Lunch at the world famous Chateau Marmont yesterday may have included salmon sandwiches, spaghetti bolognese, and a little bit of Kevin Burdick for the hundred or so people eating lunch prior to attending an AIDS awareness event called “FilmAid.” As I filled the room with delicious background piano music, I gazed around the luncheon area of the world famous hotel located just off of the Sunset Strip. It didn’t make me nervous that 2 of the members of the band Maroon 5 sat some 15 feet away on a couch listening, or when Christoper “Doc from Back to the Future” Lloyd walked by the piano barefoot.
I also was not intimidated when Winona Ryder stopped to listen before crossing to her table on the other side of the room – I was probably more concerned that she’d steal my sun glasses that lay on piano in front of me (just a joke, Winona). It was a little ‘dream-like’ as I looked over the piano and made eye contact briefly with Leonardo DiCaprio as he talked to a couple friends in the lobby. But what made the afternoon for me (and also made me a little nervous) was when I noticed Bono and the Edge finish their meal and walk out. As a musician, performing anything for Bono is nearly like showing your kid’s high school paintings to Picasso. It is intimidating.
Mostly it was just one of those magical and surreal Hollywood Sunday afternoon’s where a musician from Salt Lake City got to bring his original music and charm and spread it across the ears of the rich and famous like musical peanut butter. Perhaps they didn’t give a second thought to the piano man bringing them their afternoon dinner music before their charity event, but just for a moment they all stopped and heard me – even if just for a moment.
Lunch at the world famous Chateau Marmont yesterday may have included salmon sandwiches, spaghetti bolognese, and a little bit of Kevin Burdick for the hundred or so people eating lunch prior to attending an AIDS awareness event called “FilmAid.” As I filled the room with delicious background piano music, I gazed around the luncheon area of the world famous hotel located just off of the Sunset Strip. It didn’t make me nervous that 2 of the members of the band Maroon 5 sat some 15 feet away on a couch listening, or when Christoper “Doc from Back to the Future” Lloyd walked by the piano barefoot. 
I also was not intimidated when Winona Ryder stopped to listen before crossing to her table on the other side of the room – I was probably more concerned that she’d steal my sun glasses that lay on piano in front of me (just a joke, Winona). It was a little ‘dream-like’ as I looked over the piano and made eye contact briefly with Leonardo DiCaprio as he talked to a couple friends in the lobby. But what made the afternoon for me (and also made me a little nervous) was when I noticed Bono and the Edge finish their meal and walk out. As a musician, performing anything for Bono is nearly like showing your kid’s high school paintings to Picasso. It is intimidating.
Mostly it was just one of those magical and surreal Hollywood Sunday afternoon’s where a musician from Salt Lake City got to bring his original music and charm and spread it across the ears of the rich and famous like musical peanut butter. Perhaps they didn’t give a second thought to the piano man bringing them their afternoon dinner music before their charity event, but just for a moment they all stopped and heard me – even if just for a moment. 
