Dreams

Last weekend, I was in Michigan to participate in practice sessions for a friend's third album.  I participated in NELP with this friend (Google it if you want to know - it's connected to University of Michigan), but we hadn't seen each other for 7 years.  He actually flew me out to Michigan, and we worked on his songs all weekend, recording the best versions of them with his Garageband application on his Mac.

My role might surprise some of you: I played bass. 

Bass players are a lot more rare than any other basic rock musicians.  There are tons of people who sing (or at least think they can), so I've found that my singing abilities are a lot less in-demand than my bass playing.  The problem is, I'm a better singer than bass player.  I've been singing longer, and it's a much more natural skill.  I don't have a very high opinion of my bass playing, so his request was as intimidating as it was exciting.  It was even more intimidating when I learned that he jettisoned his last bass player for not being good enough.  Gulp.  I've been recorded singing before, but I've never had my bass playing recorded.

So you can imagine my pleasant surprise at having a really great time out there.  I was even more surprised by how I sounded.  I didn't sound so bad.  I've played bass in a band before, but that was several years ago.  Thankfully, I do jam a couple of times a months with some friends in DC, mostly playing bass. 

I was even more pleasantly surprised when he sent this e-mail to all of the band:

"Gentlemen,
 
Just wanted to email you and say what a great time this past weekend was.  We got a lot of stuff done and everytime we get together these tunes get better and better.  (jcabana), the bass was outstanding.  It really made these songs come to life.  I can only imagine how great they will sound when we begin recording.  I will send out the CDs today.  Just so i don't have to dig for them, can everyone email me their mailing addresses?

...(jcabana) and I are working on arrangements to get him here that weekend.  it's pretty costly as it appears now, but we'll figure something out."

Wow.  Really?  I'm more than flattered -- I'm excited.  So now I have to fly myself out to Michigan to get in the studio with these guys to record the album; since the 4 other guys are splitting the studio costs, I figure it's only fair.  That will happen the weekend of March 1.  I already bought my ticket. 

I thought about waiting, and I thought about not doing this.  But what it comes down to is, music is my first love, and performing is my dream.  To pass up an opportunity like this, mo matter how daunting it seems, would be to pass up my dreams.  I'm not old enough or tied down enough to do that yet.  So thanks to The Game for the title of this entry, and his inspirational song that I think of at times like these.

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