June 12, 1999

SATURDAY June 12, 1999

That's Much Better!

Well, I should at least explain the above picture, taken sometime last year. Here I am at home, "kickin' back" and reading the Sunday paper. My wife took this photo, and I remember being surprised because I had dozed off, tired from the previous night's gig, and so that explains the look of surprise and the awkward position!

The gig last night went very well. Having a second shot at playing the same music I performed the night before, I was easily comfortable with the music now, and played with more confidence. Everyone could tell the immediate change from the previous night, and the lead vocalist said she really could tell that I seemed rather nervous on the first night.

After our second set, this guy comes up to me and introduces himself, giving me compliments on my drumming, and then says that I sounded great and he had seen the band last month and, trying to be polite not offend the regular musicians, said that my drumming was better. He had said that he goes out a lot to check out other bands locally, and he can tell when a drummer's "happening", and so I took that as a compliment and was flattered.

And what now? The bandleaders, the vocalist and guitarist didn't mention anything about wanting me back. I really hadn't planned on it and I am now committed to forming my own group with Crazy Trumpet Man, and we are now going to be co-leaders in this new band.

I don't know if this variety band I had played with will be hiring me again. They really don't work that much and they all seem to have "day gigs". But they seemed to be impressed with my playing on the second night, everyone looking back at me several times during the gig and smiling. That's a sure sign that they liked what I was doing.

But aside from all that, I DO feel a renewed strength in confidence from playing such a challenging two nights with only one rehearsal and just coming in from out of the cold to do the two gigs.

I feel good about myself again... and that's much better than what I was feeling last week.

MUSIC TODAY...

Return To Forever ~ Light As A Feather

One Year Ago Today

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