Ed Patrick – CRAZY TOUR STORIES

In this Crazy Tour Stories segment, the singer-songwriter, Ed Patrick, talks about some of his crazy moments from touring. You can check out the feature, after the break.

When I was 19 years old, I wasn’t sure whether to study music at university or use the savings I had to buy a plane ticket to the US, try to get lessons from my favorite musicians, play open mic night’s and see what happened.

I chose the latter and spent time on each coast hustling for lessons & gigs.

I picked a story that is not the craziest but probably my favorite memory –

Halfway through a subway sandwich one evening, a father and his 3 sons came in for a meal and started talking to me about the guitar I had with me.

He said they made their living from busking down on the NYC Metro trains and invited me to join them for a few hours. I followed down with my guitar (being an electric guitar with no amp I was totally useless) as the family band continued to perform classic songs in 4 part harmony which stunned every carriage. It really taught me a few great things –

1. It’s the simple songs that cause the biggest reactions. (a revelation for someone who at the time was listening to instrumental fusion music!)

2. Confidence in performing is such a gift and is something that I still and always will wish I had more of.

3. If Metro buskers ask you to hang out for the day, do it.

I sat in many classrooms and opposite some of my favorite guitar players on that trip but this family of buskers taught me as much about music as anyone.

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