I was never in a gigging band until my current band; we've been going now for about five years. Before this band, I never would have seriously expected to be in a band (just basement/garage jamming), but I had fantasies about being in a classic rock or prog rock band for years. With a huge light/laser show, and smoke/dry ice. And groupies.
That isn't the style of music we play (we're a "Celtic Fusion" band), and while I still wonder what it would be like to play in a band that plays heavier/proggier material, I am very, very happy to be in my current band - I get to take all the guitar solos (acoustic and electric) and mandolin leads, sharing the spot light with occasional guest fiddlers (the fiddler in the band doesn't like to do lead breaks). Most of us sing lead vocals too, including me, so I get that bit of limelight as well.
And I get to write songs (we all write), which get played out regularly (and usually we sing our own material). And we are recording our second CD.
So I must say it would be quite the void in my life if this band that I am in ever went away!
Some introspection: It is strange, looking back at my younger years when I was terrified of actually playing in front of anyone - friends, family, whatever, when now I will gladly play to huge crowds of strangers. It has helped that the de facto band leader has decades of performing and recording experience, and her confidence and enthusiasm are quite contagious. She pulled her sig other into the band to start as a duo (he also was not a hugely experienced gigging player), our main percussionist then joined pretty well immediately, then not long after that I was recruited, and my now-wife was pulled up on stage a few years ago and has fully integrated.
If I had mustered up the courage (and ponied up for some equipment like a real guitar amp) and joined a band while in high school or college, I wonder how things would have turned out? Would I be on my fourth or fifth band? Would I be less successful in my so-called profession, but would have wild stories to tell about gigging as a young man?
Doesn't matter - I'm way too happy now to be second-guessing my past.
Thanks you, Dr Shrink, see you next week, same time?
