The last few weeks have been interesting, providing for me a little trip into a previous life...
2 weeks ago, Decyfer Down, friends that we used to tour with called. They were in a bind and needed a lead singer to do a show in Ohio. I'll admit that I was instantly excited, and considered how fun it would be to front a band again, especially a hard-rock band like Decyfer Down. They also needed a bassist for the show and called upon my brother. Thing is, they called on Sunday, and the show was on Wednesday. Monday night I am emailed a setlist and have to learn 9-10 songs before we leave on Tuesday after work. Yikes.
I'll have to be honest, the initial excitement wore off and I was wondering if I could still even DO it. Plus, I had to spend Tuesday & Wednesday nights away from Summer which didn't at all sound appealing to me. But Kev and I crammed songs, left together on Tuesday afternoon for the little trip.
Over the next 36 hours, I realized all the things I didn't miss about the music industry. First off, after a 2 hour trip to Statesville, we drove 6+ hours and stopped at a cheap hotel. Deja vu. The smell of a cheap hotel at 3:00 am is a very distinct smell. They all must clean (or not clean) with the same stuff. Only thing missing here was Kent staying up late watchin' TV while Kev and I fell asleep.
Up in the morning at the earliest of musician hours, 10:00 am. Back on the road. For 3 more hours. At this point I'm asking myself how I ever endured the trips to South Dakota and Minnesota in the past. We arrive where we're playing around lunch.
And lunch? You guessed it, sandwich trays. In our 6 years of touring previously, this is THE staple for lunch for a band. Cheap, bland, and easy to carry. And Cheap. After eating as much as I could until my taste buds said bleh, we load in and set up, which is another thing I don't remember liking and for good reason. I will say, after load in and load out, I see how I stayed skinny back then.
Sound companies. We used to carry our own, but lugging that crap around gets tiresome. Decyfer Down had their own, but sold it off... So we had the great pleasure of using a production company. Only thing is, I'm not sure THEY knew how to use their equipment (This was also par for the course). After 2 useless hours where we had HOPED to practice the songs I'd NEVER sang before in my life, they finally got everything working and we were cleared to soundcheck. 1 run through of the setlist, and it was time to eat dinner.
The guy puttin' on the show was taking us out to dinner with some kids who wanted to meet us. That's all well and good, but they weren't really dying to talk to us, and after the guys choice of Applebees, I wasn't really dying to eat. They must freeze all the stuff in the same freezer, because it all tastes alike. Bleh.
Upon return, it was nearing time to play, and I had my cheat sheets hidden underneath the monitor so I wouldn't forget the words... and then 45 minutes flew by. We played a set, the kids loved it. I made it through, and sweat off like 15 pounds. It was fun. Not the greatest thing ever, but fun. And good.
We hung out afterwards, and the DD guys had us sign stuff with them, even though on their posters we're OBVIOUSLY not in the band. But it was good to talk to people, love on 'em, encourage them, and even get rid of 60 Monday Morning CDs at $0.50 a pop. At least that bought me beef jerky on the 10 hour drive back to my car.
We drove through the night, and I went straight to work as we rolled into Hendersonville... and over the next few days decided this:
I have been bitter. I have been mad at God, and he has been working on my heart for a year and a half almost now (on this issue anyway). I was angry for our music careers being cut short, and being cheated by multiple people, lied to by others. I wanted my dream back. --- but while gone, and when I got home I realized I love my life. Even when its hard. I love Summer, I missed her. I love the mountains, my career, my church, my friends. I love Asheville, mountain biking, snowboarding... cookouts at our house, tobacco, beer, and board games on Beka and John's porch. I am blessed. Even without my "so called" dream.
I also found what I loved ON the trip, AWAY from all the things I love. I love music and performing, but I don't have to drive around and see the entire country like I did before. I can do it at home. Not for a living, but to LIVE.
So as Summer and I look around Hendersonville for a house, or have to work late, go in early, or get to meet at Papas & Beer for lunch, I am thankful. A "regular life" is actually quite extraordinary.
