the most honorable gig i will ever play

[Childbride]

is this coming weekend.

my gram is turning 90 on oct 3.

shiner and i are going to play for her, and the byproxy is coming from houston to join us.

we will play for her in her front yard, under a big ole texas moon, leaning mesquites and live oaks every where, coyotes howling on the hill, and tell her just how much her life has meant to me.

i know that my father and grandpa will be with me.

 

[Disraeli]

That's really awesome. 90's quite the accomlishment.

 

[Katastrophe]

That's gonna be awesome, CB!

What songs are you gonna play?

 

[evenkeel]

Sounds wonderful. Have a blast. We'll be looking forward to a full report.

 

[Childbride]

we've been working on an extended setlist; shiner can barre much better than i can, and has more time in on playing than i do.

mostly acoustic. gin blossoms, eagles, tom petty, all my old country flat pickin' songs, jimmy buffet, robert earl keen, america, john denver, james taylor, 'sleepwalk', goo goo dolls, et al.

my brother has a band of dear, close friends that he literally grew up with from childhood/hs/college. i jokingly penned them the 'lost boys' in the 80's, and still call them that.

it's a total surprise. the premise is that every year, brother and the lost boys have a dove hunt out at the ranch at the start of the season. he asked to have a cookout. gram, of course, said yes.

i tell her i'm coming down solo.

i show up with shiner and the byproxy.

[she hasn't seen the byproxy in ages...]

i disappear around six. i go into town, get her cake and all the stuff for supper other than the meat, which brother has someone bbq-ing... and fambly just start showing up at 6:30.

it's all coming together now, and i'm just tickled to death.

this woman, who has given her entire life to serve her community and our family, is going to get the party of her lifetime.

brother and the lost boys are planning on camping out at the ranch... so late night moon light guitar playing is on the agenda.

it's going to be a most excellent weekend, for one of the most loved and cherished family members i have.

 

[Childbride]

forgot pink floyd, george strait, garbage...

the list keeps growing. we may have to play for hours.

 

[street music]

CB, that is just super. Hope you all have a grand ole time.

 

[piebaldpython]

Honorable Gig

CB,
I know you'll play your heart out for GRAM. I'll be there in SPIRIT with yas.

 

[Robert]

That is great. Once, I played for an old friend who was 90 and he really enjoyed it.

 

[bigoldron]

That has got to be the sweetest, kindest, COOLEST gig I've ever heard of! Kudos to you and Shiner and best of luck to you! I hope and pray it all comes off without a hitch or hurdle.

I'm sure she'll be surprised, proud and happy with all you're throwing together! I hope you all have a GREAT TIME! Let us know how it all turns out.

You guys RAWK!!! :AOK: :rockon: :dude: :bravo:

 

[Childbride]

i've been planning and scheming... the 'story' was planted last night by phone w/gram, she knows i'm coming [solo... ], talked to brother, got the last of the food issues covered, cake ordered, taking off early tomorrow after court to get the last minute preparations taken care of/start getting gear ready.

was so hard to be sneaky with her. really, really.

i'm so excited...

[edit: o, geezly crow, i can't jinx it. i can't say. i'll tell y'all sunday when we're back. but i just think i Did Good. ]

 

[Childbride]

Bodie just showed up [the by-proxy]

he's in awe of the music room.

i told him, very honestly, that him showing up for this, and taking off of work this weekend, was both my bday and xmas present.

i'm so happy right now. family is First, and Wonderful.

 

[bigoldron]

i'm so happy right now. family is First, and Wonderful.

Sounds like it's falling into place, CB! I think Marnold will agree that God is first, Family is second, but everyone doesn't necessarily have the same beliefs.

Keep us posted, if you can! The music room is looking great!!! :AOK:

 

[street music]

CB, I wish you a very enjoyable time with the family, I miss those days gone by. Be safe on the road and give Grammie a hug from all of us.

 

[Childbride]

[insert 'staind... tangled up in you' here]

==================

it went [nearly] perfectly. gram was totally shocked to see shiner and byproxy [they hid in the truck until the second load came into the house]...

brother and whole crew showed up for the hunt...

took gram into town b/c she hadn't gone to the post office in days; sat down at her kitchen table with her and watched her read all of her cards... :AOK:

made an excuse that i had to 'pick something up for brother in town'... got the supplies [that staind song was on the mix cd that byproxy made for us this trip, and i just kept hitting repeat while running around town]... literally, coming back down the gravel drive to the ranch, stepmom/her mom/cousin come driving in behind to help me take in her cake, balloons, food... people keep showing up, including three generations from one of her deceased sisters' family...

the menfolk come down from the hill with coolers full of dove... byproxy had a most magnificent first hunt...

feast was excellent, got ready to pull out the guitars... byproxy set up the stands, shiner's is out... pull out odyssey and the microcube...

no cable. :thwap:

[was still awesome]

pics to follow...

 

[Childbride]

 

[Rocket]

I thought it was on October 3rd?

 

[Childbride]

it is. the ruse would only work with that many people showing up to the ranch early w/it coinciding w/the first annual dove hunt.

 

[warren0728]

looks like a great time cb....too bad about the cord but that tele looked good sitting on the porch anyway!! :beer:

ww

 

[Rocket]

What's so interesting about your left hand? You seem to be fixated on it!

It'll get the "watched-pot syndrome"... the more you watch it, the slower it'll get.

 

[evenkeel]

Hey Shiner and CB,
Wonderful story. Thanks for sharing the pics. :bravo:

 

[Childbride]

[laugh]

you've been after me since the git for that, Rocket, and you're absolutely right.

i'm pretty good about it except when other people are watching me, and then i go back to looking at the fretboard.

[edit: no, i can't lie, i am an honorable person. i am horrible about looking]

closet practice in the dark to ensue.

 

[Rocket]

There's no need for self-consciousness while making music... any music...
...besides, you'll get the most true and natural guitar-face with eyes closed.

Expression is yet another facet along with precision, dexterity, timing, commitment, etc. Nothing looks more unnatural on a human than fascia rasa.

 

[Childbride]

i am also very nervous about singing in front of others, which i did last night, also.

i closed my eyes. and just sang.

i need to do that with the guitar.

 

[sunvalleylaw]

Looking good there guys! Looks like a real nice night in a real pleasant back yard.

 

[piebaldpython]

Music Gig

What a wonderful story CB. We're glad GRAM's party turned out to be a success. Nice pix too. Is that the by-proxy sittin' next to Shiner on the bench seat on the porch??

 

[Kazz]

Thanks for sharing this tale CB.....

What goo goo dolls song did y'all do? Name is my favorite by them, but Iris and Black Balloon do not fall far behind.

Another really cool obscure song I love is Hootie and the Blowfish's "Not Even the Trees"

 

[Childbride]

thanks, y'all...

PBP... i can neither confirm nor deny anything other than he is in at least one of those pictures.

Kaz... the setlist got shortened quite a bit as the guys didn't camp and gram got worn out from all of the excitement/went to bed two hours earlier than normal. so Iris didn't get played.

 

[bigoldron]

Glad to hear it went well! Sorry about the cord, but it looks like everyone had a great time! I'm Gram really enjoyed herself and it's hard to beat fresh dove, especially when you have gravy and biscuits with them!

Kudos you and yours for putting on such a grand event! :AOK:

BTW, don't feel bad about looking. I still have a problem with that too.

 

[luvmyshiner]

Heh, heh, sorry babe. Iris got played. Obviously you were distracted by the throngs of screaming groupies and couldn't hear the song. By the way, not all those cups sitting next to me were mine. Only a couple.:beer: