"Homeless, I am open to anything"

The myspace page for the Colorado band The Pachisi Champion says they formed one day in January and went on tour the next day. The tour dates they list are sporadic, reaching from Colorado to Florida to the upper east coast. Most dates, cities and venues are listed with a TBA. Did these guys really just decide to go on a tour for a couple of months on a whim? Without any booked shows? Little do I know I am about to witness one of the most moving shows I have ever seen.

Kristin and I were sitting at Stardust, a local coffee shop, on Sunday to check our email messages because we didn't have internet at our house at the time. It's not something we do often, in fact it was the first time we'd been to Stardust to use their internet. As we were winding up a shadow crossed my path. Someone had stopped in front of us. I look up and it's my old friend Rence Seyb. He moved away from Florida six years ago and he says he's on tour. His band played the previous Friday night at Taste and he was looking for more shows before they were to leave town on Tuesday. Rence was in a pretty popular band called Pistis with his friend Josh Harden back in the late 90's in Orlando. I was friends with both of them- both were the nicest of guys. For a time Kick Bright was hosted with a company Rence worked for. I give him my number so he can tell me if he gets another show. He calls later in the night. They get a show the next night at Stardust. I plan to go, of course.

The next night at Stardust, a guy hobbles over to our table saying in a super-gruff voice to Kristin what a good man I am and tells how Mardi Gras in New Orleans messed up his leg. He hobbles off not saying much more. I didn't recognize him and wasn't sure who he was. His name was Kenneth but I don't know any Kenneths. I figure out it's Josh but still not sure.

Their band name is The Pachisi Champion. Evidently it's the original name of Parcheesi. They are the only band to play. They didn't hop onto a show- they were the show. Also, no one knows they are here in Orlando to play. They take their time loading in all their gear- acoustic guitar, bass, french horn, trombone, and coronet. It's a whole brass section! My friend Clare shows up. She sits with Kristin and I on the couch right in front of the stage. Two other girls sit at the next closest table. The five of us (the most that came in the room was three more for a total of seven people in and out) witness such a fine performance.

You can tell the songs are Josh's. They're turbulent, emotional, and soul searching. He doesn't just sing his songs- he lives them. Josh played his rickety out of tune guitar using a pencil for a capo while Rence played all the other instruments. They referred to their CD to which songs they were to play, even trying out newer songs because they "couldn't just go on tour with just eight songs".

At times you can't tell where the songs end and Josh begins. Just when he almost emotionally breaks down- Rence pulls him back. Those guys are lifelong friends and it shows in their music- and life. Josh tells a story about how when mountain climbing in Colorado and he slipped and started to fall, having his life flash before his eyes literally Rence reaches out to save him. True story. Josh even calls Rence his "mountain". Very moving. I am really at a loss to describe this show. It was just moving, sweet. Those boys hugged each other after almost every song encouraging one another. During the last song the boys reached a climax- emotion took over. Rence played louder and louder on his fuzz bass, knocking over his trombone. Josh sang with more and more vigor until he collapsed. Their story was over.

Who knows where The Pachisi Champion will end up next? They're really not on tour- they're on a journey. Where will their journey take them? Maybe they were in your town. Maybe they went to your towns open mic night. Or crashed a coffee house? Wherever they are they'll be a treat to whomever randomly happens to be there. Those will be the lucky ones.

Pictures:

Videos:

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Links:
The Pachisi Champion