Back in the saddle again

It's been a long time between drinks, but it looks like I might actually be able to call myself a musician again. I've had a recent explosion of work that has really inspired me to get back into my old form. And, quelle surprise, it's not going too badly.

I started in late March with a performance of the Faure Requiem at St Peter's Cathedral in North Adelaide - four horns (Mez, Katie, Anna and myself), strings (mostly ASO) and a big fark-orf choir. The soprano (Emma Horwood) was utterly gorgeous and the atmos was great. A sweet gig.

Next up was a pretty big one - I played two shows in Adelaide with Australian singer Sarah Blasko. I'd not heard much of her stuff before I was booked for the gig, but they sent me her two CDs (The Overture and the Underscore, and What the Sea Wants the Sea Will Have) for research. Not my usual style of music, but it really grew on me. Although I should clarify that it look me a good month before I could listen to it without wanting to throw myself off a bridge. Yeah, it's pretty dark stuff (listen to the track 'Showstopper' if you don't believe me. It's depressing).

Anyway, the gig came upon me before I knew it, and there we were - five instrumentalists, Sarah's band, and the girl herself. Let me at this point add that apart from the Faure requiem (which I must admit was a pretty low stress affair), I haven't had a gig since December, and before that not one since Montreal, so I was pretty damn nervous (especially as Tom and Sunni were in the audience, and neither of them had seen me play before. It was scary.). So there was a little freaking out done in the opening numbers, but we settled in ok and did a pretty reasonable job. The second show on the Sunday was infinitely better, and I was totally stoked at how I played - just wish someone of mine was there to hear it! Always the bloody way. :D My musical highlights were Always On This Line and Planet New Year - they closed the show and were just wicked fun to play. The band and crew were utterly lovely and Miss Sarah was a sweet delight. Her voice is even better live than on the recordings, and if you ever get a chance to see her in person, take it. Amazing musician, that one.

So we come to this past weekend, where I travelled up to Waikerie with the Adelaide Art Orchestra to play at Music on the Murray, an annual concert usually set up on a huge floating stage moored on the Murray river. I was able to coerce my ever-patient Tom to drive up, and we took Enken and Chris along with promises of clifftop jaunts and other flaming capers. In the end the kybosh was put on the whole affair by way of the weather, which, though awesome for the farmers, made the whole trip a somewhat soggy affair. We got up there safely, just in time for my soundcheck, and while I was rehearsing Chris, Enk and Tom were off to explore the bustling metroplis that is Waikerie (Enken's pics). The gig went off without a hitch (apart from having to be moved to a huge marquee on the football oval thanks to the bad weather) and we rocked on home, tired but sated, having had just enough country to last us for the rest of our natural lives.

So I'm hoping this happy spate of gigs will continue, because my playing's getting back on track. And, between you and me, I've missed it horribly. It feels good to be back. :)

~ Photo of Sarah Blasko by Daniel Boud (www.boudist.com)