Feelin' pretty good tonight: Thank God for Steve Cropper

eryque · February 28th, 2004, 09:03 PM

You ever have one of those weekends that starts out with your tele makin' you feel good, and it just keeps getting better from there? Half the weekend is left, but I think it's going to keep getting better.

It started last night. Actually, it started last sunday night at the open mic. I had to wait until pretty late for my turn, so after I played I was pretty much on my way out. A bud caught me to say that he's found a woman with an incredible singing voice, he wants to start a band around her and asked if I was interested in being the guitar player. The guitar player, not the rhythm guitar player; that's a compliment if I ever heard one. He's got another band and already invited her to sit in at the next gig (last night), and wanted me to come meet her and sit in with the band.

So last night I put Ginger in a bag with a Drivetrain and went on down. These guys sounded a lot better than I remember them ever sounding before (I think they've been working hard), and the girl singer sat in and sounded inCREDible. She's really nice too, we had a chance to talk a little bit before the second set started and it was too loud to talk.

I sat in during the middle of the second set, and managed to get Ginger sounding so sweet it floored me. I fit right in with the guys, too, and the other guitar player was happy to take a break and let me play all the fills and leads I wanted. I'm smart enough not to bite off more than I can chew, so I came off pretty good. And like always, I got to use Ginger's middle pickup to sit right in the pocket, and the neckbucker to really scream. It was beautiful.

The last song we played was an upbeat blues/rocky type thing that I'd never heard before (and can't remember now), the other guitar player and I were going back and forth with some leads for a few bars when I realized I was outgunned and he wanted to keep kicking it up a notch. So I thought "What would Cropper do?" and I done it. I got the band to come down a little more (they'd already started to lay back so we could really go at it), and came up with a really sweet little double-stop phrase that fit just perfect. And I played it over and over and over and over, and it just kept sounding sweeter and sweeter. We finally came back together, everyone ramped up for a HUGE ending, and I left the stage feeling like a million bucks.

Thank God for Steve Cropper.

I've never, ever gotten so many compliments on my playing before, and many of them were from other musicians. As it turns out, there was a drummer invited by the great organizing one, too, and he may be interested in the new band. All we need is a bass player and we're all set!

I've had people talk about bands before, they always seem to fizzle before they get started, but I've got a really good feeling about this one.

Spent all day today running a good exercise for the Civil Air Patrol, have a date tonight, and it's supposed to be sunny all day tomorrow. Don't get no better'niss!

Mike Aufrichtig · February 28th, 2004, 09:18 PM

Nothing like finding the pocket, eh eryque, in more ways than one! Hope that band (and the date) works out for you :)

cft3 · February 28th, 2004, 09:35 PM

"Steal from the best!" Nice work, eryque!

Mike Rice · February 28th, 2004, 10:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Eryque

I fit right in with the guys, too,

all those Hudson Valley TDPRI jams! And I don't mean that in a pompous way. I keep telling every new player, play with other people! If you do nothing else, play with other people. Even with the crowds we have I think we do an amazing job of not stepping on toes, respecting each other, and taking the spotlight as well. While playing in a band is drastically different than our jams, I still think you've acquired alot of group dynamics that I'd be willing to bet other folks they've auditioned were lacking.

Glad things are going so well. Better not read my epilog!!

bdkphoto · February 28th, 2004, 10:50 PM

Way to go Eric! Hope the rest of the week is just as much fun.....

eryque · February 29th, 2004, 11:21 AM

I just got a note from the harmonica player guy that's putting this together. Just based on my guitar playing, his harmonica playing, and (maybe mostly) the singer's performance, someone already asked to book a gig in August. And he knows that the band isn't even formed yet!

I think it's gonna be a fun summer...

Tom P. · February 29th, 2004, 12:57 PM

Great news

Joe Bonner · March 1st, 2004, 12:54 PM

Very cool, Eric. Can't wait to hear more about it.

Congrats!

Joe

Vincent Caster · March 1st, 2004, 01:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by eryque

I think it's gonna be a fun summer...

Yeah, buddy, sounds like it!

I'm jealous but I also know something this well deserved has taken a while to come your way.

Very, very cool.

inertian · March 1st, 2004, 02:11 PM

Couldn't happen to a nicer guy - unless it was me!

Seems like you are finally gonna get something back from all those dues you've been paying.

If you get or put together any charts, see if you can't make them available before the next HVTDPRI Jam.

February 28th, 2004, 09:03 PM	#1 (permalink)
eryque Poster Extraordinaire Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: albany, ny [not chicago] Posts: 7,126 44 Photos	Feelin' pretty good tonight: Thank God for Steve Cropper You ever have one of those weekends that starts out with your tele makin' you feel good, and it just keeps getting better from there? Half the weekend is left, but I think it's going to keep getting better. It started last night. Actually, it started last sunday night at the open mic. I had to wait until pretty late for my turn, so after I played I was pretty much on my way out. A bud caught me to say that he's found a woman with an incredible singing voice, he wants to start a band around her and asked if I was interested in being the guitar player. The guitar player, not the rhythm guitar player; that's a compliment if I ever heard one. He's got another band and already invited her to sit in at the next gig (last night), and wanted me to come meet her and sit in with the band. So last night I put Ginger in a bag with a Drivetrain and went on down. These guys sounded a lot better than I remember them ever sounding before (I think they've been working hard), and the girl singer sat in and sounded inCREDible. She's really nice too, we had a chance to talk a little bit before the second set started and it was too loud to talk. I sat in during the middle of the second set, and managed to get Ginger sounding so sweet it floored me. I fit right in with the guys, too, and the other guitar player was happy to take a break and let me play all the fills and leads I wanted. I'm smart enough not to bite off more than I can chew, so I came off pretty good. And like always, I got to use Ginger's middle pickup to sit right in the pocket, and the neckbucker to really scream. It was beautiful. The last song we played was an upbeat blues/rocky type thing that I'd never heard before (and can't remember now), the other guitar player and I were going back and forth with some leads for a few bars when I realized I was outgunned and he wanted to keep kicking it up a notch. So I thought "What would Cropper do?" and I done it. I got the band to come down a little more (they'd already started to lay back so we could really go at it), and came up with a really sweet little double-stop phrase that fit just perfect. And I played it over and over and over and over, and it just kept sounding sweeter and sweeter. We finally came back together, everyone ramped up for a HUGE ending, and I left the stage feeling like a million bucks. Thank God for Steve Cropper. I've never, ever gotten so many compliments on my playing before, and many of them were from other musicians. As it turns out, there was a drummer invited by the great organizing one, too, and he may be interested in the new band. All we need is a bass player and we're all set! I've had people talk about bands before, they always seem to fizzle before they get started, but I've got a really good feeling about this one. Spent all day today running a good exercise for the Civil Air Patrol, have a date tonight, and it's supposed to be sunny all day tomorrow. Don't get no better'niss!

February 29th, 2004, 12:57 PM	#7 (permalink)
Tom P. Tele-Holic Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Eastern Ct. Posts: 909	Booya!!! Great news __________________ Just Pickin'

March 1st, 2004, 12:54 PM	#8 (permalink)
Joe Bonner Tele-Meister Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Astoria, NY Posts: 333	Very cool, Eric. Can't wait to hear more about it. Congrats! Joe __________________ "The record company wanted a disco hit. We gave them Highway to Hell." -- Malcolm Young

March 1st, 2004, 02:11 PM	#10 (permalink)
inertian Tele-Holic Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Lindenhurst, NY Posts: 583	Nice Work! Couldn't happen to a nicer guy - unless it was me! Seems like you are finally gonna get something back from all those dues you've been paying. If you get or put together any charts, see if you can't make them available before the next HVTDPRI Jam. __________________ "There's very little you can't do with a Dremel if you have the right attachment."

February 28th, 2004, 09:18 PM	#2 (permalink)
Mike Aufrichtig Tele-Meister Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: River Edge, NJ Posts: 178	Nothing like finding the pocket, eh eryque, in more ways than one! Hope that band (and the date) works out for you :)

February 28th, 2004, 09:35 PM	#3 (permalink)
cft3 Tele-Meister Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Pittston, Maine Posts: 233	"Steal from the best!" Nice work, eryque!

February 28th, 2004, 10:50 PM	#5 (permalink)
bdkphoto Tele-Meister Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: NYC Posts: 243	Way to go Eric! Hope the rest of the week is just as much fun.....

February 29th, 2004, 11:21 AM	#6 (permalink)
eryque Poster Extraordinaire Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: albany, ny [not chicago] Posts: 7,126 44 Photos	I just got a note from the harmonica player guy that's putting this together. Just based on my guitar playing, his harmonica playing, and (maybe mostly) the singer's performance, someone already asked to book a gig in August. And he knows that the band isn't even formed yet! I think it's gonna be a fun summer...