Kenny’s Blog - 1

Music is pretty magical, isn't it? Sometimes all it takes is one piece of music and we are instantly transported back to another time and place. We remember triumph, heartbreak and adventures. These short sequences of vibrations enter our being and our minds give it purpose. That tasty cocktail of feels triggers a sense of nostalgia that is truly intoxicating.

On the note of nostalgia, I somehow went to the most dull AND the most interesting party in the same night. Last July, I was invited down to a summer BBQ by some old school friends. When I say ‘friends’, I mean that we sat next to each other in geography and haven't actually spoken in 8 years. So there I was, standing in a garden, holding a beer, listening to my friends go on and on about how great it was ‘back in those good old days’. When I tried to steer the conversation towards future plans, it was overwhelmingly met with the same response;

“Oh you know, just getting on with it really…”

Two things... Firstly, when did we lose our ambition? I remember when we were younger talking about building things, going places and partaking in the wildest of experiences, not just ‘getting on with it’. Secondly, I sometimes think that we as people have a tendency to filter out our memories so the past always looks much brighter than it actually was. That is the power of nostalgia and whilst letting go of painful memories is not a bad thing, our longing for a past viewed through rose tinted glasses can often distract us from truly living in the ‘here and now’.

The conversation went on for what felt like forever and as memories piled on top of each other, I felt myself speaking less and less, feeling more and more out of place. I didn’t want to be ‘that guy’, the wet mop of a man who disagrees with everyone or turns into an absolute buzzkill. Everyone was so wrapped up in reliving the past, I realised I could probably just leave and nobody would notice. So without drawing attention to myself, I left. 

I walked down toward the seafront. The sun is coming down, the sea gently crashing up against the rocks below the cliffside as the whiff of sea salt lingers in the air. As I was staring out across the ocean, an unusual sound caught my attention...

What is it? Sound like birds, bike engines? No wait, strings, a banjo?

My curiosity peaked and my feet began to glide in the direction of the music, as if they had a mind of their own. As I walked down the old wooden path, the source of the sound came into view.

A massive party, spread across the beach covered in beautiful men and women, all laughing and dancing with each other to summertime bangers, their bodies illuminated by the light of the steadily setting sun reflecting light off the sea. Though I didn't have an invitation, the prospect of fun was too enticing to ignore. Let's face it, it was either this or going back to the BBQ. The decision was made. The energy was electric, even though the people around him all seemed excitable, it also seemed like they were waiting for something. Without warning, music cut out and the sound of the DJ voice boomed out across the beach.

'LET'S GET A CHEER FOR OUR SPECIAL GUESTS!'

I felt a brief moment of stupidity, a wave of panic as the people erupted into applause, I didn't want to be the center of attention...

'LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, PLAYING SONGS FROM ALL CORNERS OF THE UNIVERSE, THE UPSIDERS!'

Ah right, musicians. 

Turning to face the stage, which consisted of a raised platform next to the DJ's booth. As the audience cheers increased in intensity, four young men cheerily strolled onto the stage one by one. Turning on amps and noodling on their respective and somewhat bizarre instruments, one of them holding a small piano with a blow hole at one end. Then, one more guy skipped onto the stage, holding a ukulele, sporting a massive grin on his face. As he took his place in the center of the stage, he leaned into his microphone and mumbled with a deadpan expression until the noise of the audience subsided, the silence was deafening. For a moment, everything was still, bated breath held in anticipation, all eyes on this one ukulele player. Slowly, a big grin spread across his face, taking a quick glance at the drummer behind him, the ukulele player sprung into the air and the second his feet touched the ground the whole band launched into action.  

The music played and the people danced and for that moment, it felt like we were all connected. Strangers taking my hands, spinning and swaying on the golden sands of the sun soaked beach. The motion of the lights, love and dancing melded together, creating the sensation comparable to a magic carpet ride. Just like that, I had made a memory!

After the band had finished playing I went over to grab a drink from a Hawaiian-style pop-up bar that had been set up a short distance from the stage. I bought myself a piña colada, served to me by a chap who looked bizarrely like a young Justin Trudeau (not a relevant detail but I found it endlessly entertaining), which I intended on sipping whilst working out how on Earth I was going to get home, when I heard a voice behind me.

“Hey, I think you dropped this.”

It was one of The Upsiders, holding my credit card. Good thing he spotted it or I would have been stuffed. He introduced himself as Nathan and immediately I recognized him as the keys player.

“What is that strange piano thing that you play?”

“It’s a melodica.”

“It’s cool man. Odd, but cool. Are you some kind of Melodica master?”

“As a matter a fact, I am probably the only person on the planet with a masters degree in the melodica!”

“Oh, what?” 

As the conversation progressed he told me about his work with the band and the many different things they were working on. Finally! Someone who is not completely obsessed with the past. We ended up chatting for about 30 minutes, talking about everything from festivals to current affairs. After a time, I sheepishly confessed that I could actually play guitar.

“Well next time, bring your guitar. We could have a jam!” 

“Next time?”

“Yeah, we’re out and about all the time, we’ll definitely run into each other again and all of us are friendly! Just don’t ask Ryan about drainage, or he will NEVER STOP!”

We exchanged numbers, then said our farewells. 

He was right, it wouldn't be very long at all until we would meet again.