Our posh night
Posted by Matt
Now I’m getting a little verklempt. We’re assembling in the lobby of our posh D.C. hotel right now. Yes, posh. We had planned to sleep on couches and floors last night, and we really would have been happy with that. But a very kind patron of the arts swooped down and carried us off to two fancy hotel rooms last night. Wow! Thanks, patron of the arts.
The full Twilight Hours crew includes me and John The Stalwart, plus Jacques Wait on electric guitar, Steve Roehm on drums, and Dave Salmela on keyboards. We’re traveling about as light as you could imagine, and it’s been working great. With less gear, you lose a lot of control, but it makes packing and lugging less onerous, and it makes the whole venture economically possible.
No amp for me. All my cords and a few pedals are packed right in the guitar case. On stage, I hear my guitar strictly through the club’s monitor. And that’s been working fine. Electric guitar player Jacques’s been playing through a Fender Champ which could fit into a paper shopping bag. I think when that amp came out, it was considered a practice amp for students in their dorm room. Well those 1960s dorm room jams must have sounded really great, because there has been nothing missing from Jacques’ sound. Drummer Steve has his cymbals in a circular plastic case, his kick pedal loose in the van, and his snare in a case that looks like a wig box. For every other part of the set we’ve been begging and borrowing. Given permission to go wild with the tuning key, Steve can make just about any drum set sound thick and great. In addition to being a drummer, Steve is an excellent vibraphone player, as well. I mention to illustrate what a profoundly musical person he is. And what a treasure for the band.
Without a doubt Piano Player Dave suffers the most under the prevailing travel-light regime. What it means for him is the difference between a real natural keyboard like a large, heavy Rhodes and a plasticky midi controller with unweighted keys triggering great piano sounds from his laptop. To the rest of us, the sound is lovely, but that lifeless plastic keyboard is not really meeting Dave halfway in terms of returning to his fingers the warmth and care of his loving caress. Someday, Dave, we’ll get you back on a keyboard with a heart inside.
Tonight is Philly (Do I have permission to call you that?), then home. Thanks to everyone who’s come out to see us. So gratifying! I feel like I’m living in a fantasy. But the funny thing is that the situation feels vaguely sustainable. Now I just want to record the band and get the whole cycle rolling all over again.
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