Gaia Consort Rocks the House
Last night I went to a most excellent house concert featuring Sooj Tucker and Gaia Consort. Once again, GC rocked the house (quite literally). And the great thing about a Gaia Consort show is the way the crowd really connect with the music and with each other. That may have something to do with this being a home-town show, and an intimate (well, 50+ people) house concert, but I think the music and the energy of the band allow that to happen.
Once again, after going to a live show, I am itching to make music and do art. This happens every time I see a great show, either music or theater. And it doesn't usually happen at the larger venues (except perhaps for a truly tight band like Rush or System of a Down), but at small concerts and fringe theater. I just get so stoked up that I want to create and perform.
Typically, I then run out of steam for these ideas soon after. I now know that my heart problems were a big reason for this, since a sustained output of energy would just leave me wrecked. At this point, however, I think I've recovered from surgery enough that this may not be as much of a problem. Now the thing to overcome is the 'muscle memory' of 'knowing' that my energy will ebb. I'm so used to this pattern that it's hard for me to believe that it might be over.
And given that I'm now working full time hours for the first time in years (more on that later), i think I need to give myself the ability to go slowly, one step at a time. But, as of today, I am really jones-ing to make some music. It was a force of will to avoid buying an acoustic guitar today. I've got an electric (though not one I'd want to play live, since string changing is a real pain and I'd want a different guitar without a floating bridge for that), and I can practice on that. Drums are harder to practice, since my only time to play right now is pretty much in the time slot I've reserved to spend with my daughter after work (or after she goes to bed). And while i think the drums are "my instrument", the guitar is much more useful for solo playing and song writing. So I guess I'll have to work on both of them ;-)
Once again, after going to a live show, I am itching to make music and do art. This happens every time I see a great show, either music or theater. And it doesn't usually happen at the larger venues (except perhaps for a truly tight band like Rush or System of a Down), but at small concerts and fringe theater. I just get so stoked up that I want to create and perform.
Typically, I then run out of steam for these ideas soon after. I now know that my heart problems were a big reason for this, since a sustained output of energy would just leave me wrecked. At this point, however, I think I've recovered from surgery enough that this may not be as much of a problem. Now the thing to overcome is the 'muscle memory' of 'knowing' that my energy will ebb. I'm so used to this pattern that it's hard for me to believe that it might be over.
And given that I'm now working full time hours for the first time in years (more on that later), i think I need to give myself the ability to go slowly, one step at a time. But, as of today, I am really jones-ing to make some music. It was a force of will to avoid buying an acoustic guitar today. I've got an electric (though not one I'd want to play live, since string changing is a real pain and I'd want a different guitar without a floating bridge for that), and I can practice on that. Drums are harder to practice, since my only time to play right now is pretty much in the time slot I've reserved to spend with my daughter after work (or after she goes to bed). And while i think the drums are "my instrument", the guitar is much more useful for solo playing and song writing. So I guess I'll have to work on both of them ;-)