9/15/10 Missoula Montana

Today were driving across Montana to Missoula. I really love the road when I get a chance to have inspiring scenery like this.

Another shot from the road of the Montana countryside.

While we were driving I caught a shot of this vehicle. I think I will be searching for one of these in the future. I would really like to take the live painting on the road and this would be a awesome touring ride.

Sarah E. sporting the sleeping bandanna in the van.

Listen for the silence

36" x 48"

Acrylic on canvas

This is the live painting for Missoula. I am really feeling like I am hitting a stride with the live paintings. The whole band is coming together on this tour and the energy is incredible.

9/14/10 Bozeman Montana

Cody York and Sarah Young taking a self portrait while loading in the van before the show. The photos on today's blog are provided by Cody York. I forgot to bring my camera to the show. Thanks Cody!

Cloud Cult stops for tacos in Bozeman.

For the rest of the west coast Cloud Cult is touring with Mimicking Birds. Check them out the music is amazing!

Cloud Cult hanging out before the show in the green room.

After the show we stopped off at the Pita Pit for some delicious morsels. We met up with some fans and took some pictures with them.

I can see clearly

48" x 38"

Acrylic on Canvas

This was my live painting for the night.

A better cropped photo of my painting.

The New Cloud Cult Running with the wolves Video!

Cloud Cult - Running with the Wolves from Eric Power on Vimeo.

9/12/10 Etown show in Boulder Colorado

Sunday we performed the Etown show at the Boulder Theater with Shawn Mullins. It was a great experience for us doing a radio show with a live audience setting. Nick and Helen and the whole Etown crew were wonderful to work with. It was really great to work with such a well oiled production machine. Singer / Songwriter Shawn Mullins also performed Sunday night with us. I have to say his show was amazing. What a incredible voice. After the show there was a after party at the Hotel Boulderado where we got the chance to hang with the folks from Etown and Shawn Mullins. The whole experience was incredible and many thanks to Etown and all of the hospitality that was given to the band.

The shot above is Craig sound checking before the live radio show.

Arlen chilling while I was getting our levels set on the in ear system.

Shannon watching Sarah Young practice parts for the finale song. I liked this shot because of the classical nature of the pose. Shannon has a very elegant disposition about her. For that reason it is visually inspiring using her as subject matter in my photography and paintings.

Sarah Young also with a very classical pose at sound check.

Shannon posing for the camera. I try not to let people know they are being shot but in this instance Shannon caught me.

Jeraline, Connie Minowa's mother trying out Sarah's cello before the show. Jeraline is the nanny for Nova Minowa for the first few shows of the tour. She also fills the van with home baked cookies! Good to have a slice of home while on the road.

A shot of the Hotel Boulderado from the outside. This is were we stayed while in Boulder.

The lobby of the hotel. The Boulderado had the most amazing old architecture and the staircase was stunning.

A shot of the stained glass ceiling. I have done a bit of stained glass work myself so when I see work on this scale I really have a true appreciation for it.

With and without wings

48" x 36"

Acrylic on Canvas

This is the live painting done for the night. Connie Minowa and I collaborated on this together due to the stage size. The painting was inspired by a previous painting I had done in studio (Angels and Ambulances) . This is some imagery that I will return to in the studio as the meaning and visual intent evolves. I believe this is the first collaborative painting Connie and I have done in a couple of years. I feel it went really well, we both have grown tremendously as live painters in the last couple of tours. There was several moments that I felt we were completing each others visual thoughts. The painting sale profits were donated to help the folks in Boulder that lost homes in the recent wildfires. The painting raised $5000 that night. It is a honor to contribute to people in need while on the road. Thank you Boulder for all of the fantastic adventures.

September 11th @ The Bluebird in Denver

We are back in Denver playing at the Bluebird. This is one of our favorite venues in one of the greatest cities. After making the long drive from Minneapolis we were very happy to arrive in such a welcoming town. There is something about seeing the ridges as were driving into Denver that sets a perspective on scale and where our place is on this earth. I am thankful for the travels and the understanding it gives me.

While in town I got the chance to hang out with my brother-n-law Tim and our friend Laura. We ate a great Thai place just down the block from The Bluebird. I would recommend Tommy's if your passing through Denver. Actually I think the band eats at Tommy's every time we pass through. It is difficult to pass up great Thai food.

Cody York a great friend and amazing photographer is traveling with us on the Cloud Cult Light Chasers tour. You can catch him selling our merch or behind the lens at a show. Check his work out at:

http://codyyorkphotography.com/main.html

His work is nothing short of fine art. Thanks Cody for being such a creative.

A snapshot of the crowd in Denver. Sorry about the poor shot. I just poked the lens through the curtain before we went on stage.

Grasping the Light

Acrylic on Canvas

38" x 48"

This was the live painting for the night. I am feeling better about the coordination of rotating the painting making it dance to the music. It is good to see the paintings dance. I have always felt the life in them and now they have movement.

Cloud Cult Tour 2010 Northfield MN @ The Lions Den

Well we (Cloud Cult) are on the road again and I am really looking forward to painting on stage each night and to the audacious experiences that touring offers.

Tonight is the first night of my new easel ME2010. I have spent the last several weeks designing and fabricating this stage easel in the garage with my brother-in-law Joe. After several long nights grinding, drilling, welding, and filing this easel gets it's maiden voyage. The easel is designed specifically for my stage performance and yes it even has disc brakes! Thanks Joe for all of your hard work on this project.

This is a shot of the easel from the back. As you can see this is no ordinary easel.

The tray is designed that the paint will not fall on to the stage floor. This is a issue I had in the past due to excessive jumping, singing, and dancing to the music. As you know if you have been to a Cloud Cult show you just can't help yourself.

Arlen taking some much needed down time before the show. He also drums for the opener tonight so rest well my friend. We are lucky to have Arlen on the Cloud Cult crew. He gives everything to the show and the results are nothing short of amazing.

Sarah E. warming up in the green room before the show. Sarah is the latest addition to Cloud Cult. The french horn is one of my favorite instruments and Sarah being a multi instrumentalist ( piano, trumpet, vocals, accordion, & french horn!) adds a wonderful depth to the music. Again this Cloud Cult crew is a gifted bunch!

Shawn Neary warming up on the acoustic in the greenroom. Another amazingly gifted singer, songwriter, & multi instrumentalist. Not to mention one of the kindest people you will ever meet.

As they appear

36 x 48"

Acrylic on Canvas

This is a shot of the painting after the show. These paintings are taking a new turn in my progression. Feel free to comment and let me know what you think of the new works.

A shot of the crowd right before the opening chords of the show. Thank you Northfield for such a wonderful show. It was a honer to perform with you. The energy that night was a gift.

More snapshots from the studio. New Work for the November show!!

In progress painting about life, regret, love and growth. The final will be shown at the November show at the Tarnish and Gold Gallery in Minneapolis.

Two more paintings in progress about still moments and the things that escape us.