On a side note, I need to add this because it's just the way things happen sometimes when you perform. We were at the Verizon Theater, in Houston. During my opening set, I felt like I was in the zone. Performing for crowds that large and adjusting technical things on my end took some doing. So, by show three, I was more comfortable. For example, I needed to set my monitors where it pulled my skin off my face as the sound changed that much from sound check to show time. Once that many people pack into a place the sonic dynamics change considerably. In spite of this though, I was having a hard time hearing my harmonica. If I got too close to the mic, it squealed. If I got to far back, it did not pick up. Anyway, as I said, I was in the "zone" feeling good about the show. At ease. Someone from the audience shouted out "It's a Given," Terri play it!" I chuckled to myself and answered, "I told you to wait in the truck." The audience erupted in laughter. I was feeling all cocky then. I grinned. Self assured, we readied ourselves for the closing of our set. I threw on my harp, and we launched into Woody Guthrie's "Pastures of Plenty." I hit the harp driven solo with guns blazin'. I looked out in the audience and saw that the entire front row had their heads cocked sideways. I looked to my left and saw that Lloyd was giving me "the look" as only he can give me. My heart raced. I knew that SOMETHING was wrong. I just did not know what. The song continued. We neared the end. Here it came again. Harmonica solo. I was off, ripping through it, I was gonna shred it that time. I opened one eye and saw that one lady on the front row was actually covering her ears. I glanced to my left and saw that Lloyd was accompanying me but with a concerned look on his face. SOMETHING was wrong but I just did not know what. I could not totally hear the harmonica through my monitors, but what little I heard, I knew it was ... off. After the song, I looked down and saw my A minor harmonica glistening on my tray attached to my mic stand. I looked inside my holder. Although I carefully mark my harps to avoid accidents, somehow I had used the wrong harmonica on that song! I had played it with my damn D harp. And I had played cross harp as well! For those of you that don't play harmonica, let's just say that's like playing football with a hockey puck. Normally, this would have kept me in tears for a couple of days. For sure, it made me mess up on my next song too as I was pretty mortified, but I still made it through my set. I did not do as good as I wished I had, but it's not for lack of trying. I did my best, and well ... I goofed. I fumbled. In front of several thousand people. And it's okay. Like I said I'd rather be out there on the field of life taking hits and making touchdowns than bitching about the game (or covering my ears) in the bleachers.
Happy Trails,
Terri
