Don't Let the Pigeons from Hell Drive the Bus

At our last Twin Town Guitars recital, I stepped out of my proverbial comfort zone for our Pretenders tribute band and traded in my drumsticks for the keyboards and a stab at lead vocals on a couple of songs. Why?  I'd been kicking around this idea for a while...I actually started playing the piano before I started drumming, and was fairly good at it way back in junior high. And of course, I always have delusions of singing grandeur (who doesn't?) 

My interest in the keyboards was rekindled when I played them on  "I'm So Lonesome I Could Cry" with our Hank Williams band. And this opportunity was hard to pass up. We had another amazing drummer willing to take over the percussionist duties (and no, I'm not at all threatened by his awesomeness) and I didn't have to go drumming cold turkey, as I still got to play drums for the other band we were in (Howlin' Wolf). 

So, some observations, musings and reflections:

• My "comfort zone" isn't actually so comfortable...the drum set on the Whiskey stage is right behind the lights in a location immensely hotter than the rest of the stage. No wonder I've been so sweaty!
• Doing something new is a lot of work. While drummers have the pressure of taking the whole band down with them if they mess up too badly, I can usually keep the basics going without too much thought. But to play keyboards I had to think about whole new things, like notes, and chords, and key signatures and all that. 
• No matter how many times I practice a chord, I can apparently completely forget it during show time.
• It's much easier to dance when you're playing the keyboards. And it's nice to have the option to just smile and dance if you forget something, without worrying about making the whole band crash and burn (see above).
• It's scary and fun to be able to see the audience from the front of the stage.
• Move any music stand that may be blocking you. Once you come out from behind the drum set, you might as well be visible, right?
• Don't choose to try to sing lead vocals on the song that has the coolest, trickiest keyboard part ("Don't Get Me Wrong").  
• My singing was about on par with an okay karoake night. I can live with that. 
• Sparkly turquoise eye shadow continues to be amazing for almost any performance (see "Louise Lessons": http://peppersprout.blogspot.com/2015/04/louise-lessons.html).
• Don't drink whiskey while singing. If it goes down wrong, the coughing that might ensue is not attractive (luckily, I learned this during our Howlin' Wolf band). 
• I can do some really interesting things with lyrics. Luckily, most people don't know the lyrics to whatever you are singing that well, and mumbling can cover fumbles.
• The Twin Town community is awesome. From my talented and cool bandmates, to our amazing teacher and "camp counselor," Ben, to all the supportive people in other bands and friends and family who come to see and cheer everybody on, rock on! 
• And now I have a dilemma...I want to keep drumming AND playing keyboards and singing. Who knows, at this rate, I may try a brand new instrument, like kazoo or something (nah, I don't think I'm a wind instrument gal). 
• "Pigeons from Hell" is the best tribute band name ever, and thinking about Mo Willems doing a "Don't Let the Pigeons from Hell Drive the Bus" book will always make me laugh. 
  
• Chrissie Hynde is totally singing "My pants behind me" in "Middle of the Road" and if I was going to rename my blog that would be its new name.