The nerves that weren't
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It had been ten years since I'd been on stage. I'd done a couple of smaller things in that time where I hadn't been the centre of attention, but this was different. I was an adult this time. The audience wasn't just a bunch of school friends (well… most of it wasn't!). I had friends from work there. I had family. I had people I'd known for years and people I'd only recently met. And this was just a fraction of the audience; the rest of whom I didn't actually know. It had been ten years since I'd been on stage and I should have been nervous.
As mentioned in previous blogs, I was lucky enough to be invited to join a brand new band in November of last year. At the time, I'd almost given up on the idea of being able to get on stage again, having been without a band for years and not being gig-ready with a number of bands prior to that. But this new band felt different from the beginning. The chemistry was perfect and the creative energy was astounding—and thankfully still is!
Just two months ago, we started to book our first performances. When the opportunity came up to host our own evening at a local venue—the Golden Cross in Coventry—we jumped at the chance. A few phone calls later and we had two other superb bands to perform with—The Glassguns and Lipshock—with my new band, From Embers Rise, looking to open proceedings on the night. From that moment onwards, I prepared myself for the nerves to kick in. Ten years is a long time, after all.
When I used to perform all those years ago, I remember the adrenaline rush was fantastic, but it was tempered by the nerves that came with it. I'd always settle into a performance eventually, but it would take a while and the lead up to the gig, and even the first few songs on the night, could be a little uncomfortable. I knew, therefore, what to expect and was waiting for that feeling to arrive.
It didn't. Days and weeks passed since the booking and my enthusiasm and excitement built up gradually over time. By the time the week of that first gig arrived, I was so excited that even trying to concentrate on anything else but the performance to come was futile.
Two days ago, on Thursday the 11th of March 2010, From Embers Rise took to the stage for the first time—less than four months since we formed. While not perfect, the gig exceeded our expectations in a big way and the positive feedback we received was nothing short of astounding. What surprised me the most, aside from the great reaction we received, was that the whole time, I didn't feel nervous at all. Stepping onto the stage felt like the right thing to do. It was welcoming. It was homely. And I enjoyed every second of it.
To all the friends, new and old; family; the other bands and to everyone who came out in force to support us, I offer you my humble and eternal gratitude. You made that night what it was. To my bandmates, words cannot express how honoured I was to perform with you all. Here's to the future and the many amazing gigs to come!