Some days you just feel like you've got it right. A tornado could cascade by
and you'd just shrug and think 'ah well. could be worse'. I'm not referring to
a form of apathy but rather...a viewing of the world from behind a light,
yellowish tint glass. You're still involved and if enough pressure is applied,
your protection is shattered, but you're still sort of...removed. It's a good
feeling. It's the knowing that all will pan out the way it is meant to pan out
and that for now, just being on the boat is good.
So...I played a few gigs with Graven over the past few weeks. It was meant
to be a winter tour but it ended up being a very 'mini' tour. We rocked Ottawa
on January 22nd and Burlington this past friday, February 2nd. I don't really
know where it's all going to lead but one thing is for sure...it was fun. On top
of that, we were actually good. The ottawa show was a little fairy-tale-esque,
what with the collection of amazing friends and family who showed up in
support and love coupled with the amazing sound of Zaphod's, (killer set-up
and sound rig) while Burlington was a little more...down to earth. I'm not saying
Burlington sucked by any means but it was definitely the more meagre of the
two shows. Burlington's venue (The Red Rooster) was definitely cool, boasting
the filming of a free DVD of your band and a pretty much unlimited bar tab,
but our 'extra sound' guitarist Paul was MIA in sickness and so was layer which
could have helped cover up a few major mistakes. Spirits were high at both
events and one thing is for sure...Dalton and Ray are the two people who I most
prefer to play music with in all of this universe. Dalton plays a beautifully
low-ended, driving bass (adding in some mega-high vocal harmonies where
needed) while Ray plays the skins like nobody's business.
All in all, I think part of the fun of the whole ordeal was not just being a bar,
promoting your stuff and trying to sell a product...but just being with great
friends and having them there to back you up. A good example of this
comradery shone out in Burlington when I stepped on my patch cord, yanking
it out mid-song. Before I even realized what had happened, though, Dalton
was basically under my arse, playing bass one-handed, re-inserting said cord.
It seems as if Graven could have a future so...now is the time of re-assessing
and pondering.
Bigger spring tour?
New full length album to sell on bigger tour?
Trying to get signed to an indie label?
When you've got good people with you, the possibilities are limitless.
Anyways, that's all for now. Sarah and I are pluggin' away until mid february
when a needed week off should re-charge our batteries.
I know God is in all this...somewhere. I think the biggest part of learning how to
deal with the innate psychotic nature of Christianity is seeing God's working in us
and speaking to us through the everyday acts of other people.
