I turned 40 on Friday. Ive never been one of those guys who dreads it (nor even the decade-away 50), so there was no existential crisis for me on that day. What I didnt expect, though, was for it to be such a good birthday and birthday weekend. The Scarlet Love Conspiracy played a full-band acoustic show at Charles & Myrtles Coffeehouse (a New Thought church that hosts music events on the weekends), swapping songs with a local duo called One Little Light (if I remember correctly), and it really was a smashing success. The juxtaposition of their piano/viola/voice arrangements of original songs that were largely faith-based somehow worked in a very strange way with our whiskey-soaked, rough-edged yet tenderhearted originals and covers. Im pleased to say that the unlikely pairing has spawned a new musical friendship, which was an unexpected bonus. Before the show, Heather made me a birthday cake out of carved watermelon and mixed fruit, because she wanted me to have a cake but not screw up the weight loss Ive achieved of late; dear Lord how I do love that woman. After the show, my friends and bandmates Kat and Eric gave me a swirling, multi-colored LED light that screws into a regular light socket (instant party!), a bottle of 10 year Laphroaig, a 64 floz. flask (I kid you not), and some cool buttons/pins to put on the strap of my bass guitar. Im generally not much on getting gifts but those really were thoughtful, and I was touched that they thought enough of me to get them. Saturday was pretty low-key, which is a welcome change from our usual hectic pace due to work, school, band rehearsals and gigs. And its a good thing, too, because today (Sunday) has been jam-packed with awesomeness. We (The Scarlet Love Conspiracy) were the headlining act at Chattanooga PRIDE down at Ross Landing. There was a huge turnout for this years event, easily twice as big as last years, and they absolutely loved us. It was a very cool event of which we were very glad to be part, and it was a considerable bonus that everyone there seemed to enjoy our music as much as we enjoyed playing it. From there we came home to drop everyone off, and then I went up to my drummers cabin on Lookout Mountain for rehearsal with Amber Fults and the Ambivalent Lovers. I love both of my bands (and the people in them) dearly, and when either of them is hitting on all eight cylinders, it really is magical. When I get to play with both bands on the same day and theyre BOTH hitting on all eight cylinders, it is a very special day, indeed. The Scarlet Love Conspiracy gets tighter and tighter and tighter with every show, and subsequently, every show is more fun than the last. Its a wonderful feeling when a band reaches the point where the members no longer have to look at each other (unless they want to, naturally) during a show; everyone is so solid in their parts that the others just know that they can rely on them to be where they need them, when they need them, doing just what they need to be doing. It really frees the members up to let loose, have fun, and really play their hearts out. Im particularly proud of Heathers progress; as shes grown on the guitar, within the band, and as a frontwoman, she really has blossomed into one hell of a performer. Her confidence has grown exponentially, and she rocks hard at every show. I am very lucky to be her husband and bandmate. Then tonight at AFATAL rehearsal, I was thinking about how Ive grown as a bassist in the three years (!!!) weve been playing together, and how weve evolved as a band. I am a *much* better bassist than when we first formed, and indeed all of the members have grown as players. The originals were writing are dynamic and exciting, and the covers we do end up with our own personal stamp on them, too. I dont know if Ill ever be comfortable with saying that Im a good bassist. Im almost certain that Ill never be great. I will say, however, that I am competent, and that pleases me. I am the most blessed musician in Chattanooga, if not perhaps the entirety of the world. I am a blessed man in general. Despite the areas of my life that could use improving, I have a wonderful family, incredible and talented friends, a home, a decent job, and the right gear to do what I do to be truly alive: play music. Forty has pretty much ruled so far. Im looking forward to seeing how the rest of the year/decade goes.
Posted on: Mon, 06 Oct 2014 03:29:54 +0000
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