Takin’ It To The Streets

The Clams: Cherry Stone and Steamer

There’s a reason I can’t be in a band: I can’t keep time. I’d drive everyone crazy. I don’t even keep time when I play by myself…I speed up mid-song, consistently . Oh and also, I’m just not that good of a player. Stay with me…

A few weeks ago my colleague (and “wifey”) Suzan Koc and I were enjoying our weekly float-in-my-pool catch-ups (chlorine kills Covid) — talking about how musicians are dealing with venues being shut down. She said she was weary of all the livestreams and that the Italians had the right idea when they went out onto their balconies and played. She said, “Shelly…you should get out there with a guitar and an Amp and just sing. Don’t even promote it. Don’t do it for likes. Give back to the people who’ve been watching you through a screen all these months. They deserve live music. Real live music.”  

Of course, I wouldn’t be the first. Musicians have been taking to the streets, driveways, sidewalks etc…but not me. I have all kinds of excuses: there are cars in the street! Who would come? What if it rains?

Adam Chester taking it to a cul-de-sac at his weekly “Quaranchella”

But of course, after a night’s sleep, when we humans find answers in dreams, I woke up with an entirely different attitude. I get it. Let’s do it. I’m down. Except for one thing…I’d make my husband Adam (a savvy musician and singer) do it with me. 

“Honey! Guess what?'“

He knew he had no choice. That said, he was totally game. Nobody likes a jam better than Adam. And because we’ve been singing together in cars and bathrooms and kitchens for years, our voices actually blend quite nicely! 

The two of us had recently watched and were deeply moved by the 2 part Laurel Canyon Doc. on Epix. So it seemed like a no-brainer to choose material that emerged from that era — songs inspired by movements, revolutions, protests and awakenings. Kinda like what’s going on now in America. (And it doesn’t hurt that we actually live in Laurel Canyon.) 

We brought the weighted keyboard into the living room…set up a mic, an Amp, found a tambourine or 2 and began rehearsing for our (distanced and masked) neighborhood fresh air sing-a-long. We were rockin’ — honestly it’s the most fun I’ve had so far in quarantine. But after a few rehearsals it became apparent that I wasn’t pulling my weight. First of all, Adam plays by ear. I had to learn all the covers from scratch. He tried to teach me the blues lick on “Revolution.” It was not happening. I was having trouble singing harmony. And then there was ad-libbing. Ad-libbing? And umm, that issue of playing in time. 😫(See where I was going with the ‘band’ thing?)

I had to admit it: I was dragging us down. I thought he was going to kick me out of the band. The band that I started. And then it would only be him. That’s not a band! Would he try to replace me? I was feeling very demoralized. Maybe this wasn’t such a good idea.

But Adam said I was doing great. 😃And that I shouldn’t worry. (But I worried.) I was “clamming” all over the place. For you non-musicians, a “clam” is when a player hits a (very noticeable) wrong note or starts a song in the key of G when the rest of the band starts in A. But my clamming gave me an idea: if we could actually call ourselves The Clams we’d lower expectations. No one would be disappointed. And after all, it’s about the music not musicianship. Being outside. Coming together. Singing!

Adam humored me. We could/would call ourselves “The Clams.” I went a step further. I’d be Cherry Stone. And he’d be Steamer! And if Layla (our daughter) was still in town she could join us for a number and we’d call her Little Neck. And if her boyfriend were here too, he could be Muscles. I know. It’s very silly. But what better time to not take one’s self too seriously. There’s so much mishigas going on in the world right now…the silly feels so good.

And so, I was excited again. The Clams.

Our repertoire has been growing fast and furiously — Crosby Stills Nash and Young, Joni, Carole, The Doors, The Eagles, The Mamas & The Papas, The Monkees, Stevie. I know…Stevie’s music did not emerge from Laurel Canyon. But how can we exclude “Love’s In Need of Love Today?” We’d post about the gig on the “Laurel Canyon Residence” Facebook Page and remind everyone to bring a mask, a tambourine, a beach chair, maracas, a cowbell! It was all happening. We’d set the Canyon on 🔥!

But then lo and behold, America started shutting down again and we knew it wouldn’t be prudent to ask people to gather even if they’re all masked and standing 6 feet apart. Better to wait for the curve to re-flatten. But it’s hard to say when it will because of so many unmasked morons. What is the problem? Just wear a f*cking mask! I don’t even care if it says MAGA on it. It’s TEMPORARY! Come on people now, smile on your brother!

Sigh. What a world.

So…The Clams will debut in August instead of July. Hopefully. Which means we’ll just be tighter. Maybe I’ll even have time to master that blues riff on “Revolution.”

Stand by for details and dates. You know you’ll hear about it right here. Watch this space. 

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