Last time we got together it was like riding a bike.  I think it was two summers ago, my manager had booked some gigs on the east coast and a Living Room date in NYC at the end of the run.  I had been very nervous about these dates since it had been over a year we’d played together, and it looked like our schedules would only allow for 2 rehearsals before the run of dates. The three of us (along with Doug Derryberry on lead guitar, the most recent addition to the last version of our crew) got together over a weekend, and after about an hour, it all came back.  I was shocked and pleasantly awed by how much we all retained and how immediately in sync we were.

Early on, we rehearsed like crazy.  We used to drill and drill and drill the arrangements so that the breaks and fills and all the little bits that make a show sound tight were VERY very tight. It probably helps too that John’s got IMPECCABLE time, and Dave has a great way of relaxing the beat so that the preciseness of the arrangements never feels too robotic.

So, that all being said, you have to hear it for yourself.  This recording is one of my favorites, of “Madison” from the Living Room back in ’04 around the Holidays… turn you bass up a bit and you’ll hear how comfortably the guys lock in together.  It also features Alfredo Hidrovo on percussion and our virtuoso pal John Putnam on Guitar.

madison_04_lr

This recording always reminds me of the context of that day. Just before the show, Alfredo and I had an argument about money (always the worst kind of argument), and I had probably had one beer (or Gin?) too many.  We’d just come off a string of dates so everyone was a bit worn, but we were also in a very optimistic place then due to all the management and industry attention we’d started getting.  Emotions we’re high and I think this recording has a great vibe to it because of that.

Here’s a video of the same song, same venue, a year later, about 9 months before I moved to Chicago.  Things were really peaking at this point… I had a full 9 piece band that night that sat in on various songs, and John Leventhal (big producer, Shawn Colvin and others) was in attendance. Another great night and a prime example of how rock solid my guys are/were.

Ah, great memories.  looking forward to making some new ones.

PJ