Peint o Grwr Open Mic!!

Last night, I dragged myself to the Chatham Peint o Grwr, thinking I would REALLY rather have a fire at home and spend some time outside on this pretty, Spring day. But I had blown off going there before, and that really isn't fair, especially if I took a spot someone else could have filled...


So I walk in and right away feel a little better as several folks greet me and look glad that I am here....the guy that plays bass in the house band says, 'We gonna rock tonight!!!' and I raise thumbs up to him and go to find the sign up sheet to check my time and find a seat....


Lots of good players tonight, which is as usual at this open mic. I run into someone who recognizes me from Club Helsinki, and knows me by name. I am embarrassed that I can't return the politeness, and even mess up his name after I am given it.... so sorry, I am just still not really into this yet....


Time goes on and I know it must be getting close, and yep, I am on after this next guy.....and the band will come up with me.


NOW, I finally start to get excited and WAKE UP!!! Nerves start to fire, and I get my guitar and tune and start to pace in a tiny area to get the blood moving and my head in the right place to do some MUSIC...and they call me up.


I don't know what happens when I get up on a stage, but when I am facing the crowd, I don't have to think-- I just start to move, some kind of release happens, and I start to put IT out there....I give the band a (very brief) instruction and off we go!!!....None of them have ever heard the song, as it is a new original, but they worked with it, make any glitches sound like they were meant and then some, and we push the song up to where it has never gone before.....and people are dancing and having a great tme in front of me....laughing, watching, moving....


So I do another, and another and the response builds. After my new song 'Tequila', the bass player and drummer are smiling so hard they make me laugh!!!! Even the lead guitarist, who seems to be very serious about his work,  appears to be enjoying himself....and his guitar work is EXCELLENT!!! This band is GOOD!!!! 


I decide to close my set with 'Rocking in the Free World' and we ROCKED....the bar was singing the refrains with us, complete with harmonies (after all, this is a musician's crowd)..... and I got my first 'MAR-I-LYN!!!!' ever, shouted at me 
from the crowd.....and I gotta say, that feels GREAT.


What FUN!!!!


So, in the end, to say the least, I was REALLY HAPPY to be there and help folks feel good for a little bit on a beautiful spring night in Chatham, NY..... and I am thankful for that opportunity!!!