Cherry has been Saved!

I'm in a rightfully foul mood. My life and my past have geared me to be one tough cookie. I always get up and dust myself off letting the anger turn to energy. But, the thing is, I'm not really that tough. Yup, I said it. I'm actually quite the thinker and feeler and I try to put all of my emotions into my projects rather than lash out at the world. Despite having the magic social talker button I can push on demand to cover the thoughts behind my eyes in smiles and complements, I tend to be a hermit and spend more time with my guitar than any one thing on the earth. I have a couple of mottos about playing which I stand by, "If you aren't giving everything, you are giving nothing." And, "If you aren't sweating, you aren't working. Get out of the way!" I am frustrated beyond belief with music right now. Not my band for once, we are actually getting tighter and more ambitious. But just the whole political landscape around here and how it spread as far as Wilmington last night. I've never been treated with such disrespect. It's actually made me cry and crying pisses me off. I could go on forever with this and the reasons I'm feeling this way. I could name names and start some wars, but to quote Gossip, "I don't want to be a part of any social scene who only puts me down and judges me. I don't ever want to be that girl, the saddest thing in the whole wide world."

So, let's change the subject and talk about something good. Perhaps it will remind me why my love (aka...music) has to hurt sometimes. Earlier this month, I had the pleasure of playing with Joe Buck and The Karloffs @ The Cave in Chapel HIll. Please check out The Karloffs. I cannot say enough about them musically or as people. They are special....and not in the short bus kinda way;) Sir Joe Buck was a true joy to have kicking around The Cave. His performance was, as usual, brilliant. He has a true gift for engaging the audience and for making them feel valued. Even sitting in the back room of The Cave, he seems to have an aura around him that just sparkles. I was amused to watch people gravitate towards it like a moth to a lightbulb. It was also cool to meet the BCA brainchild, Christian, who put the show together. And the ever so sweet merchandise guru, Kathy. (That's not only how I see her, she's so much more!) It was clear the three of them have a true passion for what they do and it was refreshing to be around such genuine souls. I have an admiration for their fierce independence. Even choosing to sleep in a Wal-Mart parking lot than on a quiet street.

I was most disappointed in my performance. My poor guitar has been even more of a bitch lately than ever before. I brought her back from England and almost got arrested at Customs over it. I have had that damn thing rebuilt and cosmetically touched up 3 times now. Still, she reminds me that she owns me every once in a while. I was soooo embarrassed that it had to be at a show that was so important to my waivering confidence to play. Funny how things work sometimes though. There happened to be a guitar repairman who came out to see Joe Buck who approached me later with a few ideas. I met with him later that week only to find out that, despite what the last repairman told me, my ancient floating bridge and tuning gears hadn't been replaced at all. They were still original to the guitar and the source of my problems. I was ready to burn it that night or at least start playing a different guitar I would never love as much, but due to fate, she was saved. Fascinating, this universe. Yeah, that hurt and I died a little inside that night, but it worked out for the better in the end. I even learned something.

So, thanks Joe Buck and Bucket City Agency. Positive experiences are always appreciated.

T.