Wildfires and Jen Knight

Hey all I know it's bee a loooong while, but I've been busy being a new dad, so you'll have to forgive me. As my wife and I have settled into our roles as Thatcher's parents, there hasn't been a lot of actual playing on the drumming front. However, there's been lots of talk. Talk often leads to playing.

First off, however, my heart goes out to all who have been touched by the wildfires in California. For days, my wife and I were riveted to our computer, constantly refreshing various websites to keep up with all the latest developments from our Oceanside apartment. I felt very proud of San Diego when I went looking for volunteer opportunities and was turned away as there were already too many volunteers. Now if we could only direct some of that enthusiasm beyond our borders ...

Last night, I joined Jen Knight for a great show at Lestat's in Normal Heights. I haven't had a show (or a rehearsal) with her in months, so there was a lot of danger and excitement in the set. Also, I found an old set of bongos and busted them out for the show to give me a few colors beyond just my djembe and shakers.

One of my favorite moments in the set actually occurred backstage prior to going on. Tom Griesgraber, who acts as Jen's bassist, was doing a few solo numbers. Jen was backstage looking a little shaken. She was trying to remember the second half of the first verse of Realize. She was trying so hard to remember it that it made it so much worse for her. No worries, though, the words came back to her quickly.

Another of my favorite moments took place while Jen was talking to the audience about the inevitability of change in life. Tom walked over to me and handed me two quarters ... proving that change was indeed inevitable. Poor Jen ... she has to put up with us.

Of all the songs, I felt really good vibes on Recovered Memories, a song that Jen had written about the last apocalyptic fires that San Diego experienced.

Opening the show was Alyssa Jacey and Damion Wolfe. Alyssa has only been at it two years, but you couldn't tell, for she put on a good show full of good songs. Damion, who is on tour from the east, put on an awesome set. His uses of loops and effects lifted the singer/songwriter concept to a new level. I wish he lived closer, for I would love to try and record with him.

Take care everybody ...


P.S. I though today about what my ultimate singer/songwriter band would be. Ellis Paul would definitely be the front person. His song Sweet Mistakes is up there on the genius level with What a Wonderful World. Tony Levin would be on bass with Matt Cameron on drums. For lead guitar, only Alex Lifeson I think would have the good sens to get out of the way of Ellis' own great playing and do something that would serve the song and still shred.

Last Week's Shows

Last week saw three shows that show just how much live performances are often unpredictable and are never the same (if you're doing it "right"). The three shows in question were at the San Diego County Fair with Tim Mudd (as For Wardens and Strangers).

Personally, I felt the Friday night show on the O'Brien stage was the best. Tim and I were properly aligned with what we were hoping to accomplish on stage, and though the audience was few, we we producing a lot of sustainable energy. The drum solo was a lot of fun ... some new ideas popped up as I was going along - what Bill Bruford would call "research and development." After playing, we retreated to the Brig for a drink and discussed rather animatedly some things we would like to collaborate on in the future.

Saturday found us on the Finish Line stage, headlining the Singer/Songwriter festivities that Tim organizes and MCs every year at the San Diego County Fair. By the hour we went on, I felt, to be honest, "over it" and was hoping for an excited crowd to help us through. Unfortunately, the majority of the crowd had left (including most of the day's earlier performers). I was feeling flat and lifeless. Tim, however, was feeling very "punk rock" and tore into the set with reckless vigor. Maybe it's just where I am in life now, but I'm not into that sort of live energy. To further prove the point, my body began to let me know that I'm not as young as I once was with jolting blasts of pain. Tim said that it was our best show. Personally, I felt it was crap.

Our third and last show of the San Diego County Fair was on the Rock On stage. With Mike Clowes (sp?) running sound, I was feeling really comfortable with going on stage ... shaking off the sour stomach of the last night's show. Being more familiar with Tim's new material, I put my 2 cents in as to what songs I wanted to play more than others ... really looking forward to "To Be" in the set. We were playing well, jamming into the before mentioned song when Tim's G string breaks. Time for the "Broken String Drum Solo" as Tim quickly does his thing. I was having a blast, however it was short lived. As he was restringing, the same sting broke AGAIN! Tim had no other G on him, so we stopped (an anti-climactic ending to a drum solo). He ran to his car out in the parking lot, grabbed one, ran back, restrung, and we were on again ... with 15 minutes left. We did a blitz through "Black Taxi Cabs"/"Big Yellow Taxi," "All Along the Watchtower," and "Desire" to close out our show. It was on its way to a great show, but limped to the end with injury to pride. And thus ended Tim's and my adventures together at the Fair.

Having just received the two disc anthology of Bill Bruford's Earthworks in the mail, my mood is in a different place musically. Next week, I meet again with Roger Anderson to discuss the continuation of our improvisation duo as a trio with Jack (whose last name currently escapes me) on bass. I look forward to doing more of that classical/jazz work. Also, I hope to get together with Isaac Langen sooner than later to begin working on our project. I just want to play, to build upon what I've learned with Tim, Scar'd Sanity, Tom Griesgraber, Holiday & the Adventure Pop Collective, Jen Knight, and all those other musicians along the way, and do something a little more selfish.

However, not too selfish, as it is not lost on me that Al Gore's concerts are going on right NOW. I wonder what my music can do for my son's planet earth?

Elvis and Me

So ... two nights ago I played another show with Tim Mudd at the San Diego County Fair under the name For Wardens and Strangers. The show itself was OK as the crowd was not nearly as enthusiastic as they were last time. During the set, I felt that I had a few inspired moments, particularly on the song "To Be" as I get to channel my inner Danny Carey (Tool). The drum solo was also a lot of fun ... no "rock star" pyrotechnics as I really worked hard to solo off the song ("Black Taxi Cabs"). Tom Griesgraber would have described it as a "real solo."

The best part of the show, however, came after when I spoke to Elvis. Who this guy really was I don't know (other than being in the next band), but he looked and talked just like an aged Elvis. So, imagine the following conversation in an Elvis voice ...

Elvis: Were you the one playin' them drums before?
FLD: Yep.
Elvis: That was some mighty fine drummin'. Some really good stuff.
FLD: Thanks, I really appreciate that.
Elvis: Where's that other feller that you were playing with?
FLD: I don't know, he always disappears when I have to move stuff.
Elvis: Are they all his songs?
FLD: Yeah, except for those last few covers.
Elvis: Do you do any singin' with him?
FLD: Uhhhhh ... no. I can't really sing.
Elvis: It would sound really good with you singin'.
FLD: Uhhh ... I can do a high harmony falsetto sometimes.
Elvis: You got rhythm, you could figure it out. You should sing. Nice talkin' to you.

Elvis told me that I should sing. It kind of freaks me out, but so long as he likes my drumming I'm OK. Wow ... Elvis said I have rhythm, now that's an endorsement.

Making Music with Mudd

So ...

It was back to the San Diego Fair with Tim Mudd today. As a duo, under the name "For Wardens and Strangers", we hashed about for a little over an hour. While a few classics made the set, it was mostly new material that Tim has written over the last few years ... most of which I had never played on drum set until today.

While we said we were keeping score on who made the most mistakes, we failed to agree on what the final score was. It seems that, even after all this time, we are failing to be mature enough to admit to each other that we were wrong. If you know us ... I'm sure you found that funny.

During the show, one thing happened that I still find unbelievable. Tim was asked by two young ladies (very young looking) to sign his name across their chests. Not wanting to offend them, he of course did. However, one of the ladies complained that he did not sign it low enough across her chest. Ahhh ... the price of stardom.

More to come soon.