You knew I had to one, right? Grab a coffee...enjoy!
2019 proved to be a rather interesting year on many levels. I won't bore you with too many details but suffice to say that if one year really opened my eyes wider than ever, it was definitely 2019.
Played some great shows this year, got to be direct support for both Uli Jon Roth and Michael Angelo Batio (no pressure!) on two separate occasions. But a funny thing happened on the way to being a guitar god: I just got tired of everything. I made the conscious decision to walk away from everything after the Batio show back in May. I honestly couldn't see myself parading around on stages as a 50-year-old anymore. Few friends tell me "Get a new scene" and they may be right but for now, I don't have it in me to hawk ticket sales (shouldn't that be the promoter's job?) and do all this running around. Other bands can enjoy begging for people to walk through the door of a club; I cashed my chips in.
Also realized that I work better as a mentor/teacher than as a bandleader or in any band where I was fill-in or what have you. Teaching has been extremely rewarding and more fulfilling. My students enjoy the lessons, and unlike being judged by a crowd who'd rather hear bad Metallica covers, I am regarded as a very good teacher. My schedule is a lot lighter, as is how much gear I bring to a lesson ;)
I do plan on recording what may be my final album. I have been recording very raw demos (just guitar onto a Tascam hand-held) since last December (!!) and while I was trying to work with a couple of other musicians, the planets were simply not lining up. So instead of getting frustrated, I put the demos away for now. I revisit them from time to time to make sure they still hold up. Some do, others sound "eh". But overall, my heart is not ready. Maybe I'm in a holding pattern or it's just winter blues, but when the gods decide it's time for me to make magic happen, I will do my best to be ready.
If I don't write another blog before the year is over, I hope all of you have a wonderful holiday season and let's hope 2020 is...kick-ass!
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