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

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.