Is It Safe Yet?
Yup .... it's safe to say, I'm having a GREAT time playing with Todd, Jesse, Prairie and Rachel.
I returned home from the summer Meat Loaf UK / Euro Tour and I was cooked. Spent. Done and dusted. All I wanted to do was sit, relax and read a book. I managed to get a few days of that in and was called to do a 'one off' gig with the guys from Billy Joels' band backing a really great young female singer named Gabriell Ross. Tommy Byrns, Mark Rivera, Chuck Bergie (ML Alumni)... what a great bunch of musicians.
So, it was off to rehearsals for that for 3 days, then one show in Long Island at some froo-froo Country Club.
That's how I ended August.
I knew that sooner or later I was going to have to start learning 13 new Todd Rundgren songs.
If I was playing Bass, it wouldn't have been half as bad (hard) as the fact that I was learning them on two instruments I'm not as comfortable or adept at playing. Guitar and Keyboards.
I have a system I use to learn new music..... I usually listen to the song once or twice then set about trying to pick out the chords by ear.
I was sent a link to the new material on the Internet and I listened to a song and thought .....
"What did I get myself into? There is NO WAY I can learn all this stuff PLUS the old material I had played Bass on for 30+ years on new instruments!" I might have bitten off more than I could tastefully chew.... and there wasn't a dog around to pass the grizzle to under the table.
The worst thing I could have done was show up unprepared and this was some SERIOUS homework I was going to have to do. I like my head attached to my shoulders and if I didn't come to the first show knowing everything cold, Todd was going to remove the part of me that smiles and serve it up on a platter.
So once again, solo material to the side, I spent the next three weeks ensconced in my dungeon knee deep in chord charts.
As the days past, I rose to the challenge and by the last few days felt I did the best I could without actually ever playing the songs with the band.
Off to Seattle for the first show and I'll admit to being as nervous at that show as I've ever been prior to setting foot on stage. Whether it showed or not isn't important ... what is important to me is that I had more fun than I'd expected I might have.
I was hesitant to write about the experience before now if only because I wanted to get a few shows under my belt before I opened my mouth about how great it is to be back on stage with TR and the boy's - and gurl - for fear of horribly screwing up some crucial part in a song or tripping on a guitar cable, falling and breaking my fifth metatarsal foot bone and having Todd say "dummy".
However possible those things and more may or may not happen ... I'm grateful to be doing what I'm doing right now. Couldn't be better.
From what I'm told, it sounds good and people seem to be happy I'm back.
I know I am.
I returned home from the summer Meat Loaf UK / Euro Tour and I was cooked. Spent. Done and dusted. All I wanted to do was sit, relax and read a book. I managed to get a few days of that in and was called to do a 'one off' gig with the guys from Billy Joels' band backing a really great young female singer named Gabriell Ross. Tommy Byrns, Mark Rivera, Chuck Bergie (ML Alumni)... what a great bunch of musicians.
So, it was off to rehearsals for that for 3 days, then one show in Long Island at some froo-froo Country Club.
That's how I ended August.
I knew that sooner or later I was going to have to start learning 13 new Todd Rundgren songs.
If I was playing Bass, it wouldn't have been half as bad (hard) as the fact that I was learning them on two instruments I'm not as comfortable or adept at playing. Guitar and Keyboards.
I have a system I use to learn new music..... I usually listen to the song once or twice then set about trying to pick out the chords by ear.
I was sent a link to the new material on the Internet and I listened to a song and thought .....
"What did I get myself into? There is NO WAY I can learn all this stuff PLUS the old material I had played Bass on for 30+ years on new instruments!" I might have bitten off more than I could tastefully chew.... and there wasn't a dog around to pass the grizzle to under the table.
The worst thing I could have done was show up unprepared and this was some SERIOUS homework I was going to have to do. I like my head attached to my shoulders and if I didn't come to the first show knowing everything cold, Todd was going to remove the part of me that smiles and serve it up on a platter.
So once again, solo material to the side, I spent the next three weeks ensconced in my dungeon knee deep in chord charts.
As the days past, I rose to the challenge and by the last few days felt I did the best I could without actually ever playing the songs with the band.
Off to Seattle for the first show and I'll admit to being as nervous at that show as I've ever been prior to setting foot on stage. Whether it showed or not isn't important ... what is important to me is that I had more fun than I'd expected I might have.
I was hesitant to write about the experience before now if only because I wanted to get a few shows under my belt before I opened my mouth about how great it is to be back on stage with TR and the boy's - and gurl - for fear of horribly screwing up some crucial part in a song or tripping on a guitar cable, falling and breaking my fifth metatarsal foot bone and having Todd say "dummy".
However possible those things and more may or may not happen ... I'm grateful to be doing what I'm doing right now. Couldn't be better.
From what I'm told, it sounds good and people seem to be happy I'm back.
I know I am.
posted by Kasim Sulton at 12:41 AM
12 Comments:
You were very much missed as Todd and the band blasted through the summer. Put yout nerves aside and give us that gorgeous smile. You're back!
Cant wait!!!
Everything sounds like it is going great!
I do miss the KSulton Bass though.
Kasim;
I've been a big fan of both you and Todd fer a loooong time - and I think your bass playing is awesome! I myself play bass, guitar and keys - so I know what you are talking about. Thankfully at this point in my life I am more or less competant on all three - I currently play bass in a Salvation Army praise band and most times I have to wing it by ear as the song is performed - no mean feat, I sweat bullets fearing they'll pop some weird key change on me, so I have to listen hard and try to forsee just where the song is going without pulling some gaffe.
But I must be doing well, no one has thrown any tomatoes at me yet!
I can't imagine how it is trying to learn Todds new material in such a short timeframe - he is a great songwriter and does some off the wall stuff at times....But if anyone can do it, you can!
If you ever need a musician, let me know - I would be more than honored to back you up.
May God bless you and yours...
Your friend in music,
Troy Axtens
www.myspace.com/troyaxtens
Kasim - you are doing superbly (and don't make fun of my spelling!). I was at Chicago and Madison the whole band sounds great. Your vocals are beautiful and sometimes a bit lower range than we are all used to! Doing great on keys and guitar and showing your mastery of musicianship! You always rise to the challenge - it's all good.
I don't play bass or keys but I can do the robot like nobody's business and your music had us all crazy dancing in unison at the Madison show.
Thank you for coming back and being a perfect yin--or yang.
Deeply enjoyable.
I had the pleasure of seeing you guys in Morrsitown last night. I was the goofball in the second row who couldn't wipe the smile off her face. Last night was amazing! As one of the 40 somethings that hung out backstage with you guys in the 80's it was an absolute pleasure to see you and Todd together again. Just One Victory brought me to tears. Thank you so much for everything. Don't ever doubt yourself, you're fabulous!!
I just look a listen to a new video on YouTube from the outdoor show in CA--it's JOV and it makes it for me to hear your voice in that song, as it should be...enjoyed your keyboard playing too, though it was hard to find you so far off to the side!
Anyway, thrilled you've joined Todd for this tour. We'll be back for our second "Arena" show at Bearsville in December. Looking forward to it!
In the meantime, have safe travels and a great time.
Kasim, I was at that Seattle show and you were SUBLIME. It felt like everyone was perfectly in the same groove throughout, and you belied no nervousness or discomfort at all. It was an honor to see you play with TR again! Congratulations, it was a job incredibly well done and I hope you continue to feel good about the new songs and ENJOY yourself!
PS: Seriously, it was a complete joy and everyone loved the line-up, you're all world-class musicians and it blew us all away. Everyone I spoke to was thrilled that *YOU* were there, because that made the show utterly perfect. No disrespect to your predecessor, who I saw at the July show in Seattle, but having you there just added... something vital and important. Which means your playing must have been just fine :)
Hi Kasim,you dont seem to stop working,some friends saw you in Manchester with Todd and said show was awesome,im hoping to go to the London show((Health permitting))really looking forward to it..
take care
Barb
Kasim,just got back from Memphis concert and both my sis and I loved your vocals and playing (she the georgeous blonde)I was a sound tech. in boulder in the 70's when Utopia played there and took sis to the love bomb tour (Tubes & Todd) Your Gibson is beautiful and wish you sang more lead but we loved it!! Thanks for all the picks too.. She now knows where her right is (hand) have some really good pictures of you from the concert too!! Lynn Ravenprpl@aol.com
I stand corrected youe Grestch is beautiful looking and sounding!!
Post a Comment
<< Home