Kerri Fest Was A Blast

What started out as a small gathering of friends at Jonathon and Andrea Byrd's home a few years ago has turned into a small festival of friends. Last night was the annual gathering of celebrities and celebrity wannabe's at the Byrd house. Although rain chased us into the garage right before dark, most of the night had us divided into two groups of pickers. I started out picking with my brother from another mother, Gray Burchette, who wanted me to play his baritone guitar that I had never played. We were joined by Bobby Billings after a few songs and the round-robin of original songs started flowing. We became a real "band" when Randall Couch joined us on upright bass. We were dubbed by those listening as the New Grass / Blues Grass group.

As a guy who primarily plays on an island by myself, it was a refreshing and rejuvenating evening of music to get together with friends and family and pick just to be picking... with guys who love music as much as I do. Later in the evening a few of us went upstairs to Jonathon's guitar shrine room and played some serious music... Gray made a few videos so hopefully they'll be out soon. One of those guys was Reggie Harris of The Harris Brothers. For those of you who have not heard the story, Reggie is the reason I play drums with my feet. Many years ago I sat in with them at Twiggs in Blowing Rock and I was in awe with how Reggie could play and sing while stomping on a kick pedal hitting an old suitcase. So when we got home I setup a kick drum and thought, I should be able to do this. The next 4 weeks were the worst 4 weeks of my musical life. I was so bad at it and so discouraged by how hard it was that I almost sold everything and quit. For me it was kinda like when Eric Clapton heard Stevie Ray Vaughn for the first time while driving. I remember reading a story about that in his autobiography that said he pulled off the road and listened in awe and didn't want to touch a guitar again for months because as he put it what's the point? I felt the same way, but kept trucking on. Eventually I figured it out. Like many things in life it was easier if you just quit thinking about it. After a few months I added the snare and then the hihat. Last night I got to say thanks to Reggie and play a little music with him again. So Reggie, thank you. Because of you I started down this road of all live with foot drums and haven't looked back. I'm in awe of your talent and can't wait to get to see you again.

And to my buddy, Gray... sorry I broke your capo pal. I swear the Kyser guy told me Friday that you could bend it down to give it more tension. Maybe I'm just too strong. Andrea and Jonathon, thank you for hosting this get together and thank you for your friendship and love and support of music. Cedar doesn't stand a chance of being a normal person... but being normal is highly overrated. :-) Can't wait for Kerri Fest 2013!