Bird by Bird

To explain, a friend recommended a book by Anne Lamott called Bird by Bird. She describes having to write a huge book on birds, lots and lots of birds, and feeling overwhelmed by the enormity of the project. Her advice, just take it bird by bird, and before you know it, it's done. Bird by Bird. For Black Rover, it's song by song. We have ambitious and exciting plans to perform a show in Brattleboro's Latchis Theatre early next year; that's our working goal right now, getting a really strong set together and producing a fun concert at that amazing and surreal space. But it's gonna be like 12-14 songs. An evening with Black Rover. It's a lot of birds. But this is where we are. Bird by Bird. We've made a decision not to fuck around. Two full rehearsals a week plus at least one preferably two sectionals as well. Me and Darcy, the Percys, practice our vocals together without having to involve Bob and Benzo. She and Ben will get together and work out details of where to fit his solos in the arrangements. They'll work out their Keith Richards/Ron Wood thing, get the two guitars weaving with each other seemlessly. Which is harder than it looks. So that's up to four rehearsals a week, about 12h weekly. With about 180 hours of reheasal before the end of the year we should have the entire flock in pretty great shape, with maybe a couple of sub-flocks, for instance an all-acoustic set, which will be gorgeous. The thought of performing Going to California and The Rain Song in a set together is a nice thought. Going to California is going to be wonderful; I know already because we did an initial workup already, and we're waiting for Ben to add his mandolin, which will be exquisite. So we grind away. Last night was just the power trio, Doc Bob and the Percys. (Turns out people used to call Robert Plant Percy, for some reason. Apparently he didn't really like it but we think it's cool and so we call each other Percy. Ok, I know, it's too cute and silly, and maybe TMI, but I like it a lot. I like being a Percy; we're a great team and it's developing into a really great friendship, and we play great together, and what's better than that?) Anyway, we worked hard on Black Dog, Thank you, Over the Hills, What Is, and Immigrant Song (the ending of which we nailed twice!) Afterwards we fell over each other telling ourselves how wonderful and rockin' we were and how much fun that was. It's just really rewarding music-making. These people are consummate professionals. Virtuoso command of their instruments and decades of experience working in groups means we work fast and efficiently and, maybe most importantly, respectfully and professionally. We all know down to our core what it is to play in a musical group, the human dynamics, the musical challenge, the ability to focus on the music and not play games and cause tension in the group. It always happens in groups, and will probably happen with us too, but I have a good feeling about these musicians; we'll deal with issues that arise and keep having fun. Here's the full flock of birds we're aiming to have stuffed and ready by the new year: Immigrant Song Out on the Tiles Black Dog The Rover Over the Hills and Far Away What is and What Should Never Be Four Sticks Misty Mountain Hop Going to California Tangerine Friends In My Time of Dying When the Levee Breaks Dancing Days