For those of you who have been following my soap opera (see below for the earlier post).
So, we did the gig, and it turned out well (ended up with only three rehearsals). I had been a bit nervous about my stamina, but no real problems there ? lots of energy throughout. I was tired afterwards, of course, but went right through. We played something like 20 songs (many extended) with a short break halfway through. Had the energy for many more.
I had decided to play fairly straight head ? my reasoning was that I would rather do that and do well then try to be fancy and mess up. I found, though, that I as I went on, I could ramp up without difficulty.
No danger of being elected drummer of the year, and I?m sure that if drummers were listening, they would have heard mistakes, but I don?t think the citizens did. I had a couple of rough spots, but I was able to pull them out. The worst was during one of the few sequence-backed numbers. I have never played live to a back-up track and it was a challenge. I realized that we were starting to creep ? not sure whose fault it was (probably mine), but I knew I had to stop it. I also knew that it seemed to be impossible to do it abruptly ? so I just began to shift back for four measures to get up back on, and it worked. I am glad we only did a couple of songs with sequences, though.
The best moment (as far as I was concerned) occurred when the guitar player and leader decided to have just a bit of fun with me. We were going along and he looked over at me and said something like ?Let?s play like those old drummers used to play!? Everyone cut out - - and gave it to me. I wasn?t vocally miked or I might have done what Tommy Smothers did in one of the Smothers Brothers' routines. His brother called, ?Take it Tommy!? And he said, ?No. You take it!? I was, of course, not prepared for any solo, so I decided to just keep the groove with a bit more attitude, and then slowly fill around the beat. After awhile the bass came in with me, and then everyone. It actually sounded good, and big applause at the end. [img]smile.gif[/img] I also know that he trusted me to do well, and that feels good, of course.
All in all the guys sounded great -- what a blast, lots of fun.
Anyway, if I never play live again, I feel good that I could do it after all these years, and that it worked. However, I think we will play again, and I am happy!
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From a couple of weeks ago:
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So, I?m pretty happy about this. Some of you may remember (there?s actually no reason you should really, . . .) that I came on this board last year after laying out of drumming for years. I didn?t have a kit, kids, job, etc., etc. I always had sticks and played on my leg and pillow and such, and I always thought of myself as a drummer, although a drummer without drums.
Anyway, I started drumming again in earnest last year. My goals were (and are) modest. I have no goal to become the world?s greatest drummer or to win competitions (good thing, hey? ). I simply wanted to play for myself, and to perhaps play around locally. Have fun.
Well, I felt I was getting better, and getting back my drumming instincts. I started doing some recordings with friends and sounding not too bad.
Anyway, I have teamed up with some musicians and we have a low key gig in a week or so (private club). I have had a few rehearsals with them (they have been together for awhile, so I'm the new guy) and it seemed to go well.
I can?t tell you how good it felt playing with other people and getting ready for a date. I haven?t felt like that in years. Even when the rehearsals were through (after many hours), I didn?t want to stop.
For many of you who gig all the time, you might not realize what this feels like to me, but . . .
As I say, I am a bit psyched. I also want to say I appreciate the direct and indirect help I have received on this board over the last year.
