ACT 1 - Setting BL's Stage

04.01.05

INTRODUCTION This is so cool. Maybe I'm a bit of a dreamer? And far too optimistic? But I think this is going to play out beautifully. Please bare with me. You might enjoy this ride. If you get on board. Talked to my brother Mike last night for about thirty minutes (and that's a long time ... cause when Mike is excited ... "talking to Mike" turns into listening - if you know what I mean). But Mike and I had a conversation last night that just made me feel all warm and fuzzy inside. Reminded me why he's so special. Why he impresses me so. Why I've spent much of my life admiring his. Why he's the big brother I wish I was. And all for such simple reasons. Amazing. Where to begin? I'm too excited to tell this story. Gotta relax. THINK. THINK. Then write. Nah, you deserve more than that. You come here for the truth, right? Not for me to think. And certainly not for anything too calculated. It's not my style. And it's not real. Alright ... here it goes ... SCENE 1 Of course this starts with Ben Lee. I'm in this zone. Sorry. But this is not about him at all. He's a mere subplot. So please don't give up on this journey. As you know, the new Ben Lee album "Awake is the New Sleep" has struck a nerve with me. I'm fascinated with it. Listening to it right now. As a result of this awakening, I've plotted Ben's tour and made it a goal of mine to convince my friends to see this show in their respective cities. Especially because I live in a small market and get the shaft when it comes to the music scene. Because of this, I've asked a few friends to go see Ben ... for me. And for their own awakening. Well, the short tour just started and I already talked my friend Timmi (who lives in Berkley, CA) into seeing Ben in San Francisco. And she's glad she did. At least that's the story I got. It was a Thursday night (3/24) and one of the first shows. When I talked to her the next day she said he sounded great, was lots of fun, and well worth the effort. Positive feedback. Nice. I'd already been working on my brother Mike and his wife Lauren. When I first looked at Ben's schedule, I saw he was playing Seattle (one of my favorite cities!!!) and instantly thought - "How/Why does Mike live in Seattle while I'm stuck living in Columbia, South Carolina??????" Then I calmed down and realized - "If God exists, there is a good chance he's got Mike and I confused." This has to be some sort of mistake. Who do I see to get this cleared up? I planted the seed. Gave Mike a few Ben cds to check out. Told him how great of a show he put on the one time I saw him. Told him this show was a "can't miss" and that he had to go ... for me. After all, I work in a roofing plant. And live in the South. As my big brother, it was his duty to live my life for me! He's got the tools ... And you know Mike. Song and a dance. Ben's odd. His music is strange. It's a work night. Lauren's gonna be out of town. I'd have to take the ferry into downtown. All these "valid" reasons not to check out the show. But deep down, I had to believe ... "He's gotta know I wouldn't steer him wrong on this. I wouldn't be making such a big deal out of this if I didn't KNOW he'd love it. If I had any doubt he'd be able to spin it and make a fool of me and Ben I wouldn't be pushing the issue." I had to believe he heard the desperation in my voice. I couldn't, not for a minute, think he didn't understand. I needed to put a little faith in Mikey ... take a deep breath ... and assure myself he understood what a life changing event this could be for him. I had to. Woke up one day and it was Wednesday, March 30th. Judgement day. SCENE 2 I couldn't decide the best way to best way to present this. Could this be good enough ... could it turn into my first feature film? Finally - I had something to say. I see it happening something like this. You didn't see it, did you? So that means it happens like this. No questions asked. But I didn't see it either. Details. Our plot unfolds as follows ... FADE IN FROM BLACK VISUAL: ipod screen glowing in the dark AUDIO: Ben Lee "Gamble Everything For Love" CUT TO: Mike walking the streets of Seattle. Listening to an Ipod. Wearing a Yankees hat. Lugging a backpack. Appears to be - in love, relaxed, upbeat, smart. Mike Heck, it's only 7:15, I still have time to kill. CUT TO: Crocodile Cafe VISUAL: Flowers. And a bar. And a small square raised square in the corner. AUDIO: ??? SCENE 3 Writer's block. How fitting. What now ... ahhh, let's check in on Ben-Lee.com for some inspiration. And yes ... the lost is found. Actual post from Ben's web blog (sorry I copied and pasted this ... but I had to tell this story). Friday, April 01, 2005 THAT FELT GOOD wow last night in seattle was incredible. it was one of those magic nights where it all comes together - the music, the crowd, the sound system, the feeling. complete syncronicity. quite a few fans had brought flowers to the show, so there was an wonderful, tender, ceremonial atmosphere by the time we took the stage. it felt right. thanks to everyone who is becoming part of the show in this way. it means alot to us. there was a cool moment during catch my disease last night where i suddenly realized that the whole tour party had invaded the stage for backing vocals and they had dragged up ed harcourt as well! i guess after mary lou lord's impromptu appearance during that song in texas i should now formally issue an open invitation to any rock stars who feel like jumping up on stage for that song. maybe we'll see snoop and lars ulrich on a mic behind me before too long. another cool thing that happened last night was i got a copy of an article that seventeen magazine did about me. they wanted to write an article about my spiritual journey which initially i was a little hesitant about because its such a sensitive topic. but after talking to a few friends about it i realized that it was too good an opportunity to talk to the mainstream about the subject of spirituality, to pass up. anyway, the writer interviewed me a few times and was very sensitive and i really feel like she did an outstanding job with the article. i know she put her heart into it and it shows. she actually called me a month ago and told me that writing the article had a profound affect on her and she decided to begin making films (a dream shes had for a long time)...anyway, it was just another reminder to me that you never know where the next opportunity to open your heart is going to come from, and we should always be open to speaking our truth cos even if it helps one person, its worth it. i keep thinking what a huge service that writer did by convincing a glossy, commercially-driven magazine to publish a story about service and spirituality. its a huge feat. i hope you guys are all well and that the bed bugs arent biting. take care b  posted by Ben Lee at 5:56 AM 1 comments According to Mr. Lee, that Seattle show was (I'll highlight a few words he used) ...incredible, magic, syncronicity, wonderful, tender, cool, invaded, impromptu, sensitive, spiritual, lars ulrich. Killer, huh? Now you're dying to know what Mike had to say about the show, right? Mike - my older brother. The guy with an engineering degree from the United States Naval Academy. And a Master's degree in engineering from M.I.T. Mike - an officer and engineer in the United States Navy on a nuclear submarine. What did he think of the performance???

ACT 2 - (Thus Far Untitled)

Coming Soon

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