Last night I got to see Chad Bault in concert. Chad is a good friend of mine, but good in a different sense. I have not seen Chad in nine months, previously I had to measure the time in years, and truthfully we have not spent great amounts of time growing our friendship. This is what makes my friendship with Chad a heartwarming thing, for despite these things Chad has always been warm, happy, and genuinely pleased to see me when I make my sporadic appearances. This is perhaps why I count it such a privilege to know Chad, and to be able to support his music; he is one of those friends who will always be a friend, despite the “dry spells” in the relationship. Good friends are hard to find, and good and faithful friends seem to be rarer than gold. Such friends help to restore my faith in humanity, help to curb my cynicism, and warm me up to being friendlier in general.
As I stood in the back and listened to the music I could not help but feel a warmth in my heart. I wish I could explain it better, but I’m still trying to grasp it myself. There is something moving about watching a friend whom you care for, doing what he (or she) dreams about. There is also something satisfying knowing you are doing something to support your friend, especially when you can do it “behind the scenes” yet have an effect. Beyond this I cannot explain or understand why I wanted to beam with pride and joy seeing Chad sing and play.
Apart from his endearing friendship Chad is an accomplished musician. There was a time when we would jam together, and I always felt underqualified; I felt I was holding him back. Probably the greatest birthday gift I have received was the time Chad had me over to his house and together with a couple of his friends (strangers to me) we formed an impromptu drum circle and pounded away for what seemed like hours. I was probably the worst one there, but the fun an joy of playing with people who could drum (and even those who do not, but could keep good rhythm) was a joy. Chad is one of those people who seems to be able to play any instrument he puts his mind to, including the drums. Most of the time you can find Chad behind a guitar and a microphone, playing with an artistic flair that would make a classic harpist weep for joy, and singing with a passion (and vocal range) that cannot help but move your soul.
Last night was the first time I heard Chad with his new band, and while his music has always been good enough in his solo acts, adding two musicians to his music has filled out the songs with depth and a wholeness that is impressive. They played well together, not missing a beat, and adding to the music a passion all their own. Being something less than an amateur drummer I especially appreciated the addition of a man who could hear the rhythm in Chad’s music, and accentuate it.
Perhaps my favourite moment of the evening (apart from spending time chatting with Chad and his wife) was watching his loving wife support and encourage her husband. I have heard few encouraging stories about bands supporting families, but Chad’s wife has always, to my memory, been supportive of Chad’s dream. She knows his songs, has offered support and criticism, and in many ways has modeled the picture of a Christian wife. Last night she was sitting in the front row, and when Chad was working to put his guitar into an alternate tuning she was there to let him know it was still off, then beamed an infectious smile when Chad finally hit it (and played a great song, worth waiting for the tuning).
Chad and his wife are good friends, and he is a great musician. Hearing him play is a treat, and getting a few moments of his time to chat with him is always rewarding. Supporting friends in their dreams provides a strange sense of satisfaction and fulfillment. Greeting old friends with a warmth that dispels all cares is a blessing I should give more. Yeah, last night was a good night for many things.