Chaos in Alpharetta (pt.2)
Get up, grab breakfast (the cinnamon rolls are EXCELLENT), practice, and then Randall Coleman swings by to pick me up. It's the first time I've seen him since we were both down at Georgia Southern University, and we have a great time getting caught up on things. I meet another of the band directors, Dennis Naughton, and soon after, it's time to get set up for rehearsal.
Daniel, the first clarinetist, is cool enough to lug his personal 4x12 cabinet and amp head to school so I can play through it. The only problem is that Daniel is a bass guitar player, so this is a bass rig. We manage to tweak it so that it sounds acceptable for rehearsal, but we all agree that we're gonna have to find something different for the concert.
The rehearsal is great -- the band is well-rehearsed and they are playing aggressively, which is exactly what this piece needs. And right from the dwonbeat, the percussion section is really tight -- Justin, who's playing alot of the hi-hat and tom fills, is really driving the beat, and combined with this ensemble's big sound, it feels great to play with this band.
Randall and I duck out with a local director (and GSU alum) named Lindy, then I go back to the hotel to chill for a while. I change my strings, practice for an hour, call Nic, call Steve, call Newman, turn on the TV -- BIG MISTAKE. ESPN2 has the World Series of Poker on, and I'm glued to the tube until dinner-time.
Randall and his wife Anne come by to pick me up and we head to an Italian restaurant called Ippalito's (note to Zagats: give this place a A+). Lindy and his wife Kim join us, and so does Rhianna. We sit down to eat and this is when I come to realize that Lindy has missed his true calling -- this guy should be doing standup comedy. He is hysterically funny and we are all laughing the entire time we're at the restaurant. We finish up with a HUGE slice of Coconut Cream Pie (the best I've ever had), and Black and White cake (TO DIE FOR), then pick up our doggie bags and sloooooooowly move towards the door.
Randall, Anne and I pile back into Randall's truck, and I ask to stop at a drug-store for a few quick things I'd forgotten. 10 minutes, in, out, and I'm back. I open the door to the truck and I'm immediately assaulted by this stench -- it smells like low tide at fisherman's wharf. It turns out that my styrofoam container of Seafood Marinara has stunk up the WHOLE car, and I've left poor Randall and Anne cooped up with it this whole time! They are exceedingly gracious about it, but they've got to be wishing I'd ordered something less... pungent!
Daniel, the first clarinetist, is cool enough to lug his personal 4x12 cabinet and amp head to school so I can play through it. The only problem is that Daniel is a bass guitar player, so this is a bass rig. We manage to tweak it so that it sounds acceptable for rehearsal, but we all agree that we're gonna have to find something different for the concert.
The rehearsal is great -- the band is well-rehearsed and they are playing aggressively, which is exactly what this piece needs. And right from the dwonbeat, the percussion section is really tight -- Justin, who's playing alot of the hi-hat and tom fills, is really driving the beat, and combined with this ensemble's big sound, it feels great to play with this band.
Randall and I duck out with a local director (and GSU alum) named Lindy, then I go back to the hotel to chill for a while. I change my strings, practice for an hour, call Nic, call Steve, call Newman, turn on the TV -- BIG MISTAKE. ESPN2 has the World Series of Poker on, and I'm glued to the tube until dinner-time.
Randall and his wife Anne come by to pick me up and we head to an Italian restaurant called Ippalito's (note to Zagats: give this place a A+). Lindy and his wife Kim join us, and so does Rhianna. We sit down to eat and this is when I come to realize that Lindy has missed his true calling -- this guy should be doing standup comedy. He is hysterically funny and we are all laughing the entire time we're at the restaurant. We finish up with a HUGE slice of Coconut Cream Pie (the best I've ever had), and Black and White cake (TO DIE FOR), then pick up our doggie bags and sloooooooowly move towards the door.
Randall, Anne and I pile back into Randall's truck, and I ask to stop at a drug-store for a few quick things I'd forgotten. 10 minutes, in, out, and I'm back. I open the door to the truck and I'm immediately assaulted by this stench -- it smells like low tide at fisherman's wharf. It turns out that my styrofoam container of Seafood Marinara has stunk up the WHOLE car, and I've left poor Randall and Anne cooped up with it this whole time! They are exceedingly gracious about it, but they've got to be wishing I'd ordered something less... pungent!
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