Thirteen years can seem like the blink of an eye to some, and a lifetime to others.

As it pertains to me, that’s the amount of time that has elapsed since I gave my first non-school-related public performance as a musician.

On Aug. 18, 2001, I was a 14-year-old middle school student full of big dreams and stark naivete. I, along with my two bandmates, Tony Waterman and Andy Scholeno, had formed a three-piece classic rock cover band called “Mystic Illusion,” and had been playing together for the better part of a year. During that time, we’d accumulated maybe 10 songs that we could play in their entirety and maybe six that we were brave enough to play in front of an audience.

And we thought we were awesome.

Awesome enough to ask my dad if we could open for a show he was doing at the house party of a family friend out in the Ellington area, that is. Dad agreed, luckily, and we played our hearts out to the sounds of Bryan Adams, Def Leppard, the Beatles – and even one original song of our own – for about a half-hour before the headlining musicians took the stage.

Afterward, we felt great about ourselves. Feeling suddenly very important, we walked around amongst the commoners like we were hot stuff, and I remember the phrase “high and mighty” being thrown about a bit as we collectively patted ourselves on the back. Looking back on it now, it was probably less than pleasant for the adult listeners who were merely trying to humor us kids, but it was nevertheless a great personal milestone to have reached at that age.

It also ended up being the only public appearance Mystic Illusion would make in its year-and-a-half existence. Very little now remains to signify that the band ever really existed other than a handful of photographs, a few crumpled, handwritten setlists and grainy footage of a rehearsal or two that we’d had the foresight to film for posterity’s sake.

The shining gem of Mystic Illusion memorabilia is a 10-song album we recorded in March 2002 at the now-defunct Stonehouse Studios – formerly located in the Arcade Building. Because we had enlisted our friend Remington Whitcomb to assist in singing duties for the recordings, we made four copies; and I’m pretty sure I recall each of the other guys telling me they had lost (or destroyed) their copies in the ensuing years – possibly making mine the only one now in existence.

It’s a very bad album, to be sure. I think I have only ever played it for my wife once, and never for anyone else; but it’s something that, when in isolation, I will bring out once in a very blue moon to remind myself of where it all began for me.

I’ve come a long way since then. Earlier this week, I received confirmation that my surf rock band The Elektra Kings will be on the bill to perform in the 24th annual Great Blue Heron Music Festival in Sherman next year. This is a big step that I hope will open future doors to other area music festivals, while the waning childhood dream of becoming a rock star still occasionally rears its feeble head in the back of my mind.

From a front porch at the house of a family friend to the Tiger Maple Stage on the Heron grounds, I continue to carry that dream with me. From one countryside gig to another, I continue to play my heart out to anyone who will listen.

And now, here’s what you can expect to find in the area this week.

HIGHLIGHTS

Dark Star Orchestra Returns To Reg Lenna Friday: The ultimate Grateful Dead experience will return to Jamestown when Dark Star Orchestra performs at the Reg Lenna Center for the Arts for the second time Friday. Formed in Chicago in 2007, the band has toured extensively through the U.S. on an annual basis, giving “Deadheads” a fresh, modern take on Grateful Dead classics. Earlier this year, the band surpassed its original counterpart in the number of concerts performed. The Grateful Dead performed 2,318 concerts in its 30-year history, while Dark Star Orchestra reached that milestone in only 17 years. Dark Star Orchestra’s return to Jamestown was orchestrated by Southern Tier Brewing Company, who is sponsoring Friday’s concert as part of its LIVE Series. Tickets are $35 general admission.

The Reg Lenna Center for the Arts is located at 116 E. Third St. in Jamestown. To purchase tickets, call the Reg Lenna box office at 484-7070 or visit www.reglenna.com.

Artist Reception At RTPI Is Friday: The Roger Tory Peterson Institute will host an artist reception for bird photographer Steve Cagan from 5-7 p.m. Friday. Cagan’s black-and-white photographs, done in the style of portraits, are currently on display at the institute as part of its “Bird Portraits” art exhibit series. The Friday reception will kick off the “Bird Portraits” exhibit, which will continue through Jan. 4. Refreshments will be served, and the reception is free and open to the public.

The Roger Tory Peterson Institute is located at 311 Curtis St. in Jamestown. For more information, visit www.rtpi.org.

Seneca Allegany Events Center To Hold Music Awards Ceremony Friday: The Seneca Allegany Events Center will play host to the world’s first official and largest awards show for Native American music initiatives, the Native American Music Awards – now in its 15th year. This is the seventh consecutive year that Seneca Resorts & Casinos will host the critically acclaimed awards show, but the first time that the program will be held at the Seneca Allegany Events Center. Each year, the annual awards program features more than a dozen mesmerizing and dynamic performances by some of today’s leading Native American artists, along with 30 awards categories from every genre of music including rock, pop, blues, hip hop, country, New Age, and unique, distinctly indigenous music genres such as pow wow recording and Native American church music. Past inductees and performers at the show have included Robbie Robertson, Crystal Gayle and Nellie Furtado. Tickets are $15.

The Seneca Allegany Events Center is located at 777 Seneca Allegany Blvd. in Salamanca. To purchase tickets, call 800-745-3000, or visit www.senecaalleganycasino.com.

Girl Scouts To Hold Santa’s Workshop At Falcon’s Nest Saturday: Falconer area Girl Scout Cadette Troop 20075 is sponsoring Santa’s Workshop craft/vendor show at the Falcon’s Nest on Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Both crafters and vendors will be onsite at 27 different tables to sell a variety of wares, including handmade jewelry, crafts and baked goods. Lunch and beverages will also be available for purchase, with all proceeds going to Girl Scout Troop 20075. The girls will use the proceeds from this event to assist with the cost of badges, community service projects and trips that they plan on doing throughout the upcoming year.

The Falcon’s Nest is located at 2001 E. Main St. in Falconer. For more information, contact Cindy Grodecki at 487-0475 or cgrodecki@windstream.net.

Southern Tier Xpress To Make Homestand This Weekend: After winning both of its games over the weekend, the Southern Tier Xpress (10-8-0) will return to home ice for a two-night stand against the Cincinnati Swords (3-12-2) at the Jamestown Savings Bank Arena. Puck drops are at 7:30 p.m. Friday, and 5 p.m. Saturday. The weekend games will mark the fourth and fifth meetings of the two teams in Jamestown, where the Xpress holds a respectable 8-3 record. Tickets are available starting at $5, and “Family 4 Packs” are available for $25 – which includes four tickets, four drinks and four food items.

The Jamestown Savings Bank Arena is located at 319 W. Third St. For more information, visit www.jamestownarena.com or www.stxpresshockey.com.

HAPPENINGS

To include an upcoming show or event in this column, email gpaterniti@post-journal.com or call 487-1111, ext. 243 by Monday.

Tonight

Bluegrass Jam: 7 p.m., Lakewood Legion, 174 Chautauqua Ave. in Lakewood

DJ Eclips: 9 p.m., Bullfrog Hotel, 1414 E. Second St. in Jamestown

Friday

Uncle Claud’s Band: 4 p.m., Mojo’s, 104 E. Second St. in Jamestown

Affiance with Silent Planet and guests: 5:30 p.m., Gateway Center, 31 Water St. in Jamestown

Velvet Cabbies: 6 p.m., The Wine Cellar, 309 N. Main St. in Jamestown

Brian Chase: 9 p.m., Yesterdays, 103 Chautauqua Ave. in Lakewood

Qwister: 9 p.m., Good Time Saloon, 590 Fairmount Ave. in Jamestown

Funktional Flow: 10 p.m., Shawbucks, 212 W. Second St. in Jamestown

DJ Griz: 10 p.m., Lakeview Hotel, 13 Water St. in Mayville

Splitfoot: 10 p.m., Bullfrog Hotel, 1414 E. Second St. in Jamestown

Manhattan Project: 10:30 p.m., Mojo’s, 104 E. Second St. in Jamestown

Uncle Claud’s Band: 11 p.m., The Wine Cellar, 309 N. Main St. in Jamestown

Saturday

Sammy Slicker Band: 8 p.m., Celoron Legion, 26 Jackson Ave. in Jamestown

“The Trip To Italy” Screening: 8 p.m., Reg Lenna Center for the Arts, 116 E. Third St. in Jamestown

Matt Hake and Stacey Givan (of Rumourz): 9 p.m., Yesterdays, 103 Chautauqua Ave. in Lakewood

Amp’d Up Karaoke: 9 p.m., Good Time Saloon, 590 Fairmount Ave. in Jamestown

Steve Strickland: 9 p.m., Steener’s Pub, 3022 Route 430 in Greenhurst

Smokin’ 45: 10 p.m., Shawbucks, 212 W. Second St. in Jamestown

Sweet Ass Cream Corn: 10 p.m., Bullfrog Hotel, 1414 E. Second St. in Jamestown

Derek Davis and Alex Kates: 10 p.m., Lakeview Hotel, 13 Water St. in Mayville

Sunday

Bill Engvall: 5 p.m., Seneca Allegany Events Center, 777 Seneca Allegany Blvd. in Salamanca

Open Mic Night: 8 p.m., Bullfrog Hotel, 1414 E. Second St. in Jamestown

Wednesday

“The Trip To Italy” Screening: 8 p.m., Reg Lenna Center for the Arts, 116 E. Third St. in Jamestown

Open Mic Night: 9:30 p.m., Shawbucks, 212 W. Second St. in Jamestown