From Good Homes Reunion

From Good Homes
December 18-19, 2009
Wellmont Theater, Montclair, New Jersey

From Good Homes are from northwest New Jersey. They went on hiatus in 1999 after a long, successful career as a nationally touring band. They reunited in December 2009 for a two night run at the Wellmont Theater in Montclair, New Jersey.

From Good Homes was the first band I saw in concert way back in the summer of 1996. I had the opportunity to see them several times during the late 90's in New Jersey and New York City. The band went on hiatus in 1999 after an emotional farewell show at Waterloo Village in New Jersey.

It was at this show that I experienced one of my first connections to the emotional power of music. I clearly remember the poignancy of witnessing the band and audience bid farewell. I've been to many shows since 1999, but that August event will always be significant. It was an event that stayed with me, for better or worse. For better, because I was there and and it was beautiful. For worse, because it's power sometimes dims the present when I see live music. That concert was so powerful, that it sometimes makes other shows ordinary in comparison.

Well, the beauty of December 18 was that it was just as good, maybe better than 1999.

On this day, I had to rush out of school at teacher dismissal to hit the road. We were traveling to Montclair by 4:30. In the spirit of speed, we enjoyed interstate fast food. It was satisfying and very much different than our usual pre-show pub meal. We made it to Montclair and parked by 7:45 for the 8:00 p.m. showtime. So much of the live music experience is affected by the journey and destination. This trip was exciting and invigorating. Montclair was Christmas lights pretty and the bitter, cold air sparkled with energy outside the theater.

A documentary film crew reminded the massive crowd of the significance of the event. The band took the stage, ten years older than I'd last seen them, to an ecstatic roar of appreciation from the crowd. From Good Homes opened the show with "Broken Road", a fitting beginning considering that the song was the last one they'd played at Waterloo one decade ago.

"No need to explain it. . . I knew this day would come. . . I found out along the line. . ."
From Good Homes, "Broken Road"

For the first few songs, the band sound like a rock n roll engine warming up on a cold, December morning. By the middle of the first set, the band was hot and the music heated the room. At set break, I talked with an old friend who'd joined me at that first show in 1996. It was a real pleasure to catch up with him. Throughout the second set, I enjoyed the music and the company of my wife smiling beside me. I also looked around the room at the mostly middle-aged crowd. So many were visibly happy to be once again enjoying one of their favorite, if not favorite, bands. In some ways, the decade gone was surely worth it to experience a homecoming like this.

We made the hour drive back to my father's cabin in Great Meadows tired and happy. We never made it to the second night of the reunion, though we had tickets. With a nor'easter blowing north up the coast, we chose to drive back home to Bloomsburg. In the past, we'd have enjoyed the adventure of driving through the storm to see the show. But, we're expecting parents and we make different choices now.

As I sat in my home watching a Christmas movie with Kristen on Saturday night, I thought fondly of the revelry surely occurring at the Wellmont and appreciated the waning moments of Friday's show. As the band left the stage following the encore and the house lights brightened the room, the audience demanded another song. They'd waited a long time for this and they were not ready to go home. The band reemerged for "Maybe We Will" with the houselights shining brightly. Those who had begun walking toward the exits ran back into the room. People danced and leaped with joy.

"Spinning round the wheel, I catch a glimpse of how I used to feel, and I wonder is it really gonna come again?"
From Good Homes, "Maybe We Will"

Yes, it came. . . better than ever before.