22 years ago today, the world lost one of the greatest musicians and songwriters that it never even knew. Noah Goldman was a kind, artistic soul. He was incredibly talented, especially on the guitar, but also as a drummer, singer, bass player and lyricist. I met him when I was 18, still in high school, he was 19. The year before, he had moved to San Francisco with his band to try and get something started in the music scene there. However, he returned to our small town to be a father and one of his bandmates that I had gone to school with told me I should call him up because he wanted people to play music with. I did that and he was super nice, we met at his apartment and jammed for an hour or two. He invited me to return and record a song with him on his Tascam 4-track cassette recorder. It was mind-blowing!
I had never seen a multi-track recorder before and found it the most amazing invention for a musician (outside of instruments and amps). We recorded some instrumental songs and eventually I asked if I could record my own song I was working on and he graciously agreed. It was a song about a friend at school who had died that year, so was very emotional for me. Noah recorded some great drums and lead guitar, while I recorded the rhythm guitar. I got a friend with a lovely voice to record the vocal. I wasn't very good at songwriting yet, so it wasn't a good song, but it meant so much to me and did make me cry the first time I heard it played back - I was hooked.
I bought my own Tascam 4-track that summer when I got my first full time job and took it to college. Made a ton more instrumental songs and not so good vocal songs. Whenever I had a chance, I returned to play music with Noah. He had some serious health issues and we grew apart a little bit after several years, so I ended up leaving the area entirely to start anew. About a year later I got the terrible call about his sudden passing at the age of 27. It was flooring. I felt guilt and regret and pretty much all the things you feel when you lose someone close. I had always imagined he would call me up one day to let me know he was signed to a label and needed a band to tour the world, and I would drop everything. I wasn't sure I could go it alone in music, I thought about packing it all in. Instead I tried to keep his inspiration fresh in my mind and to let go of all the other negative feelings. 20 Years after that I released the album 20 Years. I had finally found my way solo in the world of songwriting and singing, I huge part of that was the song “Ghost In My Head” which originally had Noah on drums and was a mostly true song about my experiences after he passed. Something clicked for me during that recording and I found my singing voice. I found how not to be ashamed of my meager skills in that department and to make the most of my other skills such as lyric writing, guitar playing, drive and the ability to focus on a project to completion.
I wish so deeply that he was here today, not just for myself and his family, but for the world. I know he would be making amazing songs that the indie music world could connect with and love. He had more talent in his pinkie then I have in my body. The songs he wrote at 18 were incredible songs, it's hard to fathom how far his songwriting talents would have evolved in his 30s and 40s. The song here, Buried Plume, was written/recorded when he was about 23. He is playing all the instruments and singing. It was recorded on a four-track. Would have loved to hear what he would have done with unlimited tracks! Today I think of Noah and am thankful for the fire he gave to me while he was here, a fire that I've keep burning for 22 years now.