Concert
Last night I attended a concert with a friend for a Girl’s Night Out. It’s been a long time since she saw a live musical performance and this was a treat since it was a small venue and we had some eye candy too. Now I’m not a musician, so maybe this following description is not unusual
or even that great of a feat, but we were both impressed. First Jay Nash, the person who I went to see, came on by himself and played a song, just him and his guitar. This is what I expected for his entire set, yet instead for the second song he invited the drummer for Greg Laswell’s band on stage to accompany him. Then for another song he invited the guitarist for Greg Laswell’s band on too. There was a lot of talk about the four musicians traveling and touring together in the drummer’s Toyota Sienna (minivan no less!). Soon Greg Laswell was onstage to play keyboards, and it was then that I began to understand the friendship and compatibility between these musicians. They didn’t let their egos get in the way, but instead relished being onstage accompanying one another. They were able to rock out to one of Jay’s songs when he got on the electric guitar and the guitarist got on the bass and everyone looked like they were having too much fun.
I figured after Jay’s set he might sit back and view the rest of the concert, possibly joining them onstage for one song. I talked with him between sets and he asked if I was staying to see Greg’s performance-of course I was. For the second song, they invited Jay onstage to play the bass. The story goes something like this: when they found out they were touring together Jay said they had about enough musicians to make up a full band and should he bring a bass-not that any of them played bass, but it provided a good opportunity to learn. The shared bass was born. After that round Greg tried his guitar and finding it was out of tune Jay offered up his, even assisting to strap it on him. It brought a lot of laughs, but here again was an example of musicians comfortable enough to switch places, try new instruments and even offer up a favorite piece of equipment.
Of course these are seasoned performers and they know what makes for an appealing presentation. I marvel at people that can get on stage and be so natural and at ease with themselves and the audience. But last night was a lesson in sharing, something my two preschool boys could take a lesson in.
I figured after Jay’s set he might sit back and view the rest of the concert, possibly joining them onstage for one song. I talked with him between sets and he asked if I was staying to see Greg’s performance-of course I was. For the second song, they invited Jay onstage to play the bass. The story goes something like this: when they found out they were touring together Jay said they had about enough musicians to make up a full band and should he bring a bass-not that any of them played bass, but it provided a good opportunity to learn. The shared bass was born. After that round Greg tried his guitar and finding it was out of tune Jay offered up his, even assisting to strap it on him. It brought a lot of laughs, but here again was an example of musicians comfortable enough to switch places, try new instruments and even offer up a favorite piece of equipment.
Of course these are seasoned performers and they know what makes for an appealing presentation. I marvel at people that can get on stage and be so natural and at ease with themselves and the audience. But last night was a lesson in sharing, something my two preschool boys could take a lesson in.
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