In the big picture of ones life, there are a few events that pop up along the way that add years to your life...that help you breath fresh air...that gives you a sense of a bigger picture with an atmosphere of smiles and beautiful music...oh, I can't deny what an adventure I got play a small role in on Saturday, 2-2-08. Sprout (Aaron--Robbie Robertson, Matt--Rick Danko, Justin--Garth Hudson and Steve--Levon Helm at drums) with Loren Kranz (Richard Manuel) put on The Last Waltz Tribute show at Pit N Balcony in Saginaw and I was fortunate to be able to play a couple of tunes with the Sprout Family...Evangeline (with my new friend Natalie Myers (Emmylou Harris) and When I Paint My Masterpiece (with my long time Bro & former collegemate Matt Besey--aka Bob Dylan). I have the clips yanked down from Sprout's page up for listenin'. Needless to say, I rarely play mandolin, but I have been since about 1998ish...but not like I play guitar/sing or even play tenor sax (since 5th grade!). But the little stringed instrument helped me pull in a great sense of duty and opened my eyes to things I never have experienced (I was Levon Helm at the Mando). To be along side of my peers, jam buddies, and old friends (catching up in rehearsal or backstage with the likes of Johnny Krogman (Neil Young), Drew Pentkowski (Eric Clapton/Bob Margolin), Besey, Shar Molina (Joni Mitchell), Padrick James (Paul Butterfield and Muddy Waters), Ryan Fitzgearld (Ronnie The Hawk Hawkins) & Jeff (horn section)) and my newest friends in Covert Ops--Dallas Barr (Neil Diamond) & Derek Young (Dr. John), rippin' solo man Dave LaPorte (Van Morrison), and Seth Payton (horn section)--there was nothing that kept this show from being surreal. There were probably more artists, but I think I remember everyone! Sprouts tunes by The Band were awesome--played so incredibly well...the encore with all of us for I Shall Be Released and The Weight (which I had a lead vocal on the latter) were such a rush...words are hard to come by. The feeling is overwhelming three days later here.......
Around all this--last Thursday I got to sit in (guitar) with The Holy Gun at Indian Barry's. Thanks fellas! We got to turn up the jams and Ray, Ryan, Matt, & Mike...that felt spectacular. Trading leads with Ray was off the hook! Looking forward to next time Bro's!
Wrapping up my week of musical adventure--I went down to see the one and only Joe Henry at The Ark in Ann Arbor last night. Intimate, provoking, inspirational...I can't think of enough adjectives to spew forth the inspiration that Henry bestowed upon me. It was incredible.
I can't imagine things getting better then they are, but they seem to be all the time...
Thanks friends and family...let's do it some more,
Scott