giving & receiving

We got to play a favorite gig this weekend providing music at the Ogden Nature Center for their Wildwoods Bash. We donate that performance and a private house concert as an auction item. This is an easy call for us because we love the cause and the chance to play music in this great space for so many enthusiastic people, including the winning bidders.

When we went up for auction we were asked to say a few words to promote the bidding, and when I took the microphone I just offered a challenge: I said all we wanted was to get a higher bid than what local Ogden favorites, The Proper Way received. I went on to explain that they didn’t even have a bass player, not to mention a drummer. I think — hope — everyone knew that I was kidding … but also it seemed to work as we got a really generous donation out of a bidding war that was really fun to watch.*

The thing is, ever since that moment I was thinking about what I should have said in addition to the trash talk. I should have mentioned that The Proper Way is not only one of our favorite bands to go see, but they’ve also been one of our greatest helps in the music scene. We’ve recorded in their studios and they’ve plugged us for gigs. We even played a show with them that we wouldn’t have gotten without their sponsorship back when we were first getting gigs. They are generous with their time and energies and supporters of the whole music scene in and around Ogden.

That reflection made me think of others who have also given us support in the community. Among so many, some standouts have included Van Sessions and the Banyan Collective who hosted us on their podcast early on and have kept bringing us back and putting our live recordings out into the world. And our first high profile gigs and some of our funnest 3-hour sets have been on 25th Street at the Lighthouse Lounge. Paddy at the soundboard dials everything in and then invites us back for a good time, even though it’s way past our bedtimes.

And there are many other supporters all around town and within our own circles, including families who put up with us hauling gear up and down stairs after we’ve been out all night. And there are so many people who come out to make music a two-way experience, playing and listening. Sometimes even cheering and dancing.

For now, let’s add to this list The Ogdenite, a beacon of good news about the Ogden arts and music scenes, available in multiple formats including their pocket guide found around town and their Facebook updates or newsletter with great stuff to do each week. This publication is an act of love, and as Deann starts to expand we’ve pitched in to support her next steps — and we hope others will too.

We’re off for a few weeks before a wedding gig, and then more to come in October and beyond.

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*Oh, and it was more than what TPW garnered, just for the record.