!(*)! Touring with Blackmore's Night !(*)! Day 2 Northampton, MA
Thank goodness I had switched hotels! I felt so much safer and well rested at the new place I had chosen, which was close by and only cost a little more, which surprised me. Seems hotel prices are way less predictable since the pandemic. Everything is hiked up.
When I say well rested, I mean that I finally fell asleep by about 1am or so. :) Around 9:30 as I was about to tuck in I heard a rumor that I might need to know a couple more song harmonies. And both songs were pretty involved. So I did my homework until I had to acknowledge that my mind was literally revolting and demanding sleep.
In the morning I happily made my way downstairs just after the free stuff was gone. It was another amazing fall day, and I was so happy to be in Northampton! What a gorgeous town. The shops are filled to the brim with handmade, unique items, and I was admiring the restaurants that I could go to if I had the chance to stay longer and wishing that my daughter was with me to enjoy the experience.
I found a very fancy coffee shop and bravely entered. I am not a fancy coffee shop person, but my coffee pot in my hotel room didn't work. I also tend to romanticize coffee in an extra ridiculous way, since most of the time I can't even have real coffee. It's a little experience, a moment out of my day where I get to just sit and sip. Wherever I may be. So, I guess a coffee break is so much more than a drink. It's a metaphor for GET THE HELL OUTA MY FACE, THIS IS MY TIME, AMEN! :)
Everyone was really nice. I wound up with an "Americana", decaf with cream. It was really strong, but I loved the experience. Next I found a little market for some breakfast. "Be With You" by Mr. Big was playing and a girl behind the counter was singing along full voice, joking with her coworkers. I wanted to chime in with her so much, lol! Wherever I go when I hear people singing, I want to join them but I'm afraid people will think I'm crazy. I have this idea that a bunch of singers will get together and just start singing in the bread isle at Stop n Shop just to spice up everyone's day. A girl can dream! (This is coming from a person who wears yellow, heart shaped glasses in the car daily.) But sound check was coming up quickly so I headed back to my room to "rehearse for rehearsal" and get cleaned up and organized for the show.
The parking lot behind the theater was tiny and full of crew members I was meeting for the first time, since most of them had Covid at the PA shows in May. I can still see the back steps to the Academy of Music, feel the sunshine and fall atmosphere. Best time of year! And when I walked into the backstage wings, the atmosphere, the smell, the sound, the people ... Yes! I love just being in theaters sooo much! And there was a whole night of musical mayhem ahead to look forward to. But I was still nervous about my performance. I've learned about 25 songs so far, and we haven't actually played them all, so every show is a challenge. But the sound check went well, and I felt great about it. I enjoyed hanging out with the band, doing a quick Main Street exploration with Claire, and having some dressing room hang time with Ritchie and Candy. I was playing one of Ritchie's guitars as we talked. Man, it felt so nice- perfect action, so easy to play and such a beautiful tone. How does he do it?! He should teach a Master Class.
The opening band is The Wizard's Consort, and I can't tell you how much I enjoy listening to these guys, both at sound check and during their performance. Dressed like something out of Harry Potter movie, they do a powerful blend of their own Renaissance inspired instrumental music, sprinkled with minstrel versions of iconic rock songs. It's a lot of fun, and I always enjoy how intense they are about it.
This was probably my favorite show that I've done so far. It was my third at the time, but now it is my 6th and I have to say I enjoyed it so much because it was a nice blend vocally. There are so many factors at play when it comes to a vocal monitor blend. The room may sound one way at sound check, then when it fills up it changes. So I was able to especially enjoy singing with Candice. We did an unexpected version of Shadow of the Moon into Rhiannon that was a lot of fun. I also made some mental notes on songs that I thought I could work on some details for more, now that I had done 3 shows.
Here's a crazy story. A dear old friend of mine had decided to come to the show, but since I am so busy and not checking my social media messages when I'm traveling and performing, I had no idea. He actually sent a very sweet gift backstage to me. But the person that delivered it didn't know who it was from, and I didn't find any card or letter in the bag. I thought it was from another friend who I had been texting. Long story short, my sweet friend went home thinking I had ignored him. I felt terrible once I realized that he had been trying to message me. We did reconnect though, and it was wonderful to see him. Show days are super busy, and all consuming.
After the show I enjoyed more of my Noodles, lol. I packed up so that I could sleep well and be ready to drive to NYC the next day. I had only driven once before in the city, and I was nearly crushed by a bus. So, I needed all the rest I could get. To be continued....
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