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.
7 Comments
Clearly a post-Christmas homecoming show is in order.
Posted by drneau
I really enjoyed the show last nigh at Iota. It sounded great and it was nice to chat with John briefly before the show. Good luck in the New Year, and I promise to bring as many people as possible next time. You may want to check out Jammin’ Java in Vienna—bit more of a “listening room” than Iota.
Posted by funoka
Matt,
Glad the road it treating you well and thrilled to hear you speak of recording the band.
It is probably the best of aspirations for we who have no hope of being considered artists to strive toward being remembered as patrons of the arts. Thankfully one such patron found you in DC.
-psh
Posted by psh
Thanks for the incredible (albeit a little too brief) show Saturday night! Hats off to Matt and John- you still sound amazing and that sort of sad DC crowd certainly didn’t do my own breathlessly exuberant response justice. The entire band is great and I’ll look forward to a recording in the near future. Hope to see you again soon- maybe, for my own obviously sentimental reasons, in Iowa?
susang
Posted by susang
Oh yes!!! Matt said theyre gunna put out another record real soon! Its about damn time!! You should be putting out releases every few months! I want more!
And come to vegas
Posted by Heisenberg
Thank you, gentlemen, for making the long trip. Thank you for playing your hearts out! You can bet we want more, but we will be patient. We know perfection takes time. You are the best!!!
Posted by Zelly
Oh god JEALOUSY!!!!!
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