another sort of code
I suppose that every so often, someone has to take a really crazy idea, fly with it, some hopes, and just pray for the best in what might happen. After all, life seems to have a funny way of taking you places you never thought you’d end up. July 24-30 - which explains my long absence, apologies - I took up an invitation from the somewhat infamous [Mustin] (haha!) and flew over to Fayetteville, Arkansas to spend a week rehearsing and performing with [The OneUps], and recording for [Final Fanboy] (and later, with another OneUps member, just for the kick of it). The entire flight there, I kept wondering what I was doing. Why was I committing such ridiculous craziness, going to a place I’d never been to spend so much time with people that I barely knew?
Apparently, I wasn’t the only one asking this. When I arrived in Fayetteville, my question was vocalized by some of the people there. After many different thoughts, the only true I answer I could give was music - I’m addicted.
To say that my time spent in Arkansas was amazing is a severe understatement. The town was fairly unglamorous (in comparison to a sprawling metropolis like New York City) though not without its open, breathable charm. The venue for the show (under [United We Jam]) was no “hoppin’ club.” In fact, it was literally falling apart. (There’s no surprise quite like that of an entire bathroom paper dispenser dropping four feet onto your toes at the slightest nudge.) But the musicians I met throughout the week were nothing short of superb. The OneUps are a fantastic band and a fantastic group of talented, diverse musicians. I don’t know why I am still surprised when I find myself connected to an entirely new group of individuals pretty much through music alone. This one little point of common interest opens up so many doors, directions, and experiences to be shared. The fact that we were all musicians just enjoying our music before anything else made these semi-celebrities less foreign, intimidating, and all the more accessible.
The week was probably nothing overly new for these popular fellows, who are used to having guest artists come and go. But for me, there’s still a gem in having such almost-immediate friendships with near-complete strangers thanks to music. A week was most definitely not enough time to say all we wanted to say and even less to share (by music or listening or discussion) all the music we wanted to. That’s probably enough of an excuse for future collaborations.
Of course, spending a week almost entirely in the company of men brings upon many revelations of another kind altogether. But that is another post for another time. Here’s to no regrets in whimsical crazy excursions (with considerable forethought) and to the boys of The OneUps and to all the happy things that life can bring. You never quite stop learning.
The OneUps are performing next at the Penny Arcade Expo in Seattle, Washington on August 25, 2007 where they’re sharing the lineup with fellow VGM friends The NESkimos, The Minibosses, and more. It’s sure to be an amazing show. Media from the July 28, 2007 United We Jam show is available on their myspace. Keep watching the site for news on the DVD release of the show. Final Fanboy has no release date set for their first album yet, but I’ll be sure to announce something here when they do.
August 06 2007 07:56 am | games and music and travels
pocket universe » fallback - part I: January - MAGfest and Video Games Live on 13 Mar 2008 at 10:21 am #
[...] dear friend [Mustin] (who, along with [Dale North], I was all too happy to be reunited with after [the trip I took] to visit [The OneUps] last summer), and meeting the great people who make up such stellar bands as [...]
pocket universe » cats on the clock on 12 Sep 2008 at 2:09 am #
[...] marvel at the serious work that they have accomplished in the year (and then some) since I first [met them] and wonder what the heck I did to even deserve a mention in the liner notes of such a significant [...]