Silverwing Lite (The Mel & Mary Duo)

Yes, it's a non-band weekend and Mel & I have picked up a duo gig.  Just Mel and I together with our little drum machine.  That's how it all started for me, as a duo.  Well, re-started is more like it.

When we met Mel had been playing for years with different bands all over Northern Nevada, but I hadn't picked up a guitar in years.  I had learned how to play the guitar when I was a teenager.  My brother Kenny had brought home a few guitars and books and we sat in the living room working our way through the chords and notes.  I took guitar lessons for several years also, but then I put the guitar down and didn't pick it up for years.

I discouraged myself.  When I think back now, I realize I was good.  I could read music like nobody's business.  I made it through several Mel Bay levels and could play jazz chords to my teacher's lead playing.  Then I just stopped.  I was a blue, moody teenager and I probably couldn't see what might happen down the road.  So I stopped.

Many years later I meet Mel through some friends.  He's such a nice man and we start to date.  Months went by and one day the light bulb goes on over my head and I remembered "Hey, years ago I knew how to play the guitar!"  It was long forgotten.  When I told Mel, he was less than interested.  After years of people trying to get into his bands, he just nodded politely and changed the subject.  I thought "hum" and let it go.  No big deal. 

Months go by and one day he is hanging out at my house.  I'm cooking a big pot of spaghetti, the kids are playing video games and Mel is playing his guitar at the kitchen table.  It's a good day.  Then the phone rings and it's for Mel.  People knew we were dating and starting calling my place for him.  So I hand him the phone and he hands me his guitar. 

I think to myself "what were the chords to that song?" I start to strum the few things I could remember from years ago, but it was there, hidden back in the depths of my old brain. When Mel put the phone down, he jumps up and says, "Hey, you can play the guitar!!!!"  I said "Yep, I told you that a few months ago."  He says "Yes, but I you can REALLY play."  Then out come the story about how many people kind of exaggerate their skills, so he just smiled at me when I told him that I could play.  He'd heard lots of women say they could sing and ugh, yeah, maybe not so much.  So he's jaded.

But even at that point, I wasn't interested in learning 50 to 100 songs with the band.  I still enjoyed my time at the band table.  I applauded and laughed and hauled gear and typed lots of lyrics.  I had a place and I liked it.

Now years go by and Mel is playing lead for a different band.  He is getting frustrated being a hired gun as they are called.  He's not in charge and it's beginning to get to him for several reasons.  He feeling less than appreciated and I never get to hear him sing cause they never make it to his songs.  Right, sure.  So out of frustration I say, "What are the chords to Boot Scootin Boogie?  I can play that! I'll be your band."

So that's how it started.  I have a steno notebook with chords, a Yamaha keyboard with drum patterns in it and Mel playing lead in the back corner of the Big Horn Saloon.  I forget how long ago that was, maybe 8 to 10 years ago.  The first night we played my 5 co-workers showed up and pulled up chairs right in front of us.  Up close and personal.  I am staring at my steno notebook so I don't screw up the chords, when I look up and they have their lighters up and they are swaying like a crowd at a rock concert.  It was sooooo funny!

From the back of the Big Horn, it's been a wild ride.  Once we played for thousands at a political rally during the 2008 election campaign, but we've also played to two sad lonely drunks who need a ride home.  I wouldn't trade it for anything.

So this weekend, it's back to basics.  It's back to the beginning and really I love it.  I like being with Mel. I like the challenge of trying to make two guitars sound good.  My strumming has to be full and confident behind Mel's lead playing.  I have to sing backup and attempt some harmony.  It's a challenge and it's gonna be fun.  It's Silverwing Lite!

Ah, the lazy weekend

That's right, no Silverwing gig this weekend.  What will we do?  Of course, we still host Karaoke on Friday night at our local bar with our buddies.  So, it's not a total lazy weekend, but still no Silverwing gig?  Ugh, I'm having the shakes.

Anyway, Karaoke used to be a forbidden word around our dining room table.  The evil Karaoke singers were going to destroy live music and bands weren't going to be needed and on and on.  We just resented it and were offended by it and now? Guess what?  We run Karaoke!

Are we sell outs?  Perhaps.  Is there a dime to be made with our gear that is sitting idly in the garage? Oh, yes.  But more so, we get it.  Karaoke allows everyone to participate.  It accessible to everyone who has the guts to get up there and open their mouth and squeak out a tune.  For the moment you can be Carrie Underwood or Jon Bon Jovi.  You can get the whole bar to sing Na-na-na-na-na along with Journey to thunderous applause.  Who doesn't love that?

We get it.  It's about everyone and we can all join in.

I personally have become a much better singer since we started running Karaoke.  I am a fair singer, good pitch, fair tone, buy I was shaky and worse yet, I didn't practice.  I didn't open my mouth until we got up there on stage with a crowd in front of us.  Oh my goodness, what was I thinking?  Sometimes it was just really weak and timid, but now I am the queen of Karaoke.

Okay, not really the queen, but I'm part of the crowd.  I have done well on some songs and then I've picked songs that were a total stretch and bombed!  I bombed and did it in front of people and lived to tell the tale.  That's actually helped my singing skills also.  You wouldn't think so, but really butchering a song and laughing at yourself is good for your mental health.  It takes the perfectionism down a notch or two.  People...it's not the end of the world.

Plus, now when I step up to the microphone to sing I have some practice time under my belt.  Just like learning chess, you remember the moves.  My throat remembers the shape that makes that sound.  I've stretched for that note before and I know I can hit it.  I've swooped that country sound before and I can do it again.

So the evil Karaoke has become one of my favorite things.  I have a room full of friends who I encourage with my whooping and applause and they do the same for me, even when I totally, totally ruin some beautiful song, my friends still applaud, gotta love it.