It's More Than Just a Band...(September 17, 2019)
This past summer,
July 2, 2019 to be exact, my favorite band Roger Clyne & The
Peacemakers were inducted into the AZ Music and Entertainment Hall Of
Fame. ( A little clip of RCPM from the AZ Hall of Fame Induction: https://youtu.be/7G4pIp30u54)
Doug introduced me
to Roger Clyne and the Peacemakers. And
while Doug has been a fan since the Mill Ave/Long Wong’s days, I’m a pretty new
recruit. Yet, still, some friends and
family call us groupies. I get it…If you
know us at all, you know that this band plays a big roll in our lives. We live and breathe their music, we drink
their tequila, we travel near and far to attend their concerts and we’ve had
them play in our backyard twice. But it
is something more than that…
To begin with, the
music has a pull that recharges us. It
surrounds you, lifts you up, washes away the sludge of everyday life and
restores an inner balance, putting me back in touch with my personal energy
fields. That isn’t a bunch of “new age
BS” – it’s a documented scientific process in which a person’s brain releases
chemicals that are associated with pleasure.
Secondly, beyond
the music...or rather, because of their music and “positive vibes” we have
expanded our circle of friends and have had our world graced with “some of the
finest folks” we know - truly amazing people - true Peacemakers - good humans
that remind us that there is hope for us as a society and that some people
still know how to and actually do live their lives beyond themselves, focused
on coming together in love, peace and good will toward each other. Those
special friends really have become our familia.
The best kind of familia – not the kind that you are stuck with, but the
kind that you choose to be with.
To the Band: Thank
You to all those who are, or who have been part of this band at one time or
another. Gracias to each of you for
sharing your calling, your art and pieces of your souls along the way via your
music. But more, thank you for being good humans who offer up yourselves to
making a difference with acts of kindness and compassion big and small. You are the beating heart of a community I
love! #AnAmazingLegacy
Doug recently
posted about an article he read about a fan of the group Sister Hazel and his
sentiments about being a Peacemaker as follows:
“I have a bunch
of friends who think we’re crazy for going to the number of RCPM concerts that
we do. I also have a bunch of friends
who will like and comment on this because they “get it” and feel the same as
us.
Read this
article. Swap out Sister Hazel for RCPM, and that pretty much says it all for
us. We’ve met some amazing people and made some even better friends. We’ve had
fantastic vacations. We’ve had 3 private concerts and attended several others.
RCPM provides the soundtrack to our lives. And, just like the author of this
article with Sister Hazel, I lost track of RCPM for about 10 years. We lost
jobs. We moved half way across the country. And, we had some life events that
took priority. So, while we haven’t “been around” as long, or been to Circus
Mexicus and January Jam every year, it doesn’t change the impact this band,
their music and this community has had on our lives.
The part in the
article about oxytocin is true. I’ve gone several months between shows. And,
when I get to a show after an extended period of time, I’m instantly reminded
of WHAT and WHO I’ve missed. It’s infectious and rejuvenating. The air is
filled with love, caring and kindness. It fills your soul!
I love the
music of Roger Clyne & The Peacemakers, but at the end of the day (or
night) it’s the people... on the stage, behind the stage and in front of the
stage.
Love my
Peacemaker familía! Can’t wait to see you all at the next show - whenever, and
wherever, that may be!”
So, as you can
see, it isn’t about being a groupie. It
is bigger and more powerful than that.
It is a religion of sorts. Yes,
I’m a “Fan-Girl” – you can call me that.
If you are a person who is moved by music, if you are a person who wants
to be part of something bigger than yourself, or if you just like good music, I
can’t recommend enough that you check out Roger Clyne and the Peacemakers.
As you will see (in a small collection of memories shown below in no particular), this band - this community - has been a very vivid part of our lives - bringing people, places and experiences to us - and we think we are better people because of it.
A very special nod to all our fellow Peacemakers!
We are grateful to know you and love you all!
Most Sincerely,
A Proud Peacemaker
- today and always!
#AZMusicAndEntertainmentHallOfFame
#RCPM #TempeMusicScene #CowboyPunk #ArizonaBands #HeresToLife #music #MillAve
#MyFavoriteBand #MusicIsTheSoundtrackToLife #FanGirl #RogerClyne #Peacemakers
#RCPMPeacemakers #Groupie #TakeMeToChurch #MyChurch #ProudPeacemaker
#SoulRevival #ReChargeMySoul
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