I had no stage, no fancy lighting, no expensive piano. I did not have a piano bench so i used a regular chair. It was blazing hot outside and no fan nor A/C around to cool me down. It was not a sold out show, nor were there any press and record executives present. Our opening act was a group of kids with no Mothers or Fathers to claim them as their own children. They are the once forgotten, but the blessed! They once had no hope but tonight there would be. They danced their hearts out and gave an amazing performance. As soon as we were ready to strike the first note to our opening song “Dynamite”, the crowd of kids surrounded us. They were the most excited group of kids I have ever seen. Smiles from cheek to cheek, eyes glowing as they rocked the dance floor with no shoes. W played and performed our hearts into these kids. We all had the time of our life that night. The kids standing directly infront of my piano kept me entertained with their amazing dance moves and mosh like head bump’n. From time to time they’d make silly faces at me. Later i realized they were mimicking my faces. I make ugly and silly faces while I sing…Not intentionally though…
All the lights came down at the orphanage with only the stars glaring down on us. We closed the show with the beat machine’s strobe light water effect on the drums, the kids went crazy!!!
After the set we hugged the massive group of kids, we showed our love and appreciation to the PCL staff and gave our farewell to the wonderful widows who work at the orphanage. As I walked towards the bus I promised the widows and children I would return again very soon. I told them next time around I would bring my wife Reina and my son Diego. We packed the bus and were on our way. I reached out from inside the bus and one of the teens approached the van, he reached out to me and said, “please don’t forget me”…Sheesh…talk about emotional. I told him I’d never forget him and I asked him to never forget me. I wanna believe inside my heart we did more that day than just perform, but maybe gave hope to the hopeless. In the grand spectrum of this Universe our world is tiny and all things are possible.
As the bus took off and the kids screamed outside the bus I began to think that in a few days from that point and time, I will be taking the stage at Winterfest to a crowd of 18,000 screaming people. A massive stage, all the lighting I can think about and imagine, music celebs at hand, cameras everywhere and fresh water to take for granted.
I promised myself I would not forget what just happened in Cambodia. That by far was one of the greatest shows I have ever been part of. Later that night I told the TSP fellas that we should never forget a night like this. Days from now we will bring our music to an arena in TN, but that will never compare to bringing music, God and Hope to a group of children that had none. I am not sure what can top that?
So we arrived at Thompson Bolling Arena, it was a rainy day but the massive crowds were marching towards the entrances. The butterflies began to stir up inside and my stomach started making weird noises. Yep, I was nervous as heck…to be continued…
So encouraged by you bro! Dont be nervous.
You guys are in my prayers! Keep fighting the good fight!!! love ya!
Ritz