Met my first NWB'er - I feel like I've popped my cherry!
Between auditioning singers in Prestwich and my own band's gig in Darwen yesterday I made it over to 3 in a Bar in Darwen to watch the second set of Simon Goulding's Jazz/Funk/Blues set, and to meet Gary from the Cottonhouse Shakers who plays a large role in putting these (and similar other) events on.
I'm not a jazz fan per se. I just don't get it. But other genres (like blues and funk) played with jazz influence I find fascinating. Jazz drumming in particular fascinates me. The group assembled yesterday were astonishing to watch. It's amazing to behold drums played as much as "lead" as any other in the band and yet never feeling "overplayed". I envy it massively and feels so far removed from what I play that it seems unattainable. But the style of music yesterday was eminently accessible to the non jazz purist.
There was the usual novelty of everyone taking turns to solo and then much enthusiastic clapping as each transition was made from each solo. It was particularly eye opening to see the amount of "turning down" that went on....not often seen at a classic rock gig!
I managed to make it there for the whole of the second set and upon entering the bar passed a chap outside who had a beard....this was the only identifying feature I had for meeting Gary (whose Christian name I didn't even know at that time....all I knew was that I was meeting the bloke from nwb who posts as The Cottonhouse Shakers who happened to tell me he had a beard). Not wanting to make a total tit of myself from the outset I went straight in to do a reccy for other bearded folk before venturing to introduce myself to anyone. I couldn't immediately see anyone else with a beard but there was a bloke at the bar with about a 2 day growth and given it's a very tasteful wine bar type place none of the women appeared to be bearded either.
Just as the second set started Gary came back in and seated himself at a table nearest the band. I was by then 95% sure it was him (perhaps we should have worked out some coded introduction like "the pigeons fly only at night over Red Square" to make life easier) but shyness at set in and sat out the whole set without introducing myself.
I am in fact so painfully shy that I considered not saying hello (as I had done a few weeks ago at a LGIT gig) and just going, content in the knowledge I had witnessed some supreme musicianship. However, I took the plunge and introduced myself and what a top bloke he is! A real music lover, heavily involved in promoting what we might consider to be eclectic, niche music and very knowledgeable at that.
I was sad to leave to go and set up for my own gig. It all felt a bit uninspiring to return to the crash bang wallop of classic rock. I yearn to play in a trio or quartet who concentrate on music where feel comes before volume. I was excited to learn that Gary has another "showcase" for want of a better description at the Black Dog (I hope I've remembered that right) on Thursday 5th May of Herbie Hancock influenced band Chameleon. I for one will be there.
Gary very graciously appeared at our gig later that evening despite my trying to persuade him not to on account of our set not being nearly as civilised as the music we had just seen.
So I've officially met my first nwb'er in person. It feels like a rite of passage somehow.