Jack
Dupon has returned home to France, one month after arriving on
US soil for the first time. Thus ends one of the most exciting,
encouraging, enlightening and satisfying months in the history of
Transit Music Group, and of my own personal life. Beginning
with the bands arrival in North Carolina on September 2 for a gig
at the Prog Day Pre-Show and ending triumphantly in New York City
on September 25, the band opened some eyes and some ears with its
brilliant musicianship, sense of humor and above all else, its zest
for life. Philippe Prebet, Gregory Pozzoli, Arnaud M'Doihoma
,Thomas Larsen and their brilliant videographer/photographer
Sophie 'Renard' Corceiro, have shown me that living life to
the fullest, even if you have a few obstacles thrown in your way,
is the way to enjoy what life has to offer. We spent a lot of time
together, driving the 5000 or so miles together, spending time at
Drumlin Downe Studio while they recorded their new album,
hanging out in New York City and Boston and doing so many other fun
and interesting things. I never saw the smile leave their faces,
never saw one frustrated or angry moment, never heard them say one
negative thing about anything or anyone, never noted any jealousy.
They treated everyone like old friends or family. They just enjoyed
life, enjoyed the US and enjoyed the experience. Many people have
said that music acts as a bridge, bringing people together,
regardless of where they are from or what nationality, culture, or
race they may be. I can honestly say that I have now experienced
this first hand. We spoke different languages and at times had
trouble understanding one another, and we had different beliefs on
some things but when all was said and done, the one thing that
brought us together and that we all understood was the language of
music. It takes great courage, faith in others and belief in self
to come to a different country, where no one is familiar with you
and your music, in an effort to spread your music and create a new
fan base, and for that, I admire Jack Dupon greatly. Many bands
that I know are tentative about venturing a few miles away from
their comfort zone, never mind thousands of miles away. "Nothing
ventured, nothing gained", as the saying goes. Jack Dupon ventured.
Jack Dupon gained. They gained new fans, new friends and a great
deal of respect. A brief list of people that made a difference to
the band, as I see it, is as follows: Paul Davidson - AKA
'Samurai Driver Paul'- For his friendship, driving ability, loan of
his van, and thoughtfulness and intelligence. Ray Olivier &
Family - For their friendship, hospitality and unique sense of
how to treat people with respect. They treated the band like kings.
Peter 'Pierre' Mathieu - For his friendship, loyalty,
intelligence and general 'Joie de Vivre' Chris ' Big Daddy'
Smith - For his friendship and for the wonderful live
recordings that he made of the band. Brian 'The Big Lebowski'
Sachs & Laura Fallis - For their friendship, hospitality,
sense of humor and for coming through in the clutch. Curtis
'TBG' Walton - For his friendship, loyalty, sense of humor and
for teaching the band how to play the flute. Mike Potter -
Friend and owner of Orion Sound in MD. He put the band up for a few
nights and gave them a place to play. Brian Coombes - For
helping the band get in touch with people at ProgDay and Orion
Sound, among other things. Mindset X - For hanging with the
band in NH and NYC and making the trip that much more memorable.
Carla and Dana Wheeler and John Spinney - For all of your
help with gigs, the TMG trailer and everything else. Denise
Drouin, Nermina Kovacevic, Tom Schulte and the rest of the Jack
Dupon 'Groupies' - For being friends and being there for the band.
All of the venues that booked the band sight unseen - Thank you!
FRANK FM - For allowing the band to play at the Nashua Beer
Fest and supporting original music. All of the bands that played
with Jack Dupon at the various venues - The band mentioned to me
that they were honored to share the stage with all of them. There
were many others that played a role in making this a successful
tour. I'm certain that there are those that I've left out, and for
that, I apologize. You know who you are and the band and I are
grateful.
As
for my own personal feelings toward the band, well, from the moment
we met, with Philippe waving at me in the window of the motel, I
felt a kinship, a certain 'je ne sais quoi' [a certain something]
that I just don't know how to describe. Perhaps it was the
familiarity with the language of my youth, or perhaps the bond
between musicians who enjoy a different style of music, or perhaps
it was just something that goes beyond explanation. I only know
this,that these people from a country far away from mine, whom I
had never met and only spoken to via e-mail, felt like family to
me, almost from that first moment. I felt completely comfortable in
their presence and I believe they felt that way with me. I had the
strange feeling that I had known these people for all of my life. I
wish I had. My life is a lot richer for knowing them now. Not much
was said at the airport when Peter Mathieu and I dropped the band
off for their journey back to France. Not much needed to be said. I
think that the feelings were visible in our eyes. Beyond the music,
beyond the experiences, beyond the actual tour itself, and beyond
any future business dealings, one thing happened that made
everything else seem irrelevant, FRIENDSHIP.
Until we meet again, mes amis, Bon courage!
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