ben wakeman : : Journal

Wakeman Boys Concert Debut

March 19, 2006

Ian is the coolest kid. I want to be more like Ian when I grow up. We played our first show together on Friday night at his school and he was so relaxed. My hands were shaking and I was sweating because I was so nervous for him, but he was as cool as Johnny Cash. It was a "Coffee House" set up in one of the class rooms and there were a lot of other talented parents, and kids getting up to play. It was a really wonderful experience seeing these other parents I see everyday in the carpool line get up and sing or play, never realizing before that they had secret lives as musicians.

We played a very brief set that consisted of one of our favorites: "Wagon Wheel" by Old Crow Medicine Show followed up by Ian's favorite bluegrass tune, "Red Haired Boy" and I closed the set with "More Than You Planned," my song about Ian and Dylan. The video here tells it all. Ian was the coolest. His rhythm playing was flawless and he never lost focus. Meanwhile, I'm dropping lyrics, missing changes and blowing the solo because I'm just so taken in by him. Can you tell I'm proud?

Another fun part of the night was getting to jam with the brilliant guitar player Peter Stroud. When he's not playing in Elementary school classrooms he is touring with Sheryl Crow. He has also toured with Don Henley which came in handy at the end of the night when we were asked to play some Eagles songs. I haven't sang "Take it Easy" since I was probably 14 years old and I forgot how fun those songs are. We also played my song "The Secret" off of the "Greener" CD. I'm always amazed at what a small world it is --- Peter lives in our neighborhood, and we know many of the same people. I remember talking to Shawn Mullins and him praising this fantastic guitar player Peter who played on his newest CD, "9th Ward Pickin' Parlor." Peter's such a genuine, down to earth guy and it was truly an unexpected pleasure to play with him.