This Sunday is probably going to be the most intense, stressful, magical, important show that I've ever played. Anyone who knows me well enough can tell you the impact Jeff Buckley has had on my life. It was only a few years ago that I was watching Gary Lucas perform at a Jeff Buckley tribute show. It was one of the most moving shows I've ever been to in my life. Now I'm on the other side of the stage, and on the same bill as him. That's so weird...
Here is photographic evidence of that time I totally invaded Gary Lucas' personal space for a picture (on a very old phone, obviously)
You see, Jeff's music found me at an interesting time. I was experiencing and feeling things that I perhaps should not have been feeling. Without getting into any specific details (so as to avoid hurting anyone's feelings), I was feeling so many contradictory things that you'd never think I'd feel on the outside looking in. It all stemmed from not feeling understood and having limitations. That stifles people in a big way, I feel. Long story short, finding his music was a purifying wave that completely swept me away. You know that scene in the Justice League trailer where Aquaman is being splashed by waves? Yea, like that only more colorful. Here was a guy who made whatever kind of music he wanted, light or heavy, and did it with so much honesty that you couldn't help but fall in love with him. I became obsessed with the guy to the point where I knew a lot of very odd points of trivia about him. I never saw him perform live, but seeing a tribute show that featured nothing but his music was so incredible. It was the closest thing I coulda gotten, and it did not disappoint.
Believe it or not, I had a vision board. Yes, your read correctly. I had a vision board, and on that vision board was a picture I took of a performance from that night. It was one of those performances were you can totally feel something in the air. You can feel a thickness that permeated throughout the space, that it almost warped space and time in such a manner that you can't help but fall under a trance. For a moment, you coulda swore Jeff himself was in the room, or to the side of the stage at least. It was such a powerful night of emotions for me. Everyone there was amplified on the same frequency, and were all there with the common purpose of celebrating the life and work of this true artist. It was only 2 months ago after showing someone new my vision board, that it was pointed out to me that I had achieved yet another goal from said board. I was so caught up in the hurricane of events that comes with being in a band that I didn't even have time to notice it myself. It was at this moment that I stopped and realized the gravity of the situation, and the importance of this moment for me.
I can't begin to tell you how seriously this is being taken. Not just by me, but everyone in the band. This Sunday, 7pm at Arlene's Grocery, I'm gonna do what I've basically been doing in my bedroom since 2010; play some of the most healing music I've ever come across in my life. All to thank the guy who wrote them. All to thank him for giving me the courage and the license to create how and what I wanted to create. Drop by if you can 😇
- theRave
GET TICKETS HERE: https://www.ticketfly.com/purchase/event/1572698
UPDATE:
How's this for a story book moment?
From being in the audience to sharing the same stage. Yowza...
