Sunday October 31 2021

 

Waking up bright and early at 11 a.m.

 

Magic Spoon Cereal. Tea.

 

Coaching two MMLIVE bands from 12-3.

 

Then right after, Thomas and Megan meet me here at the studio to load up his truck and my car for the Modern Day Warrior gig. They’re playing an outside neighborhood party in a cul-de-sac on Broad Bay Island. Andrew hangs around to help me out with sound and such. It’s quite a unique gig for them. Billy booked it himself and I just provided the amps, drums, and sound gear. Anna and Megan pair well together singing. They do all their hits and with one original song. Keegan is also here. We snack on the tables around the curb. It’s rewarding to watch this band really take off on their own. They’re able to learn so much on how to do a gig on their own. It really requires a lot more than most beginning musicians think.

 

Everybody helps pack everything up. Megan rides shotgun in my car to help load the gear back to the studio. I give her a ride home. Her parents are out on the driveway finishing up giving the trick or treaters candy.

 

Back home. Ana warmed up some dinner for us: Erica’s Vegan Pot Pies with Veggie Lumpia, and other goodies.

 

What a weekend it has been! I feel like I’ve barely gotten a moment to myself.

 

As I’m about to leave the house Ana sits down at the table and starts laying on me all this stuff she’s upset/disappointed about with me. I’m just in shock cause after all I’ve been through this weekend it’s like she’s thrown a ton of bricks on my back. It leads to me storming out of the house cause I don’t even want to deal with it. Of course she blows up my phone FaceTiming me over and over again.

...

At the studio she shows up even though she knows I have so much gear to organize. I’ve really reached my limit and get angry – hitting and slamming on things around me. She’s never seen me like that before and doesn’t realize how crazy she’s making me. I’m yelling cause I don’t know how else to get my feelings across and it literally feels like if I don’t scream she won’t really understand how serious I am. I don’t know how but she eventually leaves and we are at a calm.

 

Saturday October 30 2021

Waking up around 11:09 a.m.

 

Coaching two bands for MMLIVE from 12-3.

 

Back home. Eggs. English Muffin. Potato Chips. Spinach. Coffee.

 

Catching up on business.

 

Then, Ana and I put on our costumes and head out to Norfolk for the much anticipated Lava Halloween Extravaganza at Toast. I’ve never seen so many people fill this parking lot before. It’s like every year it just builds and builds into something more extravagant. Friends and local musicians come together to perform these cover bands: Paramore, Beastie Boys, Backstreet Boys, Earth Wind & Fire, Yeah Yeah Yeahs, and us The B-52’s. We call ourselves The B-53’s for tonight.

 

 

So many iconic moments just fell into place. We brought the ultimate party band to Norfolk. Being the headliners there seemed to be more anticipation and especially with our look. We had two months of preparation and it definitely shows. I take on the persona of the Southern monotone singing Fred sporting a short haired curly wig and rocking the cowbell. Of course, I’m running around orchestrating all the behind the curtain things also. But once I’m up there on that mic I go all out. I barely even recognize myself. The crowd’s faces are lit up and the costumes make the whole scene feel like something out of a movie.

 

 

At some point Ana and I make it back home looking through all the footage on Instagram and our phones. What an amazing night!

 

We make fire up in the bedroom and call it a night.

 

Friday October 29 2021

 

Waking up around 12:20 p.m.

 

Cereal with Banana, Blueberries, and Almond Milk. Tea.

 

Catching up on business.

 

Helping Elliott load out gear for tonight’s driveway show.

 

Driving over to Jake’s house out on Shore Drive to deliver blank shirts. He’s got a printing business in his garage (Work Sucks). He’s supposed to print Music Makers T’s soon. Having a fun chat with him about running small businesses while his collie roams around the yard.

 

PB&J English Muffin. Potato Chips. Coffee. Juice.

 

Ana and I ride over to Elliott’s mom’s house over on 16^th Street. Our B-52’s band is doing another warm-up show right here in the driveway. Elliott and I spend a lot of time getting the PA system and lights rigged up. We’re lucky the rain held out for the evening. Rusty, Daniel, and Kristy open up with their Beastie Boys set first. Then, we do our set. It’s just as fresh and fun as the last one we did at Three Ships. We’ve got a decent crowd of friends and neighbors to watch.

 

 

After packing up, I drop some gear and Ana off. Then, I make sure the ELO warehouse is picked up and ready for the Broadway rehearsal happening tomorrow. Then, putting a drum set into the band room at Music Makers and setting up for a few band rehearsals also happening tomorrow. This whole weekend is becoming a blur with all these practices and shows. But that’s always how it is near Halloween.

 

Thursday October 28 2021

Waking up around noon.

 

Oatmeal with Cinnamon, Blueberries, and Almond Milk. English Breakfast Tea.

 

Catching up on business and scheduling. Rebecca called out today cause she’s sick with a fever (not Covid) but nonetheless sick enough to stay home, which I was surprised so you know it’s bad enough.

 

Running errands.

 

Egg. Toast. Chard. Salt n Vinegar Chips. Coffee. Juice.

 

Teaching lessons at Music Makers.

 

Afterwards, Modern Day Warrior has their last band practice before their Halloween gig on Sunday. We plow through all the songs they’ve learned and then some. Megan and Anna hold it down on the vocals.

 

Back home. Ana made a nice dinner: Bean and Veggie Soup with Cornbread. I add a thing of Sardines.

Cleaning up the kitchen.

 

Later on, at the studio packing things and gear away – cleaning up.

 

Wednesday October 27 2021

Waking up around noon.

 

Oatmeal with Cinnamon, Blueberries, and Almond Milk. English Breakfast Tea.

 

Catching up on business.

 

Setting up some things at the studio.

 

Eggs. English Muffin. Salt n Vinegar Chips. Chard. Coffee.

 

Teaching lessons at Music Makers.

 

Back home. Cooking a freshovers (leftovers with fresh ingredients) dinner for Ana and I: leftover Noodles with Ravioli, Peas, and Cauliflower.

 

Catching up on things. Green Tea.

 

Later on, at the studio printing some flyers then rehearsing some B-52’s songs with Ana.

 

Grapes. Cleaning the kitchen.

 

Tuesday October 26 2021

Waking up around noon. Feeling extra tired.

 

Breakfast Bar. Tea.

 

Catching up on business and scheduling.

 

Running errands.

 

Eggs. Chard. English Muffin. Popped Chips. Coffee.

 

Teaching lessons at Music Makers.

 

Right after we have a B-52’s practice in the new #104 space. I set everything up the night before. Elliott and Kyle arrive to set up their things. Then, Ana brings Gringo’s Fish Tacos for dinner. Then, Aaron and Shannon. Now it’s a party! We run through the set a few times with a few hiccups here and there but I’m honestly very proud of us.

 

Back home finally relaxing.

 

Monday October 25 2021

Waking up around noon.

 

Oatmeal with Cinnamon, Blueberries, and Almond Milk. English Breakfast Tea.

 

Catching up on business.

 

Running errands – Michael’s and Whole Foods.

 

Eggs. English Muffin. Chard. Popped Chips. Coffee.

Watching The Comey Rule (2020).

 

Teaching lessons at Music Makers.

 

Right afterwards I help coach the Modern Day Warrior band. Anna and Megan have been backing them up with female vocals. They’re really tight tonight because everyone is focused in preparation for the shows this weekend.

 

Back home. Ana cooked us a nice dinner: Tofu with Broccoli, Carrots, Onions, and Quinoa.

 

Washing dishes. Green Tea.

 

Catching up on business. Then, at the studio setting up gear for a band practice tomorrow.