Stand By Dave

Welcome back to FNHHVD. Last week's episode was postponed due to plans being made to watch a certain team from Wisconsin win a small trophy. Yes, the Packers are Super Bowl XLV champs, and I am still on cloud nine.

Tonight's video comes as a suggestion from my old friend Dave, who now resides in Kelowna. Dave and I met on our first day of ski patrolling over 20 years ago and he is a true friend. Since that fateful meeting, we have lived together, shared a business dream together, played in a killer band together, and shared one or two beverages from time to time. Years ago, Dave placed a massive pile of sticks on my 1961 Valiant while I was asleep. That's the kind of thing that a true friend does - and one doesn't mind. Although we see less of each other now due to our distance apart, we still manage to chat once in a while, and we get together when we can. Life goes on. Good friends can be apart and still be friends. That's just how it works.

Dave's suggestion comes from "Playing for Change", a group of documentary filmmakers whose goal is to bring the music of the street to the masses. This video, "Stand By Me", was created by recording and then synchronizing tracks played by a huge variety of musicians across the world. What I like about it is that it's NOT the over-produced, auto-tuned, American Idol tripe that we see so much of. These people play simply because they love to play - there is no expectation on their behalf. There is no glitz or glamour, no awards. Yet, their musicianship is remarkable.

Like Dave, these people (or at least some of them) have probably piled sticks on their friend's car at one time. And power to them for that.