Wendy and I have decided to try out a new video blog, one that will allow for us to write a little about what we’re up to as a band, show some of what we’re working on musically and….as always, have fun in the doing.  That’s what it’s all about, we’re finding—writing, playing, and having some fun, and we thought we’d share some of it with you.

On Wednesday last, we went out to Fruitlands to make the first video.  Fruitlands is a bucolic setting, home to Utopian visions and transcendental thought in the mid 1800’s and now a national landmark; it’s also one of my favorite places in the area and those of you who know it would most likely agree.

Speaking of visions, we have many, but on that day, it was to shoot a video of a song we’d been working on called “Nothing to Lose,” by Matt Kearney.   We got to Fruitlands too late, though, and the vision was upended by the fact that we had to shoot it in 10 minutes; the gates were closing….

What you see here is the result.  It’s not successful at all, but this is one that captures a lot of what we do, and that’s practice our music…and try.   It’s the best, and it’s so much fun as you can see.

We wanted it to happen, we tried there, found some laughter, and then went to the road just outside the gates from which we were now banned.   That video is here as well.

We’ve worked hard for all that we’ve accomplished, but it’s been far short of any definition of work I’m used to as I’ve found in the effort of all of this a great deal of joy and that, along with our good music is what we want you to see and to experience.

You’ll see more videos, you’ll hear more stories, and our vision is to shoot once a week.  It’s not going to be perfect, but it’ll be fun….and we’ll be trying. 

That’s Utopian in my book.

The other night, we had the pleasure of playing at my son’s graduation party. It was a three family affair and the place was alive with the energy of both the myriad young people in attendance and their parents. I took the chance to talk to a number of my son’s friends and they expressed both delight at having finished high school and a certain trepidation about what was now before them. They were not unlike their parents, many of whom will be saying goodbye to their last child as they go off to college and a new kind of living reality which, for now, is a little unclear.

A lot of people there leaving behind something and taking on new direction. It’s a thrill, but it’s also a terror. There was a dynamic I noticed in these conversations that led me to believe even more that being timid stints growth, that if you’re stuck in the past, those fears, and those obstructions, you can only become a part of what is intended for you. You compromise your greater self.

It’s a feeling that I am coming to grips with in this musical journey. The timidity—it comes and goes; I hear an amazing musician and think to myself that I am kidding myself in trying to chart this path. What am I doing spending all this time? And then, on an evening when Wendy and I are clicking on every tune and I see heads nodding in appreciation for our work, I wonder the opposite. What took me so long to garner the courage? How can I find more time in working with Wendy in arranging these tunes so that they can accentuate the best that both of us have to offer? There’s never enough time.

We got a great boost when we played an open mic at Markoh’s a few weeks ago and they hired us on the spot to play on Friday the 24th of June. Do consider coming out for that; it’s an incredible feeling for us when we see our friends walk in, give us a nod and settle in for a couple of beers.

And we have a few more performances lined up as well. There is Markoh’s, of course, but we are also playing on July 1st at Fruitlands in Harvard as part of the July 4th celebration, and the Bravehearts 4th Annual Dylan Connelly Memorial Ride on July 9, also at Fruitlands.

We’re going to make the most of these chances and are excited for the work ahead in preparing to do our best for those and all that await us. No fear about it, just hard work and some diligence in getting an audience. It’ll pay off. Never fails.

Wendy Darling and the Lost Boy (with Matty and CJ) at Matty’s Grad Party….

by Peter Banker

FATE

I’m unclear on the concept of fate of late and have only recently put it into question because of the drive I have to be the best musician I can be in the time that I have left. It’s come upon me late in my life, for certain. Those youngsters who sit in their bedrooms and play their instruments until their hands bleed, who–seemingly wayward–defy all societal and parental expectations and run toward the music—they are more brave—even smarter than many give them credit for. I’ve come to know that it’s not about becoming a rock star, but rather it’s just about improving; it’s about reaching into the music in an attempt to draw forth a temporary little piece of magic and, for me, it’s also in the collaboration that I share with Wendy in making songs come alive for an audience, big or small…..or even none at all, to be truthful.

THE GENERAL STORE, THE OPEN MIC, THE EMERGING ARTIST SERIES

A very good friend of the band, Donnie Phillips, recently put us in touch with Scott Hayward, the owner of the General Store in Harvard who, through conversation, is generously allowing for Wendy and I to run an open mic which will start in the next months. Prior to that monthly event, we are intending to run an EMERGING ARTIST SERIES, which will begin on Saturday, April 30th. This event will feature 3-4 acoustic groups who are trying to break in—not into the profession necessarily—but rather are ready and rehearsed to play and have engaging music they’d like to share.

WHAT DO YOU WANT FROM ME, WENDY DARLING AND THE LOST BOY?

We’d like your support on Saturday, April 30th at 7:00 p.m. Firstly, we’d like to show the General Store that the community would support an event like the Emerging Artist Series and then the open mic. For short money in an admission fee and in taking advantage of the good food and drink at the General Store, you can have a Saturday night of good music, good chatter and—a great scene. Secondly, if you feel as though you or someone you know fall into the category of an Emerging Artist (like Wendy and I do, for example), come forth and make a case for it and we’d love to hear you out and then give you a spot in the show. And do not fear it. That drive toward music I talked about earlier? I had it as a youngster and it was only fear that took me out of the practice room where I belonged and into a world of toil that I’ve never loved nearly as much. Please come on the 30th. It’d be great to play for you and to get this thing rolling in a venue that feels like a gift.

by Peter Banker

There are a number of reasons that Wendy and I work well together, but one of them is the deep respect we have for each other as friends and musicians. That’s important all the time, but becomes a little more so when one of us approaches the other with an idea to cover a song that—is un-coverable. Some tunes, in my view, should not be touched…by anyone, and certainly not by me. An early example came from Wendy when she proposed we try “Sympathy for the Devil” by the Rolling Stones, arguably the greatest rock tune ever written. I cringed at the thought of trying to capture the essence of that tune and shared my reluctance with Wendy as the effect those lyrics and Keith Richard’s solo has over me has not waned over time; when that song is on, I am at full attention and entirely inspired. I’d like to tell you that we’ve tried that tune, but we haven’t, and it’s my fault, and to Wendy’s credit, she hasn’t pushed it at all. At some point she may, but I remain honestly doubtful that we’ll make it come to life as it should. And that will be my fault too. My heart is not in it.

Now, just a week ago, Wendy sent another video, a live version of “That’s the Way I’ve Always Heard it Should Be,” another favorite from my childhood sung so beautifully and lyrically by Carly Simon in 1971 at the peak of her singing prowess. After listening to it, Wendy and I had the same conversation. Is it possible—should it even be legal to touch a song of this magnitude? I had some doubt, but Wendy really wanted to try it, so that gave me some hope– a lot of it actually. I could sense that she was going to make this one work. Her heart was in the right place. And it does work, in my view for a number of reasons.

The lyrics, you may remember, are incredibly poignant. Simon writes of parents and how “their children hate them for the things they’re not;/[and how]they hate themselves for what they are— “and for me it resonates a bit. It’s because of the fact that my children are getting such a kick and even some joy out of watching me express myself through music and it thrills me to be seen by them in this new light—a testament of sorts that one should never stop exploring and going after adventure or possibilities for individual growth. I hid my longing for it when they were younger and still don’t know why. And while I don’t “hate myself for what [I am]”, I wonder myself why I lacked the courage earlier in my life to take a stab at playing music. The song, one could say is also a skeptical look at marriage, all of the failings of relationships as they try to endure. I don’t really see it that way. The chorus says (in the midst of all the negativity) that “it’s time we moved in together/and raised a family of our own you and me/well, that’s the way I’ve always heard it should be/ you want to marry me…we’ll marry.” Pretty matter of fact, but also gorgeous. Truly is. It’s the leap we take in meeting love when it comes upon us—and it can at any point in our lives. The song tells us to jump in, and to go at it full force—because there’s a chance that love can beat it all. Take a listen. Wendy nails it in her very unique way because it’s clear that she believes it. Maybe you can too.

Yesterday during practice, Wendy and I decided that, on occasion, I would put my voice to the blog. It makes perfect sense, really, and it’s because of the way we work together; each one of us brings something new to the practice every time and it’s always a pleasant surprise. No doubt this will be true of the blog as well.
Yesterday, for example, we had a long practice, but concentrated on two songs, one by Taylor Swift, something she wrote for the Hunger Games Soundtrack called Safe and Sound, and an original tune by Wendy called Blue Skies. Blue Skies was originally called Nobody Knows; it is a tune Wendy had written some time ago that she was willing to pull out of the dust in the hope that we could revive it together. A bit nervous (it’s always a little frightening to put forth something you care about), she played it for me at the end of a practice last week and immediately I liked it. There is so much being communicated in her lyrics and I always feel privileged to get a chance to put my touch on the way the song ends up. It’s a meandering process of creativity that works for us. We try a number of things, nod in agreement when something works or, in a lot of cases, simply take note of body language indicating that something isn’t quite right. And we pay attention to all of it, until such time that we find ourselves moving easily through a tune that has transformed into something that makes us smile. It’s always a great moment—a true joy—when, at the end of a song we’ve been working on for a long time, we hit the last chord and look at one another with the full knowledge that we’ve created something that we know people will enjoy.
As I said, Wendy changed the name of the song after our work on it to Blue Skies and it makes perfect sense. It’s all I can see, after all, in this partnership of music and friendship. I hope you enjoy the songs. They are both young in our repertoire, but here to stay.

Blue Skies – Original

Safe and Sound – Taylor Swift Cover

A lot has happened since my last blog entry. In addition to Life’s big events (weddings, funerals, births, graduations, surgeries, vacations, birthdays, etc), the band has also been up to some fun endeavors.

We are very excited to have our first official CD in hand. The EP, titled Found, has 4 songs (3 covers and one original) and was produced with the goal of sharing music with family and friends but also to reach out to a larger community of listeners. We hope to use the CD to find more performing venues as well.