So for a while my dad (just behind me in the picture above) had a side-hustle buying, fixing up, and selling guitars. I mentioned it in this post from 2022, because I used to take pictures of the guitars for him. He no longer does it, but this business of his put him contact with a lot of new friends. For the past little while he's been meeting up with what my mom and I refer to as his "guitar buddies." They aren't a band, per se -- they just meet up and jam out playing covers, for the heck of it.
Well, guess who recently got invited to the jam sesh!!!
To set the scene: They meet up anywhere that works, and as of late that's been in a warehouse belonging to one of the fellas. It's a clean and nice (but very warm in the summer!) space. In the warehouse there's a little area set up with a drum kit, lots of guitars, a piano, microphones, speakers, pedals, cables, tripods, music stands, and a computer. Unless they decide to meet up at someone's house, this is where they've been playing.
The attendees are in their 50s and 60s, and so they play a lot of songs from their younger years. 70s, with a skosh of 60s and 80s as well. Currently they do not have a drummer, but do have a drum machine. My dad plays lead guitar; one guy plays rhythm guitar; and one plays bass guitar. I think there's another guy who sometimes shows up, and I have no idea what he plays, but perhaps I'll find out someday.
Whilst a gigantic fan blows around papers covered in chords and lyrics, songs get worked out. Everyone who wants to sing does so. Specific songs are pitched by whoever, whenever.
The first time I went, I didn't know even one of the handful of songs they played. I learned one of them on the spot. First the chords, then the tune, by listening to the guy singing lead. They gave me a mic (!) and I sang some backup. Shyly. Even though that was the only song I could play and sing with (besides a very impromptu acoustic cover of "Stand By Me" with one of the guys while something else was going on), that was honestly my goal in attending: to be able to play along with at least one song.
Nailed it!
After my first time playing with them, my dad said, "Yeah, you fit right in." I took that as a super high compliment, because I am not skilled at all. However, I think it was a more a vibe thing: I am basically a 67-year-old man in all other respects. So.
The most recent time I went, I sang lead (!!) on what is truly my personal anthem: "One Toke Over the Line," by Brewer and Shipley. Just kidding. It's a song I learned expressly for this jam sesh. Hahaha. Not my usual fare. But fun to play. Honestly it is very fun to play music with others, and I'm honored I was invited. My skill level is honestly such that to be able to even remotely keep up with a song here or there is an achievement for me. I'm also nervous to sing in front of other people, but they make it a really chill environment and are so positive and encouraging.
I mentioned in the post about my guitar from 2022 that my dad and I don't have a ton in common, so even though we both play the guitar, our differing skill levels and musical tastes have kept us from really being able to play together. Those differences definitely remain. I am not a skilled player, and we don't listen to the same music. But I'm learning his songs, and he is learning at least one I picked out. This is really beyond any expectation I ever had. I'm happy to be able to have this experience with my dad.
(Almost all the pics in this post consist of screengrabs from phone videos, by the by.)
BONUS: Here's "One Toke Over the Line" as performed on the Lawrence Welk Show. Personally, as I am an honorary old guy, I enjoy it.
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