Topher's Story pt. 2

      After playing the bass for some time, I started joining friends to play music outside of school. Many covers were learned and we quickly realized that it was possible to make some pocket cash by playing a few hours every weekend. At one point, I remember jamming with one group one night, then practicing a set list with a totally different group the next night. It was fun, and it kept my head in the music. It helped me gain a respect for every type of music, from jazz(still can't quite play that well) to old style country to classic rock and the present-day stuff at that time. It was the nineties so I still found present-day music quite enjoyable. That's not to say that I find the music of the 2000's+ to be bad, it's just not the same for me. 

     One band had made all the difference for me though. That band name was Sweet Lip. It was myself on bass, a guy on guitar and vocals that I had been friends with for years before, another guy on guitar and vocals that I had met in high school band, and another guy on drums that I had no idea existed until I went to try out on bass. We had quickly found a place to jam, and boy did I hate the damn stairs! Steep as hell and narrow.... Barely had enough room for my father's Roland StudioBass 100 amp.... Anyway, once we started jamming more and more, we found our groove. The fun thing with this band was that it had opened up a new door for me. Being an all-original material band, it meant I could freely give my own bit on bass. I had been listening to a lot of classic rock and prog rock stuff at this point. RUSH, YES, The Band, Led Zeppelin, Pink Floyd etc. 

      We played bars, frequenting an old pub called Bar le Magog, and other local places. The pay was the basic pay(Ticket sales and/or half of the cover charge and a case of beer). Sometimes we get a really good night and have locals buy us a round in we threw in a cover song into the list of original songs. 

     Eventually, we had found a guy who would be willing to record a CD for us. So, we practiced the same songs over and over again until we felt comfortable enough to start recording. I even had a song that I had written put into the list. This was the first time I had gone through the process of recording music. Not to brag, but, I had managed to get most of the songs spot on the first take or two.... I was pretty proud of that seeing as it took numerous takes for the others. The feeling didn't last though. I eventually had started feeling like it wasn't a path that I wanted to take and decided to call it quits after a gig had gone sour. Everyone just went their own way. 

      At this time, I had personal stuff going on. Still dabbled in music here and there, but nothing that lead to any other doors. I had given my bass to my sister, and just took time for myself. The years went on and I went through a very rough break from a relationship, and fell into a darker place. I experimented with different drugs, drank like there was no tomorrow and had taken up smoking cigs again... It wasn't my best of times. Although, it did lead to one of my funniest memories....  It involved mushrooms and leprechauns.. .. But anyways, back to the musical bits.. 

      It was a different time for me. I had started hanging out with the friend who had been on guitar and vocals in Sweet Lip, as well as another old friend. We toyed with the idea of starting a band again. It was like a call from above. Long story short, Highway Overdrive was born. We got together and it was an amazing time! We played covers and original songs, started gaining a bit of attention from locals. We had a great time playing at the bar that was right above our jam room. But, something happened that would make me feel bad to this day. Due to some ill-advised changes, the drummer (who was also the brother of the guitarist/singer) and the keyboard player (who I still talk to once in a while these days) were asked to leave the band. I don't know what we were thinking. Regardless, that lead me to the first time traveling twice, by mini van, from Sherbrooke, Quebec to Texas! It was highly funded by none other than my father. I owe so much to that man. He gave me opportunity after opportunity and never stopped believing that I would turn out alright. I have a life with a girl and 4 great kids that I would not trade in for anything and love every bit of it.