Dandy Andy and the Competitive Singers

Friday was a magical day. I was the opening act for an annual singing competition hosted by Freshest Roots. I met Tony and Edward, the guys who run FR, a little over a year ago and I have been paying shows with them ever since. SO, they invited me to come back and open for the show and the closing act would be a singer/songwriter from San Fransisco. I was excited for the show but it was a shorter set than I was used to, the rest of the night would be kids competing for the title, and I thought that it would be a great night, but hardly life changing. I turned out to be sooo wrong.

First! My lovely friends came to show support, which was totally awesome. So Stacey, Bertha, Taylor, Dillon, Noelle, and my sister were there. I had so much fun walking around before making fun of Bertha for breaking her leg mud wrestling, and eating totally tasty sandwiches.

So I was up first to perform, Tony and Edward gave me 10 mins notice so that I could warm up. They went on stage and said their peace while I headed to a back room to grab my guitar, check the tuning and try to prepare a bit. I entered the room to find Andy Allo sitting on a chair talking to two women. She was the closing act from CA, and I hadn’t met her, talked to her or anything. I had seen her sound check but she left after that. SO she was just sitting there, all gorgeous and relaxed like, Hey I’m awesome, but it’s cool. I still needed to warm up but they told me to have a sit, so I did.
I ran through my chord progressions and chatted away.

On a side note, I don’t think it is fair for someone to exist that is beautiful, charming, funny, down to earth, be on TV, modeling , and musically gifted. It’s disgusting and Andy Allo should not be able to exist. I mean really. She makes normal people look bad! Especially normal people like me!

So we talked in the backroom for awhile until I had to go on stage. For once, I wasn’t nervous. I was when I showed up in the place but stepping onto that stage it faded away. The bright lights, and double mic for me and my guitar, even the strangers all seemed so natural. Like I was finally in the place I belonged in. It’s that feeling that stops me from ever doubting myself. From ever stepping down or thinking about a different path, a different career. Being on stage doesn’t define who I am, but it is who I love to be. Music really is my life.

All of this was going through my head while I was playing through my set. I got lost in each song, and by the end of “Rolling in the Deep” I had forgotten there were even other people in the room. I went back to put my guitar away leaving the multi-colored flowers that my friends gave me on my chair near the front row. When I got to the room Andy was waiting. Her eyes lit up as she talked about my set, told me I rocked, and invited me to her studio in L.A. L.A. YOU GUYS!!! I couldn’t believe it. I still can’t believe it!

Soooooo best night of my life. After Andy’s reaction to my work, Tony and Edward hopped on that band wagon quick. I will be working on a track with Tony any day now. It’s going to be so much fun!
I've got a show coming up in Santa Cruz this weekend. Will let you know how it goes another day.
H