I don't remember the exact circumstances under which Matt joined Berry,
but I do know that he was fairly satisfied to never play in 'serious'
band ever again. He was happy to become an electrical engineer
and make lots of money and live comfortably with his lumpy [and
extremely dorky] wife which he was surely to meet while in grad
school. While sitting and talking with friend Joey Lemon one day
just off of Scott Field, Joey asked if Matt would like to join the
band. Matt politely refused. You see, while wanting to be
comfortably wealthy was a hinderance, Matt was a drummer and what Berry
needed a piano player--because Paul played drums. It just didn't
seem like it would work.
However, Matt, who had taken 7 years of piano lessons as a kid, went
back to his appartement and listened the the Berry EP that
his room mate owned. He thought, 'I could play this!'
Still, there were prestigeous degrees to be earned from prestigeous
universities...not to mention the lumpy wife and comfortable
life. He talked with his room mate and decided that he would
retract his previous decline. Besides, most college bands don't
last past college, so I should just enjoy making music [really good
music!] for the last time in my life.
I was in the band!
It seems like Berry had just won a battle of the bands in St. Louis and
won a slot at a 'legitimate' show at one of the bars in the city right
before I joined the band. We spent as much time as we could
getting me ready to play. I am not sure how much time it was, but
I know it took time to 'phase out' the previous piano
player--Tim. One way or another by the time of the show, we were
as ready as we were going to be.
On the day of the show, Sam and Zach [Heyveld, #2 guitar!] went into
St. Louis early because it was always a treat to visit the big city
when you spent enough time in Greenville. I probably had class or
something so I went in later. It was just me and Paul in his
parents minivan. I am pretty sure we listened to Surfer Rosa and
Owls. I was pretty nervous, but I was glad to be playing a
show. In a bar no less!
It all started out pretty much the same way every other show we have
ever played started out. We drive up to the venue, Paul walks in
and talks to the door guy or the bartender or promoter or whoever it is
that Paul talks to when he goes in to 'talk' and figure things
out.
"Hi, I am in the band Berry and we are playing here tonight. I
was just wondering where we should load in."
"Oh, hey...yeah, I'll open the door for ya."
We load in. I was in over 30 bands before Berry, this part I was
familiar with. No big deal. Time to sit and wait to
play.
I think we were going to be the third band of the night. However,
for reasons completely unfathomable, previously, we would not end up
playing my first Berry show.
'Round about the middle of the first bands set, everybody starts
getting paniky and running up to the front of the venue. Clearly,
something very bad has happened!
There exists in most people this inclination that when something bad is
happening, they rush to investigate. I don't know if they rush to
help, to watch, or what, but, for what ever reason, this night, I was
not this person. I knew that no matter what could be happening,
there was probably nothing I could do to help and I didn't feel the
need to watch. I knew, soon enough, I would learn what had
happened. And I did.
'Zach's girlfriend has been shot!'
Fortunately, she was shot in the ass and would recover. But, as
you may expect, the events of this night made me seriously reconsider
my joining this band. Maybe it wasn't meant to be? Maybe I
should just quit and continue my pursuit of the comfortable life I had
decided I wanted. Nice job, good money, new cars, cool gadgets...lumpy
wife.
Listening to A Thousand Leaves on the drive back to Greenville, smoking
cigarettes with Sam, I decided I would stick with it. It would be
worth it. Surely. And, soon enough, I would play my first
show with Berry.
Possible set: ...???
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