grammy experience 2013

02/2013:

OK … I figure it’s best that I enter my Grammy experiences in the form of a post (so I can update it, as I remember more things). First off, the last week literally feels like 3 weeks. No seriously, we’re pretty much toast after a driving West Coast tour.

To start off, our performance at the Figueroa Hotel was awesome. As usual, it would’ve been nice to have more bodies. But the pool location was awesome and the “Fig” was its usual gorgeous self. My buddy Maurice from PMC rented a pair of super-professional JBL speakers that sounded beyond killer, the bass the high … all were balanced perfectly to give lots of power, while allowing the crowd to talk (the mark of a true hi-end pro system). Lastly, Marcell and I are doing something right, in that every time we play, we get asked back to do a more prominent headline night. Next year, we’re hoping to Play the Fig on Friday before the Grammy telecast.

Next up was the Village Recorders party in Hollywood. IT ROCKED! I was totally afraid that I wouldn’t know anybody … turns out I kept running into buddies from all over the world! Way cool! Hollywood, networking and having fun at its finest!

The Nominee party at the Wilshire Ebell is always a highlight. The nominees were all decked out in tuxes and amazing dresses, having just received our medals. The lifetime achievement awards at the Ebell included tributes to Patti Page and other luminaries, but I particularly love the 30 year tribute to MIDI … Happy 30th Birthday MIDI!

AND THEN … there was the big day! I didn’t win in my category (surround), but some dear friends did. fact is, I don’t feel bad at all, as I was included in a group that are all super-dedicated, hard-working and good-hearted! … It’s an honor to be nominated with such awesome people!

The big night was also a blast … Dan and I were seated (for the fist time) on the main floor. Life is VERY different down there … as luck would have it, we were placed at a point where all the stars had to pass by to get to the main stage from the front. Starts like Sting, Adelle, Dave Groll of the Foo Fighters, Rihanna, Ellen Degeneres … they all “had” to walk within 2 feet of us. Johnny Depp and Elton John were at the end of the isle (30 feet away) … lots of fun!

To top it off, I was sitting with major engineers (all of us are PMC clients with Maurice)… turns out I was sitting next to Tony Maserati, a very well known engineer. I didn’t know it was him, so I had the honor of getting to know the man and not the name… what a sweet guy! Definitely looking forward to next year!