Missing Michigan

Benn and I went and saw one of our favorite bands of all time last night, Steppin' In It with Rachael Davis. It was SO GREAT to see a band we've probably seen like 15 times in Michigan, playing here in our new town, Denver. It made me miss my friends and family a lot. Rachael is a friend from childhood, we went to the First Congregational Church in Cadillac, Michigan together. Her family and my family went there, and we kind of grew up together every week. We were in youth group, we camped, she and I were even in the high school talent show (separately, and she won the category, of course). I loved seeing her up there, and remembering her charming stage presence. So cute. It brought a ton of memories of all our friends back, and childhood memories of when I wasn't a total heathen. I was fighting tears the first couple of songs, because of all the memories, but also because her voice is so great - magical, moving and familiar.

Rachael played a little tune about a bird with a Ukulele, then one with she wrote in her room on "Music Sundays" when she was younger, with Joe on the Dobro. Then Dominick (upright bass, and Rachael's fiancee) came up and joined them. Great tunes with so much love, and she mentions places like Diggins Hill in Cadillac which is so heartwarming. Loves it. After that Josh Davis (first image) came up with Andy (the harmonica player) and they did "Shout Sister Shout" from the Shout Sister Shout album.

If you have never heard these songs, go to iTunes and just give a listen, they are so fantastic. They took a break, and came back as just Steppin' In It, and played about 5 tunes from their new album, Simple Tunes For Troubled Times. One we heard about three summers ago at the Spirit of the Woods Festival in Brethern, Michigan. The Long Haul is a feel good traveling tune that mentions "The shores of Michigan" in its chorus, and there is a sweet accordion singing a sad song in the background. So great to have recognized it, and it sounded great.

Steppin In It has a great stage presence together, and enjoy making music together. Joe and Andy are brothers, you can see the resemblance in the photos above... These guys are madmen, playing a great game of push and pull with their slide guitar and harmonicas, or their trombone and trumpet. Andy is a master of expression on his harmonica, it looks like he is in an argument when he plays his harmonica. His body language is so intense when he is into a solo, its a great show. Rachael came back out and they did a couple more Shout Sister Shout tunes, Slow Down, one of my FAVORITES. They got a standing ovation, came back out with some Nat King Cole Trio, and got a second standing ovation.

Its so great to see these people you know (or have followed since about 2000), playing so far from home. Its also cool to see complete strangers or first timers see them, and its great that they end up loving them as much as we do. Side note, John Cassidy, a designer I had classes with at CCS who also drums for Steppin In It at the Green Door in Lansing, is noted as a contributor to the album artwork. Small world. I love the album artwork.

After the show we bought the new Steppin In It album, and we bought Joe's album Steels Heal The World, all steel guitar tracks, playing all kinds of different steel guitars. They are both awesome. I really wanted to talk to Rachael, say hi at least and give her a hug. I was really nervous for some reason, but she recognized me and was like Dani!? And i was really excited to talk to her and catch up briefly. She has a little boy, Virgil, and he was really beautiful. I met Dominick, a very kind soul, who attended the Christmas Eve Celebration at our church last year. (She introduced me and mentioned that we went to that church and ran a muck in youth group together, so he said "Oh! I went there last Christmas! It's not as good as it used to be, I mean, that's what I've heard...) Great people, and I told her it was great seeing her, she looked great and happy. I almost chickened out, in fear, but I'm so glad my stronger side dragged me back over.

So anyway, they sounded so good! I love Rachael and her innocent yet incredibly hypnotizing voice, and Steppin' In It and their vintage instruments. It's always a little bit of a visual show too, Andy's giant harmonicas, and he has so many of them!! It was great. The shots above I feel really lucky I got, since I turned off the LCD screen and was manually setting the shots through the tiny old school lens! (It's amazing how much we rely on the effing LCD screen.) Now I'm going to book a flight home, since I miss everyone so friggin much! Shout out to Trav and Katie, Nick and Abbey, Keegan and Kaleb, Mom and Dad, other Mom and Dad, Nana and Papa, Cousins, Aunts, and Uncles, and mom's psychotic cat, Maddy.