One degree of seperation

I never would have imagined that at some point in my life there would be only one degree of separation between myself and the band Foreigner, the arena rock band of the 70s/80s which churned out such hits as "Hot-Blooded," "Double Vision" and the classic power ballad "I Want to Know What Love Is (...I want you to show me...)"

But now I've met Larry Oakes, who played keyboards for the legendary Foreigner and now, four years into the new millenium, runs the singer-songwriter showcase he founded called the NY Songwriter Sessions.

The NY Songwriter Sessions are these nights set aside at a couple different well-established NYC music clubs - The Bitter End in Greenwich Village and CBGB's in the East Village - where new artists can showcase for 15 minutes each. It's like a couple steps up from an open mike night, but it's better than that because number one you have to audition to get there, and two, you get to play at cool, well-known places (Bitter End and CBGB's both) that perhaps you wouldn't otherwise have had a crack at. Depending on how many people you can bring in to see you play, it can also be a paying gig (wow! I was starting to forget that there was a point in my life when I sometimes got paid to perform).

Anyway, an in-the-nick-of-time thing took place. Late Friday night, I learned that auditions for the Sessions would be taking place on Saturday afternoon - the very next day. Furthermore, though I was scheduled from 1 p.m. to 9 p.m. on Saturday at my place of emplyoment, I called in on Saturday morning and requested a long lunch break to be able to do this thing (though I would have gone into work and skipped the audition if I hadn't been given permission). And what would you know, my manager actually changed the schedule and permitted me to go! So I'm feeling a hand of providence on the whole experience, before even getting to the audition.

Is this story getting too long or what? So I went, guitar in grip, because the place doesn't have a piano, and hauling my keyboard around New York is an experience I'm attempting to hold off on as long as possible. I got there and was 18th to sign up. I played my Guitar Song for Larry and the other auditionees still remaining after 17 others had shown their skills (or their enthusiasm, at least) on one original song apiece. When I left, I went over and shook Larry's hand and he said, "I'll give you a call before the end of the week." Well, it's not the bag yet, but he had said earlier, to the whole group, that he would be giving a call by the end of the week to those who would be invited to perform at the Sessions. So, I'm taking that parting comment as a bright sign!

Incidentally, I am getting into this artist-identity thing. I already stay up late nights and sleep in on mornings, I already have a low-paying, customer-service oriented day job, and I already have the inclination sometimes to just sit at my piano and play through a new song rather than say, shower and get ready for the day or, wash my whites so I have clean socks to wear. Being an artist is so much fun!

one degree of seperation...
Until later... Godspeed.