St. Paul’s University Catholic Center, Madison WI

Photo by Zane Williams

I played piano here often.

In fact, this was one of my first “adopted” rehearsal spaces.

After hours.

The church was always open.  24 hours.  I liked that.  So I lived here a lot.  It was my sanctuary.  A place where I asked questions, cried, sang and waited.  No.  I wasn’t a member.  I kept a low profile.  It was on the UW-Madison block.  So they were accustomed to people my age hanging out from time to time.

The open room and 100% stone interior provided an amazing natural reverb for both my vocals and piano.  The room was always lit just like this.  I liked that.  It made me feel less embarrassed about praying.  And it felt cool.  Like a cave.  Safe.

I played this exact piano.  Not sure what ever happened to it……..that piano was one of my friends.  The way that the sound bounced around when I played and sang.  I can hear it in my mind now.  I learned a lot about the science of acoustics in this room.

I remember working on one of my first songs, “He’s Like the Wind” on that piano.  Let me tell you.  It sounded way better in that stone room.  Memories.