique www.botanique.be
Oct 6th – Hamburg, Germany – Uebel & Gefaehrlich http://tinyurl.com/35doa58
Oct 7th – Berlin, Germany – Cassiopeia http://tinyurl.com/3a83m7f
Oct 8th – Amsterdam, NL – Sugarfactory http://www.ticketmaster.nl/
Oct 9th – St Gallen, Switzerland – Palace http://www.palace.sg/programm/tickets
Oct 10th – Lasaunne, Switzerland – Le Romandie http://tinyurl.com/265oxq5

Australia:
Dates will be posted soon.