So you know how when you’re in High School you don’t really know what the fuck is going on? Well when I was in high school Adam and I were good friends. I did know that much. He was my friend Lori’s boyfriend, and that was great. Adam and I had a lot in common and we could have great heart-to-heart chats. He knew “secrets” (let’s be honest, nothing in High School is a secret). And it didn’t hurt that he was good friends with just about every guy I ever had a crush on. Adam used to be an athlete. Paddling is big in my hometown and a lot of carded athletes and Olympians have started (and ended) their careers there. Anyway, Adam was into paddling, but something changed in 11th grade (maybe it was before that, maybe after… I can’t really remember) and Adam switched gears from athlete to musician. I’m not 100% sure what might have caused this shift, but it happened. So he started a band with some other guys at school. New Vinyl. They did covers (Neil Young, Skynard, Zeppelin, The Band et al.). They were pretty good. We had them play at all the summer parties and they were particularly good at “Free Bird” and “Forgot About Dre”. Seriously.
(This story is going somewhere, but nowhere fast. Bare with me.)
Adam was a huge fan of Matt Mays + El Torpedo (who are not really a band anymore, as Matt has gone solo it seems). He told me the story (now mostly brain fuzz) of how he met Matt one night on Barrington Street in Halifax (or some street in that vicinity). Adam told me he was drunk, Matt had a video camera (?? details very sketchy), and that somehow they became buddies. Matt and his band sort of mentored New Vinyl (now known as Gloryhound & The Skyhawks). They opened for them and Matt would sometimes play with them during their weekly tenure at Tribeca. One thing led to another, Adam developed quite the repertoire of instrumental talent and his voice became seasoned and pretty fucking good. Adam left Gloryhound and began gigs with MM+ET.
I mentioned that Adam and I used to be close. We’re not really anymore. I see him around town and he is always friendly and I like seeing his face. Things have just separated a bit and we are more acquaintances than friends. I have no hard feelings towards him and I try to be as supportive as I can by going to shows, etc. Adam is a good musician and has some solo stuff going on. I am telling you this back story so that maybe, just maybe, you’ll be more inclined to watch the video or go here to listen to more of his music. It is rock and roll, it is singer-songwriter, it is real, and he is awesome. I sometimes get sad that we are not close, but then I remember that we all go our separate ways and that the most comforting thing is that he is still Adam and I could (probably) count on him if I needed to. This is really just a post about a talented old friend. Thanks for sticking it out.
Adam Baldiwn - Burning Man at The Carleton (via)
