Musical Adventures with Bryan White

This is a long one but an important one so stay with me guys. 

So fans of this blog know of my love for Music … all kinds. It’s been a while since I did a music post on this page but I decided to wait to tell you all about the greatest musical night of my life in a very long time. If someone were to ask me “who is your favorite musician ?” I never hesitate …. I already know. I’ve been in love with his voice since the early 90s. For my 15^th birthday I was given a membership to his fan club. He came to Mobile a couple of times and I got to see him all but once. One time he was performing at our local Junior Miss Pageant and my mom bought us tickets and when he finished his song we left. We were there for him, that was it, good luck ladies, Bryan is gone and so are we! I will never hesitate to see this man strum his guitar. Immediately Bryan White comes out of my mouth. Their response is usually “who?” then I give them a 45-minute dissertation of the man’s career from the 90’s to today. It’s funny to me most know his music but not necessarily his name. Mind blown every time it happens.

Here’s the short version of his “Marcy created bio” – yes this is the short version. 

His first album titled “Bryan White” came out in 1994 on Asylum Records and from that first strum of a guitar I was hooked. He’s an Oklahoma native and quite proud of those roots, as displayed on his album Dustbowl Dreams to come later. He’s definitely classified as a singer-songwriter writing as many hits for himself as he has for others (remind you of anyone else that I’vetalked about on this blog?). His debut album was a great introduction to an artist. Showed his range in ballads and playful songs like Eugene You Genius which never fails to put a smile on my face. Look at Me Now was his first single ever and will forever be in my top 10 of favorite Country songs. It was however Rebecca Lynn and Someone Else’s Star that rocketed him to the top of the charts and kept him there for a while. The album earned him the CMA Horizon Award (beating out LeAnn Rimes and Shania Twain) and a nomination for Male Vocalist of the Year Award narrowly missing out to George Strait twice (1996 & 1997). He was in good company tho with fellow nominees being Vince Gill, Collin Raye Alan Jackson. Good company to sit with while King George took home the trophy. 

His second album Between Now and Forever was created to build on the success of the ballads found in his Debut album and it’s fantastic because it also balances with a few fun tracks like “So Much For Pretending and Sitting on Go that keep the listener on their toes. It does tend to lean more towards ballads tho. 

The Right Place continued that formula and has several songs about love, breaking up, and staying together for ever. The Star of this album was Tree of Hearts. It makes me cry every damn time. 

When 1999 rolled around Asylum was struggling hard, and that’s a shame cause How Lucky I Am it a fantastic album that deserved far more love. On any other record label, it would have kept the needle on Bryan and Country music would have embraced it hard. The formula was still there but it was a more grown up Bryan behind the mic. He played with his vocal range, the lyrics were tighter, and the music was perfect from track 1 to the last track. It didn’t hurt that Bryan had recently found the love of his life and the album reflected that (again sounds like another artist I’ve talked about on this blog before ÷). There is not one track on this album that is skip worthy. If there is a perfect album on this planet this album is it. I’ll die on that hill if I have to. I listen to this album when I’m happy, when I’m tired, when I’m sad, when I’m having a good day or a bad one cause it’s literally that good. I give this album to friends as a wedding gift and force them to listen to The Staying upon their engagement cause at the end of the day that’s what it’s all about and they need to hear it.

When Asylum folded many think, Bryan fell off the planet. He retreated into himself and suffered a great depression which frankly was likely due to exhaustion. So, he walked away. So to most that is where his story ends but to me that’s where his story begins. He got married to Erika Page (who at the time was on One Life To Live), he took time off for the first time in years and just was a normal guy walking around New York City with the most beautiful woman on the planet and just stopped everything while he sorted it all out. In 2003 his first son was born and in 2005 his second was born. The music was still in him was still wanting to come out. 

No longer saddled with a label telling him what he could and couldn’t do or what he needed to sound like he started recording again and released Dustbowl Dreams in 2009. By far his most personal album to date he wrote a track about Erika (his wife) and how her adoption journey led her to him, sang with Steve Wariner (the man who made him want to be a musician)  and quite possibly my favorite track of all Beautiful Place. It was a wonderful Album sold through his website and I’m sure I-tunes. I’m a CD girl, I like to hold it in my hands, read the CD Jacket from page to page etc. 

Then came 2014 and he decided he wanted to release another CD, this time a 6 track EP called Shine and was going to do it with the fans help through Kickstarter. I gladly handed over my money and got guitar strings and a signed drum cover for my efforts. This 6 song EP is fantastic. If it’s not in your Music folder you need to get it ASAP!

I always say my favorite Bryan White track is his next one and he has yet to disappoint me with that notion.

In 2016 he started releasing singles instead of waiting on a full CD to develop. Finally Home a nod to his Phillippines fans who thanks to a noontime variety show got “God Gave Me You” from How Lucky I Am back in the spotlight when they started using it in their show. Bryan went to the Philippines and performed a show there and went on the show. It was a crazy ride to watch but proved that his music is stronger than time. He also released a revamped version of Never Get Around to it from his “Right Place” album, making it the way he envisioned it not the way the label created it. His latest single 2019, It Must Be Love is a tribute to Don Williams and keeps him on the radar as long as you are paying attention. I stayed up until Midnight at Golden’s house once to finally be able to listen to the track when it was released and kept it on repeat all night long while I slept.

 

In order to understand how special Thursday night was you have to hear this last encounter with Bryan. 

In 2011 I found out that Bryan was throwing a Back Yard BBQ at his house for the fans. I mentioned it to my mom thinking it was never going to be a thing. I was shocked when she bought me and Golden a ticket. Golden had no idea really who Bryan was tho living near me in College she had heard his music. She thought it was cool to be going to his house tho so she was in. Shes too cool for pictures tho. 

I picked her up and off we went. The whole day was sketchy and scary and required a LOT of trust on my part, my mom’s part and Bryan’s part too. The night before it rained hard. They sent out a message (I want to say via Twitter and maybe Facebook) telling everyone to bring a chair instead of a blanket since sitting on the ground wasn’t going to work. We stopped at a Walgreens or it could have been a Rite Aid and bought two chairs for like $10 bucks a piece and had like 3 hours to kill. We got lunch and waited for more instructions. They were watching the weather and coming up with a back up plan incase of rain. The entire day I was a basket of nerves. It felt wrong like this was all a scam. I was texting with his manager at the time the entire day. I’m sure I annoyed him but it all just … well felt sketchy. My mom’s instructions were forget the money if you get there and it feels off leave. You and Golden are smart just stay safe. We finally got the call to meet in a random Kroger parking lot at like 3. We were nearby so we went on over and got a Wendy’s shake while we waited. Several other cars pulled up around 2:30ish. 

It was bizarre we all got out of our cars and talked about how sketchy this was and how nervous we were. Golden and I had already made a pact that we were not leaving the car behind. Then someone all official showed up and gathered us up and said his driveway was really small that people would need to double up. I immediately raised my hand and said I can fit three more in my car. Anyway long story short we all pilled into cars and drove through the streets of Nashville (I won’t tell you where we went cause that was his one request not to give out his address ha!) as a long Bryan White Convoy. My car was 2^nd in the line. We stood on his  sidewalk for what seemed like hours then they let us in. We walked through his living room after being greeted at the door by the man and proceeded to the back yard to set up our chairs. He played for a few hours and then gave us a tour of the house and his studio. 

Up to that moment that night was the best night of my life. 

That’s where the history lesson ends and the post about the BEST NIGHT EVER I’ve had in a long while starts. In 2015 the Listening Room of Mobile opened in downtown Mobile. They have 3-4 shows a week with a single artist or group featured each night. I’m not going to lie if the shows didn’t start so late I might live down there but alas they do and I often only go down there when it’s someone that can get me in the seat. Vanessa Peters was one, Eric Erdman is another that can get me down there. I keep telling myself I’m going down there one day just on a whim and listen to someone I’ve never heard before and see what happens. 

One day I’m sitting in my living room watching TV and scrolling Facebook as I typically do when the owner popped up on my Facebook page one day with a note telling people Bryan White would be at the Listening Room Aug 15^th Tickets on Sale soon! I almost crapped myself. Wait what Bryan was coming here… to my back yard to my home town … to one of my favorite places in the city to listen to music!? I was in from there. I immediately put my name down on the list and started bugging Jim about when Tickets would be available to purchase. The next day I walked into the office and took the 16^th off so I could stay as late as I needed to without worry of having to get up early. I was going to this show, was going to enjoy every second of it and immediately started making plans to have people join me. I wanted to sell that room out hard. We got about halfway there when it was all said and done. That’s ok tho cause I think Bryan had a fantastic night and I understand is already talking about coming back.

So let’s set the stage. It’s a Thursday afternoon around say 6 pm my friend Christina (whom I roped into going with me to the show several months ago) had just finished dinner and are kind of just walking around downtown killing time when Christina said, oh my god is that Bryan (like they had known each other for years.) I looked up the street and OH MY GOD IT WAS. She took off. I caught up with her and said please don’t chase this boy down the street! At this point he was a block or so ahead of us. Then he passed the Listening Room. I said oh god he’s lost. So off we went, now literally chasing the man down the street. We got even with the Listening Room and I was looking to see if anyone was inside that could “officially” go get the boy instead of two crazy people that might scare him away for good. No one was there that I could see and we look up the street and Bryan takes a left down an alley between two buildings. I thought oh god he’s going to be killed (not a fantastic part of town but not the worst part either), and we take off. We walked though the alley and look right and left and he’s walking back up the street phone in his hand. I’m sure it was telling him he was there because he was right behind it but you know how phones are. So Christina yells “Bryan!!!” and he stops and turns around and I’m super embarrassed and he yells back ”yeah!?” and he’s just watching the two of us jog up the street towards him. She yells, “you are lost, you passed the listening room back that way.” She started pointing and he said “I’m following yall!” and started walking towards us. So we started walking back to the Listening Room and he says I’ve seen you before talking to me. I said yes sir and he asked when the last time I was at a show and I said the last show I saw was in your backyard. He said you were at the BBQ I was like yep, then it clicked and he said you were the one worried about the wiring in my basement! I laughed and said yes and he said you’ll be happy to know it looks better now. I said good ha!  

Yes … I took a picture of the wiring at the man's house that night 

Then we arrived at the Listening Room and he thanked us for being such tour guides. We let him in to do his sound check while we smelted in front and Christina made fun of my fangirl attitude cause she has never seen me like that before. A few minutes later a few other fans showed up for the meet and greet and the night was on. By the time they let us in there were 10 of us hanging out. When they let us in we all got settled and about 10 minutes later here he came. He told the whole room how we rescued him and it was fantastic. He mentioned it again while he was playing. Ha! He spent about 30 minutes just talking to us all about life, his music, what our favorite albums were and Mobile in general. Then he took pictures with all of us before the rest of the people showed up. I think we ended up with about half a room filled so I was happy about that. I think next time we can easily sell it out. School started in the area this week, there was another high profile show earlier in this week and it was just bad timing for many. It’s a real shame they missed a fantastic night of music, stories, and an overall good time! 

Myself, Bryan White, and Christina by far a better picture than before 

I tried to keep up with his playlist for the night (the album the song is from is also shown below)

• Sitting on Go - 1996 Between Now and Forever
• Amen - 2014 Shine - EP Kickstarter Album
• Look At Me Now - 1994 Bryan White
• Rebecca Lynn - 1994 Bryan White
• Love is the Right Place - 1997 The Right Place
• I’m Not Supposed to Love you Anymore - 1996 Between Now and Forever
• It Must Be Love – 2019 new single
• That’s Another Song - 1996 Between Now and Forever
• Get Back (Cover Beatles) – which I was really not expecting but loved!
• You’re Still Beautiful to - Me 1999 How Lucky I Am – since I told him that was my favorite album before he played it he said it was for me :D yes I might have squeeled a little bit 
• So Much For Pretending  - 1996 Between Now and Forever
• Short Are The Years (Cover Jason Crabb Unexpected) – I swear I think he said he cowrote this one for 
• Someone Else’s Star - 1994 Bryan White

It was an awesome night and he covered all the hits. For me he could have played for 3 or 4 hours and I’d have still wished for more time. I’ve been sending suggestions to him via social media for weeks and he sang a few of my suggestions. I did tell him after the show that I loved his old stuff and was grateful he sang what he sang but wished he’d give more love to his newest stuff. Was shocked he didn’t do Finally Home and some of the newer tracks. He said he didn’t think anyone would want to hear them I said they would if you played them. They are really great tracks. However, I get it when you have a fan base like his there’s certain songs you have to play to make the night worth it. Like I’d have been super bummed if he hadn’t played Someone Else’s Star. So I get it but his new stuff deserves love too not “just the hits.”

At one point he just started playing. I don’t know the song I’m sure it started out as a song then it became a riff but whatever it was made the entire night worth it. He was literally picking and grinning and I could watch him do that alone for hours.  

His stories between songs were beautiful and allowed you to really not only connect to him but to his music. Towards he end he told about his struggles with depression and expressed his reborn Christianity and I just knew he was going to play What I already know. I told him that and he said that would have been a great song to end that on and I said I know! So maybe he’ll take my comment to heart and dust off some of the other songs in his catalog the next time he comes around.  
If you are new to this artist check him out

Itunes     https://music.apple.com/us/artist/bryan-white/129986

Twitter    https://twitter.com/bryan_white

Instagram   https://www.instagram.com/bryan_white/

Facebook    https://www.facebook.com/BryanWhiteFans/ 

You Tube    https://t.co/aCzYyWc9UM?amp=1

Website   http://www.bryanwhite.com/

Anyway this is a SUPER LONG post telling you if this man comes anywhere near you and you loved COUNTRY back when it was COUNTRY MUSIC then you need to get a ticket and get to his show. I will never miss another one as a matter of fact tomorrow he’ll be in Panama City Beach and it’s everything I can do to not make that drive.

Thank you Bryan for coming to my town, thank you Jim for getting him here and thank you Erika for letting us borrow him for a few days. You really are awesome to share him with us. 

Marcy

@beaslma

The Springs – a band you need to know

 Let me introduce you to 

THE SPRINGS ! 

So if you aren’t new to this blog you know one of my favorite things to do is talk about music, especially artists that I think deserve more love. This past Summer I’ve spent some time discovering new artists and falling back in love with previous favorites. I plan to share some of that with you but today is about The Springs. A band I’ve talked about before … When they gave their fans some free music and if there is nothing I like more than free music. Even if it’s not good it’s FREE … and let me tell you what the Springs gave their fans was an amazing taste of what was to come. 

This post is going to do double duty, it’s going to tell you about their new EP and also serve as my launching pad for my campaign to get this band on XM radio, specially The Highway. I can totally see these two chatting with Storme Warren  or On the Horizon with Buzz Brainard. They have a very unique story to tell and the music to back it up. I have said it before but I’ll say it again I really wish there was a better way to tell them about a song or group that should be a #HighwayFind … I mean how does a #HighwayFind become found? I figure it’s word of mouth. If enough people start talking about an artist or a song then the powers that be at The Highway take notice and it just takes off …. At least that’s my hope for The Springs whom I’ve been following since 2011.

For those that don’t know … The Springs are a fabulous Country Music Duo from Hendersonville, Tennessee (originally from Alabama). This duo is made up of Stewart and Holly Halcomb who describe their sound as a mixture of Country, Southern Rock, Pop, and Traditional Country which describes this multi-award winning duo who also write their own songs with friends.

Their story : 

Stewart and Holly are both from Alabama, him from Enterprise her from New Market (Huntsville/Decatur area). They met at the Bluebird Café after they had both moved to Nashville to chase the Neon Rainbow. In 2013 the couple got engaged, also at the BlueBird (where they play every chance they get), and were married in 2015. Their wedding was streamed live via Periscope so their fans could attend. It’s that connection to their fans whom they call Frans (Friends + Fans = Frans) that’s going to help this couple thrive both on the stage and off. Heck earlier this year they shared a picture with a “Fran” whom they have started a fitness challenge with and now all three are more fit and more comfortable in their own skins. In my last post I talked about the 7 free Songs they released on Halloween (2015) via their website. Those tracks alone were great, I’m still devastated that Everybody Runs didn’t go viral cause it’s a fantastic song that paints a picture in my head every time I hear it and I love when music does that. That entire 7 song “EP” for lack of a better name made me hungry for more.

I love how this group compliments one another perfectly yet know their strengths and how to showcase each artist and blend together. It’s not uncommon for a track to feature both, or let one of them run with the track and you can totally picture the other standing outside of the booth with a huge grin on their face proud and encouraging the other.

In June 2018 they released “Old Fashioned” which is a dream for the ears with more poppy country and nods to the traditional country that Holly and Stewart grew up listening to. Let’s go track by track … cause you know me that’s how I do. As previously stated these are the thoughts that run through my head as I listen to each track. Enjoy. 

Pulse – In 2017, as they were working on this album they released a few tracks, and this was one of them. I really like this track, it’s not my favorite but I do like it. I like how their voices blend together so perfectly in the chorus and could listen to that harmony all day long.

Sweet Spot – I LOVE everything about this track. If someone asked me what my favorite track was it would be this one. I love the playfulness in Stewart’s voice. I also love the nod to old country as well as the “rap” aspect of the track. Plus, it’s a really cute song about how the right girl can change any guy, yet the guy slips back into those old habits when she’s not around. However the right girl can always bring him back to where he needs to be. Ha!   

American Made –  I could listen to this track EVERY SINGLE DAY and never get tired of it. It’s about life in general, and I love how it is mostly about taking what life throws at you and moving forward despite it. I like how it’s not all happy and wonderful but that they just make it work by not giving up. I can see this video in my head, as you know dear reader it makes me really happy when I can do that with a track. This song should gov viral it’s something everyone needs to hear. Especially in these times.

I want it to – It’s time for Holly to get her rap on in this track. I like this one, but it just feels like its missing something. Like it starts building to something then doesn’t quite get there. Once again, the harmony saves this track for me. I can see this one playing very well live even if it falls a little flat in my ear buds, at least to me.  

Cool – I know it seems that I like the tracks where Stewart takes the lead but it’s not my fault those tracks just … well speak to me. I’ve been that person at the bar afraid that everything I’m doing is going to putt off whomever I’m trying to get the attention of and I like the idea that it’s finally working cause he found the right one. I love the line “I don’t mind the game as long as I’m playing by your rules” or something to that effect.

God Made one of those – I’ll admit this is not my favorite track on the album. It’s very slow and while I get the message behind it I just don’t love it as much as the others. It’s not a track I skip entirely every time but there are times I’m not interested in it and skip it. I do like the nod to family that is included in this track cause let’s face it that’s how we all became who we are and a reminder of that is never a bad idea.

Right Kind of Love – I really like this track mostly cause it’s got a peppy beat behind it but it’s very different from the other tracks on the album. I’ll admit sometimes it comes on and I’m like who is this and pull up my player to see it’s The Springs. I like the message behind it, that they both have a past but that that past led them to where they are now and they finally see what they deserve in the other’s eyes.

Old Fashioned –  This is another that they released in 2017. I like the roll of this track, I love that this is the title track cause it speaks to a lot of what this band is about for me. They aren’t flashy, you won’t see Holly nearly naked on stage, you won’t see Stewart doing “bro country” they are a throw back to a time when Country Music was amazing. They would have destroyed the charts back in the 90s and I think Country Music fans want that kind of music back on the radio.

Ex on your Hand – The first time I heard “Too old to be going out with an ex on your hand” I literally stopped what I was doing and payed more attention. That was brilliant. The combination of the “X” that someone gets going to a club/bar as well as the “X” that someone has when they are obsessed with an ex that should stay that way. That parallel was brilliant and I don’t know who came up with it but I’m thrilled they did. I can think of about 10 friends who need to hear this track and even more around the Country that likely need to hear it too.

Stop - This is another that they released in 2017. Such a beautiful track that reminds you that while people fall in love very easily no one ever wrote a book about how to let go when one wants it to end and the other wasn’t ready. I can see Stewart at the bar with the Bartender “asking where you have been.” I can see him driving around town doing everything he can to keep from turning onto her road, I can see it and have lived it. Nothing is worse than being the one who didn’t want it to end but it ended anyway and all you can do is move forward cause moving backwards gets you no where.

We Got This House – This track is another one that speaks exactly to who I think Stewart and Holly are. It’s a song about rolling with what the universe throws at you and picking up and waking up the next day to do it all over again. This track is about how the “house” is the center of their universe that helped create the rest of the path. This track definitely has an “American Made” feel to it but on a different level. The downs make the ups way better as long as you don’t let the downs take it all away, sometimes you just have to leap and hope it all works out.

This 11 track CD was released, and self-promoted to a debut of #33 on Billboard, #33 in Country Album Sales and #40 in Independent Album sales that week. They have no label, no manager, no promotional team, no publisher they are strictly a word of mouth group that is traveling the South playing their music and building a fan base, the old-fashioned way. If you get Sweet Spot, American Made, and Cool I swear you will come back for the rest of the CD. I beg you to check out their new album, via the links below, and get this band on The Highway ASAP! 

This band deserves to be a #HighwayFind cause they are definitely #OnTheHorizon jump on the bandwagon now before there’s no room.  

The Springs at Blue Gill in 2017 

If you get the chance to see this band live do it you'll be a fan for life and become a FRAN before it's over! 

Links: 

Website:   http://www.thespringsband.com/

Itunes:     https://itunes.apple.com/us/artist/the-springs/292315438

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/user/thespringsband

Twitter:   https://twitter.com/thespringsband

Facebook:    https://www.facebook.com/thesprings/

Instagram:  https://www.instagram.com/thesprings/

Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Springs_(band)

Marcy (@beaslma)

A Royal Musical Journey – conclusion – original fiction

This isn’t the post I had planned for today, yes that’s right I’m really trying to get back into this blogging thing. However I finally got the Haley and Michael’s story out of my head and onto a screen. I thought I’d wait and post it tomorrow but decided life is short …why wait?! So here it is … the conclusion of this Royal journey which I realized while doing this that each “main” character has been a focus on each story which is kind of cool. The first one Dreams,Music, and the Royal family was from Kate’s point of view, the second Connections was from Harry’s, the third A Royal Welcome (my favorite) was from Shannon’s and this one is from Ryan’s point of view (a four part story...who saw that coming ha!). That was a happy accident and I hope it didn’t make it too disjointed.

If you want to read from the beginning links to the other stories are in the paragraph above. It’s not necessary to understand the story but makes it more fun.  I must restate how odd it is that I’ve even chose this as my “muse” I don’t know Shannon or Ryan and I certainly don't know any of the Royal family, heck I've never even shown a big interest in the comings and goings of the Royal family, yet I find myself thinking about this story long after I’ve left the keyboard. I hope Ryan and Shannon don’t think I’m crazy, I doubt that the Royal Family even knows I exist.

This one ended up longer than I had anticipated and I’ve actually cut a lot of it out so stick with me if you can. So anyway …. Here it is …. Enjoy

A Royal Musical Journey

Ryan never gets tired of stepping onto a stage, never gets tired of watching the love of his life standing nearby singing her heart out, never gets tired of the feel of a guitar in his hands and knowing that he can make it do things others only dream of. It was a New Year’s Eve show, something they said they wouldn’t do as holidays are for family, but when Hoda calls you say yes … principles be damned.

They finished their song during the New Year’s Eve festivities and sat down to talk with Hoda and Kathie Lee for a few moments as part of their year-end special and as most of their interviews of late tend to do the conversation turned to their involvement with the Royal Foundation and their most successful fundraiser to date. They showed a montage of the event and Ryan was instantly transported by the memories made in those two weeks.

It started with Ryan watching Shannon walk down the hallway of Heathrow Airport on the arm of the Duchess of Cambridge and Prince Harry carrying Ryan’s bag behind them. Ryan wanted someone to stop and take his picture, where the hell are the paparazzi when you need them he thought. The Prince of England is carrying my bag for goodness sakes someone take our picture!!!!

“Man you guys sure know how to pack light.” Harry said as he walked behind Kate and Shannon.

“Shannon’s bags are somewhere between here and the States. The airline is looking for them, those are mine.” Ryan informed him as he carried his other bag filled with his clothes. 

“Man, two weeks in a single pair of jeans is not going to be fun! However, Kate loves a good reason to shop we might end up with an afternoon just the boys. Actually, that sounds fun!” As they walked out the door of the airport and up to the car.

Harry handed over Ryan’s bag to be placed in the trunk then climbed into the car behind everyone else. Once again Ryan looked around and no paps in sight. Part of him was bummed yet he was also oddly impressed they just walked out of a busy airport unnoticed with two of the most recognizable royals.

“Did Shannon tell you they lost her luggage?” Harry reported as he settled into his seat.

“We were talking about it on the way to the car, I can find her something in my closet for lunch and then we’ll find something for tomorrow night.”

Shannon didn’t want to bother them with this, “It’s ok guys, I’ve got a jacket in Ryan’s bag and can manage I’m sure they will find it soon!” She was slightly freaked out about wearing the Duchess clothes which were always so beautiful.

“We don’t have time to do a shopping run today, but we’ll make time tomorrow if the bag hasn’t turned up yet. We can’t have you meeting the Queen in jeans and a T-shirt now can we?”

Ryan noticing that the idea of meeting the Queen was freaking Shannon out decided to change the subject, “So when do we get to meet these amazing kids we have heard so much about?” he asked glancing over at Harry.

Harry looked a little startled, “A select group will be at the lunch today and others will be at dinner tomorrow night. This weekend we’ll have a less formal “meet and greet” where you’ll really have an opportunity to connect with them.”

Sitting on one side of the car while Kate and Shannon were on the other side Harry started to relax some into the seat. “This event has been exhausting. Don’t get me wrong I’m excited about it, but every time we turn around there’s someone trying to turn it into something that it’s not; from artist, to the kids, and even some of the sponsors, and don’t get me started on the parents. You guys are the first group picked up that hasn’t demanded something, a better hotel, a better timeslot, first pick of the kids they want to work with, some have even asked to get out of working with the kids. Everyone is acting like this is their own personal concert, even the local groups. Frankly it’s starting to get on my last nerve.”

Shannon looked over, “That’s awful, I can’t even put into words what this event means to us, not only cause it allowed us to get to know you guys, but it’s giving us the trip of a lifetime and an opportunity to share our music with a new group of people. Whatever you need, whenever you need it, we’ll be there.”

Harry smiled at her, “We might just take you up on that, I have to warn you a few are already big fans.” Kate grinned, “Harry won’t stop playing the EP at every single event and meeting we’ve had with the kids and volunteers.” Ryan looked at Shannon, this was indeed a fairy tale that he hoped never ended. 

The next day Ryan was standing in the siting room at Buckingham Palace waiting for Shannon to come back downstairs and wishing it would be sooner than later. They were the first to arrive for tonight’s dinner so that Shannon could borrow an outfit from Kate and Ryan felt uncomfortable about being in the room alone almost like he snuck in there. Something about the room and the quiet made him think he’d get in trouble any second and sent back to the car. He stood to walk around the room just to have something to do and was admiring a painting of a beautiful garden when a voice behind him started him.

“It’s even more lovely in person.”

Ryan turned around to see the Duke of Cambridge standing there in a suit that had a little stain on the shoulder. “I bet it is. This painting is amazing too tho.” He reached out his hand, “By the way I’m Ryan, um… Mr. Duke sir”

The Duke laughed “Call me Will everyone else does. My brother and Kate have been so excited for you guys to get here they have talked of little else for over two weeks.”

“We can hardly believe that we are here, Shannon keeps asking me to pinch her! I can’t believe that she’s upstairs borrowing some of Kate’s clothes, thanks for letting her do that. She said she’s really going to feel like a Princess tonight.” 

“HA! Don’t mention it, Kate was especially excited to play stylist for the evening. It’s not often she gets to dictate what someone else is going to wear, well other than me that is. She says picking out a suit gets boring cause the only thing that changes is the tie!”

“Speaking of your suit did you know you have something on the shoulder.”

Moving to a nearby mirror to examine his jacket, he starts rubbing it with a piece of ice from a glass handed to him, “The kids were going to be in bed when we finished tonight so I popped in to say goodnight before I came down.” After fussing with it for a few minutes, “How’s that?”

“Much better. Besides isn’t that basically a dad badge?” William laughed and nodded. Ryan couldn’t believe he was having a normal conversation with the future King of England like they had known each other for years, he decided to take advantage of this moment. “I have to ask you this cause if I don’t I’ll regret it….. Are Harry and Kate really fans or I mean I don’t mean to be crass but I just can’t help waiting on someone to walk up and say the jokes over get out and that would kill Shannon!”

William laughed, “Ever since Kate heard your music she’s been singing it, when she’s cooking, when she’s rocking the kids to sleep, when she’s working out, she has played that EP so many times if it were a record it would be ruined. I have never seen my brother nervous to contact someone and his biggest fear is you guys would turn him down. He’s not used to hearing the word no. Did you know that he and Kate sang We’ll Always Have Mexico to my Grandmother and she is the one that decided you and Shannon needed to sing it not Harry and Kate? They worked on that song for several weeks and she loved it but not coming from them. If you all left now I think they would both go with you!” he said with a smile.

Ryan didn’t know what to say and didn’t have an opportunity to speak as William pointed behind him causing him to turn towards the door. The most beautiful thing he had seen since their wedding day was walking through the door. He didn’t even excuse himself just walked towards Shannon unable to focus on anything or anyone else in the room. “You look amazing!”

“I’m scared to death I’m going to ruin this dress” Shannon said unable to hide the smile on her face. In this dress, she was radiant.

“Honey it’s not the dress, I’ve seen dresses, this dress is garbage without you in it!” Shannon playfully hit him in the arm “Don’t you dare let Kate hear you say that!”

Harry walked up behind Shannon, “He’s not wrong!” winked and walked off.

The rest of the night was a blur of activity and both Ryan and Shannon were surprised that once the evening began and they both relaxed they realized this was exactly where they needed to be. After an amazing dinner there was a small get together that included music and dancing. They met a 12-year-old who had been writing songs since she was 8 and had recently recorded one in a real studio thanks to Prince Harry. She was excited about this opportunity as she wanted to learn how someone got involved in the music industry. Ryan told her it was all luck and hard work but mostly luck. They made plans to get together soon to talk more about the industry. They met another artist from Paris who was looking to move to the states to be the next “Lady Gaga” and hoped to use this event as a platform to do that. It was a 16-year-old however that stole Shannon’s heart.

The young man was standing to the side of the room alone and so Shannon walked over to say hi. The young man told her that his name was Josh and he played guitar. Shannon said she and her husband played as well and started talking to him about some songs they both knew. The boy confessed to Shannon that he felt like he was an imposter and didn’t belong there. Shannon told him she was sure that wasn’t true and that she looked forward to hearing him play. He perked up after that and she sat with him for a long time just watching the room. At one point, she even asked Josh to dance with him. She didn’t realize that Kate was watching from the other side of the room with a huge smile on her face. She didn’t notice that Harry too had noticed what she was doing. None of that mattered to her. She wanted to make this young man comfortable so he could enjoy this evening like everyone else.

On their first totally free day of this trip, Ryan and Shannon arrived at Kensington Palace early that morning the girls were going to go shopping, since Shannon’s bags still hadn’t arrive and the boys were going to do what boys do. Kate was waiting when they walked in and she immediately grabbed Shannon’s arm and headed right back out the door. William was standing in the hallway and yelled towards the door as it closed, “Ok have fun bye!” then he turned to Ryan, “Guess they are in a hurry. Have you eaten breakfast yet?!” They started to turn towards the kitchen when the door flew back open, and Kate rushed up to William gave him a hug and a kiss said bye and left again. Ryan laughed, “guess she forgot something!”

Ryan followed a now blushing William into the kitchen which was filled with activity as the kids were sitting at the table eating breakfast with Ryan guessed the nanny fussing over the baby.

William turned back to Ryan as he took a napkin to clean George’s hands, ”Harry will be here shortly, we figured while the girls were running around we’d do the same.  I thought we could start with a ride around the grounds, show you that garden we talked about last night. It’s not hunting season so no hunting but we’ll still find something to do.”

That afternoon Ryan, Harry and William returned to the Palace exhausted, cold, tired, and hungry. They must have ridden every inch of the estate. Ryan was glad the rest of the day was free as he needed a few minutes to recharge. He didn’t think he’d ever get the picture of ridding across a pasture with William, Harry and George (in Harrys Lap) watching the beautiful scenery around him. They hadn’t planned to take George but once he heard horses were involved there was no way he was going to be left behind. Hearing George laughing from Harry’s horse made bringing him completely worth it.

A little while later Ryan was sitting in the living room of Kensington Palace alone. William had taken George upstairs to get him down for a nap, Harry had run off to make a phone call, and the girls were still shopping. He was almost asleep after the days actives when Harry walked in and sat down in a nearby chair.

“Sorry we left you alone down here”

“No problem, please don’t feel you have to entertain me, if you have something else you need to be doing. I know this is a hectic time for you.”

“yeah that’s why I’m enjoying the excuse to just …. Sit.”  He leans back in the chair stretching out and Ryan realized how tall the young man was as well as how tired he looked.

A few days later it was finally time for Haley and Michaels to take the stage. Shannon and Kate had a surprise for Harry that Shannon had told Ryan about that morning.

As the notes for We’ll Always Have Mexico started to play Ryan faked getting choked up. Kate shoved Harry out onto the stage, and Ryan ran off to look for water as Shannon shoved a microphone in Harry’s hand. She nudged him and he started to sing. Kate and Ryan were off on the edge of the stage laughing and clapping as Harry looked up towards the Queen, Phillip, Charles and William who were all laughing obviously in on the surprise. Harry fell into the song and he and Shannon nailed it as Ryan walked out with a closed bottle of water thanking the Prince for helping him out.

Shannon asked William and Kate to join them on stage, he had come down to close out the festival. Their new friend Josh walked out from the other side of the stage and said “At the afternoon meet and greet you guys held prior to this event Shannon, Ryan and I wrote this song as a thank you to the Royal Foundation for all that they do.” Ryan walked up to the third microphone and said, “We’d like to play it for you now if that’s ok.” Kate had tears in her eyes and mouthed thank you to Shannon who was putting her guitar away so that Ryan and Josh would play while she sang. Harry was also blown away by this gesture and he has never seen Josh so outspoken and excited on a stage. He usually hung back and avoided any part of the spotlight. It was truly a perfect ending to a very successful event. This was exactly what Harry had wished for when he and Kate first had the idea for a benefit like this. 

Ryan was snapped back to the conversation before him when Hoda asked about the most exciting part of the trip, Shannon said meeting the Royal family, Ryan said, getting to know the kids the foundation helps daily and seeing Shannon in one of Kate’s dresses. Shannon’s bags showed up the day after her big shopping spree with Kate but said there was no way she was returning anything they bought even if it meant she’d never be able to buy clothes again to make up for it. It was truly a trip of a lifetime and Ryan couldn’t wait until next year’s benefit and hoped they’d be invited back if for no other reason that to see how Josh was doing and to try and talk him into playing on their next record.

-----

Well there you go…besides one of my 2017 goals is to write more and they say whatever you do on New Year’s Day is what you’ll do all year so here’s hoping that’s true.

I’m pretty sure this story is done as I’m not sure where to take it from here so now it’s time to find a new muse. I hope you all enjoyed it, I hope Haley and Michael’s isn’t calling a lawyer for a restraining order for me, cause I really do love their music and I really hope this is going to be their year. I can’t wait to hear more from them, if you haven’t already check out their website below:

Website: http://haleyandmichaels.com/

Twitter:  https://twitter.com/haleynmichaels

Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/HaleyandMichaels/?fref=ts

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/haleyandmichaels/

Have a great 2017 everyone! I can check one thing off my New Year's Resolution post ! :D

Marcy

(@beaslma)

New Year….Fresh Start …..kind of

So I started this post about 12 times and it never sounded right to me and so I deleted it. I do that a lot. I write up this long post that’s supposed to be filled with humor, insight, and a message of some kind then I reread it and go … yeah that’s dumb so I delete it.

I was telling a friend the other day, no one is reading this thing so why is it so hard to write on it? What is holding me back? It’s not like I care if anyone is reading, frankly I’d like to think that you all had better things to do, (please don’t go!) but it would be nice to know someone was interested in my thoughts even if they are a jumbled crazy mess sometimes.

Now I realize that without posting these crazy random thoughts people have the option of rejecting or embracing my thoughts so that’s where I come in. I need to post these thoughts and see where the chips fall. You’d think not having an audience it would be easier to throw random things up on this thing and see what happens. However it’s not that easy.  This blog, writing in general used to be something that made me smile, made me reflective, and yes in some instances cry like a small child. I often wonder what happened.

I don’t want this to be another post where I tell you that more posts are coming, so I’m not going to go there. What I am going to try to do is strive to post even when I think they are silly or stupid or jumbled and dumb and force myself to write something even if it’s only once a month. Cause I’ve gotten lazy in so many aspects of my life, cleaning seems to be non-existent, there’s a Christmas present I’ve been meaning to mail since mid Dec still sitting unwrapped on my floor, and sadly I’ve checked my work e-mail more times on this holiday than I’d like to admit.

So … here’s my obligatory New Year’s Resolution post, but instead of calling it that I’m going to call it things I’d like to change about 2016.

1.     I’d like to see more movies not just say wow that looks good I should go see that then never go see it. That was on my list last year and it was an EPIC fail but this year I’m going to really try to make this more of a priority

2.     I’d like to spend more time actually TALKING to Golden not texting. Our different work schedules haven’t allowed for a 2 or 3 hour gab fest lately and I hope that changes. I miss our talks, she makes me laugh harder than any human on earth.

3.     I’d like to visit Golden more than once a year, it’s just not enough. I want more farting around time with her, more fun in our lives. I think we both need it, oh and her cheeseball. I really really really want a cheeseball. Sure I could make my own and have on a few occasions but hers are better. If nothing else i'm going to the Damn Zoo this year!!!! Mark it in your calendar! Nothing is going to stand in my way this year! NOTHING!!!!  

4.     I’d like to lose some weight, which would require me to be less of a slug. At the end of a long work day I’m just spent and don’t want to move, and on the weekends I think this is my only down time so I want to just lay here and do nothing cause Monday will be here soon !

5.     I’d like to exercise more, even if it’s just walking around the block to clear my head. Again my issue becomes that by the time I get home it’s 7, then I eat dinner and it’s late and so I don’t do it. Maybe I can come up with a plan for this. I already get up at the crack of dawn maybe 30 minutes at the start of my day would be good, then again 30 more minutes in my bed would be nice too.

6.     I’d like work to not be all consuming of my energy. Last year was INSANE work wise. I won’t bore you but know I took a total of 4 days off all year and most of that was spent at DragonCon. I know my boss wants me to take more time and he’s going to try and make it so that I don’t feel I’m carrying the weight of my dept on my shoulders, we’ll see how that works out for me. The last 2 weeks haven’t been any indication of a change but hey it’s a new year and I got a Christmas Bonus for those efforts so …. Yippie!

7.     I want to spend my money on things that make me smile more. Fun goofy things that I don’t really need but I want and not feel guilty about it. I work hard and deserve to play hard too … right?!

8.     I want to go to more concerts/shows/life events this year. I am tired of reading about everyone else having these epic memories. That also requires me to get out of my comfort zone a bit as the world has become a really scary place.

9.     I also hope for more music from some of my new favorite artist, Maddie and Tae, Haley and Michaels, The Springs, etc., I’m ready for the world to find out about them cause they are that good. Maddie and Tae got 2015 but there’s room on my radio for all of them. Come on Country Music make it happen.

10.  Speaking of Haley and Michaels I want to finish my story that I started a while back, if only cause I think Shannon and Ryan deserve to get out of that Airport :D That’s a big goal of mine for the next month or so. Ha!

So there you have it.

None of these are really promises or things that will change the world but things I felt you needed to know. We’ll talk more soon I’m sure, in the meantime have a fantastic 2016 filled with good times and few Butt Slams ... that's right I'm trying to bring that back.

-marcy (@beaslma)