Mini Project #2 -Francesca Galarus

My absolute favorite band in the whole wide world is Led Zeppelin. Unfortunately, due to John Bonham’s death, I will never be able to see them live. Although, I’m sure Phil Collins or Dave Grohl would be happy to fill in for drums. Anyway, my love of live music caused me to form a subset of absolute favorite bands of absolute favorite bands…to see live and the Roots are number one in that category.

As I’m sure I’ve mentioned before, I’ve seen them play nine times. It all started when I first saw them on the steps of The Art Museum in high school. At the end of their free set, I noticed ?estlove throwing his drumsticks into the crowd. After a few more times seeing them, I realized that this was something he did after every show. While he was doing this, the other band members would either throw other random things from the stage for fans to catch, hand out set lists or walk around or sign ticket stubs.

Sometimes, I would hang around to try and catch a memento or throw my hands up and scream to see if maybe that would work, but I never really put any real effort into it. One night, when I saw them at the Electric Factory, which remains one of the best shows that I’ve ever seen, I got lucky. It was Ben Kinney’s last night with the Roots before he left for Incubus. After the set and subsequent encore, he took the strap off his guitar, swung it around his head a few times and hurled it into the crowd. I was pretty far back in the sold-out venue. Regardless, the next thing I knew I had the guitar strap in my hands, but only half of it. The other end was being held by the guy next to me. I immediately tightened my grip and pulled the strap across my body while I turned to pull his end away.

I ended up walking away from that show with the guitar strap around my neck. I even wore it to school the next day and it now hangs on the wall of my bedroom.

Since that night, I have collected a set list, a few autographs and poster which go nicely with my guitar strap but hardly compare. I am, however, still pining for a pair of drumsticks.