payson, AZ

Just finished our first concert of this long tour in Payson, AZ. very pretty area. we had an assembly for high school students today and finished with an evening concert in Payson sponsored by the local fine arts organization.
The seats were almost 100% filled which always makes for a more enjoyable show. Touring artists always say you can't let audiences determine how you peform. But, after being on tour for 7 years across the world and after being on a live TV show performing for millions....I don't care what anyone says....the better the audience...the better the show. It's all about feeding them energy from the stage and them giving it right back. No way around that.
Tonights crowd was great. couldn't ask for much more. I hope the rest of the tour goes well like this with the audiences.
for now i gotta get some rest...we have a 9 hour drive into Vegas in the morning.

New Music Video

Check out Youtube for the new Matt Wertz video...the song is called "Everythings Right." Actually...the song is not that new, but I'm just getting around to letting my friends know that I have a short cameo in the music video. Not really sure how I got a part in the video. I was in Nashville, TN with Lara for a few days and went with a couple friends to the video shoot in downtown Nashville just to watch. I somehow got recruited to be the photgrapher in the video. It was kinda fun....
If you watch the video I can be seen around :54. But don't blink cause you might miss me...haha.
I think I saw this video on VH1 recently, but I could be wrong.

remission

Just realized its been forever since I have posted a blog. sorry blog friends...I guess I am getting too caught up these days on twitter and facebook.
About an hour ago I had my 3 month check-up with my Oncologist. He reported to Lara and I that my last CT scan looked great and that I can officially say that I am in remission. And there is no need for another check up scan for another 4-5 months. That is great news as I'm about to leave on tour for the west coast. There was never any doubt in my mind that the cancer was coming back, but its always a huge relief to hear the doctor say that to me. Especially before my month long tour coming up.
The day before the Chapter 6 tour I'm flying to Portland, Oregon to see my favorite band Keane live in concert. Its their last stop in the USA for this tour and I couldn't miss the chance to see them again.
Then I fly to Phoenix to meet up with the band and we go from Phoenix to Vegas to LA to San Diego and then we travel North through Cali and then we somehow end up in Edmonton, Canada after many stops that i can't even remember right now. This is always my favorite time of year to be on tour. The weather seems to always be just right. Although...in LA the weather is just right about 99% of the year.
I will do my best to blog more over the next month while on tour, and once again sorry to my faithful blog readers for not posting a blog in almost 2 months. I will do my best to not leave my blog stranded anymore.
I'll enjoy these last few days of down time and then its back on the long road.....

bermuda triangle

Just flew home from Baltimore today where we returned back from our Cruise to Bermuda. Absolute paradise. We had 2 concerts the during the entire cruise so the work load was not all that tough. Unfortunatly none of the Chapter 6 wives were able to come because of their own work schedules. One day as we were all swimming in a cove in the beautiful coast of Bermuda I started laughing at the fact that we were actually being paid to travel to the Islands of Bermuda and swim in coves and eat all the food we wanted for free. Something just doesn't seem fair about that. It was too good to be true. Living on a cruise ship for one week was long enough for me. those rooms are tight.
Its good to be at our home in Missouri for the week until I get back on the road this weekend. If you want to see our tour dates check out chapter6.com. chicago this saturday night and then west virginia on monday night. And then.....I have 3 weeks off!! First time in a long time. Lara and i will finally get some alone time before I hit the road in September for several months as we tour the west coast. But for now, I am gonna enjoy Starbucks every day, boating on the lake, working out at our gym, watching movies at home, not sleeping in a hotel and enjoying having no chemo. I have my 3 month follow up CT Scan next week but i have no worries cause I feel great.
Word.

It's Hot!

Just got back from Orlando, FL with Lara for a concert I had in Winter Garden, FL. I had a chance to meet and perform with the band called Adam's Road. A great group of young men who are also touring non-stop. Their tour bus is out of this world. I had a chance to sing with my guitar for about 30 minutes and then performed a short set with Adam's Road to finish up the concert. Thanks to all who came to the concert and supported the American Cancer Society in the Orlando area.
Today I am off to Illinois for a rehearsal with my music director for my California concert Sunday night. Thursday night I am with Chapter 6 in Lakeside, OH, Friday night with Chapter 6 at Crawfordsville High school at 7pm, Saturday night at Williamsville, IL at 8pm and then I fly to Mt. Shasta, CA on Sunday morning for a 7pm concert that night at College of the Siskiyous. After Sunday night I am going to try to catch my breath for a bit before the madness starts up again. If I see any Starbucks between Ohio, Indiana, Illinois and any airports I will travel through then I will be surviving off of them for the week just to stay awake.
I just swam 1k yards and ran a mile in the scorching sun. During each stroke in the pool and each stride as I ran I couldn't help but think that one year ago from today I was in round 2 of chemo. It feels so good to have somewhat of a normal summer now.
If you live in Ohio, Illinois, Indiana or California....I better see you at one of my concerts this week. Back on tour in 30 minutes.
Easy now.

its been a while

I know it has been a while since I have blogged. this is the longest i have waited to post a blog and it is because i have been on the road non stop on and off tour for the past 2 months. This summer is quickly filling up with tour dates across the country. It starts this weekend at a relay for life event in Bradley, IL on June 13th. Then I am off to Indiana, Florida, Ohio, Illinois, California and then a week cruise with Chapter 6 to Bermuda. I know...I have a tough job. I have been reflecting back recently on last summer. It was exactly 1 year ago that I had just finished my first chemo. There was so much uncertainty in my life and it didn't seem fair that I had to put my life on hold for 8 months. I was trapped in the world of cancer and didn't want to show any weakness because of all the attention that came along with it. There didn't seem to be any light at the end of the tunnel. But now I am so blessed to feel so healthy to travel and share my music, my story and meet other people who have been through similar struggles. Its great to be alive.