Justin Dallas

I went to Dallas this weekend to see my cousin perform. Obviously, what I'm about to say would make you think that I'm just saying it because she's my cousin, but it was honestly the best live performance I've ever seen. Her voice is amazing. Her band is tight. They all work together so effortlessly.

I would venture to say that she has one of the best voices around right now. That's the most I'll say. Some of those notes she hits on the album are ambitious, but I saw her pull them off yesterday with no problem. She even reaches and pushes for those notes, and when you hear the effort and power behind hitting them, its a lot more satisfying, because its exactly what you wanted to hear, and she surpassed the expectation by either making it more powerful or holding the note longer. As a listener, its very easy to realize the amount of skill and talent behind her singing and the band. The third aspect would be the small decisions that make everything so enjoyable. I watched the soundcheck and she was making decisions like changing where the backup singers come in, or how much of a breakdown will come at parts of different songs. In the end, the band just listens, and the crowd is wow'd. In one of her interviews, she mentioned how she loves to produce, and to her its the little things that make a big impact. Deciding how close to put a guitar to a microphone, or pulling herself away from the microphone as she sings so she can get a natural fadeout. The amount of "little things" she considers is amazing.

As for the crowd, that was a crowd full of music lovers. If its one thing I know, you will not get a more pure, diverse crowd than what I saw last night. Everyone enjoyed it, people danced, closed their eyes, held significant others... they were so into it, and it led me to believe that yes there are people out there who know and recognize good music when they hear it... true music lovers, and I'm glad Corinne pulls them out to see her wherever she goes.

I received the royal treatment yesterday, and I'm very thankful. I got there early in time for soundcheck, and I met Corinne as she was entering the venue. I was given a band pass and allowed to roam anywhere the entire night. I was introduced to the band and led onto the tour bus (very nice) so that everyone recognized me and knew who I was. There was a good 5 hours between soundcheck and the performance, so being allowed to just walk onto a cooled tour bus was much appreciated. I saw her husband (I didn't know he was there). We know each other but never spoke at length before. He's a really cool and down to earth guy. I'm glad he was there and that I could finally get to talk. I know she's in good hands - with him, her group, and the tour bus driver (he said "we'll make sure we take care of your cousin.")

I wasn't sure how late the show was going to go on for, or whether I'd start driving back that night. I decided I was just going to walk into a hotel somewhere and pay for one night. I checked the walk-in rates and they were the same as the website, so I knew they wouldn't be a lot more expensive. In the end, I was given a hotel room to stay in, and that was also much appreciated. This was my short vacation this year, and it was a great one.

I had a ton of time to ask the group questions. I asked the tour manager about how the business works. I have a little bit of a better understanding. But more importantly, I was interested in what life on the road is like. I know it seems like a glorified life... lots of people dream of being a celebrity. The best answer I received was that the "glorified" parts are exactly what people imagine they'll be like, but no one understands everything in-between. Days traveling on the road, not being able to really have personal relationships, very little vacation time. They enjoy doing what they do, they love playing music, and yes, the job has its good moments, but it can be as stressful as any other job, its just different. - That response was from the main guitarist.

I asked Corinne the same question. I really wondered whether her catapult to this level had an effect on her. I got some great perspective from her husband as well. She hasn't changed. She said she loves what she is doing, and it is stressful at times, but ultimately she is happy. Her husband was saying that the press doesn't bother her too much, and the thing with the press is that if they sense you're being bothered, they eat it up, and it will get worse. She just doesn't play that game with them.

I wanted to have my picture taken with Corinne, so I had to ask someone to take it for me. Now, I've heard of Amp Fiddler, but I don't know him or his music very well. Of all people, why did I ask him to take the picture? He's a cool guy, he didn't refuse or anything, but I'm sure he could tell I didn't know him. He just introduced himself to me as Amp. I'm glad to have met him though... and no I don't roll in these circles often, last night was just a very pleasant evening and since I went myself I was able to just hang out. If I had come with friends we still would have had a good time, but likely would not have been allowed as much access. Family said, "why aren't you going with anyone." I had planned to originally, but in the midst of thinking too much (like I usually do), I came to the same conclusion... I just wouldn't have been able to do the same thing if more people were with me. I've done it now, so in the future, I won't go alone... I just wanted to make sure I was able to see her and talk a little bit one on one.

That's all I can think of. Dallas is great. 5 hours is a little more than what I'm willing to tolerate for long drives. I did it in one shot (both ways)... but I think if Dallas was 4 hours away, I'd go a lot more often. 10 hours in the car is no fun. I'd definitely consider flying and paying the extra money to have 10 hours more time in Dallas, and out of the car.

~JL

Just Not Paying

That's right. I'm not paying my water bill. No, I'm not crazy... this month they reimbursed me for the 10,000 extra gallons of water they charged me for last month. I knew there was something wrong. They claimed they came out twice to check, but the meter doesn't lie. The second time they came out was to read the meter for this month, and obviously its much less than they expected it to be.

So I'm not paying my bill because they owe me money. Ah, that's a nice bill to find after a long day of work.

~JL

Just got a Story to tell

This story gets pretty personal... so don't be surprised.

There's been something wrong with my throat since late last week. I was going to give it time to see if it got better but it didn't, so yesterday (my b-day), I set up an appointment to see a doctor (a good continuation from the last blog I wrote).

I got there, and described my symptoms. They did a test for strep throat and it came back positive. The doctor came to give me the news, then asked me if I wanted a shot. I said, "A shot of what?" Penicillin.

I said that's cool. The doctor said it was either a shot or 10 days worth of taking pills. I said, I can endure a little pain to not have to deal with pills. She said the nurse will be back in with the shot in a few minutes.

The nurse comes in, I took off my watch and stuck out my arm. Nurse says, "Have you ever had a penicillin shot before?" I said no. She said, "Well, the shot is administered in the rear."

WHAT!?!?!?

That was my reaction. She explined why, and that its a thick shot that needs to go into a large muscle. I'm no punk, I just wanted to get it over with, so I undid my belt and said "Lets get this over with."

It hurt... a lot.

Lesson learned, I've done it once, I'm not doing it again. Always ask where the shot goes before agreeing to it, and maybe taking 10 days worth of pills isn't that much of an inconvenience (if there is a choice). Learn from my mistake everybody.

~JL

Just my Luck

Ah, funny how things work out. Today is my b-day, my aunt is out to visit, and my allergies/throat is so bad its the first day I NEED to take a sick day. No one at work is going to believe that I'm actually sick, they know my aunt is in town, and they know its my birthday. Lesson learned - never tell them anything.

So my insurance here has a fairly hefty deductible. I kept it reasonable, but there is still a deductibile I'm not looking forward to paying. My mom alerted me to the fact (last night) that I am still covered under the family insurance. I was relieved, no deductible for me UNTIL I remembered she once said to me in college that I was covered until my 23rd birthday. At this point, there was 3 hours and counting until I turn 23. I frantically tried to decide whether to go to the emergency room, because it still MAY have been cheaper than going to the doctor under my new insurance once I was no longer covered under the family. I looked everywhere online, and I came across a document that said I'm covered to the end of the month of my 23rd birthday. That was a big relief... but I was born at 2:00AM in the morning on August 1st. That is cutting it REALLY close. In fact, had I been born on the west coast, my insurance would have ran out last night. Those few hours is the difference between insurance running out and an extra 30 days of coverage. I guess I lucked out.