Two Turtle Doves, And 15k Singing Happy Birthday

I’m seriously at a loss of how to start this post (that sentence is ironic, no?). Well, I just got back from New York today. And my birthday was yesterday. And by the way, please don’t take this the wrong way. I’m writing this in a sort of grateful mindset, not to boast or brag. So with that said, enjoy!

What I did on my birthday this year was not a typical cake-eatin’ celebration. Don’t get me wrong: there was cake (which was unintentionally bought with rum-laden icing), but everything else was out of the ordinary. I spent my birthday in New York City’s Madison Square Garden with Neil Young, Pegi Young, Will Arnett, Amy Poehler, Jack McBrayer, Fred Armisen, and of course, my family (did I forget anyone?). The night was headlined by a Neil Young performance (as I mentioned before), which was incredible. If you read the You, Me, & Neil Young post, you’d know about it, but there’s one thing I didn’t mention before.

On my birthday, I was introduced and came on stage with Wilco, to open for Neil Young. The Garden was filled with 15,000 people, whom which sang “Happy Birthday” to me. As any kid in that situation would do, I blushed, but quickly recovered to play drums. I played one of my dad’s songs, The Late Greats. I had been carefully rehearsing it the past couple of days, though I had already known the beat since it was released. Before I went on stage, my mom was more nervous than I was. She was practically hyperventilating! The whole thing was captured on HD cameras and will be used in my upcoming Bar-Mitzvah video. What a great experience!

You might be (or at least I am) wondering how this whole thing came into place. Well, this past Neil Young/Wilco tour, Glenn Kotche (Wilco drummer) was unavailable for a few dates. My dad told me that the shows he was missing were near the end of the school year, and maybe we (the family) could come out for them and that I could play. It turns out that the dates were actually mid-tour Canadian shows, not end-of-the-tour NY shows. Oh well, better luck next time. Or not. We decided we could do it anyway, it would be on my birthday after-all! After the gig was confirmed, I promptly asked my dad, “Ya know maybe I could get like a tenth of Glenn’s salary for the night – that way I could buy ALL my birthday presents.” Heheh.. that didn’t work out.

Nonetheless, I performed at The Garden, had a great time and a successful birthday. And now I thank you for all of your support, readership, and fandom that you’ve given me!

PHOTOS COMING SOON!