Like many things I've blogged about, (tennis, kayaking with Orca, pole dancing) singing in a band is something I tried for the first time after turning 40. I can't tell you how exciting and frightening some of my first performances with Mid Life Crisis were. I had no idea what I was doing, but being part of a classic rock band was such a huge thrill, I had to give it a try.
There's a video of me from those early days, passionately belting out "You're so Vain", completely off-key. As my friend Cheryl can attest, it was so brutally bad, watching it made me curl into the fetal position and moan. But despite the humiliation of that awful performance, I didn't quit. I took voice lessons, I practiced scales, I learned how to negotiate a mic and a monitor. Thankfully, the Mid Life Crisis guys didn't kick me out.
I'm doing a lot more writing than singing these days, but Friday night I had the chance to perform a couple songs with Wendy Morgan's fabulous band at the Music Institute's Nichols Hall in Evanston. I watched some video of me singing, and you know what? I'm okay with it!
In honor of how far I've come, here are a couple clips of me singing The Way I Am by Ingrid Michaelson and I Feel the Earth Move by Carole King. And I hope to God that older vid never shows up on the internet!
Thanks to these amazing musicians, who would make even Rosanne Barr sound good: Dean Rolando (piano), Jim Cox (bass), and Bob Rummage (drums). Special guest Eric Schneider on sax.
