Memorial Day Weekend Reflection
I am writing to you from Normandy Farms Campground in Foxboro, MA. It is nine thirty and the skeeters are in full force, it seems as though they like my knuckles. I have started a fire using some pressurized deck slabs that were given to me by a departing camper named Eddie. It is burning hot…too hot…I am literally 25 feet from the blaze and still considering moving back. I have already gotten in trouble twice for having too large of a fire and this one is the without a doubt the largest of the three.
I am sitting here reflecting on what I experienced this past weekend…my first weekend of the tour. I had a great weekend musically, socially, and creatively.
Saturday - I had the opportunity to play music with my good friends Lewk and John on Saturday at NCAA Fanfest. Lewk forgot to bring his snare stand…so he duct taped the snare drum to the end of a knee-high lid from a blue tin box tilted on its side. He played so great he plans to trash his snare stand and use the tin box method consistently throughout the rest of his music career. I consider the move to be both innovative and inspirational. John played great, although I was hoping he was going to wear his vintage MSU #40 Lax jersey while performing…it would have been instantly classic and a tremendous throw back to the spirit of the game. Kids still speak of the day the “King Of The Slop” scored that game winning BTB (Behind The Back) goal to beat Liverpool Central. Thanks for playing Lewk and John, it was a ton of fun as always. Good laughs, good times, and bad language. And I would like to send a thank you to all of you that swung by the stage to check out the show…thanks for listening.
Sunday – I played a show at Showcase Live in Foxboro. It was amazing. Showcase Live is a new venue with an amazing sound system. Overall, it is just an amazing space to play music. The highlight of my trip so far is definitely meeting Pete Francis and Barefoot Truth. I remember listening to Pete’s work in Dispatch when I was in college…it is obvious that he is a super talented musician, but it was even better to discover that he is just as good a person as he is a player. I immediately hit it off with Barefoot Truth backstage. What an amazing group of traveling musicians! It was so refreshing to meet down to earth guys on the road. I have noticed throughout my travels into the depths of the music community that humble artists are few and far between. Barefoot Truth is what a band should be…they love music and they are playing for the right reasons. Pete, Will, Garrett, Jay, Andy, and Wayno thanks for allowing me the opportunity to be a part of the evening. I had so much fun hanging with you guys, thanks for taking me in. I am sure I will run into you at some point down the road. Maybe in Mysitc. And of course, thank you to the crowd in Foxboro! You guys were incredible and you completely made my night. I had so much fun playing for you guys. I know from my concert going experience that it is easy to look past the opening act, I felt like you guys treated me like a headliner and for that I can’t thank you enough. It means the world to me. You made me feel very comfortable on stage…it felt like I was singing to you in my living room. Also thank you to the Showcase Live staff for making the show a success…great sound guys with great personalities! Thanks Jeff. And I can’t forget to thank the venue for putting a case of Budweiser in my green room…it made the show interesting…it even caused me to attempt playing an impromptu Michael Jackson song. The live recording of this show is available at archive.org
Monday – I watched the Syracuse lacrosse team win its 11th National Championship…congratulations to all players, coaches, and personnel!
I have been camping ever since and I leave tomorrow morning bound for Freeport, NY to play at E.B. Elliott’s. I am really excited to go down to play in Baltimore and catch up with some of my closest friends. The trip is going better than I ever imagined I am relaxed yet alert. I am looking forward to making more relationships along the way. See you soon.
