Once I passed the young phase of enjoying music simply for its surface rhythms, one of the very first artists I can remember ever respecting for his musicianship was the one and only John Popper (lead singer of Blues Traveler). As a budding teen in 1994, when Four was released, I remember admiring his signature vocals, his range, his unique lyrics and, of course, his harmonica playing. Well, I still do.
That said, it was an extremely special moment for me when I recently got to open for him at the Montage Deer Valley resort in Park City, UT for the Sundance Film Festival.
Tyler Stenson w/ John Popper
Saturday January 20, 2013
Montage Deer Valley
I initially met him at a wild after party where, despite the chaotic crowds, he graciously stopped and spoke with me, one-on-one, for a solid 10 minutes — he was even telling people that I was “the next big thing” (even though, admittedly, he hadn’t even heard me play yet). Once more and finally, we were interrupted by doting fans, wanting a photo opp with the icon … so I said my goodbyes and let him be.
The next day, I had the amazing opportunity to spend much of the day in his company, in a luxury hotel room that was reserved for us as the musician’s green room. It was there that I got to speak with him, endlessly, in a calm, well-thought conversation that was not cheapened by the blaring music and intermittent photo opps from the night before.
We spoke of life; his bell-curve career, his introverted childhood, Wyoming, the spiraling state of mankind and whoring (musically speaking).
As an added bonus, in the privacy of that hotel room, I got to watch him rehearse a new song for his set. Yep, I stood in a room with John Popper (and a handful of others), watching him sing like only he sings and playing that harmonica like no other. Video coming soon 🙂
It was surreal to be in that seat, across the table from John Popper, speaking freely.
It was an out-of-body encounter to watch him rehearse, three feet from me.
It was a life experience that I will look back upon as a moment in time where I had made it.