All week, I've been trying to share memories, thoughts and feelings about the life and death of the band Fooled By April. I fear I haven't done a very good job, because it's really hard to process a lot of what I'm feeling. As you can probably tell, this is more than just a band break-up to me.
When I returned from LA in the summer of 2002, I wasn't in the greatest shape in just about every way. My year out there had been lonely, disheartening and in my mind, I was basically a quitter and a failure. I got back to Boston and started hanging out with my high school buddy Joe's band - Fooled By April.
At that time, they had graduated from the crap gigs (a month before I left, I was at Joe's first show with the band at the Sky Bar on a weeknight) and started their rise in the Boston music scene. They were playing great shows and sounding really really REALLY good. Just being around their music made me feel better about being home.
More importantly, they quickly welcomed me into the family. In those days, being around Fooled By April, supporting them, hearing them play - it felt like I was a part of something. They were on to something and they were really going for it. It was inspiring. I was happy just to help them load gear, work the light board or sell merch for them. They were doing it and I was along for the ride.
When I found out they were going to the prestigious South By Southwest music festival, I asked them to follow them for a documentary to which they quickly agreed. It was a crazy, stressful, insecure time for the guys and I was there to share every moment. Documenting someone's life is a very intimate experience - being entrusted with feelings and vulnerabilities is a real honor. It brings you closer to people. I felt like we were brothers.
I ended up with a film of which I'm really proud, probably the thing I'm most proud of in my artistic life. When I sold out a screening at the Allston Cinema (now a lovely Staples store) and stood in front of 150 people cheering my movie - still one of the great moments of my life - the four members of Fooled By April stood right there by my side. Exactly where they belonged.
Fooled By April led me to being in Scamper, both through the bands' unique symbiotic relationship and the way Fooled By April inspired and reawakened my love of/need to perform music for people. You can ask Nate, Keith and Mike about this - there would be no Scamper as it is today without Fooled By April. There certainly would be no Brendan in Scamper.
Quite simply, this past 3 years have been the richest, most productive and most joyous years of my life. And at the center of that joy is the band Fooled By April. They've meant more to me than I could really express. And while I celebrate them individually and the exciting, separate adventures their lives are about to enter, I will mourn the loss of them in my life.
Joe, Gordon, Pete, Jordan - thank you for making my life better through your music, your spirit and just who you are. It is my honor to share the stage with you tomorrow night at the Paradise for your last show.
When I returned from LA in the summer of 2002, I wasn't in the greatest shape in just about every way. My year out there had been lonely, disheartening and in my mind, I was basically a quitter and a failure. I got back to Boston and started hanging out with my high school buddy Joe's band - Fooled By April.
At that time, they had graduated from the crap gigs (a month before I left, I was at Joe's first show with the band at the Sky Bar on a weeknight) and started their rise in the Boston music scene. They were playing great shows and sounding really really REALLY good. Just being around their music made me feel better about being home.
More importantly, they quickly welcomed me into the family. In those days, being around Fooled By April, supporting them, hearing them play - it felt like I was a part of something. They were on to something and they were really going for it. It was inspiring. I was happy just to help them load gear, work the light board or sell merch for them. They were doing it and I was along for the ride.
When I found out they were going to the prestigious South By Southwest music festival, I asked them to follow them for a documentary to which they quickly agreed. It was a crazy, stressful, insecure time for the guys and I was there to share every moment. Documenting someone's life is a very intimate experience - being entrusted with feelings and vulnerabilities is a real honor. It brings you closer to people. I felt like we were brothers.
I ended up with a film of which I'm really proud, probably the thing I'm most proud of in my artistic life. When I sold out a screening at the Allston Cinema (now a lovely Staples store) and stood in front of 150 people cheering my movie - still one of the great moments of my life - the four members of Fooled By April stood right there by my side. Exactly where they belonged.
Fooled By April led me to being in Scamper, both through the bands' unique symbiotic relationship and the way Fooled By April inspired and reawakened my love of/need to perform music for people. You can ask Nate, Keith and Mike about this - there would be no Scamper as it is today without Fooled By April. There certainly would be no Brendan in Scamper.
Quite simply, this past 3 years have been the richest, most productive and most joyous years of my life. And at the center of that joy is the band Fooled By April. They've meant more to me than I could really express. And while I celebrate them individually and the exciting, separate adventures their lives are about to enter, I will mourn the loss of them in my life.
Joe, Gordon, Pete, Jordan - thank you for making my life better through your music, your spirit and just who you are. It is my honor to share the stage with you tomorrow night at the Paradise for your last show.
2 Comments:
There certainly would be no Brendan in Scamper.
Cue Beach Boys "Wouldn't it be Nice."
No, wait; cue the spontaneous Beach Boys singalong that Keith, Mike, and I had as we left rehearsal last night. That was awesome.
Wow dude, those are some kind words. Shucks... And it's true, you are totally a part of Fooled By April... whatever the hell it is/was. Thanks, Brendo.
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