So after months of anticipation, rehearsals gone right, rehearsals gone wrong, one old oboe player and a new oboe player, and internal strife over the setlists, the Highland 5 made their long awaited debut at Holy Cross Catholic Church yesterday, to a good sized crowd. Initial reviews are good, and if Little Feat is known as "the jamband's jamband"-well then, Highland 5 can easily be referred to as "the woodwind quintet's woodwing quintet." No really, the show was great, Emmalee and the others showed that they really are good at what they do, although Emmalee will tell you different. She will tell you none of them were on the same page, and that it wasnt that great of a performance, but of course, we all know how critical Emmalee is of herself. "The Girl With The Flaxen Hair" a favorite of fan Jarrett Bellini's, was a sure fire hit. There were a number of other sings, that honestly I dont know the name of, but they were good. Emmalee was presented with a dozen red roses by the Rupley roommates, as congratulations for her months of hard work with the 5. The crowd, which they quietly worried wouldn't be that big, was just fine. Ryan and Lori, two good friends ouf the Rupley house, attended, and Jarrett and I both had dates that came as well. No really, we had DATES. Nothing says class like a Sunday night at a woodwind quintet concert. Ryan Bybee, a band director friend of Emmalee's, as well as Ian, Audrey's boyfriend were also in attendance, along with some old blue hairs from the church, one of which asked when the record was coming out. Oh well, god bless 'em for showing up. Anyway, the show was great, and Emmalee as well as the other four are very glad that its over. Back to the drawing board, and prepare for the tour which kicks off this summer at a church near you. Talks are ongoing with Phil Lesh about sitting in on some of the west coast shows. My pictures turned out like crap, I have some good ones, but will update as soon as I get them imported, and all that.
