This one is on us...

Jamie and I were sitting at the bar enjoying our time off together when I heard "Hey, can I buy you a drink?" I turned to see a petite girl standing there. 

Another great night of playing music was in the books. We played the Santa Monica pier overlooking the beach, waves and Malibu. We had finished our set and were done loading out our gear. Everyone was heading their separate ways as the night winded down. I still had an open tab at the bar so Jamie and I decided to stay for a drink before we headed home. While we sat to watched the next band finishing our drinks a red-lipped, 20-something bar-girl approached us and asked to buy us drinks. "Hell yeah!" I said without skipping a beat. Jamie looked confused and the girl picked up on it. "I work for Bud Light and we are out sponsoring a new promotion. You guys look adorable so enjoy!" And she scampered away as fast as she had appeared. I, already perusing the beer list, found myself an IPA and Jamie shrugged and ordered a Bud Light. 

We finished the drinks and we were about to close out to head home. Bud Light girl reappeared again like a beer-fairy-god-mother. "One more on us for these two!" She said and handed us free coozies and blue, Bud Light sunglasses. "One thing though, can we get a picture of you two and possibly ask you a question?" She asked as I replied with, "If you're buying I'll tell you whatever you want!" Throwing on the sunglasses and striking a pose for their camera guy. As it turns out I guess they are running a promotion for summer bucket lists and wanted to know if there was anything crazy that we wanted to accomplish before the end of the summer. “Damn.” I replied “You going to be here for a while? I will need to think about this.” My mind exploding with options of insane things I could do with Bud Lights money funding it.

Buzzed Summer Bucket List Bar Brain Storming Session:

• Play drums with Motley Crue and then convince them to let me join the band.
• Skydive with Jay and Silent Bob.
• Fly Jamie and I’s family out for an all expense paid trip to Disneyland.
• Go to space.
• Lunch with Mel Brooks.
• Lunch with Dave Grohl
• Lunch with the cast of Can’t Hardly Wait.
• Lunch with Hall and Oates.
• Lunch with Christopher Lloyd and Michael J. Fox discussing their lives and then go play bass for Blink 182 at an arena…where they ultimately ask me to join the band.

My drunken brain went with the last option, as I thought this was the most feasible, as we ran to find the Bud Light girl. They did a video recording of my wish on some tablet and submitted it to their database. “Yes. Score. Totally having lunch with Dr. Emmett L. Brown.” I whispered and we staggered away feeling victorious.

Remember, if someone asks to pick up your bar tab, always let them.

I wonder if that tablet video is online somewhere?

-YourFriendMatt

The Whiskey a Go Go...

This was never a phase. Never just a time-period in my life. This was never something taken for granted. For as long as I can remember I wanted to be in a rock band. I wanted to share the love for what we created with anyone. I spent most of my life giving everything I could to play music in front of people. This is a passion. Recently, I was offered the opportunity to sit where The Doors became The Doors. I was offered a chance to hit drums where Tommy Lee sat. I can check it off my bucket list. I thrilled (and honored) to say I played The Whiskey a Go Go on the Sunset Strip in California.

A few nights ago, on a school night, a singer-songwriter who had moved to the LA area no more than 48 hours earlier saw some drum covers on YourFriendMatt.com. He emailed me about filling in for him on an upcoming show. I asked to check out the music and when the show was. As it turns out the he was on American Idol and the show was the next night. Intrigued, I asked where the show was and when the response was The Whiskey I packed the car with my gear and headed to learn their set of original songs until midnight…and was back at work at 7:00 the next morning. If that's not rock-n-roll…I don’t know what is. Getting out of work Jamie and I raced (crawled on the 10 and 405...at rush hour) to get to the show.

Stepping onto a stage that has impacted and helped launch so many careers is indescribable. I was half tempted to bow down to pay homage praying I was worthy enough to be here. I have preformed and traveled all over the US managing or playing in bands, but this experience will be one that I talk about for the rest of my days. I mean Frank Zappa, The Byrds, Led Zeppelin, Neil Diamond, Motely Crue, Jimi Hendrix and, again, The Doors have all been here. The show went off without a hitch and we played well for only knowing each other for 5 hours. The rock gods must have looked down on us.

Jamie and I moved to LA for adventure, change of pace, to gain life experience and learn about each other…and ourselves. But hey, if an opportunity opened up to be creative and play some shows with some great people that’s awesome too. 

-YourFriendMatt