R. Shackleferd
06-26-2006, 11:48 PM
So this weekend my sis got married, and I was the music with my nylon Ibanez and a 6.5" acoustic amp while everyone was seated. Thankfully I nailed the important songs of the bridesmaids and the bridal march. So at the church I played maybe 30 mins total, and they have a very nice wedding...and then we all go to the reception.
There they had hired a popular local Austin band, Chaparrel (http://www.austin360.com/event/events/Entertainment/event?hidActionName=PreviewEvent&eventid=91748), as the band for the night. Even though I'm surely not much of a country music fan, I can still appreciate that they are good at what they do. Plus they have a hint of several unique influences that make them unique. I don't dance at all, but alot of people were. But then my brother comes up to me and tells me that I'm up next...that he told 'em about me and convinced the singer/acoustic guitarist to let me up there. I was just like, naw, I did my playing today...don't wanna. But he wouldn't take it, he insisted. And then the singer calls me out on the mic, "where ya at, c'mon up!" So of course, there was no backing out. I strap on the lead player's tele (of course) and he tells me we're playing Little Sister-Elvis. Didn't ring a bell with me, so I was just like "Dunno that, but just give me a lead break." I meakly played through the 1st few runs of the progression figuring it out...and then for the lead just ran through some pentatonic stuff, I don't even remeber particular licks. But truly, the crowd went nuts. Then he gave me another lead break, and I was a little looser this time and played more within the measures. So he sang the last verse and one more time...wailing out, throwing in a pick scrape for good measure. Everyone loved it, and kept telling me so for much of the night. During the bands next break I met and thanked the singer, Jeff Hughes. He told me that he has been in the "scene" for nearly 20 years playing with guys, and that he was genuinely impressed, not blowing smoke up my ass. He's quite a character too...cool guy. He gave me an open invitation to come sit-in with him anytime at his regular place, The Broken Spoke.
So for a closet guitarist like me, that was a helluvalotta 'limelight' for one day. But gotta say, it was fun. I'm glad my bro made me do it. But really, I'm more relieved I got the ceremonial songs right, even if I think my sister enjoyed the improv more.
There they had hired a popular local Austin band, Chaparrel (http://www.austin360.com/event/events/Entertainment/event?hidActionName=PreviewEvent&eventid=91748), as the band for the night. Even though I'm surely not much of a country music fan, I can still appreciate that they are good at what they do. Plus they have a hint of several unique influences that make them unique. I don't dance at all, but alot of people were. But then my brother comes up to me and tells me that I'm up next...that he told 'em about me and convinced the singer/acoustic guitarist to let me up there. I was just like, naw, I did my playing today...don't wanna. But he wouldn't take it, he insisted. And then the singer calls me out on the mic, "where ya at, c'mon up!" So of course, there was no backing out. I strap on the lead player's tele (of course) and he tells me we're playing Little Sister-Elvis. Didn't ring a bell with me, so I was just like "Dunno that, but just give me a lead break." I meakly played through the 1st few runs of the progression figuring it out...and then for the lead just ran through some pentatonic stuff, I don't even remeber particular licks. But truly, the crowd went nuts. Then he gave me another lead break, and I was a little looser this time and played more within the measures. So he sang the last verse and one more time...wailing out, throwing in a pick scrape for good measure. Everyone loved it, and kept telling me so for much of the night. During the bands next break I met and thanked the singer, Jeff Hughes. He told me that he has been in the "scene" for nearly 20 years playing with guys, and that he was genuinely impressed, not blowing smoke up my ass. He's quite a character too...cool guy. He gave me an open invitation to come sit-in with him anytime at his regular place, The Broken Spoke.
So for a closet guitarist like me, that was a helluvalotta 'limelight' for one day. But gotta say, it was fun. I'm glad my bro made me do it. But really, I'm more relieved I got the ceremonial songs right, even if I think my sister enjoyed the improv more.