Monday, September 14, 2009

Who knew piano lessons would lead to . . . (not the NFL)

When I was 12 I was in the backyard playing football and pretty badly jammed one of my fingers.  It was black & blue and bent kinda funny.  But despite the pain, I was pretty happy for one reason . . .

It would be a while until I’d be able to practice piano again.

Not sure why I reviled practicing piano so much during the several years I took lessons, but I sure did.  A few years later I talked my parents into letting me drop piano entirely after I started playing junior high football.  It wasn’t a very rational argument, I’ll admit, but I’m sure my mom was tired of me pleading.  After all, to my 14-year-old-mind there was a way better chance that I’d be a pro football player than me ever being or even knowing a professional musician.  (insert hearty laughter here)  Well, my parent’s encouragement of music yielded some fairly impressive results (myself mostly excluded of course).  My two younger brothers are, in fact, professional musicians and they, well, rock.  Many of you know this already, but they play together in The Get Up Kids (Rob on bass and Ryan on drums) and Rob plays in Spoon.  I’m proud of these guys.  What they do is real work (albeit quite different from what you and I do most days) and has taken some serious leaps of faith over the years.

TGUK is back touring in the US after just returning from a European stint and I really encourage you to check out their show if they come anywhere near you.  (send me an email if you’re going or considering it)  Here’s the tour schedule:

Sep 15 2009 8:00P Marquis Theater Denver, Colorado
Sep 16 2009 8:00P Club Sound Salt Lake City, Utah
Sep 18 2009 8:00P Neumo’s Seattle, Washington
Sep 19 2009 8:00P Music Fest NW Portland, Oregon
Sep 21 2009 8:00P The Fillmore San Francisco, California
Sep 22 2009 8:00P Downtown Brew San Luis Obispo, California
Sep 23 2009 8:00P The Glasshouse Pomona, California
Sep 24 2009 8:00P Avalon Hollywood, California
Sep 25 2009 8:00P House Of Blues San Diego, California
Sep 26 2009 8:00P House Of Blues Las Vegas, Nevada
Sep 27 2009 8:00P Clubhouse Tempe, Arizona
Sep 29 2009 8:00P White Rabbit San Antonio, Texas
Sep 30 2009 8:00P Granada Dallas, Texas
Oct 1 2009 8:00P Diamond Ballroom Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
Oct 2 2009 8:00P Slowdown Omaha, Nebraska
Oct 3 2009 8:00P Picador Iowa City, Iowa
Oct 20 2009 8:00P Varsity Minneapolis, Minnesota
Oct 21 2009 8:00P The Metro Chicago, Illinois
Oct 22 2009 8:00P The Metro Chicago, Illinois
Oct 23 2009 8:00P House Of Blues Cleveland, Ohio
Oct 24 2009 8:00P Majestic Theater Detroit, Michigan
Oct 25 2009 8:00P Phoenix Theater Toronto, Ontario
Oct 27 2009 8:00P Town Ballroom Buffalo, New York
Oct 28 2009 8:00P The Palladium Worcester, Massachusetts
Oct 29 2009 8:00P Toad’s Place New Haven, Connecticut
Oct 30 2009 8:00P The Gramercy Theater New York, New York
Oct 31 2009 8:00P Irving Plaza New York, New York
Nov 1 2009 8:00P Music Hall Of Williamsburg - SOLD OUT!!!!! Brooklyn, New York
Nov 3 2009 8:00P 9:30 Club Washington DC, Washington DC
Nov 4 2009 8:00P Norva Norfolk, Virginia
Nov 5 2009 8:00P Trocadero Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Nov 6 2009 8:00P TLA Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Nov 7 2009 8:00P Mr. Smalls Theater Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Nov 8 2009 8:00P Newport Music Hall Columbus, Ohio
Nov 10 2009 8:00P Cat’s Cradle Carrboro, North Carolina
Nov 11 2009 8:00P Masquerade Atlanta, Georgia
Nov 12 2009 8:00P Revolution Ft. Lauderdale, Florida
Nov 13 2009 8:00P House Of Blues Orlando, Florida
Nov 14 2009 8:00P St. Petersburg State Theater, Florida
Nov 16 2009 8:00P Spanish Moon Baton Rouge, Louisiana
Nov 17 2009 8:00P House Of Blues Houston, Texas
Nov 18 2009 8:00P Emo’s Austin, Texas

 

Hope you’re able to make it to the show.  Also, they just released the 10th Anniversary Edition of Something To Write Home About which includes a DVD of a show they did a few months ago at Liberty Hall.  Here’s the trailer:

 

There’s no doubt that I’m the unashamed proud brother.  And while neither my pro football nor music career have worked out just yet, I happily get to play my little piano and accompany the singing children at church each Sunday.  I’ll never be the rock star like my brothers, but what I have is not a bad gig at all.  Thanks Mom & Dad for making me (and my siblings) practice piano now and then!

6 comments:

paolopa said...

Scott, are you kidding me???
I'm going to the concert at Neumos next friday with 2 friends that love the band, and I bought yesterday their CD... I'm thinking that you told me about the band but we talked about the Spoon not about the Get Up kids... Anyway I'll go to the concert and I hope you'll come as well, so you can introduce us your famous brothers :)
Cheers PAOLO

The Texas Bakers said...

Sounds like a good time. Maybe we'll try to make the Dallas show. DH has been saying we should try to hit some concerts.

Emmy said...

That is awesome! And to think you could be a rock star too ;)

By the way, my team is beating yours so far :)

Anonymous said...

Your kids think you're a rock star! That's all that matters. =)

millerjk said...

That is great for Rob and Ryan (and the whole TGUK). I am assuming you get to see some of the shows and enjoy the time with your brothers.

Sarah said...

Yo Scottie...how about burning me your playlist? The songs are cracking me up. I need CD's for the Audi on my drive back home. Love your sister!

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