day eighty-seven -acceleration due to idiocy - part 3
Weeks and months went past. I hibernated with gigs. All my confidence had gone. I was afraid to teach. I needed breaks frequently and began scouring the net for lighter and lighter instruments.
While my eye and mouth had healed, knees mostly recovered save scarring and bursitis, and my ribs began to mend, the most worrying was my finger. I was paranoid and scared. It was in a splint for the longest time, and I was terrified that I’d make any damage worse.
When I did start to try it out, it was still incredibly painful to use. My brain wasn’t liking being retrained to play without using the third, so I’d often use it by accident. It felt like hitting the idiot button - one that says, ‘don’t press me - you’ll only get hurt’, but being too stupid and curious not to, only to try the same thing shortly after, hoping for a different result.
I needed something to focus my mind on. Something that would allow me to be musical, but not use my 3rd finger. Strangely, it came in the form of Annie. Several years ago, I’d committed to playing in the orchestra pit for whichever musical one of my best mates, the ever talented Luke Godfrey, would be directing. I like playing bass in the pit, but electric bass wouldn’t be possible. Instead, I started looking into double bass. Amazingly, it was the life line I so sorely needed, as good technique doesn’t use the third finger (until you’re in thumb position, but I didn’t need to play that high). Before long, I’d found an electric upright bass and was teaching myself how to play it.
This not only provided me with a distraction, but also gave me some of the confidence that the injury had taken from me. It was many months later before I gigged on electric, or even jammed with anyone, but eventually I did. and now, I can get through a three hour gig again.
L to R: Me, Roger Bensley, Jason Kendall & Jared Buckley - Highway 31 Blues Club - 1st gig back
To this day, my finger has a ridge of calcification that I feel every time I press down on a string, more often than not, causing pain. I carry scars on my knees and eyebrow, a bump inside my lip, back pain, and a sinking feeling every time I go through that gate. But somewhere in there, I also have the knowledge that even with all that, I healed to the point where I could do most all the things I did before, as well as some new ones.
So the 24th of this month was not only due to be the anniversary of the accident, but also my first tattoo (sorry Mum). A subtle reminder of strength that carried several meanings and messages; a choice made to carry on, but considering what’s going on at the moment, social distancing would be hard to do in that situation, and I don’t think I’d trust someone coming at me with a 150cm needle!
Kilt of the Day - Macleod Sport kilt
Instructional videos of the day - Ray Brown - Double Bass Masterclass
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SmoIvdWJpdQ
Ray Brown Presents: The Art Of Playing The Bass - Featuring John Clayton
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=75hWln1POxY
Regrettable Soundtrack of the day - Hard Knock Life - Annie - Broadway cast
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WWvvj9_KyDY
Amazing Soundtrack of the day (sorry Ray) - Ray Brown plays Dean Town by Vulfpeck
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y33h_QDfwtk
Childhood favourite Album of the Day - Oscar Peterson plays the Cole Porter Songbook - Oscar Peterson Trio - Oscar Peterson, Ray Brown, Ed Thigpen
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dw1X2biItqs&list=PLvxWibFr0wiJ_2VeMTzBwEatD3hwk4teq
