Release The Sanity

Monday, June 12, 2006

I'm tired so I'll just post what I wrote on myspace. Here's my updated blog entry. LOL

STEELBRIDGE SONGFEST 2 in Door County
Current mood: tired

So it's been sometime since I've written for those who do have interest in my blogs I apologize. I've been letting life take me over.

I feel inspired today to write. Mainly due to the fact that I spent the weekend with a ton of aspiring and accomplished musicians. I took my son and his drummer, Forest, to the Steelbridge Songwriting Fest in Door County. Hosted by Pat MacDonald and a lot of work by Chris Aaron. What an incredible experience. I spend 2 days jumping from bar to bar and each place had excellent music to experience, most of the audience were other musicians so the conversation around the table was fantastic. I'm always amazed at how friendly, open and giving of their knowledge musicians are to one another.

Here I was hanging with two teenagers who really didn't want to be seen with someone with the label "Mom" and yet I had no problem making new friends and socializing til we hours of the morning each night. By the end of the weekend I think my son had a new respect for me, largely due to a wonderful musician named Pauli Ryan. Mom's gotta be okay if she knows someone as cool as Pauli. LOL We ran into Pauli on our last night at 2 a.m. I knew Pauli from years ago and he offered to hear my son, B, play. Here we are in a little cafe and B is wailing on the guitar playing his heart out for Pauli, my son gets to a part in his song and I see a huge smile grow on Pauli's face, he was diggin it. It was so awesome for my son to play for someone he respects and get such positive feedback from. Pauli kept saying, "do another" which only encouraged B more. Two hours later and a few pointers later we say our good-byes. Only to feel the exhaustion was completely worth it. "It's all about dynamics, if you can't give someone a boner or get laid why even bother doing it." "Play simple-dumb" "Give him that beat, do it for him, if you can't you're out of the band." and my last favorite quote of our visit with Pauli... "Shit, I dropped my plate of eggs." oh and, "Forest, you have a new seat now." lmao

Anyway, B played about 5 songs for a group of people in Pudgy's Cafe. He was about to puke beforehand. It's really different to play for a group of people verses a group of musicians. But, something changed for him. He went to the car, tweeked his songs for two nerve racking hours and pulled something new out of himself. He did AWESOME. Originally, he was to do two songs and they had him come back on later in the evening and do 3 more. Forest played for one of the songs, his first time playing for people. I don't know if he puked before or after the set. LOL

All in all it was a great weekend. Except for the part where I "felt" I had to defend my son against some drunk who cornered him in the bathroom our first night there. B comes up to me and says,"wow, some guy just threatened to beat me up and was asking me about drugs in the bathroom" I find out it's a 30 plus year old guy who did this. I, of course, feel this cave day maturnal mamma bear instinct rise in my blood and confront the guy. The whole bar was silent and I reamed this guy with my verbal wrath. Then the guy says," look at my shirt ( which had volunteer firefighter in it) , I'm a good guy, I was just trying to help him and bring him to my world" That's about when I started to shake and really let the guy have it. Two other guys tell the jackalope to leave and he does. At the time I felt quite justified but later I was embarassed for the scene but to tell you the truth if a grown man ever cornered my kid in a bathroom and threatened to beat them up again I'd probably do the exact same thing. Come to find out 3 other guys came up to me and told me they had problems with the drunk earlier also, so I wasn't the only one who was fed up with the guy.

Anyone who's into music I can't stress enough to get to the Steelbridge Songfest 3 next year. 60 bands, playing for 3 days in 6 bars around town, great concert with tons of big names and everyone treating each other like family. It's a great time. I know I will be there next year.

I'd like to thank Chris Aaron for involving me. Pauli for inspiring my son and taking so much time to talk with my son. Pat MacDonald for pulling off a very complex intense 3 day, which is a dream for aspiring musicians. And, Forest, for being such a good friend and helping support B when his nerves were filling our car with anxiety. LOL

Two cool pieces of Driftwood as a memory of our exciting eventful weekend wait to be put up in the basement. Forest you were hilarous trying to carry that to the car while talking to your mom on your cell. "Whattttttttttttttt? I can't talk right now. Whatttttttttttttttt? aaaaaaahhhhhuuuuuugggggggg"

Currently listening:
Pat MacDonald Sleeps With His Guitar
By Pat MacDonald
Release date: By 20 May, 1997

Posted by FieldsOfJoy :: 4:01 AM :: 0 comments