Wow ...

Wow ...

And again, I say ...

Wow.

Yes, I know the weekend was just a warm-up for next weekend's AC run. Yes, I know the pay wasn't the greatest. Yes, I know Friday's stage was small and Saturday's show was tough - four sets and the first time playing two nights in a row in a very long while.

But wow ...

Just hitting the stage Friday was amazing. We sounded incredible. There was a funny moment at the end of the night. Our drummer, who had missed a couple rehearsals, came up to the one sax player and myself and asked us what the heck we had done ... the horn section was absolutely incredible. Said sax player told him that we actually were just making up most of the things we played on the spot. I had to laugh as the drummer walked away, because the sax player was telling him the God's-honest truth! We were constantly turning away from the microphones and passing licks around the section, then pulling up and laying them right into the tunes, just like we used to do in jazz band back in college. A-freakin'-MAZING!

Still, as great as Friday was, Saturday was even better, sound-wise. The monitor mix was better, and we were coming through loud and clear. Sa-WEET! I hit the mic for a tune in the first set, and wound up forgetting the damn words to the song ... the keyboard player jumped up and started improvising words for a verse ... then I started making up some myself. Spontaneity during a performance just brings everything to a whole new level.

And again, I say ... WOW.

I am simply LOVING the experience of this band! Many bands I had been with before discouraged spontaneous moments like the ones we have all the time. Many other bands just wanted me to stick to the horn and really had little or no time for my multiple talents. The challenge to the ear and the excitement of making great music, coupled with the anticipation of going into a performance not really knowing exactly what is going to happen and using more of my many talents, is too intense to describe. I haven't been this enthusiastic about a band in a very long time.

RWR