Bryer's Song 2022

 

It's hard to know what to type when you have one of those mountain top moments. Mine was fortunate enough to be spread out over a few months, so the radiance didn't knock me on my rear, but the beam shone through all the same.

Music has been a part of me my whole life. Hence the name of my blog. I've been fortunate enough to share stages across Columbus with a lot of talented people who have all changed my life in some way. I left performance aside, however, when my son Ray was born in 2008. He is my 2nd of three, and I knew then that it was time to focus on my career and family. I've been rocking it out solo and occasionally with friends from my basement ever since. 

This June, I got a message from my long-time friend, Justin Largent, dating back to 5th grade at McVey Elementary, asking me if I'd play in a benefit show with him and his band. I didn't even think before responding that I'd be honored. He's an incredible person and drummer. We played together for years in the (cough) Gremlin Surf Band in middle and high school. Drifting musical tastes and my own ego got in our way and we broke up way back. I've been lucky enough to jam with him and our friend Blake on a few occasions, and I'd play with him anywhere. 

After some group texts working on a setlist, things got real in mid-summer as we held our first practice at his place. Intent on not, ahem, making a scene and super loud noises (folks who attended GSB shows will remember), I did my best to settle into the 8-piece lineup. In alphabetical order:

• Matt Buirley- Hell of a singer, hell of a guy. Part of the other band playing at the benefit, Next Mid-Life Krisis, he came hulking into the room at our second or third practice. I didn't know what to expect until he laid into the microphone. Fire breather, and was pretty kind to me too, which as an outsider with a fair amount of social anxiety, I appreciated a lot. 
• Chelsea Jo Calo- Well, she's the lead singer, we were the Schmoes lol. Firey and strong, and managed to carry the almost 40 songs we prepped before cutting it down to 27. I think she could tell I didn't know people well, and she made sure to keep everyone part of the team. I'll sum it up saying my wife noticed she was doing an Adele song and asked if she could pull it off. I told her yes and sent the clip. We were both (and all of us listening) very impressed. 
• Chuck Catrell- Can't get this guy to stop talking really :P  In reality, kind, courteous, says what he means and means what he says. He may have talked some (probably truthful) smack about my high school, but the second he started putting it down on Angels, Separate Ways, and countless other songs, it made me wonder how I'd never played with keys before. A true gentleman and I'm the better for having met him. Thank you for the towel on stage and getting me through my tuner freak-out. 
• Andy Kerr- This guy. I've played guitar as a hobby since 1992. He plays one little run before our first practice and I was pretty much ready to quit xD  He can play anything, and well. Did I mention he runs sound and we had a whole damn mixing board & PA at our practices? He got my monitors set up and kept me from wanting getting down on myself after the set, which is some pretty heavy lifting. Super talented, great ear for tone, and I guess he's pretty fun to hang out with too. 
• Kylie Kerr- Andy's wife? Or is he her husband? Either way I fumbled the introduction when she met Elizabeth. Hellfire club member and all around good people. While Chelsea did a knock out job on vocals, when Kylie started coming to practice, well, it sounded like angels when they hit harmonies together. Super kind individual, and exactly what the group needed. (shout out to Chuck and Andy for harmonies as well). 
• Justin Largent- Well, I introduced him above, and as the leader of the group, the benefit, and the reason we all gathered, he damn well gets a section here. The amount of logistical work that went into making this night happen was gigantic. And, no offense to anyone else in the band that I leaned on repeatedly while limping my way through 27 songs, Justin's cues always put me in the right spot. His hats and cymbals were like coins in Super Mario, showing the way to the pocket. We all know the tech issues at the venue left us with less-than-ideal mixes. I was missing a lot of his kit in my ears, and I never got settled as a result. But I know how I, and we, sounded at practice, with him right there leading the way. And it makes me look forward to the next chance we get. 
• Todd Schlaegel- Mr. Todd Schlaegel. They started in on him early with the bass player jokes, but that's fine, because he's a hell of a talent and knows it. Runs sound as well as over a decade of touring experience. He sounded good throughout and then shows up for the final practice after really nailing everything down, I was speechless. Such a kind person who will fasten your set to the earth and make it rumble, while helping with all my dumb questions. It was a pleasure sir. 

The night was like a wedding, you spend forever in preparation and then it flies by. I was maybe most upset by the fact that I missed most of Bryer's song, Lets you fly, performed by Chelsea and Chuck. I rushed to get off stage, didn't know how much time until I had to be back on to sing to open the second set, and ran to the bar to get a drink to calm my nerves. Each practice I ran through at home, I'd sit and listen to this song to remember why we were here. It punched me in the feels each time. And as I stood in line, watching and letting the emotion sink in, one of the coolest and worst-timing things of the night happened. People recognized me and put me at the front of the line. They played Bryer's tribute song while I ordered a beer. And I pretty much missed it. It was so cool to have that rock star moment I won't lie, but I'd give it back if it meant I could have heard the song proper, and been given that moment to show my love and respect for their son. 

Pause for me to stop being emotional. 

How do I sum up 3 months of work, sweat, and love that we all put into it with just a few paragraphs? I don't, to be honest. There are countless hours of stories untold. Memories good and bad. It's been a whirlwind of meeting everyone, getting prepped, practicing, putting together a whole production and playing it live. And in an instant, it's over. 

Was the set perfect? Nope. I think we all have things we'd like back, to fix, or to try again. But. Was there a large crowd of people smiling, dancing, rocking out and singing along? Hell yes. And in the moments I allowed myself to let go and just play, there's nowhere else I'd have rather been. Or be, in most cases for that matter. 

Justin, you let us all join you to feel like rock stars for a night, and I'll never be able to thank you enough for the invitation. To everyone in the Largent family, what you have built is, and will continue to be, simply beautiful. And to Bryer, whom I never had the chance to meet, I hope you enjoyed the show up there buddy. I know we all sure loved playing for you. <3