One of the things I love about my job is that sometimes our days can be vastly different from one another. Let me give you an example of the last two days. On Wednesday night we played a rockin' show with The Duhks at the Roseland Grill in Portland. We reveled in the nightclub scene with the Buddies turning out and making the whole room bounce with their movement. Yeah!! The place had a robust sound system, sparkly lighting rig, and roomy wooden stage. We also had the pleasure of a private green room, which actually makes a big difference in our ability to mentally prepare for a show. Everything unfolded smoothly and it was fantastic! We then watched the Duhks, and at the end of their set, joined in with a Samba jam that brought the house down.
Then the next day, around noon, we headed to play an acoustic show for a group of senior citizens that go to my church. Each month they get together to share a meal and some entertainment donated by the local community. This month it we stepped up. We brought in our Travelin TapWater set (different from full production TapWater), consisting of banjo, steel pans, accordion, acoustic guitar, upright bass, and Simon on various percussion (pandero, djembe, shakers, bongos). It's easy and fun, and it's perfect for seniors. We were treated to a lunch of chicken and pasta with marinara from Sckavones, and then rocked 30 seniors for 45 minutes with our grassy World Twangy-ness. They were blown away, both touched that we volunteered our time, and more, that the music was so super. We made a difference to them and it felt good.
After I left the show that Thursday afternoon, I felt really grateful to and proud of TapWater -- that they can be so many things to so many people. That they can be the outrageously fun party band that rocks the club, that they can be the light-hearted acoustic band that cheers some people who maybe don't have the same opportunities we do, that they are good, kind people who care enough to be responsible to their community.
I love my job! And I love my band!!
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This is very cool. I doesn't surprise me that a blog spot can have a widget to play songs.
ReplyDeleteYour boys have assuredly been informed that if they want to get in on a Brazilian jam of Pagode songs all they need do is show up late (9:30) on Thursday nights, unless it's second Friday, then go on Friday, to Sckavones.
We had a lot of fun dancing locally when they played at Double MOuntain in Hood River.