Life is good. What else can I say? Mystery Road has been rehearsing REALLY well and we’ve really been enjoying each others company. I feel like the rehearsals have been fun, productive and they’ve had a great flow. We worked up the set list for the final show on June 20th at The Cave and I couldn’t be more happy with how the songs just flow in and out of each other. This just may be our best set list yet and I can’t wait to get out there and really let our fans have 110%.
As we get closer to the end of the line, I can’t help but think about how just how damn happy I am with where it will be coming to an end. Don’t get me wrong, I’ll miss this band so much but it’s a great place to bring it to a close. We worked really hard on these songs and our performances and I think they speak for themselves. We really picked up our own lil following and managed to keep them on board for all of our shows no matter what time or night we were playing. 11pm on a Friday, they were there. 10pm on a Thursday night, they were there. It’s a great feeling. I remember back to the days of me playing to 4 people at The Cave solo on a Wednesday night and it just reminds me that with a lot of hard work, perseverance and networking, you can make anything happen. I’ve learned so much over these years and I can’t wait to apply that to my new surroundings.
In addition to Mystery Road, I also have been reflecting on the musical stepping stones that got me to where I am now. I have fond memories of being the bassist for a bluegrass trio called “Good Turn”. Being a “member” of a band instead of a creative member taught me a lot. I learned how to listen and how to relinquish control to those that were in charge and while I found it challenging at times, it made me a better musician and a better performer. It was a great, fun experience that I am really grateful for.
Another thing I am grateful for is my experience in Shades of Winter. That is something that got me to where I am today. I learned a lot of great, valuable lessons in that band and I have no regrets about it whatsoever. We made some great music together in our time and I’m super proud of it. I did learn a lot about communication though. There were many things that could’ve been done differently in this band to make things less painful but ya know, this was my first band since 1994. I was learning a lot and I learned a lot. Things happen and don’t happen for a reason but to regret them seems silly. Shades of Winter was a stepping stone to this amazing place that I am at in my life now and for that I am forever grateful. I will always look back on my time with that band and appreciate it for what it is and what it was. Life is too fucking short to have regrets and to carry grudges.
