You a gittar player ain’t cha?
It was a night in 1988 or so and I was on the Bike Across Kansas. Referred to as B.A.K. by us alumni. 7 days to ride from Colorado to Missouri. One of the coolest things you could do. Honestly. I haven’t worn a watch since that first ride. Time has no meaning. You exist in a very small world that stretches a few feet beyond your front tire. Upon finishing one year someone asked me, “Wow, so whattaya think about this whole O.J. thing?”
“Hmmm?” I replied.
That’s how removed you can be from the information age. Something about the freedom of just getting to the next town, that’s your only concern. Your daily agenda consists of that one item. Looking back I assume this is where I got the travel bug.
Anyway, It was warm summer night in June and we were walking around one of our nightly stops. Goodland maybe. Concordia. I don’t remember for sure. A friend and I where strolling the city as we usually did most nights. Fun to take in as much of a community as you can in a few hours before you roll on. As we were walking back to the gymnasium where we had ‘set up camp,’ we noticed a small crowd gathered around two guys. One singing and playing guitar, the other with a harmonica. I was immediately intrigued.
I had played drums for as long as I can remember, and thanks to my very understanding and supportive parents, I had played them daily from infancy it seemed. I had developed a deep love of music and styles and actually consumed it rather than just listened. From blues to folk to metal, I took it all in. A steady diet of Simon and Garfunkle, Motown, Joni Mitchell, The Grassroots, The Beach Boys…to Pearl Jam, Vigilanties of Love, Toad the Wet Sprocket, Indigo Girls, the Bee Gees… it all passed through the stereo on a pretty regular basis. As I started playing in numerous bands, generally my house was considered the perfect rehearsal spot.
“Dude, you have a basement?! No Way!! Sweet!” So the music never stopped even when my parents probably wanted it to.
We stopped and listened as Dylan’s epic “Tangled Up in Blue” rolled into the night air. Even then I remember thinking, ‘wow, how many verses does this song have?!?’ Unbeknownst to my adolescent self this was my first encounter with, who would later become a friend and musical mentor, the singer/songwriter force Don Chaffer. They played well into the night. As Don and I got to know each other throughout the week I knew every stinking penny I had would go toward my own guitar when I got home. I had always had a desire for writing songs and creating my own musical adventures. That same summer I purchased an Alvarez dreadnought and played until I jus’ cudn’ play no mow.
Don and I continued to meet and would swap songs and jam together every night for several BAK’s in the years to come and watched each other grow as writers and musicians. (See photo) This was the beginning of forming my influences and growing into the singer/songwriter community. Don’s acoustic, folky, jangly vibe was a huge part of that. Thanks to his dear mom Betty for sending all his early cassettes to me through the mail. I remember when I got the rough mixes back from “The Folks” and sent him a copy. I was sooo excited. We talked on the tele often and played some shows together. I went to Kansas City several times and played at the legendary “New Earth” and he trekked out to Dodge City Kansas for the recording sessions of “Renaissance Recital” and played the album release show at the infamous “Old House Saloon.” Which from there lead to him producing Slightly Certain and Linger In Bloom. But that night of the ‘Renaissance’ album release was a rollicking good time. Rehearsed all night and did some radio interviews the next morning nearly half baked…from lack of sleep I mean… then we hung out a bit and went back to sound check and played the show to a packed house. We had a blast. Plenty of things were cemented in those moments and have been intrinsically formed into my musical path.
I had a lot of great friends involved those early years and am eternally grateful to all of them for helping guide, grow and challenge me. All the internet servers in Al Gore’s house could not contain the fond memories I have, but they are cherished and I can only hope that you hear their influences in the songs.
-jared
p.s. Hello to Dick Anderson (the worlds greatest harmonica player) wherever you are.
pp.s. I’m not sure about the reason for the toilet paper in the photo. But certainly points for convenience.
ppss. To preserve the authenticity of the photograph the ‘socks worn under the Tevas’ look was unfortunately not Photoshopped out.
