That 10 things meme

[ericcoleman]

10 Things meme

10 - In my ... ahem ... career as a musician I have been in bands playing, in order, drums, percussion, bass, keyboards, guitar and been a lead vocalist several times in there. I'm my own damn band.
9 - Been babysat by one of Agnes De Milles favorite dancers.
8 - Met Dustin Hoffman backstage at a Broadway show.
7 - Lived upstairs from a crackhouse, and had one of the proprieters of said establishment help me get my wife up 7 flights of stairs the day after she had given birth.
6 - Stayed in a hotel that was also a working woman's place of business in Athens. Remind me to tell you the story sometime, it was like living in a Fellini film.
5 - Met Ben Black Elk and was told stories about his childhood and his father's.
4 - Did mime in the Great Theatre At Epidaurus (not sanctioned by any official organization, but there are photos).
3 - Had the great music hall comedian Max Wall make monkey faces at me.
2 - Been mentioned as an object of desire by the music writer for a ... ahem ... men's magazine.
1 - Worked in a London fringe theatre at 15.

Comments

[stephanieb.livejournal.com]

I want to hear the whorehouse story! I want to hear the whorehouse story!

[ericcoleman]

It's a story that has to be told, not typed. You gonna be at the house concert this weekend?

bands

[markiv1111.livejournal.com]

I have held six-night-a-week nightclub bands as the drummer, the lead guitarist, the rhythm guitarist (briefly -- lead guitarist wasn't better than I was, but couldn't back up another musician to save his life), the keyboard player, and the bassist for numerous local bands in Minneapolis. Not the lead singer, though, and never just as a full-time percussionist, so you've got a couple that I don't.

Nate

Re: bands

[ericcoleman]

I didnt know you were a drummer. I knew the rest. (and I always think of you as a singer)

Re: bands

[markiv1111.livejournal.com]

My being a drummer was something I did with malice aforethought. First of all, there were people around me saying, "Nate isn't even really a musician, he just thinks he's a musician because he has perfect pitch." Also, I had an uncle (recently deceased), a brother (with whom I am still close) and a second cousin once removed who were all quite good drummers. I figured, if I was even remotely talented as a musician, I should be able to teach myself an istrument where my "perfect pitch" would do me no good whatever. So I bought a cheap set (Star drums) and a moderately good Ludwig Standard bass drum pedal and worked out for three months, mostly doing hand exercises on top of footwork so that I would both learn all the rudiments and their variations, but *also* get my hands and feet moving at exactly the same time. At the end of this period, a duo named Cindy and Dale (Cindy playing very classically oriented piano and singing soprano, and some electric bass; Dale playing a huge Martin acoustic with heavy strings and singing baritone) needed a drummer who could play some lead guitar and sing harmonies; I was pleased to get the gig, which lasted for another three months. Much later, I played lead guitar on Cindy and Dale's album, but they brought in a much better drummer, a percussionist for the Minnesota Orchestra. So I sort of became Cindy and Dale's drummer, and sort of didn't. Later, Steve Brust and I traded off on drums and guitar in a fan band called the Albany Free Traders.