Ch-ch-ch-Changes

With apologies to David Bowie...

Well, With Intent has gone through a change, and this one appears to be final. Dan Stuart, who answered our ad for a drummer a few weeks ago, is now our lead guitarist. Dan is an accomplished guitarist who took up the drums a few years ago. He came in, and as I previously wrote, performed well enough to earn the job as With Intent's drummer.

However, Dan had a friend who also played the drums named Mark Schlaefli. Both Dan and Mark played in the band Freedom 51. Dan felt that if he could take over the lead guitarist spot and could also get Mark on board as the drummer, we'd have a great band.

Both Ed and I really liked Dan, so if Mark was anything like Dan then we knew that we had the potential to finally fill in the missing pieces to our puzzle. I have to admit I was personally concerned for Dan, as I know he wanted to play the drums. But Dan convinced me that his real love was just playing music, he wanted to play good music, and he felt this band had that potential if he switched to guitar and Mark agreed to come on board to play drums.

Dan talked to Mark, and he was interested. So we setup a jam and asked Mark to learn three songs, "Heroes" by David Bowie, "Hollywood Nights" by Bob Seger, and "Wonderwall" by Oasis. We started with "Heroes", and by the first few measures I knew this lineup was The One. I was shocked to learn that Mark had only been playing the drums for four years, it sure seemed like he was pretty seasoned.

When we finished the three tunes, Ed pulled out two demo CDs of our original music, handed one to Dan and the other to Mark. As he handed the CD to Mark he shook his hand and welcomed him into the band.

We continued on, just throwing our material at them. Remember, this was fairly new to Dan too as he was playing guitar now and not the drums, yet he was getting good ideas of how he could fit his guitar sound into our arrangements. I also spied him singing a few tunes too, we could definitely use the help on backups vocals. They liked playing our originals, which was great, and most importantly, these guys are a fit with us personality-wise. It's truly a pleasure to be in a band that has a cooperative spirit, and having a team effort is going to make us a strong band. Not only that, we sound pretty damn good.

So, With Intent is now:

Ed De Caro - Lead Vocals, Rhythm Guitar, Harmonica
Mike Lewis - Bass, Vocals
Dan Stuart - Lead Guitar, Vocals
Mark Schlaefli - Drums

Our immediate goal is to get ready for the July 10 gig at the Metaphor. We will be ready to play all three sets, I know it in my heart. By the time we reach our July 24 gig (also at the Metaphor) we will be in good shape I do believe. I am really excited for what the future holds for us, I know we are going to make some really good, kick-ass rock n' roll music. We all have been "around the block" so to speak, and though we are all in our 40's (well, not Mark but he's getting close) we have that young-at-heart spirit that allows us to rock on freely and fearlessly.

The funny thing about this band though, is that I find myself playing in a band with three really good drummers. A bass player's dream, right? Now if we could get a triple-drum-solo number in there, we'll be all set. Yeah baby!

Musical musings

A few musical musings on this day, June 7 2004, a special day (more on that later):

* * * *

With Intent has a new drummer. His name is Dan Stuart. A lifelong guitarist, Dan took up the drums about five years ago, and decided he wanted to give it an earnest shot.

A week or so ago, our fearless leader Ed De Caro put an ad into a local website advertising for a drummer. It was important to us that the person who applied had the right attitude above everything else. We were looking for a person who fit in with us personality-wise and musically, and was willing to be a team player and subscribe to the direction we have already taken. Dan was the first to answer the ad. We setup a rehearsal at a local studio so we could have a looksee at him and so he could try us out as well. Ed gave him a few songs to learn, but of course we took him on another journey. He stumbled at times, but for the most part he did great. He is not that experienced, but I could tell he was a true musician. He has over 25 years experience playing the guitar, and it shows when he plays the drums. His meter is very good, I never felt the tempo rushing or slowing down, he kept an even keel. That's a hard thing to master.

After the rehearsal, Ed and I had a brief pow-wow and both agreed Dan was the guy. He will be getting a crash course in all that is With Intent, and we hope to have him playing some of the tunes at our next gig at the Metaphor on July 10, and hopefully be ready to go full bore on July 24, also at the Metaphor. If he's not ready, no worries, we want to give him ample opportunity to get ready. After all, the top priorities are to have fun, grow musically, and keep the BS to nil. And we aim to do that, and I think with Dan we are heading in the right direction.

* * * *

The Praise band that I play in, Northminster Presbyterian Praise Band, had their first performance last Sunday the 6th, and it was a very positive experience all around. During our warmup rehearsal before the service, I felt unusually relaxed and at ease. I remembered all my parts, and all was good. We were slated to open the service with three songs.

Then the service started, and it was showtime. We started our first number "Holy Holy Holy", which was just our band backing up the congregation's first hymn number. Good thing, for some reason I blanked out there. Fortunately, years of being an experienced "blanker-outer" has given me many skills in covering up, which I was able to do. It helped that the congregation was busy singing so they didn't have an opportunity to really notice anyway.

The second number was "Come and See", a medium-tempo praise tune. I know this one by heart, and like a fool I began the song by trying to read the chart. I felt myself losing it again, so I quickly just trusted my instinct and stopped reading. Low and below, somehow I was fixed and the music just flowed out of me. The third and final number we played was "I See the Lord", and it is a song that starts out slow and humbly with just a vocal and piano, then segues into a full-blown anthem of Joy for the Lord. We were rocking, and I could feel it. It was great, and the whole congregation seemed to enjoy it too. So much so, that we received an ovation from the congregation, which is almost unheard of for musical performances in our church. Everyone came up after service and offered congratulations. The word is that our Pastor, Scott Mitchell, was really pleased and wants us back as often as possible. It was a good feeling.

It was a good feeling, because we all worked hard. Especially Elisabeth and myself, we put in a lot of time trying to get people to play, and then to pick some songs, then get everyone together and learn them. It feels really satisfying. I personally am very happy, because this praise band thing at our church is a very politically charged issue, with one faction wanting it very badly (so much so that our session has funded it), while another faction exists that is down on music altogether. It was this controversy that made the session very wary when I offered to be a "cajoler" for the praise band to help move it forward. There were no guarantees that what I was attempting to do would even be accepted by the church, I was only given an opportunity. Well it was an opportunity I gladly embraced. I had faith that it would work out. It looks like it will too, God willing.

We're taking this week off from rehearsals, then back next week. I wonder what Elisabeth has in mind for us.

* * * * *

I went to Lestat's tonight to a) drop off With Intent's package of original material/cover letter in hopes of being able to play there someday, and b) to check out the open mic night. I stuck around for about 30 minutes. The first two acts were stand-up comics, and they weren't much to write about. The second guy though had a good segment about divorce and growing up in a one-parent household. Through his humor you could feel his pain. That's the mark of a good comic. Unfortunately, he spent the other 90% of his routine talking about body parts and cheeseburgers, sometimes in the same topic, which I didn't find funny.

The third and last guy I saw was an incredible guitarist named Michael Reed. He played flamenco-styled guitar. He was nervous and announced he had never played live before. But he was great. His third number was a Fleetwood Mac song written by Lindsey Buckingham called "Big Love", which has a killer guitar part that Michael pretty much nailed. It's very difficult to play Lindsey Buckingham's material, and Michael Reed played it with gusto. Everyone applauded, and he was beaming, it certainly looked like he was relieved everyone liked him. For a first gig he did great. An excellent guitarist.

* * * * *

Today, June 7, is my father's birthday. Linis David Lewis would've been 78 years old today. Happy birthday Dad! Wish you were here. I miss you dearly.

James at 15

Every once in awhile, something will happen to me to remind me of the greater power of God in the universe, and that my desires and perceptions are but a speck in the Greater Scheme of Things.

My old band CenterAisle used to play at a place called the Rhythm Lounge in the Midway area near the Sports Arena. It was a dive, but it was a place that allowed us to basically play whenever there was a free date, so we were glad to take it. They had a doorman who worked there named John Hill, and he liked us. So much in fact that he offered a gig for us: a private party for his daughter Christina, who was going to be celebrating her Sweet 16 party in September of 2003.

I must admit that I wasn't too keen on doing the party. Being a forty-something rocker who liked music from the 70's - 80's, I did not relish playing for a bunch of kids who I felt would not appreciate what we did. But John, and especially his wife Brenda, were persistent. John really talked us up to Brenda, and she really wanted us to play. She insisted that Christina would like us. So, after much gnashing of teeth on my part, as well as prodding from some of the other members of CenterAisle, I reluctantly agreed. The fact that they were willing to pay us helped me to accept this as a job.

So gig day comes up and we arrive, setup, and sure enough, the kids pretty much avoid us like the plague. There were a couple of them who, just to be nice, really made an effort to listen to us, but it was pretty obvious that we weren't their cup of tea. Oh well. We just kept playing in their living room while the kids played in the pool.

We had three sets worth of material to play, and after 2 1/2 sets, suddenly the kids started showing up to give us a listen. They started having fun. They started dancing. It became a pretty fun gig toward the end there. The set ended and it was time to go, but the kids wanted us to stay. Hey, they were just getting started! Well, it was getting late for us old geezers, but we agreed to play a couple of slow numbers to allow the couples to dance.

Christina danced with her boyfriend James Curry-Long. Before the gig, John talked to me at length about James. I could tell John really liked him, and his words conveyed to me that he was a great kid. And as James and Christina danced, I could see the love there. These two kids were really fond of each other.

We finished the gig, packed up, and left. It was done. Time marched on. Shortly thereafter, CenterAisle broke up.

About three months ago we were informed of some tragic news. A couple of weeks after the party, James was killed by a hit and run driver while on his way to a seminary class. Brenda informed me that the party became a big milestone in her daughter's life, as that party was the last time Christina and James would dance together.

Yes, that was their last dance. It was a tragedy. But in tragedy there are always silver linings and lessons to be learned. For me, there was a big lesson. I was a curmudgeon in accepting this gig, and in the end it became a defining moment in someone's life. And participating in that defining moment is something to be proud of in the Greater Scheme of Things.

But proud I'm not. I am ashamed that my thoughts were selfish. In the end, despite my best efforts to resist, I was given an opportunity to play a small part in one important crossroad in the journey we call life. And it had nothing to do with my acumen or whatever. God was in control and put me in this situation - and I am thankful that I was able to be a part of this. As saddened as I am that this young man's fate came to a tragic end, I am thankful that I was able to participate in a cherished memory of this fine young man.

How tragic would it have been if we didn't take that gig? How tragically selfish indeed.

It's been about 8 months since James's untimely death. I keep in contact with Brenda, and Christina is still deeply affected by this, and of course that is understandable. I hope that she can someday find peace with this. My prayers are with her and the whole family.

Brenda closed out an e-mail to me recently with something very telling. She mentioned that the kids were all bummed at the end of the gig, because they were a little late in coming around to us. They wished they would have "discovered" us a little sooner since they had so much fun at the end. There just wasn't enough time in the end. She closed with a laugh, stating "isn't that the way it always works out". Indeed it does Brenda. Indeed it does.

James Curry-Long was only 15 years old. His plans included mission work with his church, the military, and ultimately a family with Christina. A tragic loss, a young life cut down before it really got started.

James Curry-Long: 1988 - 2003

More Praise Band

Our praise band at Northminster Presbyterian Church had our fourth and final practice before our "debut" next Sunday during service. We are currently a 6-piece unit, with Elisabeth Leatherberry on keyboards (and musical director), Russ Hessler on drums, Steve McHenry on guitar, myself on bass, David Leatherberry (Elisabeth's husband) on vocal and Korin McCoy on the other vocal.

I think we're ready to go. We're playing three songs on Sunday, "Holy Holy", "Come and See" and "I See the Lord". Silly me, I had been thinking all along that we were only going to play two, but I guess I hadn't been paying attention. Imagine my surprise when I was informed that we would open with "Holy Holy", a song I hadn't really been concentrating on. But I was able to get through it ok looking at the sheets. I will just focus on it this week and I will be ready. The other two songs are coming together nicely from my end, I've been working hard on those to make sure I know the arrangements by heart.

We're starting to gel, but it was touch and go for awhile there. Our main problem for the first three-and-a-half practices was that everyone was holding back. We all had our different reasons for doing so, I think with Korin and David, it was the fact that this was their first real experience in a contemporary band-type setting, though both of them are very much musically inclined (Korin is an accomplished horn player and David is a great vocalist). For Russ and myself, our problem was we are both totally unfamiliar with this type of music - both of us have a lot of experience playing in rock bands, but we felt out of our comfort zone trying to play praise music. Elisabeth, who is very much familiar with the material, is not used to playing in a contemporary band type setting too, though out of all of us she seemed the most comfortable.

Last week, it took Steve the guitarist (at his first practice with us no less) to gently nudge me out of the doldrums and remind me what my best asset was, and that was the ability to rock out. Which is what I resolved to do today. I resolved to just be more comfortable and just be me, to show the joy that I have playing music. So I played the basslines as if I was playing for With Intent, and just basically dug in and let myself become one with the music. I noticed that Russ was a little more comfortable too, and I think together with Elisabeth we provided a good groove. Once we settled in, the singers got comfortable, and they were encouraged to just let loose, and they looked like they were getting into it. David told me at the end he was really encouraged by what we were doing, and he was really starting to have fun.

Alas, Steve was not here today, he was out watching the Padres. No worries though, he's the type of guy who can just step in and play, he's that good. He'll just show up on Sunday, plug in, and add the color that he adds so well.

I'm sure there will be a stumble here and there, but we'll get through it and we'll do good, and then we'll build on it and hopefully continue with the building blocks to the ultimate goal, and that is to establish a contemporary service that can attract the youth in the Clairemont area. I think we have a good foundation started, we just have to build on it, get better and help it grow. That's my Intent anyway. I think that's everyone's Intent. I'll say a prayer for us just in case though.