Keys and reeds
was really wail’n
finga’s sailin’
stratocaster master
was solid groove
my vocal chops
smokin’ smooth
mr monsta’ bassman
rollin’ thunder claps
stickboy d’wizard
rippin’ up d’traps
kicked ass ev’ry night
burned d’town ta d’ground
then our Roadies
tore the music down
*
rob kistner © 2023
More music poetry at: dVerse
My retired son still plays his drums at gigs rustled
up by his formerly a garage band. They play at clubs
and as introductions to a famed group coming to town.
He would like your poem.
..
Cool that he still plays Jim… 🙂 I still sing, but only around the house — though my pipes are still reasonably good. Lost some of my higher range, but that’s what age does to the singing voice as the vocal chords lose their tautness.
You should record yourself, Rob 🙂
Much love,
David
Reading maybe David, but record my singing?! I have aged my friend, turned 76 the past Saturday. It has become quickly exhausting to my voice, and I lost about 1/2 octave of my higher range, forcing me to go to falsetto in that weakened range, which tires me more quickly. I used to have a bit over two full octaves of natural range, and a pretty solid falsetto above that. Not having sung 2-4 shows a day/night 5-6 days a week, plus doing no rehearsal at all now, lost my lungs. Between rehearsal and gigs back in the day, I averaged working my lungs and vocal chords 40-45 hours a week. I did that for the better part of 2 decades when I was giggin’ pro.
My husband has written about his days on the road, playing the clubs and festivals, in his memoir. They didn’t have roadies, but had to do all the lugging themselves. I enjoyed the images your quadrille conjured for me, Rob.
Glad you enjoyed this Kim. The first 5 years of giggin’ my different bands did our own equip set up, sound check, and tear down. The last 15 years my bands had roadies. We named our core guys/gals the ‘rowdy rangers’. 😉
Back in the day, I was married to a lead singer/lead guitar player. He also played the bass, drums, and Vox organ. He was a huge Beatles fan and had Vox Amps, a Vox organ, two Rickenbacker guitars, a Gretsch Country Gentleman, a Stratocaster, a Telecaster, and a Hoffner Bass which he played left-handed like Paul. Sadly, his life ended tragically, but he was so talented. Your poem took me back to a special time, Rob.
Oh Linda I’m so very glad I was able to take you to a place of wonderful memories, but I’m so sad for your loss. He sounds very much like a lot of the guys that I play music with over the years. Knowing his taste in both instruments and music as you expressed it here he would’ve been a part of our group comfortably as like a neat guy excellent poem to thank you 🙂
The thing that pissed me off most about my hearing loss (not total, but enough) has been music.
Wonderful poem and backstory, Rob.
Thank you Bill… 🙂 Yeah man, I feel ya! Sorry dude! I too have lost some hearing — again, the higher range that age steals. I gotta fine surround sound system, but I have lost the ability to pick out the fine details. Oh well, time don’t unwind. 😐
Love reading your poem and your back story in the comments. You have a lifetime of those happy memories and when you write them, you bring them to life. Thanks for sharing.
You are most welcome Grace. 🙂 My memories mean the world to me, I pray I never lose them.
Wonderful music… love it.
Thank you Björn… 🙂