The one tattoo on my body that is visible to the viewing public is on my right forearm, an “x” with electrons revolving around it — very elemental. It’s the logo that I designed for the Exhibit(s) a while back (maybe, what — two years ago?), and although it hasn’t been used anywhere else outside of our website (which is so badly in need of redesign and upkeep that I’m hesitant to provide that link), it’s come to symbolize the band in my mind.

Last night’s show was one of the best — definitely one of the most intense — that we’ve ever played. The set list was fairly common, though we started off much heavier and louder than we normally do (with Tenacious D’s Explosivo, and a paricularly punky version of Delia), but regardless of that, it just felt good.

One reason that I got the tattoo is that this band is the best thing I’ve ever done musically. Sure, other ventures have been more successful on traditional levels — with Lunasect, for instance, as a part-time stage player and studio assistant, I played on a nationally released cut (on a Radiohead tribute disc — man, those customer reviews are brutal), and played some great shows. But nothing has met my artistic and creative goals, musically, as much as playing with Eric and Chance and Carlos over the past three years.

I always thought that it would require me having my own band, under my control, playing my own songs, to make me really happy. But I think that situation would leave me feeling too pressured. Make no mistake: the Exhibit(s) is Eric’s band, through and through. All the songs are his, the cover choices come down to him, and he’s easily the most charismatic of the four of us.

But I don’t know that this band would be as well-recieved (or, dare I say [of course I do] good) if you removed any of us from the picture. There is a unique chemistry between us all, and it was there almost from the beginning. Chance and I have always had a really intuitive connection, very important for a rhythm section; Eric’s playing and song structure is well suited to my bass style. Carlos and Eric both play off of each other well. Each of us comes at our respective instrument from an odd angle, and, fortunately, it works. Pretty damn well, most of the time.

We aren’t playing week after week to secure a record deal or to try to get laid. I don’t think any of the traditional rewards for musicians would be lost on us; of course we’d tour if we had an opportunity that was financially stable enough (Chance and Eric are both married, so it’s not like we can go on a six week starvation tour), and I’m sure we’d all love to have better distribution for our discs. But it’s more about a pure joy of playing. We get paid, as often as we play weekend gigs (it’s definitely been the most successful band I’ve been in, from a per-show amount perspective), and we usually walk away with a healthy band tab for ourselves. But it’s more about showing up every week, doing some drinking and playing music with friends; we just happen to be fortunate enough to have people interested in watching us.

I think everyone that does anything creative should be fortunate enough to find themselves in a situation that allows them the same contentedness that I’ve found with the Exhibit(s). There are other goals in my life that I’ve checked off my list with a less-than-perfect accomplishment; as far as music goes, though, there’s nothing more that I ever need do to feel like I had everything that I wanted.

I’ve always thought that it’s best to quit while you’re ahead – leave the stage before the audience starts yawning and looking impatiently at their watches. You make your exit while things are still going strong, and people remember you at your peak. You always leave ’em wanting more. But doing that is hard. The tempatation is to milk a situation for all it’s worth.

Not this time, not for me. It’s going to be hard, leaving this behind, but I just have to remind myself of how much better STAR WARS would have been without the second/first trilogy, or how much more fondly we’d all remember Van Halen if they had stopped about 1984, or how Buffy should’ve ended with season five.

Yeah, that’s right. Nerd, right here. But a nerd who knows how to enjoy life day to day, and to appreciate what he’s got while he’s got it.