Hello Glenn my good friend. Indeed, the details.
A short clip from Field of Dreams, the movie with Kevin Costner:
"Excuse me, can you tell me if this is heaven?"
"No, uh, it's Iowa."
"Strange, I coulda sworn it was heaven............."
"Is there a heaven?"
"Oh yeah, there's a heaven, it's the places where dreams come true."
One Word for Tonight: INCREDIBLE
This week started with a contemplative trip through Northern California to
celebrate my 40th. Was accentuated by the release of SR. And ends with a
birthday party tomorrow night and a trip overseas, I'm not sure where yet,
planned by my wonderful wife. But, amongst all the activities stands one
event which I am sure I can never top again in my life.
I played guitar and sang LTTM with the Doobie Brothers at Chastain park in
Atlanta in front of 12,000 people. I will NEVER, EVER forget the look on
Tommy, Pat, John, and Skylark's faces when I walked out onstage with Pat's
Blackie all set to play LTTM.
Near the end of an excellent concert, Miles Lumbard entre'd us backstage
and made quick work of security as he and I trekked our way stageside. As
the band played China Grove, I glanced sideways at the 12,000 full
audience, loosened my neck and breathed deep. Yesterday I had envisioned a
moment of crisis and trepidation at this very spot, but instead, I was calm
and ready to play the song.....shit, I had been ready for this my entire
life....endless Saturday nights in the basement with cheap amp and guitar.
As the time neared I asked the guitar tech if I could have something to
play. He started for the tambourine, but I stopped him and asked " Would
it be too much for me to ask to play one of the guitars?" He said "No
problem, let me get you blackie here." We strapped on the solid body
black electric guitar. I grabbed a favorite pick I had specially placed in
my pocket, and the band ended China Grove to the deafening roar of the
fans.
Man, the crowd is much louder on stage, no wonder these guys get an
adrenaline rush from cheering fans. You can see the fans too, not like I
thought at all. I always assumed that the band could only see 8 or 10 rows
into the audience and such. No way, I could see the entire arena almost.
Lee Ann and the kids were on the fourth row along with my best friend
Richard (who, true to this convergence event, actually KNEW Miles Lumbard
from years back in Norfolk). Miles was stageside sending encouragment all
along. Everyone was on their feet and clapping with hands over their
heads.
As Keith made a brief announcement about the auction and the Doobs support
of the NVF he called me to come out. Proceeding outward I began stepping
over the endless lines of power and AF cords. Smiling and aghast, Tommy
and Pat were both holding hands out, for a quick five, surprised at the
fact that some guy had come bumbling onstage with one of their guitars. I
gave a quick wave to the crowd and an arm chuka, reminiscent of Kurt Gib
son's rounding second in the Dodgers-A's World Series game 2 from the 80's.
Skylark, smiling and laughing, gave me a firm clasp and said "RogBC. Good
job man."
As Tommy turned to the audience, he began the intro riff to LTTM and I
stood and watched Pat to see when he was ready to join in for the 3rd
measure. I played E on the 9th fret to match what Pat was playing and a
hammer-on A on the same. Pat turned around to see what I was doing with
the axe and squinted at my fretboard to see if I was really playing the
song. After about two more measures he grinned and swung around to Tommy
and John, who also looked my way and smiled. By then it was too late, I
was into the song and there was no way I was going to miss a single barr or
note. I joined Skylark at the mike for the chorus each time and backed
away when the spotlight hit Tommy and Pat each time. Although the guys use
ear feedback to assist, I could hear the song very well....another
surprise. I sang a tenor match with Tommy but made sure that I didn't
crowd Skylark on the mike. Skylark briefly torted, "You got it man!" as we
backed away from the mike on the second chorus.
Finally near the end, we began the rock-n-roll closure sustain where the
guitarists just keep strumming the key note chord over and over very fast
getting ready for the closure stoke. Two things occurred which I will
never forget as long as I live. Pat walked over to me and we both crouched
down as low as we could, face to face strumming on the E closure until our
knees (actually my knees) could not stand it any more and we broke away for
a whole band, energetic jumping slam closure stroke. All I could do was do
it like being in the basement on Saturday
nights.............duhhhhhhhhh,,,,,,duh duh duhhhhh DOOOOOWNG.... The
crowd gets really noisy up there.
Keith came out and asked me to join the whole band as we did the ceremonial
Doobie bow to the audience. He and Big Mike threw out some drumsticks and
my 7 month pregnant wife nabbed one of them, man she could move......
As I bowed down with the guys, all I could see was the shoes on my feet,
and I could hear the deafening roar of the crowd. Bent over, with my arms
over Keith and Pat's shoulders, I looked at my loafers and time began to
slow down. One of those moments in life where you can in briefness, see
clearly, began. As I watched mine and all the Doobs shoes, sound began to
grind slowly along, and I was prompted with one thought....
"Roger, it's all gonna be OK. Take courage my friend, and do well."
I wish my Doob brothers and sisters coulda been there with me.
RogBC
Roger Cunningham
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
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