An R&B CD, five years in the making, that has an Irish ballad on it? What the hell was I thinking?
by Tim Rideout
We were on stage. The lights were low. The trance-like rhythms swept over our bodies. I could feel the symbiosis of our trio. We had played a hundred times before, and it felt good. The stress of the previous week, washing from my body (the club in which we were scheduled to launch the CD burnt down).
| Pre-show Checklist | |
|---|---|
| Band ready | check |
| Club burnt down week before | check |
| New club booked | check |
| Wife’s water broke during preview show | check |
This was the “preview show” before my CD launch, just to make sure everything is good and ready and smooth. Invite a select few, get comments afterward - you know - an anal rock star’s focus group dream come true. Until I was handed “the paper.”
We were in the middle of a groove, and I see the waitress walk to the side of the stage and hand guitarist Goran Petrovic a piece of paper. Without missing a beat, he passes it off to me, and I accept with my left hand, keeping rhythm with my other three limbs.
I remember thinking, simultaneously “this is it” and “oh God this can’t be it” at the same time. You see, my wife was pregnant - but not due for another month. This couldn’t be it, could it? She was feeling a bit queasy earlier on. Nah. Okay - read the paper now.
YOUR WIFE’S WATER JUST BROKE.
My entire parental preparation flashed in front of my eyes: the books, the shopping, the breathing classes, the haptonomy. But then, all I could think was, “oh shit. Right in the middle of a song? Couldn’t you have waited?” I was high. That had to be it. The hot flashes must be from the half a beer that lay unfinished underneath my floor tom. The ringing in my ears must just be from the volume of the guitar amp. My big shit-eating grin / look of terror is just from fear of lack of sleep for the next 4 years.
Once I came out of denial, I noticed we had made it to the end of the song. I was instantly whisked out the door by our waiting designated drivers, Matt and Mag - Ludwig Vistalite drumkit be damned - the band will put that away for you.... Ren was already in the car, overnight bag packed.
My daughter Olivia Mélodie Rideout was born on September 10th, the morning after the preview show. I don’t remember much about this so-called “preview show.” Or the drive to the hospital.
The launch the following week? Awesome. The birth of my daughter? Beyond awesome.
