Because Levon Helm passed away Thursday, by the end of the night I was drawing on the floor of public establishment with sidewalk chalk - and the managment was okay with it. Long story, here goes...
This week, I was involved in two different musical engagements; both very rewarding. Wednesday evening, I was part of a music team for the ordination the transitional deaconate for my friend Michelle Walker. It was rewarding to part of team of musicians and singers who were genuinely, and simply singing God's praise. I was on violin. I enjoyed hanging out in the musical background and not having to be the leader. The church was packed and everyone sang joyfully, the rafters shook. There's nothing like that. I think it's best when the people can drown out the praise band. Huge PAs ruin the sense of community.
Michelle asked me to perform a song I wrote called "Enough" at her ordination. I agreed, but my shy-ness-o-meter was off the charts. Here's why. I am a Christian, I do let spiritual themes into my music when I am inspired to do so, but I've never felt like I've written anything worth bringing into the context of a corporate worship service, let alone, something as solemn as someone's ordination. But Michelle believed in it for me, and so I gave it a shot. Afterword, a lot of people had a lot of nice things to say about it. And so, I've decided to be more open to the idea of writing music like that.
here's the song
http://soundcloud.com/tomadamsonmusic/enoughThursday, I had a gig with the Texarkana Two at a rock dive in Chicago, which on the surface one might say is the complete opposite. Yes, the bar is not a consecrated sanctuary, obviously. But there are some common things. Both gather people, both allow people to sing songs of what is on their hearts. We played at the Mutiny, a place on the near north side. I could have played better, the Tex and Arkana had fun playing. I was dead on my feet from repeat sub calls, track meets and late nights catching up on house hold things. My throat was on fire from allergies. We finished strong and having Steve singin harmony has added so much. Highlights therefore were "Hounds of Hell" and "Street of Chicago."
What I found to be rewarding was the gathering of people. Matt and Louis and Kevin from the Toetags are really good at inviting people and making them feel good about themselves and welcome. Evangelists of the indie gig as it were. Anchors were there too, David, CJ and Austin. They brought a bunch of real cool people in tow, esp Adam Bowman and Tae. Monroe and Todd (who was there) had a friend from Pilson come, Jason. He was super hip and friendly at the same time. I enjoyed picking his brain about our set. I was talking to him when Adam Roney and Lizzy Martin stepped out of a cab. I was elated. Sarah Filler came after the show. Great conversations among circles of friends were happening like a hula hoop party at a Venn diagram factory. Ooh and the venue had a killer juke box (the CD kind- selections almost rivaling Cincy's The Comet) We introduced the staff to the putting olives in beer.
I learned of the olive trick in Marion. We were reintroduced to the idea at Constant Spring in Goshen last week when we were writing our set list for opening the Kansas Bible Company show. I got to busy, but I wanted to write a entry just about that trip and show called (after the Simon and Garfunkel song) "A Homecoming, sort of." The homecoming part was being with Jake and James and Luke and Mike all the (12) boys and old Goshen friends like Zach Clouse. Our set was a joy to play in that venue. It felt comfortable and our presence started gentle and ended energetic. I introduced KBC and told the crowd that they would be playing their new record in its entirety. Man it was really good! They have grown as band and song writers. There is more playfulness and contrast in the new songs, and a few hair raising moments, such as the all accapella "Hymn of St. Vertigo." (which could actually work in postmodern churches) The "sort of" part was the party afterword. I got to meet with and reconnect with some very special Goshen friends from the old days, but that wasn't going to last all night. After about two hours the house we were at was overrun with about 75 Goshen College students, strangers to us, we (Trathen, Monroe, Elizabeth, and I) were just standing in the front yard. We had the feeling we'd rather be home, so we slipped into the night. We will be back to Goshen though, soon, summer most likely, there were a good number of excited people at the prospect.
So the sidewalk chalk thing: as we were driving back to Valpo, Todd had the idea that we should visit Steve Ball who plays Thursdays at Duffy's and see if we could do a version on the Band's "The Weight" with him in honor of Levon Helm. Well we go there and he was done. But Dave, the manager on duty was in a silly mood. He said welcome to arts and crafts night. He was having people draw on the backs of paper plates and use sidewalk chalk on the floor. We drew rockets, horses, wooly mommoths, trees, chess boards. It felt great to be creative in a sedate place. Gypsy Heart would say, "lighting fires in the ghost."
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