the story thus (near and) far…
–Act I, Scene I–
Scene: the basement of a Nebraska house, rainy April afternooon, 1999. Several kids are gathered around a billiards table, others talk and joke. howie is sitting on the basement steps, strumming a guitar.
Scott: I could put some sweet saxophone on top of that, you know.
–Act I, Scene II–
Scene: A coffeehouse in Lincoln the following year. A crowd of people fills the room with the hum of conversation. howie&scott take the floor with a guitar, a saxophone, and a set of bongos.
howie: You want to play DMB or Foo Fighters?
Scott: Dave.
howie: That’s the most you’ve said in weeks.
–Act I, Scene III–
Scene: A college dorm room, spring 2001. Scott walks in. howie is seated on the floor with a yellow legal pad in front of him.
howie: Guess what.
Scott: What?
howie: I just wrote a song.
Scott: Cool.
howie: That’s the most you’ve said in weeks.
Scott: (silence)
howie: Go get your djembe. And the soprano sax, claves, congas, radio, flute…
–Intermission–
Two records (“Bigger Sounds From Fewer Folks,” “near and far”) are released during this time. h&s play gig after gig in southeast Nebraska.
–Act II, Scene I–
Scene: A sweltering night in midsummer 2003. Dim light outlines two figures, one seated behind a drum kit, the other poised towards the set, guitar in hand. Feedback fills the room. ProTools is trying to keep up with the sound.
howie: You ready?
Scott: Rocket (rock it).
howie (singing): In the night sky, past Orion’s eye…
–Act II, Scene II–
Scene: Beginning January 2004. The metamorphisis to rock band from jazzy coffeehouse duo complete, h&s release “signs.comets” – two albums in one package – and play its songs for all who will listen. Speaking from the stage…
howie: I’ve always wanted people to jump and rock out to our music… can we do that tonight?
Crowd: Yeah! (various affirmative responses).
howie&scott: After the countdown / what should I do now? / a new one begins…
—to be continued…—