There are 5 of us. Well, really six. Greg, Brian, Erich. That's how it started. Greg actually joined a little later than that first date, August 2, 1997, but who's counting. Since then, we've added Donovan. We've added Michael. Brian bowed out. It has been so much damn fun though, and regardless who is in the band, or who is playing with us that night ... we've had Heath, Ekhoff, a wrestling coach, some dude on horns in Winston ... we make it a blast. You want to have some fun? Come watch your friends play the next time they are in your area. I wouldn't trade it for the world. Yeah, we probably need to write some new songs, but damn ... DAMN the ones we've written are a lot of fun.
And then there are the folks who come to watch us act like clowns. This weekend, it was Karin and Scottie. I haven't seen Karin (or Dub, depending on how well you know her) since Erich's wedding. That was four years ago, yet she drove down from DC just to see her friends, to hear the music, and mostly ... to laugh. Scottie rode with us from Chapel Hill. Everyone should feel sorry for her. We are totally boring, and no fun on car rides.
But there have been others ... Katie and Allison driving from Chapel Hill to Nashville. Demetrius driving from Winston to Athens. The families driving all over God's Earth. Somehow they all keep coming back. That is friendship. That is the shit I live for. I'd rather have friends and family around me than anything else in this world. PITV, ARAB, 40 watt, Blue Sky Court, Studio E, Sanderspoloza ... it doesn't matter. As long as there is a stage, or a front porch, or a cleared out living room with ample power supplies ... we'll be there.
And I do hope we keep playing. Honestly, each one of the guys is way more talented than I am, but I love singing with them. That is why I want to keep it going. Once or twice a year, that's easy, right? Ok, maybe not easy. I mean hell, I'm in Nashville, Greg's in Virginia Beach, Michael in Raleigh, Erich in Winston and then Donovan in Athens. Donovan, who has more talent in his right drum stick then I do in my body. This kid should be drumming for the Stones or something. And he is kicking it with his band in Georgia. They are gonna make it. They should. He deserves it. Yet, this kid still finds time to play with us. Ok, so Virginia Beach is a long drive from Athens. It is, but to me it is so worth it. I hope it was to Donovan.
There are trips I go on where I'll sit back at the end of it and just laugh. I'll laugh about the stupid things I did or the things I saw. I'll laugh just because of the stories that will be told later. And I always laugh hardest with these guys. However, this trip ... at the end o this trip, I'll just sit back and take a deep breath and thank God for friends like this. Brian. Greg. Erich. Michael. Donovan. Karin. Scottie. I'm a lucky jackass, that is a fact.
And while I'm at it, I'll add Sarah to the mix. Sarah, welcome to the crew. As Greg's future wife, you're getting a glimpse of how silly we can be. But you are also seeing how talented that future husband is and how he cares for his friends. He's lucky to have you. We are lucky to have you. It'll be a fun ride ... and hopefully a little less abrasive than those Virginia Beach waves.
Ouch. I'm still diggin sand out of my ears.