Ask Doktor Dave

January 2008

Kane6505 asks: What has been the most rewarding gig/experience of your musical career? (Meeting me that first Wed. night doesn’t count!) I realize this may be a tough question, but inquiring minds want to know.

Too bad the questioner won’t let me claim the serendipity of our meeting and becoming good friends…that has proven to be VERY rewarding!

So yeah…this IS a tough question. I don’t know that I’d call it a career really, but I’ve been so very lucky these past few years. I’ve found an over-whelming amount of great music right here in my own backyard of San Diego. I’ve met so many great musicians, songwriters, and just great people.

I feel very fortunate to have been accepted into the fold and been asked to play for many highly talented people, sometimes just sitting in a time or two, sometimes recording, sometimes being part of a band and/or a “project”.

My most rewarding experience has to be prefaced (for context) by my second and third most rewarding experiences. We’ll countdown like real writers do…

Third Place: Believe it or not…playing the Belly Up Tavern with The Kyle Phelan Band. I felt like I made the big time! It was a great night of music, regardless if I were playing. But thankfully, I did get to play! The band was ON and Kyle was in fine voice. All his fans were out (that were old enough to get in…). The sound was just awesome…we were feelin’ it to the point that Kyle unexpectedly changed plans during a song and had the band, except for me, chill out and get real low. Then he beckoned me to center stage with him to do what I do. Talk about a “rockstar moment”! And this is only my THIRD most rewarding experience…

Second Place: AGAIN with The Kyle Phelan Band…this time playing KPRI’s Concerts On The Square / NBC 7/39’s Morning Show for the second time (first time with a full band). Picture ol’ Dave directly behind former Charger, Jim Laslavic, as he winds up the TV show…all cameras are on him. He finishes and exits to my left. The cameras are on me as I start Bright Lights to close the show. Immediately to my right, are four, count ‘em, FOUR Charger Cheerleaders dancing with the band…oh MY! Kyle was 18 at the time and not having a bad time at all! [GRIN]

Second And A Half Place: PSYC! The night AFTER Kyle and I played as a duo on The House Of Blues main stage…the whole band played Twiggs. A small room for a 6 piece band, we needed a shoehorn to pack us all on the stage. When we started, there were just two rows of people (Kyle’s devoted fans…all beautiful girls for some reason), about a third of capacity. About middle of the second song, I looked up to see the room was now SRO, with people out the door.

This was one night when the band was perfect. Everything just fell into place. It was exquisite for us as well as the audience. To finish the set, Jason (Strain, the sax player) and I were trading licks back and forth…Kyle was loving the vibe and decided to let us go. While we were still jamming, Kyle introduced the band, said goodnight to the crowd and left the stage. One by one, the rest of the band left too. It was just Jason and I. At some point, Jason and I hit the same note and held it. We held that note for at least 5 minutes, I swear!…Jason was beet red and ready to pass out! We ended it at the same time…and just like every wanna-be rocker kid’s fantasy, the crowd went wild. I LOVE that stuff!

Ok…FINALLY.

First Place: Larry Robinson and I…each playing acoustic guitars at The Packing House in Fallbrook (now history). We begin Larry’s own composition – Baja Moon. A song that has never been played the same way twice, and has been heard over a thousand times at The Packing House. There’s maybe a dozen people in the room, they all know us and have heard us play this song a multitude of times. But that “perfect” moment happens and Larry and I are playing as one.

Apparently, every nuance of the song…especially during the extended instrumental parts and dynamic changes…resonates with the listeners, as well as Larry and I. We both stepped down from the stage and walked into the audience, still playing, listening to ourselves through the PA and just getting closer to the audience. We finally walk back to the stage when it’s time to sing the last verse…the song has lasted well over 15 minutes by now.

As the instrumental part ends and Larry starts to sing, a few people applaud…as I look out into the audience, I see people crying. Tears streaming down the faces of about 4-5 people, including Don (the bartender). This simple 2 chord song, that these people have heard nearly twice a week for years, has touched them so deeply that they cannot hold back tears of joy. It’s a miracle should this happen to a performer just once in their career…but this happened on two occasions. How’s that for a First Place experience?

There have been many special moments for me, both playing and listening.  J. Turtle brought me to tears at a recent benefit show at Hot Java Café by singing his song – Comfort…it wasn’t the first time his music/performance has touched me so.

As much as I love the music and the wonderful performers I’ve come into contact with…there are a number of people that love it all as much as I do, and go out and listen every chance they get. They may not be musicians themselves, but they bring an energy with them that performers can feel. When there’s love in the audience, you can count on the best performance an artist can give.

Come to think of it, that’s really my number one best, most rewarding experience in my musical career…knowing there’s people like that in the audience.

That’s all for this time. Keep those questions and comments rolling in and go see live, local music at every opportunity…and if you see me out and about, say “hi!”.

May the new year bring you happiness, love and prosperity…and always be excellent to one another!

>Doktor Dave<