An Evening with The Luvman

[Elspode]

Although I'm a hack musician, I managed to grow up with some people who most definitely are not. Arguably the highest profile one of many "Grandview Musical Mafioso" (a group of which I am probably the least talented member) is Mark Pender, trumpet player and generally hysterical guy in the Conan O'Brien Show band. Often, during the holidays, Mark comes back to KC to spend time with his family, and when we are truly fortunate, his brother Tom (also a gifted musician, whose most recent high profile gig was as a guitarist in the KC Chiefs "Touchdown Band" until they folded it a couple of seasons ago) will put together a peformance so all of their homies can reconnect and revel in their talents.

Leslie and I just returned from a gig tonight, and it was really Old Home Week. Fully 35% of the attendees were old Grandview HS pals of Mark and Tom's - this, 36 years after Mark's graduation, no less, and 39 years after Tom's.

I love music, and I'll play it until I die, but there is such a quantum difference in the level at which these guys play, and my own. Still and all, I got to reconnect with a dozen old friends and acquaintances, and hear some bitchin' jazz, swing, funk and everything in between. These guys are all so good, they don't even have to rehearse together...they just get together and throw down, and it is world class.