"On Labor Day weekend, 1999, I attended my first "Burning Man Festival" It's hard to explain, but it's basically a gathering of 25,000+ people out in the middle of the Blackrock Desert of Nevada where artists, musicians, dancers, performance artists, sculptors and incredible diversity of creative folks go for a week to do whatever it is that they do, with as much intention as possible. It's an experimental temporary community in an extraordinary environment. (you can learn more at www.burningman.com).

That year I took many photos of all the goings-on, but I knew that the next year I wanted to do something more. I hoped to be able to cruise around the huge open area that the festival happens in while still being able to do the arts of playing music and taking photographs, so I invented what I call the "Realmsmobile" - a recumbent tricycle which tows a bike trailer. Attached to the front of the trike is a miniature drumkit. I am able to play drums with both hands, pedal and steer simultaneously, all while towing a passenger in the trailer. The kit consists of a large roto-tom for a bass drum, a 6 inch timbale with snares under the head for a snare drum and a "crasher" percussion instrument modified to sound like a hi-hat. I also have a mini ride cymbal, crash cymbal and another small roto-tom. The whole kit is miced or has a pick-up on it which goes to a small resistance mixer, then to one of two small battery-powered amps that sit in the trailer. There are four inputs total, which means I can play drums while my passenger sings and plays guitar, for example. There are four bike flags with many laminated photographs attached, which makes it a traveling photo gallery as well. I've recently added a 12 volt battery system for installing lights and other things that can plug into an automotive cigarette lighter adapter.

As it turns out, Jamie was featured in the T.V. program called "Weird Wheels", in the episode called "People Power". It airs on the Discovery Channel and the Home & Lesiure Channel several times a year. Heep your eyes open for it.

Realmsmobile appeared again at Leftover Salmon's festival, "Planet Salmon", Jamie led the parade with the Rebirth Brass Band marching alongside. It also appeared in Portland, Oregon as roaming entertainment. for The String Cheese Incident's New Year's Eve festival.

Look for Jamie on the Realmsmobile in 2005 at The High Sierra Music Festival in Quincy, CA June 30-July 3 and at Burning Man in the Black Rock Desert of Nevada Aug. 29-Sept. 5!