in Band, Music, Thoughts

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We were given a recording schedule that included a couple of rehearsal days before we hit the studio. I offered to pick Doug and Jerimy up from the airport and take them to their hotel in West End. We grabbed dinner and hung out for a while. Doug told me that Jerimy had filled him in on my ’secret’ and that there was nothing to worry about. He was cool. As long as I didn’t try to feel him up or anything.

I told him he had nothing to worry about. I had no intention of feeling him up.*

It was a Friday night and I had plans to meet up with Hoss and the rest of the gang for our weekly gathering at The Chute for a drink or four. I left the guys around 10:30 and told them I’d pick them up in the morning for rehearsal.

Saturday morning, I was amazingly bright eyed considering the night out. The guys weren’t quite as bushy tailed, having gotten into some sort of trouble themselves the night before.

Rehearsal was quite a bit like an extended karaoke party, singing over the backing tracks that the songwriters provided. Delious and Jeff puttered around, moved us around the stage area like checkers with arms. I still don’t have any idea what our placement on stage had to do with how we were singing the songs… there would be plenty of time to work out choreography and our stage presence once we had the songs down cold and a demo in hand.

It was a very long day. We all became quite familiar with the songs. My favorite by far was “To Me” a ballad written by Tommy Lee James. It’s a beautiful song, the harmony parts were interesting, and it was exactly the type of song I wanted to record.

“Talking to Strangers” was going to be Matt’s showcase number, he would sing lead throughout the song with harmonies being sort of secondary.

“One of a Precious Few” was going to be one of those trade off songs where everyone would share a lead line with harmonies and a definite All-4-One feel.

By then end of the evening I wanted to go out. It was a Saturday night, and the best club in the US was just waiting for me to show up. My friend Shane was going to be at the Connection, and I was more than ready to dance.

I took the Oklahoma boys back to their hotel. They invited me up, so I went in to see what kind of accommodations Delious was dishing out for them. Being that Stephen, Matt, and I were all living in Nashville, he saved a bundle by not having to provide us with lodging, or money for meals.

Jerimy was dying to go out and do something. He asked me what I had planned for the night, and I avoided the question the first time he asked. The second time he asked, I told him I planned to go dancing out at the club. His eyes lit up. You mean there’s a dance club here? I told him there were several, but the one I was going to was the best, and it was actually 18 and over so he and Doug could go if they wanted.

I warned them that it was a mostly (exclusively) gay club, but they’d be safe. Doug was skeptical, but Jerimy was trying to figure out what to wear. “I wish my girlfriend Mary were here to help me.” I could have choked over that comment.

Doug suggested that we call Matt and Stephen to invite them to come along. I wasn’t so sure because I wasn’t planning to come out to them yet. I didn’t know them well, and I knew that Stephen had a fairly conservative religious upbringing. And Matt’s father was a Church of Christ minister.

I called Matt first. He answered and I told him that we were planning to go out and wanted to know if he was up for going along. He said, “Maybe, where are you going.”

I told him “The Connection.” There was silence on the line for a moment. Then Matt said, “Is that the place over by the river?” I said, “as a matter of fact, yes.”

Matt said, “I really don’t think that’s a good idea. In fact, I think that’s the worst idea I’ve ever heard.” There was something about his tone that told me he was trying very hard to keep his anger in check.

“We don’t want to be associated with that place at all. Not ever,” he said.

I ended the call with him and told the guys what Matt had said. They were disappointed, but decided that maybe Matt was right. I told them that I had plans to meet people there, so if they weren’t interested I was going to just take off.

I was upset and realized maybe for the first time that my being gay was going to be a bigger issue than I had hoped.

* Now Jerimy on the other hand….

 

stupid, stupid people bother me
i’m so sorry you had (have??) to deal with mean &/or stupid people
the same God they quote also taught love, for crying out loud
who are they to judge anyone???!?!
(and i am not judging here, just saying they are hippo-critters…ok, so i don’t judge, i name call. whatever.)

rrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr
feeling frustration for you
hell, feeling frustration for me

can i handle the rest of this story??

hellohahanarf wrote on September 26th, 2006 at 7:42 am

 

 

i don’t even know how the rest of the story goes, but i’m ready to kick someone.

i have no hesitation in saying i *AM* judging and *WILL* judge those who bring it on themselves.

moral conviction blah blah blah…

k wrote on September 26th, 2006 at 9:55 am

 

 

When I was in high school gay meant lame. What does it mean now?

othurme wrote on September 26th, 2006 at 1:46 pm

 

 

hello - if only this were the height of the stupid people I’ve had to endure. Just wait, the story gets really good soon. I promise.

k - i love you. I’ve heard about some of your moral convictions, and I want to make sure I’m not ever on the receiving end of a kick.

othurme - I believe now it means ‘faggy.’ (Yes, this is a reference to last week’s The Office.)

jester wrote on September 26th, 2006 at 10:28 pm

 

Say something already!