I wanted to get this down right away before I thought about it too long and didn’t write it. Last night was band night. I thought about things this morning, specifically what does band night mean to me. I know we all agree that it is a time to share music, ideas and have some laughs. I want to look at things deeper. Band night reminds me of when I played sports. Instead of the puck dropping or the ref blowing a whistle, it is one of the Steve’s or Jeff playing something that starts the play. Very much like sports we all have our role to play in the music. Unlike sports though Band night to me opens a door in the mind where I can cross over and be at peace. When I sit behind the kit I am free to be the person I see myself as being. The only boundaries are the ones I construct. I have the freedom to follow the music down whatever path is goes. From my seat I can see faces lost in the music and faces alive in the moment. Band night to me is to touch the freedom that I imagined I had as a teenager. When I was in awe of the world and hungry for what I could become in that world. When we break to the garage I am back with my friends from long ago, in a different world and a different time. Band night to me is moments of greatness when we work as a whole and fashion the music into a collective beat. I do appreciate that you all have a long drive to come over and play. I am grateful that we can get together. I was thinking that Jeff and I have been doing this in some form or another since 2008. The have been large gaps of time where we didn’t play. Through everything we have managed to keep the beat going. Play on gentlemen, play on.
Cactus Ronnie Pudding
Well said Cactus well said ..i feel the same way ,i will have to say that band night is something i look forward to more then any other occasion ……
I too did some thinking, what i thought was, we all have are stuff, jobs, kids, spouses, pets, stress, happieness sarow, and so on and so on.. So when all that stuff lands on you, and you really feel shitty you start to ask, when do I get some good times or good things happining to me? Well let me just say this, for me its all about band night!!!! when i get that call or a text, its all i can think about till that night! all the crap is just gone. no matter what the weather, what time i get off work, or how much i’ll hear about it from the wife, IT’S ALL WORTH IT !!!! I can honestly say, that when we are all together, cold beers in hand, and the volume way up, i am happy! so a BIG shout out to you Dave, thank you for letting us,show up,be loud,play bad{sometimes} play good ! and just take over your home for the night. i dont think you understand how much it means to me!! and to all of us!!! so thank you!!! and i dont care where you live or how long it takes to get there. when that call/text gets to me i will do my best to be part of that night and i would like to also thank Sam, i’m sure he has other things or folks he could hang with on a friday night, but at times he hangs with the old dudes. and when he does, i would say he makes us all sound better. so Sam thanks!!!!! and i hope your willing to hang out some more. I look forword to it