Freebird Live actually. We had another great show last night. The first set was especially good for me. The club was small, intimate, with a small stage, and it was packed. It was hot and humid, which I love, and we churned out rock and roll all night long.
At sound check, we learned Mike’s song, The Beltless Buckler, an interesting, almost ballad like tune from his Inside In CD, and we played it second set.
Second set was LOUD last night. (What?) I have this technique of closing up my ears that I use when I play. You know that feeling when you yawn and your ears pop open? I can do the opposite and close them up. I use this quite a bit because when things get too loud, I can’t distinguish pitch, and it makes it very hard to sing. So, if you see me grab my nose right before I sing, I’m probably closing up my ears!
So yes, it was a loud rock and roll show last night to be sure!
Before the show, Mike and I walked around the neighborhood for a bit, and I met up with my very old friend, Carrie, who my song Carrie was written about.
Afterward, we met the owner of the club, Judy, who is Ronnie Van Zandt’s widow. She’s very sweet and appreciated that we did Lynyrd Skynyrd’s Swamp Music.
Today’s band member: Craig Myers. Craig is our percussionist, and he’s the youngest member of the band. He’s got great energy and great talent. He’s taken a number of extended trips to Africa where’s he’s lived with the musicians over there, and learned their language and culture, and learned to build and play their instruments. He’s got a great sense of rhythm and adds a youthful energy to everything we do. He also plays the gnoni, an West African stringed instrument that he made himself. We play a couple of tunes written specifically for this instrument. I love it because it’s tuned to kind of a Gm pentatonic scale, and we play songs in C with it, so it gives it a very modal feel.
There were some great answers to yesterday’s questions! Thanks! The correct answer for #1 was -4. However, I think all the answers I saw were correct.
Today’s question has to do with nightly rituals. I’ve got my bus ritual down where before I go to bed I put my glasses, cell phone, and Ian’s ipod touch in my bunk, go have a snack and a drink, then climb into the bunk and either listen to Pandora on the itouch, or watch some TV on the itouch. My bunk has a DVD player attached to the ceiling, but I haven’t taken advantage of that yet.
Anyway, today’s question is: what’s your last ritualistic thing you do right before bed? Oh, come on… you can tell us!!
Scott's Blog 
**<<((!!!###……….that's what I do. and I love it.
put my phone on silent and turn the contrast down on the tv
ok i’ll play…keys and cell phone goes on the windowsill next to my bulk and pants go on the chair that is also next to my bulk. My bulker gear is next to the truck(cause they smell like fire, who wants to breath that all night)and are ready to jump into.
The bunk room is usually very dark so if I’m the first one to go to bed I like to take some glitter and put it on the new guy’s(the probe)pillow. You see the new guy will not turn the light on to see whats up but rather just try to just brush it off. *note glitter does not wipe off. One of two things happen it make for a funny morning coffee table or the patient of the next EMS call has this look on his/her face like(?)why does the fireman asking me all these EMS question sprakling? equally as funny.
Feel free to try it on the bus but just remember pay back is a bitch.
keep having fun on tour!
i really like the format of your blog, especially the insights into songs and music theory that help us neophytes appreciate what is going on when we know there is something special happening but just not sure exactly what. Also like the daily questions, which keep us thinking.
My nighttime ritual reflects my OCD quite well in that i check and recheck my two alarms numerous times (i don’t wake up easily, but do have to wake up very early) and then sometimes i wake up from a sound sleep and check them again. Often, just as i’m falling asleep, i do an i ching reading. I feel like that space between conscious and unconscious is a good place to try to unveil the mysteries of the oracles, especially that one. If i can’t sleep, i often dream of watery places like the beach or a coral reef on the sea floor. But never, ever Niagara Falls.. 😉
Like the blog. Ear plugs help me, dampens the high end.
Check the alarms at least twice….then read until sleep comes. Sometimes, I read this blog. Waiting for you to make me laugh.
Kick the dogs off the furniture (and hope they stay off), close the garage doors, check on my daughter, snore loudly and start anew
Hi. Nighly rituals consist of… checking door locks, lights off, kisses and head pats to my dogs, checking the 3 settings on my alarm (6:30, 7:00 and 7:30 – giving me options on when I feel like waking up, arrange my pillows so they make a fortress around my head, say “thank you” for the day and then I wish everyone sweet dreams… :)b I’m usually asleep within minutes.
brush teeth
medicate the cat
feed the cat
clean the litter box
turn off the lights around the house
check windows
make sure the alarm is set (or not set)
kiss kiss
read
getting sleepy just thinking about it…
Empty pockets onto dresser, plug in cell phone, brush teeth, check alarm, out.
Brush the chompers and set the stupid alarm clock. That is Sun-Thursday. Friday and Saturday night I think I just pass out listening to music.
was asked not to post my answer to the question. Next question?
Power off computer after checking twitter/email/text messages one last time & football scores of games in progress if late ones and my pool standings (Im really not a degenerate gambler 🙂 )
Put glasses in night stand drawer so cat cant knock them off to get my attn when he undoubtedly will wake me up at 4AM to be fed. if wearing my contacts does not apply….Close bamboo blinds leaving enough space so cat can look out a little and wont destroy them trying to get my attention when he wants food.
I usually have no trouble falling asleep being a little energizer bunny.
After seeing you guys in Woodstock, Craig won me over with his funky rap the dude has soul……Vasso is still my favorite though!!
thanks for playing the freebird!
i had a blast.
come back soon!
snack! without a doubt! this blog is awesome, and you guys played freebird? hmm! 😉