Blake Morgan – CRAZY TOUR STORIES

In this Crazy Tour Stories segment, the power pop artist, Blake Morgan, shares one of his stories from being on the road. You can check out the story, after the break.

After 160,000 miles on tour over the past six years, I have many crazy stories, but perhaps my favorite is my first. My very first band gig in fact.

I’d started out on a path to be a concert pianist, but Rock ’n Roll soon took me by the heart and throat, and I never looked back. When I was 13 years old, I saved up all my money from my summer job and bought a Roland Juno 106 (a really cool synthesizer that later, as an adult, I sold for reasons passing understanding). Because I had this keyboard, some kids at my school who were older than me asked if I wanted to join their band. This is, in truth, how many bands actually get their start: someone has a piece of gear the band needs, so they’re in.

I’d already performed dozens of times as a solo pianist, but I was excited when we got our first band gig at CBGB’s, right down the street from where I grew up. Again, I was 13 but I was really small for my age, and I probably looked like I was six. We loaded into the venue, and the club wouldn’t let me in. “This child can’t come in here,” said Hilly, the well-worn and iconic owner of CB’s.

So, what to do? Well, here’s what we did: we smuggled me into the club inside our drummer’s bass drum case (we took the drum out first, thank goodness). I climbed in, we strapped the case up, and they carried me inside. My bandmates set up my keyboard for me, and just as the show started, I jumped out, got up on stage, and played the show. Hilly didn’t bother stopping us at that point, it was too late.

An auspicious beginning to my Rock ’n Roll career, and one I’m proud of because that kid who climbed into that case was so determined to do the show. He’d be in awe of who I am and what I’m doing now if, for no other reason than when I arrive at whatever venue I’m performing at now, I actually walk through the door on my own two feet. Progress.

Keep up with him on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.