Wannabe or Ratherbe?
We went out to see a friend’s band last night, and I think it’s official, barring road gigs that must be seen—and you really do have to watch out with some of these older bands. Tracks, original member count, the ability to sing, stuff like that. It’s always a bit of a crapshoot, really.
But--the point is that I don’t like being in the crowd.
Yes, it’s good to see people, but a lot of these people are the same people that come to see Buckdancer, and it’s just weird positioning for me.
This particular band, you know, three out of six are in the Buckdancer band, and they kind of play fun sing-along hits, which is great. The crowd loves it, all that good stuff. Super fun.
But at this point, if I’m gonna be out, and it’s not one of those roadshows, that’s either checking in with somebody super risky, like a Bob Dylan show (which really paid off, by the way), or straight nostalgia trip.
Although, I will say, part of some of these ’80s shows, people are dressing up in mullet wigs and a bunch of garbage like that, which is super annoying.
Anyway.
Something's really turned, and being in the crowd, while fun, is just--I’d just rather be playing.
And it feels like if I’m out at night in a musical situation, I need to be playing or DJing.
It’s a weird switch. And not like a wish like when you're a kid and want the adoration. I'm just talking about a preference.
The other thing that happens is if people recognize you as a musician etc., when you're not musician-ing, people chat you up. Want your opinion on the music, and I think it’s 50/50. People want to know what you think. Fifty percent don’t have anything else to say.
I don’t live in a community of musicians. So, I have a bunch of friends and peers that don’t really know about music, so maybe they’re nervy questions or whatever.
I did run into some people that saw me at a DJ thing earlier that week, and got a lot of actual real good feedback, which I will say: I smashed it. So, there’s that.
Speaking of that, there’s always one song.
And I ended my set at the private party this week with “While You See a Chance” by Steve Winwood.
If you ever run into anyone who likes that song, they really like it. Major connection with some folks.
Oddly long, but it’s just a beautiful song, and the feel is so wistful, and gets you—maybe the chords need to be studied—just kind of gets you sitting back in the chair with faraway eyes, thinking about some great sh*t that once happened.
Anyway.
I guess I’m now just a different kind of wannabe.
Or maybe it’s a transformation of wannabe to ratherbe.