A Matter of Life and Jeff, it's got a ring to it, and I kinda like it. Yeah, and that's what I'm gonna tell you about. I'm gonna tell you about rockin and rolling, rollin' n rockin', rock and roll, and some other important stuff. After all this is a matter of life and Jeff!!!! So just sit back, strap yourselves in, and enjoy the ride. Here we go..........

I got out of the cab and paid the fare. I turned towards the club and then my knees started to shake. My stomach started to ache and I think I started to sweat. Gulping down a breath of air and trying to look cool, I opened the door to Hollywood Alley in Mesa, Arizona. February 23rd 2008 and began the evening of one of the coolest things I'd ever gotten to do. I was gonna play a song with my favorite band/musician ever, Jeff Dahl.

I felt like I had won the lottery, after all getting here was no small feat to begin with, and I had to overcome one obstacle after another along with 1280 miles of travel. I can only trust it was fate, (or I just got really lucky), haha yeah, let's go with fate.

Russ Covner was the first person I met, he's Jeff Dahl's drummer, and he also plays in Bitter Allegiance. Look them up if you get a chance. And he was really cool and very nice. We have stayed friends since then.

So my nerves settled down a touch, and I grabbed a drink.

After fidgeting around a bit, and unable to sit still, Jeff Dahl arrived.

HOLY SHIT!!! It's really him and this is really happening, WOW!!!

Jeff said hello, signed a few records I had brought, and proceeded to give me a few CDs. He then showed me the guitar I'd be playing and I almost shit myself. It's the red Les Paul Junior that he'd played for years, and I was gonna get to play it. Like a kid with free reign in the candy store, I felt . This memory still exists now as I've just gotten to relive the feeling recalling the moment.

I walked back to the table on clouds and the anticipation started to build.

The music for the night began, and consisted of the Earps and Labor Party, who both delivered scorching sets and left me thinking I'd just been taught how to rock. Damn they were good! Labor Party has Frank Labor playing guitar who also plays with Jeff Dahl. The Earps had Jason Smith on bass, who also plays with Jeff Dahl.

A quick break, and one pure high energy rock 'n' roll lesson began as the moment, or moments, I had only dreamed of started taking shape as Jeff Dahl and crew tore into 'French Cough Syrup'. I was in rock 'n' roll ecstasy and was in store for more as one hell of a rock show happened. And rock they did. One song after another after another Jeff Dahl delivered 100 percent kick ass punk 'n' roll.

After around 45 minutes or so, the set changed up a bit as Jeff started inviting some guests up onstage.

After some of the guests had played, and played awesomely they did, I started to get ready (it was like being on a roller coaster with no safety bar, you know, that feeling you get down below your stomach that some people refer to as butterflies ? Yeah, that one) and boy did I feel weird. Here I am on the verge of a dream coming true and I can't really explain to you what it felt like.

Just that it feels good, really good, really really good.

And then he called my name and I nervously walked onstage.

I put the guitar strap over my shoulder and realized that Jeff plays with his strap slung real low, and tried to cinch the strap up a little bit. Next thing I know, we're off into the beginning of 'Dead Flowers'. Now keep in mind that as this was happening I was experiencing what I can only describe as shock. Here I was all by myself in Mesa Arizona, miles upon miles away from home playing my idol/hero/favorite musician's guitar onstage with him. Little old me. This kind of stuff never happens to me. Man, this is fuckin COOL!!!! I hope I don't screw up.

Ahhhhhhhhhhhh I'm playing with Jeff Dahl AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!

I must mention that time seemed to lapse and go faster for the time I was onstage, though those moments exsist forever in my very being and will never cease to make me smile. Hahaha I'm playing Jeff Dahl's guitar, oh man!!

Into the first chorus, damn this is faster than I remember hearing it before, I better keep up.

"Send me dead flowers every morning"

Oh, I was freaking out and  having the time of my life all at once. And playing his guitar onstage with him. Holy shit. This is real!!!

Danananana Nanananana Bomanananana dananananana

So I made it through the song without having a panic attack (though I was probably stuck in one from the time I landed at the airport), a heart attack, a nervous breakdown, or making anyone cry. All in all a good night. And I had a great big smiley thing on my face, I guess they call a grin. Still do as a matter of fact, still do. Which makes it a Wonderfully COOL fucking day in my life so far up til now and A Matter of Life and Jeff.

Til next time

Cheers

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