Back from 6 feet underground.
Dear readers,
Tonight was another successful practice for Old Man, preparing for this Friday's show, our first for 2005. Aaron, our new (and hopefully full-time) bass player continues to amaze me with his mastery of the instrument - one that he claims to not have much experience with. What's nice too is that he's filling the sound in just the right ways - emphasizing the root when needed, and then going off the beaten path when there's space for it. I'll admit that the music Paul + I write is already pretty jam-packed with notes, so it must be hard for someone with Aaron's talent to come in and sort of lay back, but I'm so glad he does.
I'm excited about this Friday's show, but of course simultaneously nervous as always. Will there be a good crowd? Will what crowd is there get into our music? Have we done anywhere near enough promotion for the show? Will Aaron be fully up to speed by then? Is what we're doing even any good?
You'll please excuse me - I've been going through one of those phases where I doubt whether Old Man has what it takes to rise above the countless other bands that come and go without ever really getting anywhere. Sure, we have fun playing our music, and try to play at least one show a month, but do we have what it takes to stand out? Will we ever be that band that folks go to see just because they know they can expect a great, solid show? I fear often that what we possess in talent, we lack in ambition, or at least the hustle necessary to get the word out. Blah - it will pass.
So yes, I promise that if one and all reading this post attend this Friday, I will not freak out and ball up into a fetal position on-stage. At least until after the last number...
Love,
Neil
Tonight was another successful practice for Old Man, preparing for this Friday's show, our first for 2005. Aaron, our new (and hopefully full-time) bass player continues to amaze me with his mastery of the instrument - one that he claims to not have much experience with. What's nice too is that he's filling the sound in just the right ways - emphasizing the root when needed, and then going off the beaten path when there's space for it. I'll admit that the music Paul + I write is already pretty jam-packed with notes, so it must be hard for someone with Aaron's talent to come in and sort of lay back, but I'm so glad he does.
I'm excited about this Friday's show, but of course simultaneously nervous as always. Will there be a good crowd? Will what crowd is there get into our music? Have we done anywhere near enough promotion for the show? Will Aaron be fully up to speed by then? Is what we're doing even any good?
You'll please excuse me - I've been going through one of those phases where I doubt whether Old Man has what it takes to rise above the countless other bands that come and go without ever really getting anywhere. Sure, we have fun playing our music, and try to play at least one show a month, but do we have what it takes to stand out? Will we ever be that band that folks go to see just because they know they can expect a great, solid show? I fear often that what we possess in talent, we lack in ambition, or at least the hustle necessary to get the word out. Blah - it will pass.
So yes, I promise that if one and all reading this post attend this Friday, I will not freak out and ball up into a fetal position on-stage. At least until after the last number...
Love,
Neil