And that’s a wrap.

Well, folks, five shows down and I have to say that I’ve had the time of my life. I’ve been delirious, I’ve come home a zombie, I’ve lived off chicken Parma and Noodle Box, I’ve been in 4 states in a month and sometimes forgotten where I’ve just been and most importantly, I’ve seen five very bloody impressive shows.

Here are some of the highlights:

Getting to thank Max via a sign for giving me the inspiration to get back on the kit when I am feeling more than a bit lazy.

Getting Max’s drum sticks on two separate occasions. I now have a pair.

Getting a hug and a kiss on the cheek from Bruce, who then came back to do the same to my mum.

Getting to hold hands, get hi fives and of course, dancing from the stage with the dude.

Hearing Born To Run, Born In The USA, Darkness On The Edge Of Town and The Wild, The Innocent and The E Street Shuffle in their entirety.

Dream Baby Dream.

Getting guitar picks thrown at me from Tom Morello

Seeing Eddie Vedder on stage with Tom and Bruce.

The dealings we’ve had with Bruce’s security staff who helped organize the line to get into the venues. They were great, professional and friendly. I couldn’t praise them enough.

Hearing so many different songs and seeing five very different shows.

And finally, the incredible people that I’ve met along the way. I’ve made some really good friends and for a lot of us who’s last concert was last night, it will be hard to go from our little bubble back to our every day lives. On the up side though, I now have so many reasons to visit different states and I’ve promised some people I’d be back real soon, so I guess I’ll just have to find another gig worth traveling for so that I can visit my new found friends.

Where to from here? Well, back home and straight on the drum kit. I have about a year or so’a worth of inspiration to keep me going. Thanks Bruce!

The dogs on Main Street howl ’cause they understand

Some people have asked me to describe what it’s like to be a Bruce fan. Outsiders just don’t get it. “What is it about him? I constantly hear from my drum teacher and I haven’t really been able to describe it up until now. Now I’m going to try.

 

Firstly, it’s not him, it’s them. All of them. The whole band. It’s hearing Badlands and hearing every instrument working together so perfectly and that is the only word for it, perfection. It’s hearing the drums and guitars and bass and keys and horns and . .  everything. It’s hearing a bunch of different people working together to create the musical equivalent of the pyramids and when you’re watching a performance, it’s happening right in front of your ears and eyes. How can you not be amazed?

 

Secondly and perhaps most importantly it’s the emotion. It’s like having every closed door in your soul burst open. It’s what joy sounds like. It’s what joy feels like. For me, it’s having every fucked up thing I’ve ever experienced get undone. It’s like feeling it all go away. Car crashes, the feeling of a tattoo needle against my tiny, childlike wrist for the second time. It’s the removal of every thud, every torn ligament, every time you’ve been beaten up, put down, hit or punched. It’s every time you’ve felt caged, tied up or hand cuffed and all the horrific experiences that come with those. It’s the removal of a knife to the throat or a stab in the back. It’s so many things coming back to me and being taken away. It’s everything being made okay in one outpouring of emotion. It’s the feeling that somewhere out there, there are a bunch of people that have put everything to music and made it sound joyous. It’s great.

 

I think the thing is, there isn’t a dud musician in that band. The ADHD musician in me who wants to play everything is truly satisfied as my musical soul flitters from instrument to instrument, concentrating on the sound, the notes, the feel and being fully satisfied and inspired and moved.

 

Being an E street fan is being moved. It’s twists and turns. It’s musical eccentricity and brilliance. It’s funk and soul and a whisper in your ear and country and blues and . .  . need I go on. You with me now?

 

Being an E street fan is about the ride. It’s about finding other fans who get it and enjoying that ride with them. It’s about being related to, both by the amazing collection of musicians on stage and the people listening all over the world. Yeah, being an E street fan is alright, I guess. I’d take it over just about anything else in the world some days. Ohhhh, and it’s about understanding that the Telecaster is a bloody brilliant guitar and I have to own another one now. Thanks Bruce. I’m sure my ma won’t mind if I bring home another guitar as long as I name it after you.

What time is it? Boss Time!

So, as we move closer and closer to February and I get slowly and slowly more excited, I have come to the decision that by February I will be a good enough musician to earn a spot in the E street band. I came to this conclusion this morning whilst watching Live In Barcelona.

 

So what would it take to get me in the E street band? The first thing is you gotta be fit. Now, I eat pretty well, but fit I am not at the moment. My widening arse hasn’t seen exercise in three weeks and that’s already changed this morning. I had a proper breakfast (sultana bran) and it’s time to eat healthy again. I go through phases, depending on how busy I am, but now that I have a goal – a long term five month and fifteen day goal, it’s all about to change.

 

The second and most obvious is that you gotta be a good musician. Not just a good one, a great one. So from now on, if it doesn’t have to do with music I don’t wanna know.

 

I told my mum this and she kinda laughed at me, but I honestly believe I can do it. Hopefully you believe in me too. I also told her that I was going to make a sign that says “I play six instruments, can I play in the E Street Band” and my mother’s response was that it should say “I play six instruments, I deserve to play in the e street band”

 

Also I bought a book to document my adventures. This is day one.

 

To be continued. . . .