My boy's been on tour

(5 yrs. old)


I've always imagined I would support my children's interests and passions. Whenever they've found something they love to do or are interested in, I've always been there to learn about it, watch what it's all about, Listen to their excitement, and like the big mouth I am... Talk to my friends about what the kids are up to. So recently, I've been beating myself up as to WHY I am NOT being this same way with My eldest son's passion? His music. Well, I know why. I'm a bit embarrassed by it's unusualness. By it's fetish theme. I guess the big doofas in me would be happier if he was reincarnating Bobby Shermans hip sound! ( of course I'm kidding about B.S... but maybe say, John Mayer?)
The point I should be focusing on is my kid is never happier than when he is creating his music and playing with his band. He's an amazing young man. He has wonderful ideas and a compassionate heart. He has been on tour with his band.( no, not "his band".. it has a name.. Yellow tears, there I finally said it!) They've been on a cross country tour from Allentown PA. to L.A. and Now touring while traveling back to NY. At each pre-booked show, They are selling lps, cds and t-shirts that they screened themselves. They are actually making some money beyond what they need to get them from venue to venue. Apparently there is a large enough audience for this unusual experimental sound. I call it 'noise music'. They call it 'experimental'.
It sounds like a movie soundtrack really. Maybe hollywood will discover their talents?
Before he left, I was asking my son if he could tell me where they will be and when... He said, "Mom, just check our website.. all the show dates and locations are there." WEbsite?? ( this,Im ashamed to say, is HOW withdrawn I've been to his music) "You guys have a website too?" yellowtears.com
Before they left for tour we also asked them to play the new cd for us. We all sat outside and tried our best to listen. For the first time, I really, really realized that this is serious and not just crazy kids imagining they are rock stars. I think much of it is amazing. For instance.. It's one thing to perform your album at a show and repeat the sheet music and lyrics. Yellow tears repeats their albums songs, BUT when some of the sounds are made in such unusual ways, for instance...with them banging chains on sheet metal,That they are able to recreate these experimental sounds that their fans are waiting to hear at EACH show... well,I think that's pretty incredible, no? They actually bring all gadgets they've used to create the sounds,plus of course traditional instruments. (My son plays bass guitar)
Another incredible thing was hearing about how each state they played, had someone they knew who was promoting their show there for them. Flyers and advertising for the yellow tears tour! They've put so much hard work and energy into the art they are so passionate about. I'm really proud of all of them. I want my son to know, I'm really proud of him and I'm happy that I've finally attentively listened and I want him to know, even though I'm so old.. I'm still attempting to learn lessons each day. Someday, I hope to even watch yellow tears in action.