I spent most of the day in Pleasant View, Utah. And let me say, it IS a pleasant view there. Jason Deere invited me to join him and his Nashville Tribute Band for a concert at Weber High tonight. Their regular piano player, Dan Truman, also plays keyboards for the great country band Diamond Rio and they’re in Vegas this week so I was the fill-in piano player. I wasn’t Dan, but then, no one is. And I mean than in a good way. Really.
The first half of the show was dedicated to new songs no one had heard before. A few months ago I helped Jason write a few of the songs in that first set. The good news for me was that my mistakes were a bit (but not completely) camouflaged by the newness of the songs. There was nothing to compare them to, and that helped. Plus, “when in doubt, stay out” has always been a good mantra for the new guy in the band. I stayed out a lot and everyone sounded just fine.
I must admit I was happy being asked to play with this group that have been playing music together for years. They’re terrific players, great singers and wonderful people. I found a lot of happiness today admiring their work, and trying to fit in. It was fun, but it was also good for me. The expression, “compelled to be humble” comes to mind, but that’s okay. It was a role I don’t often get asked to play and I liked it.
I’m also happy I get another crack at playing these songs this Friday in St. George at the Tuachann Amphitheatre. As you may have gathered from previous M2B:) blogs, I’m big on second chances.
Oh, I forgot to mention how great it was to see some Forgotten Carols fans at the show. Many of them hadn’t seen me perform outside of the Christmas show and they came up to me tonight and made me feel like a big shot. It gave me the idea that we should institute a National Make Someone Feel Like A Big Shot Day. Like Secretaries Day only instead of buying flowers or handing out a gift certificate to Applebees, you tell somebody how terrific they are and ask for some sort of autograph- may I suggest asking your prospective big shot to sign your t-shirt with a Sharpie as you say something like”Hey Rock Star-Been workin’ out? It’s like you never age.”
Trust me. This works. No one, in the history of the world doesn’t feel like a big shot when these words are spoken. And if it’s a songwriter you’re trying to make feel like a big shot, consider adding this: “Love the new stuff.”
8 Comments
Michael,
it was a thrill seeing one of my most favorite and loved ’seasoned’ musician playing with my other most favorite and loved ‘babied’ musicians..;) ya’ll really meshed well and I thought the concert and the songs were AMAZING!!! I love your talent and you have always been an inspiration to me in many times! thank you… What a gift if is to meet you and to have lunch with you before the event and to hang with you after! YOU ROCK!!! Let’s hook up so I can get you some samples of essential oils that will benefit you and your ‘issue’:} thanks for such a great evening! keep on your mission to be happy! love that song…. Maree From bellas
or should i say ‘Big Shot’
Hmmmm, me thinks that as a mother, if someone came up to me with a sharpie and a t-shirt and said, “Hey Rock Star-Been workin’ out? ……..” I’d take that sharpie and ……well……..
Ya gotta come up with a better line for women Mike. Especially stay at home moms who the only ‘gym’ they walk into is for their punks basketball games or wrestling matches. Oh, and by the way…..if you’ve never walked into a gym for your sons wrestling matches, don’t think it’s not a workout. I can’t decide who sweats and contorts their face more! My son wrestling or me watching!
But, next time I see you I’ll bring a t-shirt just for you and a sharpie and say what you posted. Just for you! Just don’t ask me to sign your t-shirt if you’re gonna say that whole work out thing or love the new stuff.
Deal?
Phew! Glad we got that squared away. Chocolate anybody?
Michael! YOU TOTALLY ROCK DUDE! Finally pulled out the CD (read the book but haven’t listened yet; with all the teenagers in this house they dominate the CD player). Confession: I bought the book and CD for my sister but after reading I’m keepin’ it! Gonna have to buy her another one. LOVE THE NEW STUFF!!!! I mean it!
Doing dishes and the music came on………totally started rockin’. Had to go put on my Wranglers and boots and started scootin’ and boogyin’ while cleaning out the dishwasher. Down side is I now have to scrub the kitchen floor cuz of all the horse doo that got stomped off my boots. You might want to warn people about that. The feet get goin’ and……..
Chocolate anybody?
Michael
It was great to see you playing with the Nashville Tribute Band. The song you sang and rocked out on was great. I was wondering if it will be on the Works album. I have enjoyed all the music you have written. Great Job!. Thanks for the music. Ray
Thanks for the kind words. They mean a lot. The Mission To Be Happy song is on the CD that comes with the Mission To Be Happy Book. The other song I sang about the senior missionary might find it’s way on to the WORK album.
It was a really fun day for me, and great meeting you and your family. Thanks for your kindness and generosity. And let’s do what we can to keep me tinkling those ivories as long as possible.
Lesson for responding to comments (I get to teach you because I got yelled at over it in the beginning) – you need to address the person for whom the comment is made, as in “Rachel – NO CHOCOLATE” so that nobody else sits around, head-scratching over the chance you were talking to them.
You were playing with a band??? I haven’t seen you do that since LIGHT. I didn’t know you could. I wanna do it. I really wanna do it, too – keyboard guy in a band??? And singing back-up, I bet. But I can’t. Because I have no chops. Because I didn’t believe my mother when she said I needed to practice (which wouldn’t have helped anyway, since they don’t do Hanon in bands much. Wish I’d seen it. But I’d have had to have sat still for more than five minutes -
I don’t appreciate your subliminal message Kristen……..I caught that ya know. Everyone else may read your reply thinking you were just teaching Michael how to comment but I know what you’re doing and it isn’t nice. Besides, who fed me the chocolate covered almonds huh? Yeah…….that’s what I thought!!!
Kidding aside, I do believe in a healthy diet Michael to help prolong a healthy life……. for others.
:p
Keep rockin!!