Post 2524
- 9 years and 288 days since I started this blog -
Daily Comment
October 14 marks the tenth anniversary of my joining I am Fool, the group led by J. Brazill.
It's been an amazing time.
When I joined them, I was unemployed. I was living in an apartment with my friend and guardian angel Al Olin. I was collecting unemployment. I was 'working' at finding a job.
I weighed over two hundred and fifty pounds. I had been moved by my doctor from pre-diabetic to a diagnosis of type 2 diabetes.
I had become a regular at some open mics. Fearing what was in store for me in the future, mainly whether I'd be staying in Syracuse, I had turned down some good offers to join some good bands in the past year. I didn't feel it was right to commit.
I had just made my life-changing decision to be happy a few weeks before.
So, one September Thursday, over ten years ago, I was at the open mic at Mac's Bad Art Bar, my home away from home. This was one of my favorite open mics, and I almost never missed a Thursday there.
I had already done a set which featured me playing bass on a few numbers and getting to sing lead. As I got off stage, this guy who'd been dancing on the sidelines for my set congratulated me and complimented me.
He was about to go on with his band.
The band was a three-piece unit with two guitars and a drummer. The dancing guy did all the singing.
I watched the set at the front of the bar (back of the dance floor) standing next to Pat MacMurray, the 'Mac' of Mac's Bad Art Bar.
Normally not appreciative of bass-less bands, these guys did a couple of original tunes, and I nudged Pat and said, "These guys have something. I really like them."
When their set was over, I went over to the leader, the guy who had been doing all the singing, and complimented him. Told him I hoped they would come back the next week, I'd like to hear more.
Which they did. This time, the house bass player (an excellent bass player) joined them on stage. I spent their whole set thinking what I would do as opposed to what he was doing. He did a good job. I thought I would do better. I also realized then that I liked their original songs much better than I did the cover they performed, a mashup of 'Feeling All Right' and 'Iko-Iko'.
After that set, I walked up to talk with the lead singer, who told me his name was Jay, and said something to the effect of, "I don't know if you have a bass player who couldn't play or don't have a bass player and don't want one - because you don't need one, you sounded great without one - but if you DO want a bass player, here's my card."
I didn't know that the week before, after I'd first heard them play, J. (I found out that was how he spelled Jay) had gotten into a conversation with Pat, and Pat had given him some constructive criticism: "Your lead guitar player has to step up and step out more. Also, you should get a bass player. I know a good one who liked your group, you should see if you could get him, his name is Reverend Ken."
J. gave me a home-made CD of song demos a couple of days later. Then he called me to see if I could make it to their next rehearsal. I remember the phone call because I was driving on a rainy night in Brooklyn, where I was visiting my brother and sister-in-law. Two days after that I went to my first I am Fool rehearsal, and met Mike, the lead guitarist and John, the drummer.
We hit it off right away. At least, that's how I felt.
Going back to Mac's the next Thursday, we debuted as a four-man group. That was October 14, 2010.
I felt totally at home with these three. I felt immediately accepted. I immediately was invited to join J. at his family for Thanksgiving, then by John for New Year's Day. Mike, of course, invited me into his home, since that's where we practiced.
That sense of belonging fueled my enjoyment of making music. In fact, my biggest 'problem' with the band was that we didn't play together enough. I loved the music we made. I loved being a Fool.
My appreciation of the band, which, a couple of years later included multi-instrumentalist and back-up singer Tamaralee, has only increased and never waned. I am in awe of J.'s songwriting skills, as his songs were what first attracted me to the band.
I joined other bands over the years, always being up-front about my primary band being I am Fool. For the most part, that meant my time in those bands was short. As soon as there was a schedule conflict that wasn't resolved in their favor, I was out.
Over time, my belonging to I am Fool has brought me more happiness and satisfaction than I would have ever dared hope. The band has become my family.
I personally think we're one of the best bands around. Our indescribable music being a favorite of many club owners, although we have never become popular enough to bring the big audiences that would ensure regular gigs.
We made our first and only CD (so far) about two years later, at which time Tami joined and made us a quintet. We probably lost money on the CD mostly J.’s, I think... But I'm proud of it, I think ‘Freak In the Machine’ still holds up.
I know a lot of people who love I am Fool. I almost never go out without having to answer questions about where we'll be next. Our fans, few as they are, are really, really into us.
Happy anniversary, J., Mike, Tami, and John. I am Fool. I love you guys.
Today's Weight: 202.6 lbs.
Previous Weight (10/13/20): 201.7 lbs.
Net Loss/Gain: + 0.9 lbs.
Diet Comment
I think this gain is something of an outlier. I can't explain it - I really thought I had lost this much weight, not gained it.
Food Log
Breakfast
12:20pm: Cheese omelet with mushrooms, onions and peppers.
Lunch
3:25pm: A salad (arugula, cabbage, chard, kale, spinach, shaved parmesan cheese, walnuts, balsamic vinaigrette).
Dinner
9:30pm: A Quest bar and peanut butter.
Liquid Intake
Espressos: 2; Coffee: 24 oz.; Water: 78+ oz.;
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