For some reason, by the time many of us leave school, we have the notion that art and science occupy two completely different realms. We think we can be good at one or the other, but never both. Recently, I had the opportunity to witness firsthand that that notion is absurd.
I never thought I’d be going to Seattle’s Museum of Flight to see a concert, but there couldn’t be a more perfect venue to see Bandella, a band that plays folk, Americana, bluegrass and jazz music. Why? Because 5 of the members of this band are former astronauts, and the vocalist is the wife of the oldest currently active astronaut.
The museum’s theater is an intimate venue, with a seating capacity of only 268 people, so we basically got up close and personal with the performers. (I was totally fangirling!) In between songs, they told stories about their experiences in space, and answered questions. During the entire performance, images came up on the screen behind them. They were either photos of them on their various missions or with their families, or photos of earth that they took from space. It was mesmerizing.
This band has been performing for over 18 years. It got started in a basement bar in Star City, Russia when astronauts Chris Hadfield, Cady Coleman and Steve Robinson were there to train for their upcoming mission on the International Space Station.
Perhaps the most well-known member of the band is Chris Hadfield. Not only has he flown 2 missions on the space shuttle, but he was also the commander of the International Space Station for 5 months in 2013. On all three missions combined, he has spent 166 days in space.
That experience alone would garner anyone a fair bit of notoriety, but as shallow as we humans can be, the thing that really caught our attention was the time he did a cover of David Bowie’s Space Oddity in zero gravity while still on the space station. It has gotten 53 Million views on YouTube. During a fascinating interview that is also on YouTube, he said it’s very hard to strum a guitar in zero gravity, because it keeps wanting to shoot out of your hands.
And then there’s the time he collaborated with the Barenaked Ladies on a song called Is Somebody Singing, and then performed it live with singers all across Canada, while he was in space. The man is a public relations dream. And he has been described by Forbes as “perhaps the most social media savvy astronaut ever to leave Earth.”
His bandmates in Bandella are:
- Cady Coleman who logged 159 days in space on two space shuttle missions and a stint on the International Space Station, and whom I’ll always remember fondly as the woman who would do interviews in zero gravity with an infectious smile and her hair fanned about her head like a halo.
- Dan Burbank logged 188 days in space and flew two shuttle missions.
- Ken Cockrell spent approximately 65 days in space, and he is the veteran of 5 space shuttle missions. At age 73, he’s the oldest member of the band.
- Steve Robinson, who has flown 4 space shuttle missions and one mission on the International Space Station, and has spent 48 days in space.
- Another occasional band member is Dave Webb, who I can’t seem to find out anything about. All I know is he’s not an astronaut.
- Their lead vocalist is Micki Pettit, who is married to astronaut Donald Pettit, but that’s not her only claim to fame. She is also a former radio personality, a copywriter and an author.
I listened as these people performed on stage and they clearly loved every minute of it. I couldn’t help but be in awe of them. They are multitalented, and those talents are so scientifically and artistically diverse that they fan out in all directions, like Cady Coleman’s hair in zero gravity, or like the very arms of our galaxy. They are truly an inspiration. They are some of the very best of us. It was an honor to see them up close.
I’ll leave you with some photos dear husband took during the concert. As an extra treat, I’ll include a video of one of the songs they sang. It’s a bit out of focus, and they don’t sound as good as they did at the actual time, but at least it gives you a taste. Enjoy!
The ultimate form of recycling: Buy my book, read it, and then donate it to your local public library or your neighborhood little free library! http://amzn.to/2mlPVh5
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