DON'T TRY THIS AT HOME;

"LOVE in an Elevator"

Got to the studio about 6:30 and I was the only one there so I decided to crack
open a beer and go kick it outside, on main street, and watch the 18 wheelers
roll by, on their way to Anywhere USA, probably hauling string beans. About
that time, (violinist)Paula, pulled up and I helped her with her gear and music
stand. Then (trumpeter) Dan rolled up as well. Chapple and Daddyo arrived and
we started to set up.

Just then, celloist, Ana (are they ALL named Ana?), drove up and in a matter of
minutes we were all tuning up. Then Paula had to use the toilet but the
problem was the elevator was stuck on the 4th floor and we were on the ground
floor, where the toilet is. But it's wacky; in order for you to get to the
toilet on the ground floor (where we already were) you have to take the
elevator to the 2nd floor and walk down 2 flights of steps. The other
alternative is to walk around the building, walk up the side steps and enter
from 2nd floor. We did this and it worked out fine.

Rusty arrived but was late due to the massive traffic jams that paint the LA
canvas as much as the struggling palm trees you see on postcards. Then, 20
minutes after that, Probyn, our trumpeter, arrived. We now spent the next 40
minutes going over the Forever Changes record. The sound was good, but there
WAS something missing. Rusty pointed out some alternative parts and we did our
best to complete the sound. it was almost there.

Viola player, Heather, hadn't arrived yet and by now was 45 minutes late. I
told everyone to do the next number without me while I went to see if
everything was ok. Since my mobile doesn't get a signal in the studio I would
have to walk outside anyway. As I opened the door, looking to my immediate
left was a woman sitting in the elevator cage (this thing is about 60 years
old, ok?), reading a book. I said, 'Heather?' She said, 'Mike?' I felt SO
bad! She'd been out here for 40 minutes or so!

Chapple came out and freed her by lifting the gate up (duh, why didn't I try
that?) just as the L.A.F.D. arrived. Actually, it was one CHIPPENDALES looking
burly character with loads of chest hair showing. He was READY to rescue this
damsel in distress but there she was, calm and reading a book. Stuck in a damn
elevator.

After about 6 elevator jokes and tuning up, Heather showed us what she was made
of, plowing through the sheet music like an F-11 fighter plane through butter (ok,
way over the top analogy...but c'mon, I haven't written in a couple of days...)
and bringing the set into play again, completing the sound. We made some
adjustments here and there and, I must say, by the end of the night it was
beautiful. We reminded them of the musicians that had to live up to
(especially STEFAN, who plays trumpet in the Swedish Ensemble) and these LA
musicians played their hearts out. The rehearsal was light-hearted and fun,
yet serious and hard work at the same time.

After everyone left, Chapple, Probyn, Rusty and myself sat around chatting
about this and that, over beers. Probyn plays in the Brian Wilson band and we
were all talking about the Smile shows they are gonna do next year. I, for
one, am really excited about that and plan to make at least one show. Then
Rusty brought up the fact that, here we were, BABY LEMONADE and (Probyn's other
band) WONDERMINTS, two Los Angeles bands inspired by LOVE and the Beach Boys
and now we were PLAYING MUSIC with our heros! And as I drove home just before
midnight I turned the radio to 101.1 K-EARTH and wouldn't you know it;
"...wouldn't it be nice if we..." was coming through the airwaves! It was still
warm outside so I opened up the sun roof, turned up the radio and cruised down
the Hollywood Freeway, heading west, with a smile on my face.

=====

Mike Randle
mike@lovewitharthurlee.com

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