8 Down & 2 To Go

Hard to believe that there are only TWO shows left in the Sloan River Project’s 2009 Summer Tour! We’re currently back in Chattanooga and just finished setting up and sound checking for the show tonight (5:00 btw). The band seems really happy, and everyone’s energy seems to be really high – even those of us who got on the road @ 5am today and drove across TN. Thanks again to Star Smith for encouraging the trip, driving to Tunica, putting us up for a couple hours of sleep, and otherwise being absolutely awesome. Also the band would like to give a shout out to Star’s very good friend Chris Parnell – we’re hoping for a guest appearance as the opening act next tour, or at least a pre-recorded intro and an autograph.

When I stop to think about it, I have a hard time believing we’ve only been seven days on road – but I can’t decide if it feels longer or shorter. Last Monday feels really far away but the tour as a whole seemed to go by incredibly quick. Sitting in tonight with the band is guest bassist Allen Shikoh – a good friend of Mr. Hopkins. Allen mentioned to the band that he’s been playing a lot of jazz of late and is really looking forward to playing something different tonight.

So Josh just had to change his shirt (it’s crazy hot outside again) I just noticed that he has an interesting black ink tattoo on his chest…I'm curious what it means, so I'm going to ask.

Me: Josh what does the tattoo mean?

Josh: Well, they’re Chinese characters, and it translates to “impermanent”. It’s my reminder that even things that we think last forever really don’t.”

That’s pretty profound for a tattoo I think, and it’s a very relative sentiment for this tour. Somehow I think we all thought it was going to last forever, even as we talked about our post-tour plans and going back to our regular lives. Everyone has really been living into the moment – every day has been a new adventure in one-way or another. There have been new venues, new dynamics and new challenges and those things have kept us from really appreciating how brief this little experiment has been, and how quickly it will be over.

But all good things must come to an end, and this is no exception. The last two shows will be amazing (I’m particularly looking forward to tonight), then we’ll have a final band meal in Greensboro (Hibachi) and be on our way. Tonight though, after the show is over, and everyone has gone home, there is only one thing the members of the SRP want to do – GO BOWLING!!!

 

Until tomorrow…