"Let's Play Two"
Back-to-back outdoor shows on a hot Sunday required channeling some Mr. Cub positive energy
For at least a month, I had a driveling drip of dread in the back of my mind as to how the logistics of Sunday, July 6th would play out in real time. Back on Sunday, June 8th, I was scheduled to play in the lovely Des Moines Biergarten in Des Moines Water Works. Unfortunately, the weather had other plans, and it rained quite a bit that morning necessitating the decision to cancel the show.
As we talked through the decision, I asked if there any potential dates still available this year. There was one date that remained open. Sunday, July 6th 2-4pm. I knew we were already scheduled that evening for an “Americana the Beautiful” set to tee up the amazing fireworks show at Deer Run Golf Club in Indianola, but it didn’t start until 6:30pm so I agreed to the make-up date.
In the moment, I knew I was likely stretching myself thin, but I also very much wanted and needed to keep the gig. The Biergarten is a terrific place to play where one can quickly be surrounded by new and old friends. It’s also a nice-paying gig, hence, lack of open slots. The outdoor gig scene in Iowa is much more robust in the summer months so musicians work hard to fill what they can during the busy season to make up for slower winter months.
Of skills I’ve developed over my 49 years living life, I cherish my ability to surround myself with people of greater talents. I’m also from the school of thought to embrace core competencies. In the realm of music, I consider my core competency to write songs that are empathetic and attempt to connect with a listener in a meaningful way through a story. They are best played in quiet spaces with attentive audiences. This, of course, doesn’t always work out this way but I try hard to present a story through song where a listener be in the moment and utilize a little theater of the mind.
Luckily, with my core bandmates of Mike Irwin, Sean Sullivan and Jen Albright, I have found three highly intelligent and talented individuals that are great at problem solving any techy or tricky audio situations. I try to stay in my lane without being too overly ignorant. But I never have dread when they’re around and trust that the system will work out because I’m in the hands of bright folks.
Setting up entirely on my own is a different story. Granted, they have pulled together the Cliff’s Notes versions to help me be more self-sufficient with cords and plug-ins nicely labeled, but it’s just not the same as being on site and knowing you’ve got a ride-or-die with you that will help fix any feedback, short, lack-of-power, systems-not-jiving-issue that might arise.
As schedules were coming into formation and the date was getting nearer, it was increasingly clear I was going to need to perform Sunday in the Biergarten solo. The fellas would meet me at Deer Run in Indianola but had other commitments that afternoon. My wife was going to step in for a duo show but a fever and illness on Saturday afternoon changed those plans as well.
I woke up Sunday morning and was immediately antsy with nervous prepper energy. I gathered numerous materials as I would need to bring different equipment to each show. The logistics and timing were such that I could swing back home immediately after the Biergarten show and re-pack for the Indianola gig. My arrival time to the latter would be about 5:30 giving us a full hour for set-up.
My family kindly helped me pack and re-pack at the house like they were part of a pit crew at the Iowa Corn 350. I hadn’t felt my best all weekend either with a bit of a wonky nasally-voice from allergies and fireworks smoke dusted up from a Thursday show. Luckily, poet David Wolf told me on Saturday as we were practicing through our Beaverdale Books set this coming Wednesday at 1:30pm, that it was recommended to him that 24-Hour allergy medicines worked really more like 12-Hour these days.
So, I doubled up on the Claritins on Saturday and passageways through it all became clearer —including my attitude. At an extended family function on the Fourth of July, a wise older cousin on my wife’s side was asking about my career these days and made it clear to me that he perceived that I was “living my dream” these days. Following up with a “that my friend is something special.” It gave me pause.
I often forget these days as I’m jumping from one gig to an article creation to a social media post to a follow-up email on a gig performance date to working through logistics of events that I am truly doing something I only once dreamed about doing — I’m sharing my songs. It’s far, far from perfect and it often feels like a Sisyphean task, but every time I connect with someone in a meaningful way on this singer-songwriter journey it sure feels special.
As much as I worried about the tech set-up going awry at the Biergarten and being out there all alone to troubleshoot it, I also knew if I could just get to the part where I’m singing and chatting with folks it would be amazing. And, once I was in the park, I felt a little breeze to my back, both literally and figuratively, as I started seeing friendly faces arrive.
First, an old acquaintance, Michael, showed up to say hey and that he’s been following me. He couldn’t stick around but wanted to make sure he said hey and gave me a fist bump. I had some initial power issues setting up but noticed the ‘test’ button had tripped so I pushed it in and saw the magic blue light on the amp. I made some other set-up connections and started chatting through the mic. Deep in the back was a sleeveless biker. I asked “Hey, sleeveless biker man in the back, can you hear me?” He gave me a thumbs up from deep in right field and I felt a little extra wind to my back. We had power and sound, ahhhhhh, now we’re getting close to the fun part!
Then I saw my friend Bernie walking up to the stage. He asked if I wanted some sweet corn later they were smoking as part of the birthday celebration they were having for our mutual friend Leo and I said oh yeah. Then I saw my friend, Hartman. We used to play quite a bit of basketball together at the Y and we chatted. Then our mutual friend Milan joined him. I met several new friends that were also big fans of John Prine. They kindly moved closer to the stage throughout the show and even danced a little. There were several thumbs up from strangers throughout the set as I shared a mix of originals and covers. Some folks walked up with tips. Dave even hit my Venmo with one. My good buddy Kirby requested I play Big Ol’ Moon so I did. Bernie brought that plate of sweet corn towards the end. Jeff kindly carried my packed-up gear to the car with me afterwards and a new paid Chip Happens subscriber notification hit my inbox right after the show. I scooted down the road by 4:30 noshing on some sweet corn to make the big turn before the nightcap doubleheader. I could feel the love overcoming any previous anxiety and dehydration from the heat, allergy medicine and stress of logistics on a tight timeline.
Sometimes I find it helpful to just set an attainable goal when you are feeling overwhelmed. On Sunday, I knew if I could just get myself to Indianola in one-piece by 5:30p, and have the equipment necessary loaded up, that the time would fly by making music with Mike and Sean knowing they’d troubleshoot any possible sound issue.
As we were setting up together and shooting the breeze under the tent, Sean put some kind of oil on my strings to help my fingers not feel so destroyed from the humidity and steel strings. Then Mike and I started chatting about equipment and shook on a trade with his 6-string Deering banjo headed my way in exchange for my Fender Blues Jr. amp. He thinks I can write some new songs on the 6-string banjo and he’s got a Strat project for the amp. We erected the tent as a trio and built a cozy little fort for the night overlooking bouncy houses on a lush green golf course. We jammed, watched kids fly through those bounce houses and roll balls on the putting green, cracked some jokes with the crowd, commented on the group that brought bubbles, made some new friends and had a symphony of smiles between us making some new memories.
6:30 became 7:30 very quickly and before I knew it was time to switch to the patriotic instrumental music that was requested to play as an interlude to the fireworks as dusk settled in for the night. I was back home with a vehicle full of instruments and gear just before 11pm and my pit crew helped me one final time before calling it a night with the equipment resting just inside the door for the night for the cats to sniff with curiousity.
We use the phrase “living the dream” quite often in the Midwest. Mostly sardonically it seems but not necessarily with malicious intent. It’s just kind of a forced self-deprecation in my opinion. It’s something I’ve said many times over the years almost in auto-pilot mode.
If you had asked me Sunday morning how I was doing, I might have said sardonically “living the dream” to you as I stressed about the coming heat of the day and commitments I had made that needed to be honored. But, now with the opportunity for reflection from the weekend, I can tell you I am “living the dream” with genuine authenticity.
I’m so incredibly grateful for anyone and everyone following along, sharing words of encouragement, taking some pictures, tagging me in a post, telling me we’re kindred spirits because of our mutual respect for the great folk songwriters in America, thanking me for my writing and efforts, subscribing, giving my original music a spin, sharing a song, buying a CD or letting me that my song about my grandfather moved you. Thank you for the encouragement to move forward and try harder.
The saying, “Let’s Play Two” is forever intertwined with the affable and universally adored “Mr. Cub” aka “Mr. Sunshine”, Ernie Banks. According to Glenn Stout in The Cubs: The Complete Story of Chicago Cubs Baseball. “If it is not the best-known quote in all baseball, it is close. Ernie Banks and the phrase “Let’s play two” are instantly identifiable. The statement embodies both the simple joy of the game and Banks’s unique, indomitable, and optimistic spirit.”
The origin of the saying has some inconsistencies but according to Stout “in a 2006 interview for a book with author Alan Schwarz, Banks said, “It was Tuesday, July 18, 1967—at 10:25 a.m. Central Standard Time. I know because it was one of the turning moments of my life. . . . It was about 105 degrees that day, and as I walked into our locker room, my Cubs teammates were really worn down. But I was feeling so great. So lucky. I was getting paid to do something I loved. So I walked in the locker room and I said, ‘Boy, it’s a beautiful day—let’s play two!’ Everybody kind of raised up and looked at me. They were saying to themselves, ‘This guy is crazy. . . .’ A few weeks later in the locker room, a writer in Chicago wrote about it, and it’s really stuck to me ever since. I love it—it’s become a part of me.”
On Sunday, like Ernie Banks, I got paid to do something I love. Sing songs with and for friends. I’m blessed. Thank you for helping make Chip Happen.
To find more stories and insights across the state of Iowa, please consider following and supporting the many talented journalists and storytellers of the Iowa Writer’s Collaborative of which I’m a proud member.
NOTE: All annual paid subscribers to Chip Happens will now receive a copy of my 2025 CD compilation, Twenty-Five, that includes 25 original songs. To those of you that have already upgraded and purchased the CD, my sincerest of thanks! You are a critical component of making Chip Happens! You can upgrade your subscription here and receive a copy for your cherished physical music collection. Each song will also come with a story for paid subscribers with some behind-the-song insights. If you are only in the market for the CD, it is available here for $25. CD art and design were completed by my amazing and talented wife, Jen Albright.
I'm no pharmacist or ENT specialist, but I have my info about antihistamines on the authority of both my allergist and general practitioner. Always check with your doctor, of course! I am a gigging musician, though, and Chip's dedication to his art and general stamina--especially outdoors in Iowa in the summer--are awe inspiring. Keep it happening and play on!
Music, baseball references and fireworks! Nice way to end the holiday weekend and great outlook on living your dream. Glad we could talk about that, in person recently, before hitching a five second ride in a "yellow rickshaw." 😊