Ridin' The Storm Out
In which REO Speedwagon rules.
Up early, God knows why I’m up early but for some reason I am. Maybe two weeks of sleeping in (slightly past 7) had gotten old and I want to be up at 6:30 AM even if I lie there complaining. Then it’s up and the coffee is on and Lucky wants a walk and breakfast and before you know it we’re in the car on the way to the studio.
We’re ridin’ the storm out, the two of us, the cold AF winter wind and chill, soon to be snow on Friday, cruisin’ the freeway with all the other suckers heading a warm studio and a big pot of tea and a lot of work.
Studio stuff.
There’s a lot to get done- I’m rewiring the sound/light component for Apollo and the Oracles, getting a new (VERY LARGE) new inflatable called Athena ready to be manufactured (not by me, it’s time to let the pros work from my design), and also redesigning a new version of Apollo. No rest, no rest, I have to keep improving, adjusting, challenging myself, designing, redesigning, rebuilding, on and on.
I’ve lost track but think I’m entering year four of the Critterz and it’s time they started paying for themselves. So I’ve got to get them to a point of professionalism and marketability far beyond where they were when we started. Work smarter.
It’s a mess but it’s my mess. Love my new red toolbox!
So I find myself at the hardware box store at 6:48 on a Wednesday evening shopping for materials, or paying a vendor at 9:02pm, or dialing in sound issues at 7:18 am. Work harder.
Don’t misunderstand- this is FUN. It’s a challenge, all of it. It keeps me thinking all the time, and ocssaionally worrying. Some of the most fun is when I’ve got Apollo set up and we’re testing and I’m just talking with her. Just having a frank personal conversation with a large inflatable alien brought to life with artificial intelligence, that’s all. Work with joy.
Having a little chat with Apollo.
Outside the storm is whipping up cold air and nasty wind, Friday will bring snow, and we’ll be in the studio, ridin’ the storm out, brining Apollo and the Oracles one step closer to life. Work wiser.
On the speaker is REO Speedwagon, live from 1978. I saw that tour- they were a young, hungry, hard working bunch of boys rockin’ it hard. They blew the headliner away that night. As the ‘Ridin’ The Storm Out’ encore ramped up, Kevin Cronin lit a joint ONSTAGE (this was 1978 and that was MASSIVE), and rapped about the inspiration for the song. He talked about making music, following your dreams, working hard, having fun. He was so fucking cool with his long hair and his big joint, I had the biggest rock n’ roll crush ever. They became my 1970s guilty pleasure that night.
Inside Apollo.
What was apparent to me that night was how hard they worked, how much they loved what they did, and how that love and hard work translated into a lot of fun and an great career.
So tomorrow I’ll be up early, Ridin’ the Storm into work.
Keep Pushin’!
XXOO Dorne