EP release

Big time.

Eli and his band, '99 Corolla (not HIS band, but the band he is in), released an EP this week on iTunes. Four original songs for the public's listening pleasure. To commemorate the event, they hosted an EP release party over the weekend. at said party, they performed about eight songs, only one of them not their original material. (Long live The Meters.)

I keep saying it, and I hope that I keep saying it: I love the opportunity and experience that Eli has in regards to '99 Corolla. The work ethic, the integrity, the passion, the collaborative effort, the friendships...it has all been in the black. I could not have picked a better 'first band' experience for him if I tried, and I have to believe that having the baseline experience set the bar so high will help with Eli's expectations for himself and those he works with in future endeavors.

I only got a few videos:
Song 1
New Beach Song (my new fave! Not on iTunes yet)
PK
Cissy Strut Intros (this is a cover)
Beach Song (the crowd fave!)

play that funky music, white boy

since you joined a band, last fall, you and the six other gentlemen that make up '99 Corolla have had this event on the calendar. for you, it was the first 'gig' you have had as a musician that wasn't tied to the church. many hours put into friday night rehearsals and saturday rehearsals and recording sessions and self practice has gone into this band (and this performance). and you wouldn't have it any other way. nor would we....even though it's a far drive, i absolutely love when you have the opportunity to hang out with these guys and work on your craft. in this band you play guitar and sometimes drums. they haven't been able to talk you into vocals yet...we'll work on it. you are the youngest, the rest of the band being made up of all high schoolers, including a senior. you guys have a few covers in your tool belt, but original music seems to be what you guys all want to focus on.

this weekend you all performed at the Taste of West Cobb, which was moved indoors at the last minute because of inclement weather. while i was worried that would affect your sound, it did not. you all sounded as solid as you always do in rehearsal. you performed five songs: three covers and two originals. one of your originals was the best, in my opinion.

oh the places this experience will take you! how grateful i am for you to have this time with like-minded musicians, some leading the way for you in your faith and your craft, all walking through this journey simultaneously.

School of Rock

Ever since Eli was a wee one, Lehr and I have seen advertising for a music camp in our area. The "School of Rock" offers lessons and camps, and appeared to cater to the less traditional music education (which we loved). Between the cost and wanting to make sure he was old enough to really get something out of it, this is the first year we signed up. As expected, Eli chose to sign up for the camp with his electric guitar, rather than drums. What's better is his best friend, Drew, decided to join him (on guitar also) at the last minute.

The boys had a good time through the week, learning some classic rock songs on their guitars. Eli dabbled a little in bass, mainly because they needed someone and he could adapt his skills quickly enough. The week culminated in a concert, showcasing maybe 5 or 6 songs, completely performed by the kids from the camp, including, "Another Brick in the Wall", "Satisfaction", and "Another One Bites the Dust".

Eli enjoyed himself, especially because Drew was there, but we were reminded (again!) how blessed Eli has been to have so much experience already playing with a band (of adults or kids) consistently for the last several years at church. He's able to prepare at home and walk into a band situation, ready to play and work together to make necessary adjustments. This camp is a great way to provide that learning experience for kids, it is just one that Eli has been fortunate enough to have had already.

Deck Concert Series

After ten years of holding our breath every time someone leans on our deck railing, or even steps foot on it, we replaced the whole thing. The project finished last week and we could not be happier. In addition to the awesome stadium stairs, it's flat, open surface lends itself to shows, concerts, performance. This works well since we are a house filled with drama and noise.

Eli has been working on guitar skills for several months now, and this week he will perform in his school's Talent/Variety Show. In preparation for that, he gave us our first Concert on the Deck tonight. 

Ruby loves everything Eli and Maddux do, and that is true for music too. Last night she kept walking over to his pedal board and trying to step on the pedals like she sees him do. We reminded her over and over to look with her 'eyes, not hands'. At one point she walked to the pedal board again, looked at me and said, "No touch. Eyes. No hands?" When I nodded in agreement, she then pivoted at the waist and got her eyes right up next to the board to 'look with her eyes, not her hands.' (You can see some of this at the very beginning of the video.)

Eli gave us a few listens to his Jimi Hendrix version of The Star-Spangled Banner before he exited the stage. The evening ended with Eli giving a free lesson to one of his shorter groupies.