Flashband… I once heard it called “Speed Dating for Musicians,” and that about sums it up. If you don’t know what it is by now, I’ll let you investigate on your own. I’d like to tell you about my own Flashband experience.
My boyfriend, fellow Flashbander Rico Morales (aka Sofa King), and I relocated to DC in January of 2013 because of my job. We are both native Texans and it was a big move for us. Prior to moving, we had lived in San Antonio and were deeply connected to the arts and music community there.
My boyfriend, fellow Flashbander Rico Morales (aka Sofa King), and I relocated to DC in January of 2013 because of my job. We are both native Texans and it was a big move for us. Prior to moving, we had lived in San Antonio and were deeply connected to the arts and music community there.
After living in the DC area for six months, we were both ready to pack it in and move back to Texas. We’d made no friends or connections outside of work, we couldn’t find people to play music or hang out with, and we were both miserable.
Then one of Rico’s co-workers mentioned this strange thing called Flashband. Rico called me from work and suggested I check it out online. I did, and the rest is history.
In September of 2013, we met Caleb and Amanda Astey at their house. They were both so kind and welcoming. Even though we’d missed the meet and greet for the Genre Mashup, Caleb worked really hard to involve us. We never got into a band for that show, but we did go see it.
At the show we were instantly captivated by the talent we saw there. We were eager to join the fascinating group of musicians we met that night in their wild and wonderful adventure of pop-up bands and crazy cover interpretations. The fact that the bands all had only a month to learn their songs and even write an original was tantalizing and impossible to resist for both of us.
The first showcase I was able to participate in was Americana Bandstand in November of 2013. I was amazed that a group of people who had never met prior to the meet and greet could make a band that actually sounded good. That experience made me a Flashband junkie… I couldn’t get enough!
Rico was finally able to join me in February of 2014 for the Heartbreak Ballads show, and doing it with the love of my life was an even better experience. I’ve done six more shows since then, and participated in other Flashband events.
I can honestly say that if it hadn’t been for the wonderful people we’ve met through Flashband, we would have moved back to Texas long ago. Many of our temporary bandmates have become permanent fixtures in our lives. Even people we’ve never Flashbanded with, we’ve Flashbonded with, and I consider them family.
In May of this year, we relocated into the District to a great house with a fabulous music space. We are now having monthly jam sessions at our home (the first one was a smashing success) and the majority of the people in attendance were and will be our Flashband family members.
I’m looking forward to more adventures in music with my Flashband friends, both old and new!
After living in the DC area for six months, we were both ready to pack it in and move back to Texas. We’d made no friends or connections outside of work, we couldn’t find people to play music or hang out with, and we were both miserable.
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