Hi Folks, last week it was raining and the only time that the stringsters and I could rehearse found us finally synched up at Chapman College in the city of Orange. A couple of the violinists teach over there and were able to secure a room.

You can’t believe the challenge of finding common time between 7 musos—all with hurricane schedules mixed with the care and feeding of living and breathing families. I’m thinking of quitting music and instead writing a computer app that would magically tally up everyone’s calendars, come up with some workable dates and then finally, especially needed in our case, launch into “coax mode” and beg some players to make more time available. This happens a lot in our band. Even looking months out into the future it often turns out that there will be zero open dates in common. Full urrggghhhhh factor!

Back to my Chapman story. You know how most schools typically have a big parking predicament? There I am, circling the campus in my car, in the rain and coming up with nothing. I finally settle on a paid spot at the far north end of the campus. I’m traveling light for me, which is a small amp, my guitar, my backpack, my electronic music stand and a SKATEBOARD. Thinking ahead, (I thought I might end up in that situation), I pulled out an old skateboard from the shed that Kylie used to prank around with. I take all of the gear out of the car, and there you have it—picture the image of your humble guitar servant weighted down with the guitar, the music pad and backpack all strapped to my back, the music stand in one hand and finally the small amp riding on a skateboard that has a strong built in left lean to it. Oh, and add in the gentle rain of SoCal as it sprinkles happiness into this classic moment. This whole limp factor carried on across the whole campus, students slightly concealing their laughter on who this alien was. I was like the wild Hunchback of Chapman doing whatever it took to work out the deets in the music.

I made it to the room and we had a wonderful rehearsal. For the first time I got to hear real people playing my new composition “Dr. Einstein’s Spin”.  For months it’s been me and the computers playing the tune and this sours in comparison to hearing 98 degree powered humans bowing into nirvana. I’m thrilled and we’re all looking forward to the concert next month playing the “world premier” of the piece. If this sounds cool to you, look below for the details and maybe plan ahead. Big fun!