montana + adventures of the mind
I’ve just returned from the great state of Montana where I performed at an amazing event–Adventures of the Mind. I’ve spent little time in the Pacific Northwest so I was very excited about the opportunity to go.
Adventures of the Mind is a foundation founded by Victoria Gray and hosted by Phyllis and Dennis Washington in Missoula, MT.
Teachers nominate high school students they feel are exceptional regardless of learning disabilities, socioeconomic levels or other barriers that may deter their potentials. Students who are runners up in national competitions are also nominated. Around 160 of these incredible students are then flown to Montana for three days of networking and activities with “adult achievers” who mentor the kids and share their stories.
The “adult achievers” include Nobel Peace Prize winners, professional athletes, poets, artists, scientists, cartoonists, a professional poker player…a musician…hint hint.
I arrived at the University of Montana football stadium for sound check–the event, and my performance, took place on the 50 yard line of the football field. Schweeeeeet! I definitely geeked out and filmed myself running out on the field through the players hallway. It was my Rudy moment. Leave me alone. I have video I’ll post….
I sang 3 songs–America’s Song (by David Foster), Pieces (holler, yo) and God Bless America (which was sync’d with a mad fireworks display–so bright right now).
After sound check I met the MC for the night–football legend and 1982 Heisman Trophy-winner, Herschel Walker! What?
Herschel’s story is captivating and perfect for these students…and me…and everyone! His trials growing up fat, overcoming bullying, a speech impediment, multiple personality disorder, winning the Heisman…and on and on. He was incredibly kind and funny and just might be the biggest MANNfan in the world (in stature).
The picture to the right is the wonderful Phyllis Washington (nearest me) with founder Victoria Gray. I was lucky enough to meet Mrs. Washington at my performance at the Horatio Alger Awards in D.C. with David Foster. It was a huge honor she thought of me for this special opportunity.
After hearing the life and career stories of a poet, poker player (World Series of Poker winner, Annie Duke), Herschel, Tennessee Titan wide receiver, Marc Mariani, the Coach and President of the University of Montana and the Washingtons…it was my turn. I felt the inspiration bar was set pretty high here so my perspiration bar rose to the same level. (awesome metaphor).
I took to the stage excited to sing. America’s Song was inspiring as usual and then it was time for Pieces. I asked the students to come closer to the stage for a more “story time feel” which made my speech more intimate and fun. They rushed the stage with the enthusiasm one would expect from Warbler-loving Gleeks. So awesome.
I started off by asking if any students from my home state of Kansas were there. A kid quickly said yes. I asked which city. He said, “Uhhh, Nashville.” ”Ha…well that would be in Tennessee, my friend.” ”Seattle!” he said next. ”Um…still not Kansas. Are you sure you were invited here?!” (PS–He will be a freshman at MIT next year). Then a sweet girl yelled she was from Overland Park, KS. Bingo. ”SEE!” i said, “THERE’S GENIUS IN KANSAS, I TELL YA!”
We literally ROCKED it out to Pieces before the final song, God Bless America, with a massive fireworks display. It was really powerful and fun–it was just like the Superbowl…only not lip synced. Clearly I had fun meeting these amazing students and can’t wait to see what they do with our world. My main advice to them was to stay in touch with each other. They have no idea when and how they will help each other out in their lives 5, 10, 15 years down the road. The world is small and getting smaller–they just met the other leaders of the world–y’all best team up and solve all our problems, yo! You can dooo eeeeeet! Start by curing disease and world hunger then find a way to automatically deposit billions of dollars into my bank account for no reason. thanks.
After the show I hung more with students and mentors before retiring to the after party. The group to the right was telling me about their brand new non-profit they’d just formed that they want me to get involved with. It was an amazing pitch–and their little non-profit is already getting national news coverage! I’m telling you these kids are taking over the world! The gentleman on the left is an aspiring singer who won the Most Amazing MANNfan Award of the night by identifying me and my music from last years Office Max commercial featuring my voice and music. I was beyond impressed.
Lastly I hung with new buddy, Marc Mariani, who is a wide receiver for the Tennessee Titans. He went to Univ. of Montana as a walk-on football player and, defying all odds, earned a spot on the team and onto the NFL. Everyone there was incredibly inspiring. Seeing as how he lives in my favorite city (Nashville) and I’m here now recording–a new drinking buddy has been made. Like I told the kids (in more or less words) you CAN’T have enough drinking buddies.
I’m such a friggin’ good role model.
Thank you to Adventures of the Mind, Phyllis and Dennis Washington, Victoria Gray and Penny Kauth for including me in a night to remember.
Travel cluster fs
So yes, my time in Montana was glorious…but allow me to shed some light onto some details that were nay so smooth along the way.
So I was suppose to fly from LAX to Salt Lake City to Missoula on Friday. I was to also have enough time to enjoy the evening and have a steak dinner. Well in Salt Lake City Delta decided to cancel our put put plane to Missoula and wouldn’t be able to get us there til Saturday afternoon…right before sound check. Knowing this would be cutting it too close we (my manager and pianist) decided to fly NEAR missoula and drive…4 hours. We landed in Great Falls (home town of the Washington’s, ironically) around 10:30pm and rented a brand new Nissan Altima. It was snaztastic with a push button start and everything. So fly. So fly.
Walking out the door to the car we passed, naturally, an actual stuffed grizzly bear and taxidermied heads of any and all deer-type creatures in the region.
Thinking we’d “get on the road to Missoula and grab food en route” we, well, got on the road to missoula in hopes of grabbing food en route. This didn’t happen. There was 175 miles of National Forest (that we couldn’t see in the dark) with literally no-thing on it. Starving from our multiple hours without food (read: 2 hours) we started to panic.
Then on three occasions the biggest motherf#&%ing deer I’ve ever seen decided to frolic across the road and attempt suicide. Thankfully for us all we had cat-like car-driving reflexes and avoided killing their dumb asses.
Onward we saw a glorious sight–neon signs! FOOD! FAST FOOD! A gas station approached (or rather, we it). We jumped out of the car and ran in so fast. We bought everything in sight seeing as how we weren’t sure when we’d actually get to Missoula and there was no food anywhere else. We bought cheddar popcorn, twizzlers, naked juice (random), a cheese stick, Airheads (so 80′s) and other unrelated foods.
Upon re entering the car we stuffed our faces like cavemen. We then passed the sign reading “Missoula: 4 miles.” HAHA. FAIL! In less than 5 minutes we were in actual fast food heaven–full from our crap we’d just eaten. awesome. We still went to Burger King. Ha. You know me.
Saturday started off smooth. I slept in after our late arrival, got an amazing brunch and multiple lattes and ran along the beautiful river while watching kayakers do their thing. Life was good….until it was bad. On the way to sound check our brand new Nissan with the cool push button start started acting strange. Then died. So awesome. We called National and asked (read: demanded) they bring us a new car ASAP. They did, kindly. They replaced the car with the same car and brought another of the same car to follow our broken same car. Following? It was like the Matrix.
One block later the broken Nissan broke…for good. Did I pull up and take a picture of the 2 replacement cars while driving my working car? You know I did! (They were laughing too so i’m not completely going to hell).
Today I was to get to Nashville by 4pm to start work with genius man, Keith Thomas. This involved a 5am wakeup call and a connection in Chicago…where I was delayed for 5 hours canceling my session today and allowing me only enough time to watch HALF of “Unstoppable.” Come on! (in all fairness, if i had started watching the movie sooner i would have finished so…)
Though my trip is awesome…travel could be better. Here’s hoping i make it back to LA.
twizzlers vs. red vines
Lastly–I’m a huge Twizzler fan. I eat them en masse.
While on the road my manager, Brian, confessed he hates Twizzlers and prefers Red Vines. Gasp! I curse movie theaters that offer Red Vines of Twizzlers! F your nostalgic licorice choice!
So I ask–Which do you prefer? Twizzlers or Red Vines???
Well… I’ve never actually had Red Vines (have yet to find them in Canada) so I’ll have to say Twizzlers!