Rich O’Toole Tour Diary, Week 1: BBQ in Memphis, Hangovers in Texarkana

Texas country star Rich O'Toole, who has had 14 Top 10 hits at Texas radio, embarked on his national Jaded Tour on Oct. 9. He'll visit more than 20 cities before the trek wraps up in Nashville in November, co-headlining some dates with the Novel Ideas and supporting Corey Smith and Joe Ely on select dates as well. Throughout the duration of his tour, O'Toole will be a guest blogger on The Boot, providing a weekly tour diary entry about life on the road with his band and crew.

Well, the 2014 #JadedTour has officially begun! And what better way to kick it off then in my home state of Texas!

This is a new band I'll be heading out with, and they've already shown to be on the same level of professionalism and maturity you've come to expect with my music. Max is an incredible guitarist out of Nashville, who shreds up and down like a wood chipper, LOL. Goose is our monster drummer, also out of Nashville, whose playing is just as solid as his culinary skills. Joe is holding down the low end on bass, and also documenting this traveling circus.

After picking up the gang in Nashville, we decided to hit up some Memphis-style BBQ before we got to Texas. We had a perfect lunch from Central BBQ and continued on into Texarkana, where we stopped off for some local flavor.

After Texarkana...hungover!!! We traveled to my mother's house in Houston, Texas, where I was born and raised in the beautiful southern city, where I cooked dinner for the band and crew.

After Houston, we traveled into Floresville, Texas, to share the stage with Whiskey Myers, which also included meeting some great fans as part of the Tacos With O'Toole VIP package.

I have had a blast on the first week of tour, and as I type in San Antonio, Texas, we are already having a blast and can't wait to send the next week's diary! Stay tuned, and come see us on tour!

God Bless!!!

-- Rich O'Toole