in which we get the band back together

Last night, Anne and I took our friend out to dinner for his birthday. We invited Nolan to come with us, but he said it would be "boring grown-up talking" and even though he loved us, he'd rather hang out at home.

Allow me to translate: "Wait, I can go with three lame adults to a restaurant, or I can stay home, listen to music as loud as I want, and play Xbox the whole time? You guys have fun, and don't worry about hurrying back on my account."

When we pulled into the driveway after dinner, I could hear very loud rock music coming from the house.

"That sounds like Wave of Mutilation," I said. "I love that he's listening to the Pixies!"

I opened the door, and saw that Nolan wasn't just listening to the Pixies. He was playing the Pixies on Rock Band. The song ended as I closed the door behind me and walked into our living room.

Anne said, "Will you come back to our bedroom and help me fold clothes?"

"Yeah," I said. "I'll be right there."

I turned to Nolan.

"What the hell?" I said.

At this point, I should back up a little bit. I ask Nolan to play Rock Band with me every day, and every day he says he doesn't want to, because it's not that fun for him. I know, I know, I'm doing my best to correct this egregious defect in his personality, but I think we all remember how clinically insane we all were when we were his age.

"What?" Nolan said, innocently.

"I ask you every day to play Rock Band with me, and you always say you don't want to play because it isn't fun."

He put the drumsticks in his lap -- oh, yeah, he was playing drums, which is my instrument -- and deadpanned "Well, I'm not having any fun."

"I'm personally hurt," I said as melodramatically as I could. I put my hand over my heart. I sniffed. I pushed out my bottom lip.

I sighed, heavily.

"Would you like to play together?" He said.

"Heck yes I would!"

I ran to the back of the house.

"Hey," I said to Anne, "Is it okay if --"

"Did you want to rock out together before we put away the clothes?"

"Yeah," I said, "Nolan and I were -- wait. Together?"

"I need more cowbell," she said.

And that is how, for the next hour, the three of us played Rock Band. Together. On a school night.

Comments

[Alicia]

That's it, you all have too much fun. Where do I sign up to be adopted by you guys?
-Alicia
allywag67@aol.com
www.thewagband.com

[Lisa Henderson]

I guess sometimes you just want to get into the swing of things in private - so you can REALLY get going when it matters. :)

[Byron]

Silly me. I thought you were the cool one in the family!

[Kevin]

What a great story, Wil. My son does the same thing with guitar hero. I don't think I'm cool enough to partake with him. Looks like you had a 'breakthrough'. And laundry can always wait.

[Lisa Thompson]

Wow. I had tears in my eyes after reading this. Thank you for preserving that moment of familial connection and sharing it with all of us.

[Incredible EDBeale]

Rock Band, bringing families together, one jam session at a time...

[lizreay]

You guys are awesome. :)

[Nathan]

"I need more cowbell"

AHAHAHAHAHA

XD

[C_Doc]

Cool story!

The Mrs (MrSpock) and I are hooked big-time on Rock Band, after having it for a couple weeks, and she hates video games!

We had some friends over on the weekend and we played for hours. We were pretty HAWESOME by the end of the night. I played Creep on Hard guitar, without practicing and got 88% (Go me!)

The Ghost Town Rödents <-- Shameless plug, and play on The Boomtown Rats

[Quenfis]

That was like a "The More You Know" moment (rainbow star flying behind Wil). Way to bond buddy! --Don't forget the Sock Mod on those drums-- :)

[PirateAlice]

That is SO AWESOME. I love that your whole family plays together. I'm getting all choked up just thinking about it.

[Thought]

*sniff* God bless you, Rock Band! You bring families together! (:

[Paul Crowe]

Never been that into video games, to be honest. At least not since the days of the NES. But stories like this really make me want to get in on the action.

My girlfriend has an 8 year old son. Who I know is really into video games. He has yet to stand still long enough for me to get to know him properly, but I hope one day to be able to tell a story similar to this one. Rockin' out with the whole family... sounds awesome beyond belief.

[Sally J]

Wonderful, heartwarming post, Wil. I want you to be the official (paid!) spokesperson for Family Game Night. Who do I gotta talk to about that?

[queentess]

My brother-in-law is 17 and he has a similar "I won't play it because it's not fun" attitude. I've discovered that he won't play anything with us until he's had a chance to play it on his own so he can master the game before he'll even consider playing with us. He won't just play a normal have-fun game, he has to be the best of the best. But once we break through that barrier, he'll play with us as much as we want - all we did for Thanksgiving this year was rock out with Rock Band for 5 straight days :)

[JohnB]

We just got Guitar Hero about a week ago, and it's a total family addiction. I can't get over how cool it is watching my daughter wail on "Story of My Life." She called me at work the other day - it was spring break - just to excitedly say, "Daddy! I beat Slash! On my FIRST TRY!" (Girls don't play video games? WhatEVER.) Now we gotta get a second guitar so someone can play bass...

[oliana0]

I so have a crush on your wife. Pity she's taken.

[Amy Serhienko Bean]

As I read this, I'm waiting for it to be my turn to sing in Boston's "Foreplay/Long Time," which my Small One is now rockin' out to on the drums as our pasta dinner is cooking.

Serendipity. ;-}

[Craig Steffen]

Wow.

That's too goddamned cool for words--on all your parts. There are times that the laundry can wait.

[The Bad Astronomer]

I have to say, that sounds like every night at my house... and I play drums too!

... except, we unlocked Foreplay/Long Time and Ballroom Blitz, which I sing.

We have *got* to get the six of us together.

[Natalie]

That's a great story, right there. Love it.

[angie k]

Rock on! You guys are so awesome. :)

[Viva]

Totally awesome!

Can you adopt me please? :P

[Alan]

"Still Alive" (not to be confused with the 70's smash disco hit "Stayin' Alive") is available as a free download for Rock Band starting tomorrow.

http://xbox360.ign.com/articles/863/863226p1.html

[Celtic Mama]

I need to get my clan some Rock Band now! Too cool!