When the email came in I was on a break between sets at a private club gig. An email address I didn’t recognize, from a Napa venue manager, asking if we wanted to open for Big Bad Voodoo Daddy on May 24. I had to read it three times. I showed it to Mayra to make sure it said what I thought it said. My fast answer – HELL YEAH! I mean, I was much cooler than that…but not by much. A few exchanges later our info was forwarded to BBVD’s management for approval and all I could do was wait.
The rest, they say, is history. But the experience of walking into the theater that Sunday afternoon, looking up on the stage to see these swing legends, feeling the aural overwhelm of their lush horn section as they sound checked through tune after tune with ease… Then a few hours later taking that stage ourselves to the loud applause of a full house. The gig was like a roller coaster ride. Each song counted in like the feeling of slowly moving up to the crest, then the band came in and the ride was on, rushing, swooping, rolling in circles, my heart leaping while I prayed we’d stay on the tracks and finally pulling into that station exhilarated, victorious. My friends it was one hell of a rush.
And as I reflect on it, I find myself wondering. How did that happen? How did they find us? Why did they ask us? And the truth is that everything lead to that moment. Every gig, every song, every player that played, every dancer that danced, every chart we prepped, every detail we honed, every person who came to be a part of it. It’s not one thing, it’s everything.
So lovers, I thank you for being an integral part of this journey. Without you, we didn’t make it to that stage. Many of you made the trek to Napa, which was stunning and awesome. The rest of you were in my heart with every moment of every song, as you always are. I am so grateful and humbled to have the privilege of making music for you.
For a 5 minute sampler of our live opening set, click here!