Band stuff
Saturday last, CAPD marched in Alexandria's St. Patrick's Day parade. We were among the first pipe bands to march, and I believe we took first place (as we usually do). There were a bunch of odd distractions that maybe knocked some of us off balance, and maybe we could have played better. I think though, that despite the challenges (several of us, including myself, forgot show-stopping uniform pieces and we had to scramble last-minute to make things work) we played a totally excellent show, and once again I am proud to count myself a member of this band.
After the parade, we stopped at Pat Troy's for lunch and libations. My companions and I all had the Fish n Chips. Once we finished our lunch and walked back to the car, changed into street clothes and headed off, I thought things were going to be sweetness and light. Wrong-o. I started feeling pretty nauseous, and barely made it in the door before time to drive the porcelain bus. I attribute it to the heavy food, beer and over-exertion piled on top of not-much sleep. I'm better now.
Fast forward.
Today, I'm working a job at Discovery Communications with a familiar crew. Jack runs the studio, Johnathan is the Producer/Director, and they seem to rotate camera/sound crew but I see the same faces all the time. The sound guy, Rick, had to follow me to the garage, and he noticed my new vanity plate which says "SNRDRUM." He asks me if I'm a drummer, which of course I am. He says that he's got a nice practice space with a drumset, he's a guitar player and he's got a bass player he jams with on occasion and would I like to get together some time? Well, duh.
Actually, that's like the best thing that's happened to me directly in a while. I love playing with Alexandria, I enjoy the responsibility of teaching and it's associated rewards, but I pine every day for my drum set. I fantasize about playing super-tight rock/funk Led Zeppelin Peter Gabriel the Beatles the Meters the Police Primus Dave Matthews Band in tiny little venues for 20 people and blowing their doors off. I lust after falling into the pocket with a solid bass player while vamping to ABC or I Want You Back. I drift off thinking about odd-meter syncopation, Hemiolas, four-on-the-floor, backbeats as solid and enormous as quarry stones.
And Hopefully I've found it all.
After the parade, we stopped at Pat Troy's for lunch and libations. My companions and I all had the Fish n Chips. Once we finished our lunch and walked back to the car, changed into street clothes and headed off, I thought things were going to be sweetness and light. Wrong-o. I started feeling pretty nauseous, and barely made it in the door before time to drive the porcelain bus. I attribute it to the heavy food, beer and over-exertion piled on top of not-much sleep. I'm better now.
Fast forward.
Today, I'm working a job at Discovery Communications with a familiar crew. Jack runs the studio, Johnathan is the Producer/Director, and they seem to rotate camera/sound crew but I see the same faces all the time. The sound guy, Rick, had to follow me to the garage, and he noticed my new vanity plate which says "SNRDRUM." He asks me if I'm a drummer, which of course I am. He says that he's got a nice practice space with a drumset, he's a guitar player and he's got a bass player he jams with on occasion and would I like to get together some time? Well, duh.
Actually, that's like the best thing that's happened to me directly in a while. I love playing with Alexandria, I enjoy the responsibility of teaching and it's associated rewards, but I pine every day for my drum set. I fantasize about playing super-tight rock/funk Led Zeppelin Peter Gabriel the Beatles the Meters the Police Primus Dave Matthews Band in tiny little venues for 20 people and blowing their doors off. I lust after falling into the pocket with a solid bass player while vamping to ABC or I Want You Back. I drift off thinking about odd-meter syncopation, Hemiolas, four-on-the-floor, backbeats as solid and enormous as quarry stones.
And Hopefully I've found it all.