David's Daily Diversions

As Time Goes By

I was listening to Christian music radio on the Net this evening and it reminded me of the days when I first started playing coffeehouses and other small venues. It was the mid-80s and I was trying to break into the Austin scene. Though it was mostly me and the twelve-string, I had my first experience playing with a proper band. You know, drums, bass, and all that. Okay, there wasn't much "all that" - just drums and bass - but other people actually wanted to play my music with me. Okay, they only did it once, but I still remember that night. I even had an opening act. Okay, it was one of my college housemates, but still. I also still owe Wendell Fry $10 from his cut of the offering, so if you see him...

It's hard to believe that was almost 20 years ago. I still remember the outfit I wore. Green silk jacket with the sleeves rolled up. Green plaid shirt with red metalic stripes running through it. Thin red tie and my trademark red belt. Brand new trainers, though I can't remember if it was my Kaepa or Reebok phase. White trousers that even then molded to my skinny lower half. 28-inch waist. Ten inches smaller than I wear now. And it was fashionable. Honest. I had a bit of a reputation as a fashion plate.

It's hard to believe that I played some of those songs for years. One of the songs I wrote for electric guitar with my one-time bass player became the standard opening number for my acoustic sets:

What is love? Is it just a feeling
That's burning in my heart
No I think that It's something different than that
Ol' familiar spark
When you gave Your life as a sacrifice
You gave new meaning to old words
And now your has surrounded me
There's no place I can turn

I'm caught in Your love...

By the way, you can sing "words" and "turn" so it almost sounds like they rhyme.

Another song I debuted at that show was the opening number for just about every show I did with the ad hoc Band. I won't bore you with the lyrics. It's just hard to believe that it has been more than nine years since David Holford and the ad hoc Band turned off the amps and put away the mikes for the last time. The bittersweetness of nostalgia.

In my teens, twenties, and half of my thirties, I would have never envisaged a time when I didn't pick up a guitar on an almost daily basis. I wouldn't have imagined I would go four years without even changing strings. I've had a set waiting in the package in the case for over two years now. I used to have six guitars. Now I don't play the one I have.

I've had that guitar almost as long as I've had my oldest friends. I can't remember the exact month I got it, but it must be coming up on 23 years ago. It wasn't my first guitar, and it wasn't new when it was given to me, but it became my trademark. I can think now of the aspiring guitarists who bought twelve-strings because of it and me.

I've rambled on here long enough and most of you have stopped reading by now. I think I'll go upstairs and catch up with my old friend.