Tales of the Treadmill
Tales of the Treadmill
Treadmill Undead
Monday, November 19, 2007
Our first show in 9 years was two days ago. It’s hard now to explain now the dread I was feeling about that show as it approached. Wish I’d written about it when I was feeling it, cause it was strong. My main problem with it was that generally, when I think of Treadmill, I have fond memories. I was very afraid that we’d get up there and suck, and that us sucking would replace all those fond memories I had. I tried everything to get out of the damn thing. The last ditch effort at escape was met by the promoter telling us that they’d already printed the posters with our name on them. At that point, we’d have been assholes to bail. My feeling was that it was a little sad and pitiful for a bunch of old fucks to get on stage to try to relive something that ended so long ago. And I still think that’s pretty valid. But then, we actually hit the stage and all of a sudden I remembered what it was I loved so much about performing, about sharing music like that, about trying my best to channel satan and about Treadmill Trackstar in particular. I mean, what if the band had stayed together this long? There’s plenty of bands we played with back in the day that are still rolling- and they still play some of their decade old songs. I’m rationalizing, of course. But, there’s a real musical bond between Tony and Heidi and I that was formed way back in the beginning when we created Treadmill- starting with the recording of ‘Excessive Use of the Passive Voice’- um, in... 1994? Katie and Chris were integral later, and there were many members of Treadmill before Excessive Use, but I think the three of us were at the core of what the band really was. It freaks me out, thinking back- how is it possible that I somehow convinced Tony to move from California where he had to leave a lucrative career in film editing and I convinced Heidi to tour with a dirty drunken rock band instead of using the law degree she’d just earned to get a respectable and well paying job. How the hell?! What the fuck were they thinking? But, there’s sort of that same shared vision that got us together then that still exists. The rock was truly flowing through our veins at the show, and well... we had a god damned good time. I didn’t feel like the songs came off as ’90’s’ songs. I think they’ve held up pretty well. And the Who Medley was a blast... “Too late to die before I get old...”
Tony emailed, and we’re already talking about doing more Treadmill stuff. Not sure what yet, but maybe a couple of shows a year or something non-stressful that we can pull off without much trouble. Anyway, if we are going to do more shows- i definitely don’t want to just play our old songs over and over again. I’ve got a ton of songs that I’ve written in the past 9 years- some of which could be Treadmill songs. So, I’m trying to put some mp3’s up for Tony and Heidi to check out so we can get a group of songs ready for the next show, whenever that might be. But this wave of, I don’t know- I guess I’d have to call it excitement over the prospect of music playing a real role in my life again has got the juices flowing a little. Usually, since there’s been no band, I write a song now and then when it hits me and record them for my own amusement - but I haven’t had any true motivation for awhile- and it’s nice to have some again. I plan on using it while it’s around.
email from tony (the loveable moron he refers to is, of course, our man- Mr. Stevie Cook):
I'm tired as hell...but happy. I had a student recital today, noon - 4
or so. Been drowsy ever since I got home. Must go to bed...
I don't know how to reach that loveable moron.
I'm glad we ended up doing the show too, man. That was almost perfect...I'm not sure how it could
have been better, but it was damn fun. That was the most fun I've ever had playing with you,
with Heidi, in Treadmill...ever...we should talk about doing something
else. I have no agenda, but it's definitely worth talking about.
a'ight...done...talk soon...
Tony Lee
This is how all kinds of trouble gets started...
To Make or View Comments, Click Below