Sorry, I missed you last 1st Thursday. I lost my way for the first time in 10 years of doing this. Not to worry I’m back…mostly.
However, I’m still trying to make sense of this pre, post or ongoing pandemic as it relates to jamming or playing casual gigs. I have never turned down a gig except for dire emergencies like floods, fires or monsoons but I did in August. The reason wasn’t any of the above but rather it was the extremely infamous delta variant. I’ve never been the most cautious guy but with pre–school grandkids and creeping age, I tend to get ultra conservative.
I’m still involved with three jams but only one meets regularly and if the other two were regular, I’m not sure I’d attend all of them. You see I haven’t been able to move past the ‘lockdown’ days yet.
I was planning on moving on. I bought a new electric upright bass and a portable battery powered amp to reduce my load in getting to jams. The new instrument was expensive in two ways (there’s always two). The first was the cost which I won’t elaborate on except to say it wasn’t cheap but you know how that goes, as long as there is space, there are new instrument and gear.
The second expense was more costly than any money. It was moving to the electric upright sound from my prized doghouse. I’m still paying this one off. I can’t say it is easy but so it goes. I still have the big girl but she is now in the 2nd position.
Anyway, about that not being able to move past the lockdown stuff, during the first 14 months, I managed to keep enough motivation to keep playing. Not hours of woodshedding but playing a little every day. After the vax time, I was more than ready and able to play at least in the jams I was attending but when this latest wave of Delta stuff hit and every thing was slowing down again, my motivation to play and woodshed slowed down as well. As you might decipher, no woodshed and no jams leads to some poor playing. Your results may vary.
So now I’m confused. Are we open or shut down or both? Regardless of open or closed what am supposed to be doing?
I believe my best bet is to get back to basics but what does “get back to basics mean”.
I suppose it means get back to playing at jams, casual gigs and most importantly in the woodshed. I guess I’m game for that as long as it is with vaccinated brethren and either outside or with masks indoors.
In my case getting back to basics also means sipping on some good tequila to alleviate my stress and to get comfortable.
So that’s what’s going on with me.
I’ve included a photo of better times to help myself remember.
As they say. That’s my story and I’m sticking to it.
