80 and Irony

I left Brantlee at home and went to a concert.  Who would have ever thought???    Anyone who is my friend knows that music is a huge part of the Lawrence life.  We crank it up every morning.  It is the best way to start our day.  It drowns out the whining and puts most of our family in good moods. 

I did not grow up listening to music 24/7.  Amy and I both had our own "boom boxes" and fair share of Madona, Michael Jackson and Tiffany music.   We listened in our rooms, but never as a family event.  When I think of music and my childhood, I think mostly of being in the boat at Lake Talquin or taking a river trip listening to Ronnie Milsap, Kenny Rogers and Dolly.   We also had good times listening to tunes in daddy's truck on the way to the farm or to get a slushy.

I would see bands in college but only because they were at the establishments we frequented.  I didn't follow any particular group.  It wasn't until I was pregnant with Lawson and Logan that music became an everyday occurrence.  I was on bed rest and when Brantlee was not working he was home taking care of me.  Out of sheer boredom he picked up the guitar.  He would teach himself how to play every night and I was a stuck and captive audience.   Twelve years later, some of our best times revolve around music.

One of Brantlee's friends sent him some (out of the main stream) music.  It was my first experience with groups that were not on the radio.    Brantlee became a big fan.  He drug me to a few shows. The first group I saw was Rollin in the Hay.   The only reason I agreed to go was because he arranged for a babysitter for the weekend and it was time away.  Sleeping in was my main event for the weekend, not the show. We saw Hay once at the Supper Club in Auburn and the other time at Salty Dogs at the beach.  I admit, I had a huge misconception of the types of people who listened to this music.  I was pretty sure you had to be a groupie, covered in tattoos and smoke a lot of pot to do anything like the above.  Turn out, you don't!

After Rollin in the Hay we added Robert Earl Keen, The Gourds, Reckless Kelly, Randy Rogers, Ryan Bingham, Chris Knight and Cross Canadian Ragweed to our list of favorites.   We have made some of the best memories seeing these groups when they come East.  Unfortunately, most of them are Texas Country and only head our way a few times a year.   By our way, I don't mean Albany.  It is usually Atlanta, Tallahassee, Auburn or Grenville.  

Luckily we have found friends in Albany who like the same groups we do.  When we can't see them live, the next best thing is a jam session on the back porch with Brantlee playing their songs on his guitar and my "groupie" friends singing along. 

Brantlee and I both turn 40 in 2013.  Our birthday gift to each other is a trip to Austin, TX!    

The Irony of it all...Brantlee got me started on this music and I left him at home with the kids Wednesday night to head to Auburn (with his blessing...somebody has to earn a paycheck and he had an 8:00 am meeting) to see Reckless Kelly at Bourbon Street Bar.  80 is how I felt after getting home at 4:00 am!