I am just home from the 3rd Annual Southern Arizona Taiko Festival un Tucson, Arizona. It was all mighty hot…except for the saguaro, which are still mighty cool…but I mean to say the desert was scorching though the nights were beautiful, and folks at the show were blazing, too.
One of the biggest downers for me was not being able to fully partake in a lot of the very yummy food events, partly because of arthritis stuff and partly because I had a wild bout of gastroenteritis right at the end, and a great deal in part because we had to cut out before OS’s uchiage tonight…but there was a trip to Juanito’s for carnitas at the start of it all, and they were tasty and fine, and I had a very tasty cream of mushroom soup last night…which didn’t stay with me long, but was a real treat, all the same.
It was great getting to see what’s going on Taiko-wise in AZ and also always great to see San Jose folks do their thing…especially classics like Gendai. That piece takes me back to being a kid and wanting to play so bad and not having anywhere to go.
I think Franco did most of his solo in mid-air.
It was most especially great getting to drum with everyone during bits of the show, and see OS’s arrangement of Raku (the piece Chabo taught on her workshop tour). Kristy did a heckofa lot, both drum wrangling and playing in some of the pieces.
Kuri Go GO! Go Kuri, Go!
I spent much of the week kind of sick and most of last night much sicker, so I was up when the automated call from the airline came in at 3AM, telling me our flights were cancelled. I called in and we were promptly rebooked on a 9AM flight and upon getting to the airport discovered we had been rebooked again onto an 8:30 am flight. By the time we made it to the terminal concourse of our connecting flight in Phoenix, the departure monitors said it had already departed. We did make the flight, though, and made it home in time to perform at the 15th Annual Pacific Rim Street festival in Old Sacramento.
That was a blast, too. Especially great because the weather was so fine, but also just a lot of fun. I wish I had been up to grabbing a bite and wandering around, but we pretty much just packed up and came home.
Me? I’m fine now, so long as I don’t eat anything. I did better with some water earlier and so I think the worst of things may have passed. It was an extra-adventurous morning, though, all things considered.
Home, at last…I spent a little bit of time watering the yard and there was cat barf to deal with. We were both totally beat so now Kristy is zonked out in her room, and I am hanging with Hapuna in mine after a decent nap.
Yes…all the glamour and the glory of the life of a professional Taiko drummer!
OK…but we were talking last night, backstage, and Kristy brought up that it was great just to play…to watch everyone and be with everyone, too…but mostly that it’s just so great and we are so lucky because we get to do this…and she’s so right. It’s not fame and glory, and it sure as heck ain’t the money…it’s the drumming…the people and the drumming. That’s what keeps us going.
It hits home more now that my fingers aren’t 100% happily functional and I’m dealing with some other occasionally heartbreaking things; but when all is said and done…I’m so lucky.
Life is life. Work is work. There’s always something to bother about, but really…I get by ok and sometimes do fairly well, and I do get to do what I love with some pretty great folks.
Big thanks to Rome & Karen and the other members of OS, thanks also to Suzuyuki Kai Mo Gan Daiko and to SJT…and thanks especially to all the Sac Taiko Dan members for pulling it all together today…more thanks to the Pac Rim folks and audience are due, and I have an extra special thank you to Bonnie Smith…It was such a joy to see you last night!
Here I go rambling on again…and none to focused and centered. I was reading through the previous posted rant and thinking it was due for some serious editing, but I am not so motivated, having for the time being mostly let go of the initial ire that inspired it…and I’ve got 2 more rants on a holding pattern in the back of my head.
So much waa waa waa…
heh.