Not a gig, but one heck of a time

This is somewhat of an irregular post but I don't really know where else to put it.  No, I did not play a concert, gig, or even a dorm room yet it was fun.

Last night I was asked to come out to my friend's house to give some input on how to make songs they've recorded better.  I've known these guys for a couple of years now and it's cool to hang out with them while they record or tweak the stuff for their cd.  The many times I came over I made suggestions and they usually implemented them.  At least that makes me feel good to help and make it easier to go somewhere for2 or 3 hours for a 2 hour drive.

Well it was absolutely storming out last night.  I walked out of work and it just started to rain.  Never having owned an umbrella I laughed and said audibly “just grin and bear it.”  By the time I got to my car the rain was coming down like someone (like God) was pouring buckets over my head.  I had been literally soaked so bad that I was laughing hysterically that it was even happening.  My shoes had filled and the only part of my body that was dry was my back under my coat.  The evil water even soaked my underwear so that tells you it was pretty wicked.

So I'm a little pissed off and cold on my 45 minute commute home thinking “no way am I driving all the way up to Carpentersville to critique music when I don't really get to do much but spent my time, gas money, and tolls.  I don't want to drive in this rain all night.”  But by the time I got home I decided to towel off and put street clothes on and head up there.

The guys were surprised to see me.  Actually when I rounded the corner of the basement studio and yelled “Hey” they jumped back as I scared them!  While we were all listening to the recorded tracks and critiquing or making suggestions I cleaned and restrung a well-used beater electric guitar.  It was a favor to one buddy who doesn't know how to change strings and would not take it to the shop to have them do it because it's not his guitar.  It's actually the drummer's who doesn't know how to play it.

Historically, 10pm is the cutoff time for these sessions and everyone leaves but Frank and me.  We generally just mess around jammin' to make my time to go up there worthwhile (at least in my mind).  When I arrived there last night I told him I'd be leaving at 10 last night because I did not bring my guitar and I wanted to get home.  But I picked up his acoustic electric and played it for a couple of minutes unplugged and he went over an plugged in the newly-refurbished white electric guitar and started belting out some raunchy, dirty rhythms and leads.  It sounded great because I never see this guy play electric unless it's my guitar!  So it's cool seeing him let his hair down.

Meanwhile, I asked if I could electrify his acoustic and he said cool (I was starting to drown out while he was jamming.  He had the volume up really high because he was enjoying the guitar so much).  So I plug in and he asks me “do you know this one?” and if so he's start playing it and calling out chords if I didn't know the part. just to make sure we're on the same page.
So he's rockin' out with the heavy overdriven sound while I'm strummin' out the pretty clean chords and it was F-A-N-T-A-S-T-I-C!  Why?  First, I have to say, I don't like playing acoustic guitars.  The fat body makes it weird for me and the strings are 12's while I play with skinnier 11's on my electric.  So just to play an acoustic is a feat for me.  But it was such a cool experience with the two types of guitars and sounds blending together to play cover songs one after another.  And it was shorcking to hear the distinct sounds of his Ovation acoustic but it was ME making the sound.  It sounded so much like Frank's sound.  There was barely a pause between songs and we just kept going.  From the Beatles Money right into the Stones Sympathy for the Devil to U2's With or Without You.  By the time I looked up at the clock it was 11:30.  An hour and a half passed while we were having a blast!

It was the best time I'd ever had in all the jams we ever had up there and I wasn't even using my electric guitar!  I know this post is ridiculously long but I just want to at least type out some of the joy I had last night.  Man, I wish I could find somewhere to do that every night.  It's like a drug it felt so good.  Thanks for spending your time reading and sharing the joy with me.

;D