bovinehost
Administrator
There is too much to process, but I'm going to go ahead and give it a shot.
1. The Country Club/Knucklehead Jam/Forum Awards. I thought Psycho Ward was some sort of lunatic limo driver. A tux, red bow tie and red cowboy boots! I walked right by him once without realizing who he was. Finally got to meet all the Pitters in real life - kissing Steve on the lips is an experience I won't soon forget, given the subsequent nightmares.
Standing outside in the afternoon sun, drinking a martini with the Forumites and the Pitters and then Steve Lukather grabs me, gives me a hug - "Bovine, my man!" People will talk about Luscious and his guitar skills (considerable), his kissing ability (I'm pretty sure I kissed him, too), his big heart, but - look, I'm not gay or anything, not that there's anything wrong with that - he smells absolutely delicious all the time.
Jon and wife Lisa - I love you guys. If you don't know, they took me in and gave me the guest room, fed me, got me coffee-d up when I needed it most and made sure I was where I needed to be, when I needed to be there. Jon and Lisa rock!
The Forum Awards - standing on stage with Sterling, having fun and making fun of people was just the start of the many surreal experiences! And then I got my own award - "Most Likely To Be Caught In a Compromising Position with a Bongo", at which point Biff hands me what has to be the coolest gift I've ever received from anyone, anywhere, anytime - a Logan Green HH Bongo with red flames, outlined in gold and with drop shadows. I'm not often at a loss for words, but I was open-mouthed and stunned.
Hanging out with Beth and Drew and EnJonEer and, really, ALL of the guys and girls of EBMM - I guess I'm at a loss for words again, but thank you, all of you, for the most amazing weekend ever. Everyone worked hard to take good care of us and make sure we were constantly entertained and amazed.
The Knucklehead Jam! I had suspected that it would be a complete train wreck, but I was almost entirely wrong and I happily admit it. WonderDog was tearing it up! Tommy from Delaware blew everyone away. Oldtoe fell in love with that single H Bongo, as did everyone else who played it (including me).
At some point I got up to play. By then, I was a few martinis too happy to really be playing bass for anyone, but it's a party, people! I sort of remember playing "Little Sister" and "One After 909" early on and leaning into the mic and saying, "Take one, Jon!" Holy sh!t, I'm playing with Jon Smith! Another verse, and then I say "Go, Dudley!" If both of my hands hadn't been occupied, I would have pinched myself - I'm onstage and playing rock and roll with Dudley.
John Ferraro - did any of us, Friday night, have any idea that 'our' drummer would be playing with some of the best players on EARTH? John Ferraro played drums for me on Friday night; Saturday night, for TONY LEVIN.
I'm glad I didn't think about that on Friday, but what an absolutely monster drummer and one of the most gracious people ever. Nothing but class, John, and I will never forget the compliments you gave me. (I choose to think you really meant it, but even if you didn't, it pumped me right up.)
Some of you might not have known it Friday night, but BP was juggling all kinds of things during the evening. Not only did he have all of US to deal with, he had a hotel full of rockstars and a dinner to attend with them. He really needed a helicopter or a transporter, but he pulled it off. He was everywhere at once.
Later, WAY too many happy martinis later, did I really play bass for Sterling Ball? I'm almost sure I did, which should prove beyond any doubt that I am insane. I KNEW the man could play, and yet there I was, pretending that I could hang! I don't even care if I sucked - I was jamming with Sterling, his brother David, John Ferraro and Tommy! I'm sitting here a few days later and I'm still absolutely grinning like a crazy man.
Looking out at that group from the stage was a treat in and of itself. All visions of greatness, however brief and patently false, were nothing compared to what was The. Best. Hang. Ever.
I have to do this in parts because I just can't wrap it all up at once.
The only question I have now, besides "Was it real?" is "Why do I have so many drink tickets left over?"
I love you guys. From Sterling to the poor frozen bartender outside at the country club (they'd never seen anything like us), I love you guys.
Whatever I forgot, I'll remember later.
Jack
1. The Country Club/Knucklehead Jam/Forum Awards. I thought Psycho Ward was some sort of lunatic limo driver. A tux, red bow tie and red cowboy boots! I walked right by him once without realizing who he was. Finally got to meet all the Pitters in real life - kissing Steve on the lips is an experience I won't soon forget, given the subsequent nightmares.
Standing outside in the afternoon sun, drinking a martini with the Forumites and the Pitters and then Steve Lukather grabs me, gives me a hug - "Bovine, my man!" People will talk about Luscious and his guitar skills (considerable), his kissing ability (I'm pretty sure I kissed him, too), his big heart, but - look, I'm not gay or anything, not that there's anything wrong with that - he smells absolutely delicious all the time.
Jon and wife Lisa - I love you guys. If you don't know, they took me in and gave me the guest room, fed me, got me coffee-d up when I needed it most and made sure I was where I needed to be, when I needed to be there. Jon and Lisa rock!
The Forum Awards - standing on stage with Sterling, having fun and making fun of people was just the start of the many surreal experiences! And then I got my own award - "Most Likely To Be Caught In a Compromising Position with a Bongo", at which point Biff hands me what has to be the coolest gift I've ever received from anyone, anywhere, anytime - a Logan Green HH Bongo with red flames, outlined in gold and with drop shadows. I'm not often at a loss for words, but I was open-mouthed and stunned.
Hanging out with Beth and Drew and EnJonEer and, really, ALL of the guys and girls of EBMM - I guess I'm at a loss for words again, but thank you, all of you, for the most amazing weekend ever. Everyone worked hard to take good care of us and make sure we were constantly entertained and amazed.
The Knucklehead Jam! I had suspected that it would be a complete train wreck, but I was almost entirely wrong and I happily admit it. WonderDog was tearing it up! Tommy from Delaware blew everyone away. Oldtoe fell in love with that single H Bongo, as did everyone else who played it (including me).
At some point I got up to play. By then, I was a few martinis too happy to really be playing bass for anyone, but it's a party, people! I sort of remember playing "Little Sister" and "One After 909" early on and leaning into the mic and saying, "Take one, Jon!" Holy sh!t, I'm playing with Jon Smith! Another verse, and then I say "Go, Dudley!" If both of my hands hadn't been occupied, I would have pinched myself - I'm onstage and playing rock and roll with Dudley.
John Ferraro - did any of us, Friday night, have any idea that 'our' drummer would be playing with some of the best players on EARTH? John Ferraro played drums for me on Friday night; Saturday night, for TONY LEVIN.
I'm glad I didn't think about that on Friday, but what an absolutely monster drummer and one of the most gracious people ever. Nothing but class, John, and I will never forget the compliments you gave me. (I choose to think you really meant it, but even if you didn't, it pumped me right up.)
Some of you might not have known it Friday night, but BP was juggling all kinds of things during the evening. Not only did he have all of US to deal with, he had a hotel full of rockstars and a dinner to attend with them. He really needed a helicopter or a transporter, but he pulled it off. He was everywhere at once.
Later, WAY too many happy martinis later, did I really play bass for Sterling Ball? I'm almost sure I did, which should prove beyond any doubt that I am insane. I KNEW the man could play, and yet there I was, pretending that I could hang! I don't even care if I sucked - I was jamming with Sterling, his brother David, John Ferraro and Tommy! I'm sitting here a few days later and I'm still absolutely grinning like a crazy man.
Looking out at that group from the stage was a treat in and of itself. All visions of greatness, however brief and patently false, were nothing compared to what was The. Best. Hang. Ever.
I have to do this in parts because I just can't wrap it all up at once.
The only question I have now, besides "Was it real?" is "Why do I have so many drink tickets left over?"
I love you guys. From Sterling to the poor frozen bartender outside at the country club (they'd never seen anything like us), I love you guys.
Whatever I forgot, I'll remember later.
Jack
