“Chris,
You are such an inspiration.
I started writing music in Iraq.
My music is called “The Winterleaf”
Please listen to it at myspace.com/thewinterleaf.
Thank you for giving me a purpose in life.
James
The Winterleaf”
I know it’s very choppy and very to the point, but it was written in dim lighting with people all around me, music blaring.
I held up this makeshift note or something much like it, (Pen and back of an E-ticket) at yesterday's Dashboard concert. During the 3rd song he told me into the mic not to worry, that I didn't have to hold the note up the entire time, he'll get it. There was like 3-4 times I screamed something to him and he answered. Things like, "It's you, referring to the heat he had just mentioned, "What happened, " referring to him saying that something had happened to him recently, and "of course, You can do it!" which got a laugh from him.
Note: As a important reminder, Always scream things in the Rob Schnider-Waterboy / Strongbad voice if you want to get a response from any big star. You'll get one 98% of the time... even if it's just a smile. I did this at an Astros game to Roy Oswalt simply saying, "Hey look! It's Roy Oswalt" and he looked up at me and held his fist in a black power sort of way for a good 7 seconds. I mean it was creepy long. Let's put it this way. I broke eye contact first =..
OK, back to Chris.
During the Encore I held up the note again as a friendly reminder. He found my eyes and nodded in a matter of fact way. After the show was over a stage hand came down and asked who had a note for Chris. I shouted "ME" and gave it up. I then proceeded to the back door, where I waited about 2 hours for him to come out. During that wait I met John Ralston, and Augustana lead singer Dan Layus. I got pictures with both of them. Also I got a picture with local boy Johnny Lefler, Chris’ Guitar player for years.
When Chris finally came out we all formed a line to see him. Everyone got autographs and pictures with him, then came my turn.
We shook hands and I said,
“Hi my name’s James”
“Oh YOU’RE James”
“yeah”
“The Winterleaf right?”
(shock and awe, he not only remembered, but he just said “The Winterleaf”) “Yeah, yeah that’s right”
“You know, you got us all talking backstage”
“really?”
“Yeah, ol’ (forgot his name) was in Desert Storm”
“oh wow”
“But it was nothing like what you probably went through right? It was very different I would think”
“oh yeah, prolly a little, yeah”
“So you’ve been to Iraq?”
(We took a picture together)
“twice”
“Oh wow”
“you’re such an inspiration to me”
“Aw, thanks”
“Before you, I though you needed a band to make it in music, but you’re, I mean you ARE the music, so… Yeah that’s where I started writing music. Like 3 years ago I was there in Iraq when I first heard you. You were such an inspiration to me”
“oh awesome”
“now I’m going to school for music.”
“Oh really? What do you plan on doing?”
“I’d like to teach it someday but I’d like to perform and stuff until then”
“Yeah, let the young guns have their fun while they can”
**He said something KIND of like this, anyway, you get the just of it**
“yeah!”
(We shared a laugh)
“Wow!
(he did a squint smile thing.. kind of in disbelief)
You look so young! How old are you?”
**I guess he said this cos I’m standing here telling him that I’ve been to Iraq twice and now going to school for music**
“23”
“23?! Jeez!”
“yeah”
“Well James… I’m going to listen to your music when we have our first day off, OK?”
**Which will be the 11th I checked**
“oh thank you so much”
“No problem. Well, James take it easy alright man?”
(I give him a hug)
“thanks I sure will”
“Welcome back”
-- end --
There was a bit more chit-chat than that and I can’t remember EXACTLY what I said but that was about it.
So I met my Hero, He’s going to listen to my music, He has my phone number… Life is good
=)
James
***I have all these pictures posted in my “CONCERTS” folder here***
