Last Monday night Mike Comfort arranged a band audition at his house near the swamp in Chico. I showed up early and set up my PA and guitar rig. In attendance:
- Brandon Mains, who plays guitar in Mike's existing band, and piano in Magdalena
- Jonathan Stoyanoff, an accomplished bass player and teacher, moved to Chico two years ago after touring with Galactic
- Tino Marrufo, a quick (!) study on drums, current band Mute Witness
While Jonathan and I had studied eight of Mike's songs and came prepared with notes, Tino hadn't heard the music at all. Not to worry. Mike just beatboxed the rhythms the way he wanted them, and Tino picked up the songs effortlessly. In fact, we sounded like a band immediately. Something about a bunch of experienced musicians playing together.
We quit after 50 minutes, happy with the results and having not attracted the police. Mike said, "You're hired," passed out his three CDs, and said we'll start playing as soon as we can learn the set.
Don't you love it when life is easy?