Slice of Life: Shifting Musical Spaces

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(This is part of the Slice of Life Challenge with Two Writing Teachers. We write about small moments each and every day for March. You come, too. Write with us.)

For almost 17 years, every Tuesday night, I have driven over to my friend’s house on the other side of our city, walked up three flights of stairs to a converted attic space full of guitar amps, drum sets, and microphone stands, and played music. Through three different bands — the current one being Duke Rushmore, but before that it was the Sofa Kings and Big Daddy Kiljoy, along with assorted smaller configurations like The Millenium Bugs — that space has been my home-away-from-home for making music.

Alas, no more.

My friend, the rhythm guitarist and fellow songwriter, finally sold his house, as part of his larger financial plans for retirement, and the attic space where so many songs were written, arranged, played, abandoned, rediscovered, revamped and more is now empty of everything but the memories. We’ve now moved over to the basement of our bass player’s house, another town over. It’s great that we have a new space but I’m going to miss that attic.

This is a panoramic picture of the last night of practice:
John's Attic SpaceAnd this is a poem I wrote for my friend, who was so generous with his house for so many years. I framed it for him as a present.
UpontheThirdFloorElizabethStreet

Peace (in the muse),
Kevin

 

6 Comments
  1. The end of an era! I’m sad for you. I agree with Anita: change can be invigorating. For sure. But I’m glad you honored your feelings of sadness and disappointment and marked this ending of an era with a wonderful poem.

    And it is about the music and the people…so may those two things live on in another cool locale. Best of luck!

  2. Kevin,
    This is so lovely. Your way with poetry is stunning. Your music must be the same. How lucky to have had 17 years together in that space. ‘If Walls Could Talkโ€ฆ”

    The poem for your friend as a gift I’m sure will be treasured.

  3. My brother had a band that practiced in our basement for years. Blue Crystal. ๐Ÿ™‚ This is the second time this week that I’ve been reminded of the bond and the feelings that come with musicians and their music.

    Your poetry is amazing, what a great way to capture your time in the attic.

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