...but that's not what I wanted to write about. It dawned on me while flying home from Oakland last weekend that we live in one crazy-ass modern world. With the advent o
f the Internet, text messages, skype, mpeg's, jet airplanes, gmail-chat etc. the whole world has changed. Add to the techno stuff this little innocent musical instrument and the result is a whirl-wind of video collab's, traveling to meet new friends, making best friends, playing music with people from all over the world, and having more fun than anyone deserves. I have to admit that UCB is a special group. But we are not the only special group! There are a bunch of good people taking advantage of this crazy modern technology to do the same thing we do. You see the Chicago ukers get together and play and then meet-up with the Milwaukee peeps. Casetone plays with Ken and Krabbers. Rel Bar jams with Hoosier Hiver and Derik - DeG, Dirk, Sebi, Ralf, Theresa, people from all over the world, become friends. Aldrine visits So-Cal and as we speak is on his way to the bay area. Michelle plays with Bosko and Honey, and comes to America to meet us all. The list goes on. These uke meetups have become so common, either through the Internet or in person, that it is easy
to take it for granted. But I think back just 20 years....I know to many of you that seems like a long time...to me, it's not. No cell phones, no computers (or at least no Internet). We could fly, but there was no way to really know the people at the other end of the flight. Video kinda sucked. 4 track recorders were pretty much the best you could get for your shitty garage band. Now look at us. Don't get me wrong, we are still a shitty garage band, but we practice through skype and gmail chat. We have friends that we would never have known, never could have known before. I'm supposed to be the a-hole in this group, But I gotta say, I love these UCB people. And I am humbled by the opportunity to meet all the other great people from all over the world who come together because of this kooky little instrument. Now...unfortunately I have to get back to work, and allow my body to heal.
7 comments:
Great post, man!
The first time that sort of thing occurred to me was back when the Fleamarket Music BB was the only game in town.
Even so, one night I went down to the Liquid Lounge at the Experience Music Project and watched a fellow uker perform a break set between bands. He lives in Tacoma (not so far away) but I'd only known of him via the FMMBB. Another person joined me for the meetup. His name is Uncle Rufus and he lives in London. You know, the one over there in England? What was the chance of that hookup in the pre-web days?
Of course, recently I got together with a guy from Carnation, WA (about 30 miles away), Portland, OR (where I grew up -- as much as you can say I've grown up -- 170-ish miles away), and San Francisco, CA (811 freaking miles).
At least, I'm pretty sure I did. I was really quite drunk at the time.
@howlinhobbit: i'm pretty sure it happened too although i only remember bits and pieces of that weekend. good times!
fantastic post boozelle. i've made some of my closest friends these past few years via the internet. and not in the dirty "hey what are you wearing? let's take greyhound and meet at a motel in the middle of idaho" kind of way.
i wonder how long this internet fad will last. will it go the way of the 8-track cartridge and electric typewriter?
,snif> there's something in my eye.
Fantastic post Booze, and it totally summed up exactly what I've been thinking these past couple of years. I too have made some of the best friends ever online over these last couple of years, and it was so awesome to meet you all in June.
This little instrument really has been the start of something big. I would never have guessed when I bought my first one a couple of years ago that it would result in such great friendships, and so much fun.
Anyway, just wanted to say you guys are all awesome, and I'm really glad to have met you and have you as friends.
PS. Seeing I'm on the UCB blog, should I be adding a "fuck you" at the end of each post? :)
@Michelle: haha, you ended it perfectly :)
Ha! Michelle! You go girl.
I agree that it's amazing that we've all managed to connect. Turns out there's actually like, a dozen or so cool people on this planet- much higher than I had originally estimated.
I may jump in on the band wagon here. it's great I could meet some of you. I wish I could again, but alas, it's too expensive for me...
anyways, if I think 20 years back (ok, I was only 2...) there was this state called GDR where I was born. I could have gone to the sovjet union, but that's about it. I wouldn't even had had the chance to visit the part of Berlin (Wedding) that I live in now... crazy!
while writing this, yet another commercial on the TV featured Uke music...
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