this weekend...wow!

Here's the Reader Digest condensed version of my weekend. 

I'm already tired next week.

Played my last show with Supernova (for a while at least) on Nov 9 at Mason Street Grille in Lake Hopatcong. Finding the place was a challenge. Guess they really want people to work hard, huh? Was a fun show, great crowd, but the singer and I both shared a common bond: we lost our voices! Well, I can't sing but he can, yet he struggled sadly. We invited various singers in the room up on stage to do some songs so Mike could just play guitar and heal. Their guitarist Frank will be back soon as he is healed from his shoulder surgery. I am glad to have helped them for five shows but this is Frank's spot, and he belongs there.

But last night...

The moment finally arrived...TM STEVENS TRIBUTE CONCERT at the Cutting Room in NYC!! My first time there and I loved it. Lots of people came pouring in and it was truly heart-warming. I do have to back up a bit though.

Rehearsals for this show happened on Nov 9, so yes I had to rehearse with the band and THEN had to drive to the Supernova gig. No wonder I'm so drained!!! But the rehearsal was awesome, got to play the song "I'm A Believer" with guitarist Michael Barnes, drummer TC Tolliver, singer Reese Love and bassist JD DeServio (of Black Label Society and Zakk Sabbath). Rehearsal was killer but the show itself...

OFF THE CHARTS!!

Here's a video from the show of the song I mentioned: I'm A Believer You can hear Mike joke that this was our second rehearsal LOL! But you'd never know it. We totally threw down the metal funk, as only TM would have allowed. His presence was felt last night for sure. No sadness, just a lot of funny stories and a video collage featuring John McLaughlin, Steve Vai, Carmine Appice and others were shown in between sets. Truly amazing!

I do have to say that while this show was NOT about me or anyone else except TM, one thing must be mentioned: Living Colour watched us!! No I wasn't nervous at all but I thought "This could be interesting." Fortunately they loved it, and I received HIGH PRAISE from the band. Yes I've been friends with Colour for 36 years or so but if I didn't play well, I would have heard it. The most amazing form of validation was when Vernon Reid took a pic of me as I was playing, and posted it on his Twitter page!! I no longer feel the need to impress people anymore. I can relax and go back to being a local guitarist. No more stress/pressure or trying to be a supposed guitar god. It's over. And I'm fine with that.

Now that the dust has settled, I can safely say this was one of the wildest shows I've ever played. 

I can blend with the furniture now.