I Know I’m Right All the Time
A long, long time ago, I tried out on bass for a local country artist.
He still plays around some, and there's no way, even if I prompted him, he would remember the audition.
But I was a "punk rock-style player" and thought country was easy.
I'm thinking about this because I'm simplifying my Grateful Dead style a little bit with the band and trying to make sure I'm hitting the fundamental stuff that non-Deadheads who like the Dead need to hear.
Anyway, I went to this guy's house and started pick-style jamming, not doing the typical eighth-note country thing. I knew zero transitions from chord to chord.
And I can still remember the look of sympathy he gave me.
I don't remember what we talked about. I don't remember what we played. I have no idea what keys we were in, but I remember that look.
And maybe once every two or three years, I'll see him.
He was just such a nice guy about it. Saying that's not the style he's looking for, but it's cool.
He knew it was shit, and I know now it was shit. But I didn't know he thought it was shit until years later, upon deep, deep reflection.
I try to show this kind of grace to every musician I meet. Not that I'm meeting too many people who are better than me.
But I don't look at people when they screw up. And I always act like I didn't hear it.
And when they give me a piece of information I probably already have, I act interested because I am interested to hear what they have to say about it.
Not coming back with that, "I know, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah."
Nobody wants to hear that.
Gracefulness in music is tough to come by.
And I had to learn to be grateful over a need to be right all the time.
I mean, I know I'm right all the time, but I just have to keep it to myself these days.