Getting in THE ZONE for the Friday 3/15 Dudley Manlove Quartet show
Last night The Dudley Manlove Quartet rehearsed for our upcoming 18th Anniversary Show. One of the great characteristics of this band is how well the members of the band mesh as friends and musicians. This is my fourth year with the band and over that time we’ve developed into a cohesive, high-performing group. It’s something that requires an investment of performing and rehearsing together, and the benefits are huge. During last night’s rehearsal we reviewed material that will be on the set this Friday, and even took an impromptu detour into Bowie-ville with his hit “Fame” (no, we’re not doing that song this weekend, but we WILL be officially adding it later this summer).
The more time we spend together playing, it becomes easier to form that elusive near-telepathic mental connection as musicians. The music flows through the band readily, and we hear each others’ playing with clarity. It also means as individuals we’re hearing ourselves differently. In that “zone” my guitar becomes an extension of my musical thought, and I don’t have to worry about making my hands do what they’re supposed to.
Looking forward to this week’s show, I hope we’ll find ourselves building on the success of the rehearsal sessions. It requires a significant investment of time and energy to put this kind of thing on the rails, and I’m honored that so many of our fans keep coming back to enjoy the shows. We’ll see you this weekend!