What a night!

Tom F · #1 01-29-2011, 08:33 AM

This is a *really* long read, but I promise it's worth it all the way to the end.

New band had a show locally last night, and by locally I mean the bar on the other side of the highway form where I live (always the easiest commute). We've played there several times, and it has always gone well.

Last night was no exception. A bunch of people came out, and we were playing well/sounded good/etc. During the break between our first and second sets, I went outside to get some fresh/cool air, because the bar was very warm. Got talking to one of the drummer's buddies, who revealed himself to be nothing short of *wasted*. He was a fun drunk, which always makes that easier. Did I mention he was completely and totally *wasted*?

Everybody drank and danced through the second set, having a great time and reminding me of why I love playing live.

I didn't see our wasted friend during the second break, the reason for which became clear when my wife mentioned to me that he had puked all over himself on the couch off to the side of the stage. Awesome. I suggested to my wife that she tell his friends to get him out of there, since puking all over yourself usually occurs near the top of a very slippery slope. She talked to his friends, who told her he was "fine." Right.

As we were kicking off the third set, I looked over a noticed that he had somehow managed to stand up, and was bobbing to the music in a most unusual manner. A fraction of a second late I realized he was dry heaving right over the keyboard player's rack, which had his wireless, new in ear transmitter, a small mixer for his in ears, and assorted other pieces of gear. In super slow motion, his mouth opened, and he pulled the top off the cup that was sitting on the rack. Then it happened.

Still in slow motion, he blew chunks all over the rack. Gross! The keyboard player tried to push him back for a second, and then astutely realized that if he got pushed back, he would ralph *into* the rack instead of on top of it, which wasn't the preferred outcome. I have to admit that the puke threw me off my game for a couple songs, but we recovered as a couple of very, very kind fans got some paper towels and tried to remove as much of the sputum as possible. Fast forward to the ned of the night, when the keyboard player informed us that somehow it got into the pots and faders of his mixer, between the pieces of racked gear, etc. Needless to say we were very cautious as we packed up!

In the vomit aftermath (while we were still playing), my wife, who is a saint, noticed that my jacket was in the danger zone, so she picked it up and brought it to my car. Of course, in the process, she neglected to remember that my keys were in the pocket of my jacket, and as such were inaccessible when the car was locked. She left early because she had to work this morning. As we started to pack up the van, I decided to go get my jacket out of my car. Of course, this was impossible because the car was locked! I helped load the van with no jacket, despite the fact that it was about 15 degrees (glad it wasn't last week, when it was -5 and 50 miles away!). The guys drove me home, where I woke up my very confused wife so she could let me in. I then walked the mile or so *back* to the bar, where I got my car, and drove home (it was about 3:30 by this point). She was trying to be nice, but it was one of those times where it jut backfired.

The icing on the cake came this morning, where I was awakened by a gurgling sound as one of my dogs puked up some apple that my wife had given him earlier. 3 inches from my arm! I got out of bed, threw my hands in the air, and said "I surrender!" as I walked into the living room, where Zeke (the puppy in question) soon followed so he could vomit the remainder of the apple a couple feet from my...feet. Of course, my wife, who had watched all of this with similar parts amusement and concern, had to leave for work, leaving me to supervise cleanup.

Then I had breakfast.

Picture one is the band; you can see the as yet un-vomited-on rack on the right hand side. Picture 2 is Zeke, who is a fantastic dog.

guitar ed · #2 01-29-2011, 08:36 AM

Brutal, but with a sense of humor.

I predict you will go far in life.

edg

capnsandwich · #3 01-29-2011, 08:41 AM

Sounds like a great time.

Tom F · #4 01-29-2011, 08:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by guitar ed

Brutal, but with a sense of humor.

I predict you will go far in life.

edg

If you don't have a sense of humor about stuff like this you won't last very long! Well, a sense of humor and a box of clorox wipes!

Quote:

Originally Posted by capnsandwich

Sounds like a great time.

Every show with this band is an adventure!

KeithPas · #5 01-29-2011, 08:44 AM

I loved this story, brings back some good, old and smelly memories!

Joe.shaffer · #6 01-29-2011, 08:49 AM

Haha! Glad you can have a sense of humor about these things, you certainly need it.

**xed** · #7 01-29-2011, 09:02 AM

There are those that can see the humor in a situation as it happens and those that may only see it much later. I think those people that can see it as it happens tend to have lower blood pressure.

rust_preacher · #8 01-29-2011, 09:32 AM

Great story, thanks for sharing. You should have had the dog with you at the show (for rack cleanup)... I know from experience...

Tom F · #9 01-29-2011, 09:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rust_preacher

Great story, thanks for sharing. You should have had the dog with you at the show (for rack cleanup)... I know from experience...

There was certainly enough to go around!

That said, he had more than his share this morning.

Smallmouth_Bass · #10 01-29-2011, 09:39 AM

These are usually the situations that are aggravating in the moment, but stand out later as moments you'll remember!

Stinsok · #11 01-29-2011, 10:15 AM

Ugh, if somone does the "technicolor yawn" it makes me want to as well.

RustyAxe · #12 01-29-2011, 01:11 PM

And my friends ask why I don't do bar gigs anymore ...

cableguy · #13 01-29-2011, 01:28 PM

Nothing like a good puke story. Soumds like you made the most of it and had fun for the most part. Mine involved our own drummer who had the flu. Played the whole night with a bucket behind his floor tom. Nothing like looking over and seeing your drummer yaking during the middle of the song. Guy played through it like a champ, only missed a few beats here and there. We were playing out of state so we couldn't get a back-up. Never will for get that gig though. Good times, good times. Sounds like your gig will stick with you as well. Funny story.

timber22 · #14 01-30-2011, 07:56 AM

Is the name of your band "Good N Loaded"? That's what it seems to say on the banner. Maybe some people in the crowd take that as a direct order

Tom F · #15 01-30-2011, 09:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by timber22

Is the name of your band "Good N Loaded"? That's what it seems to say on the banner. Maybe some people in the crowd take that as a direct order

It is and they do.

I love our crowds - they always have fun. This is the first time any of us can remember somebody puking directly onto equipment - usually it's in the parking lot, or the corner, or themselves.

Most of us have an aversion to vomit (who doesn't) - we definitely struggled until it got covered over and eventually cleaned up. I had a nightmare of other people seeing the one guy vomit and then doing their own "technicolor yawn" (my new favorite phrase, by the way). Luckily, the crowd didn't really notice - heck, the drummer didn't even know what happened until after the show when we told him!

Luckily, last night was puke free.

richtea · #16 01-31-2011, 02:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rust_preacher

Great story, thanks for sharing. You should have had the dog with you at the show (for rack cleanup)... I know from experience...

coffee clean up time, must stop tb-ing and drinking coffee at the same time.

nukes_da_bass · #17 01-31-2011, 02:24 AM

That bar looks familiar- is it in Middletown?
All the bad stuff seems to happen in Middletown, or Walden (I lived in Newburgh almost 10 years, founding member of The Hotrod Band).

Bocete · #18 01-31-2011, 03:52 AM

Hehe, you said keyboard player's rack

Plays_For_Dog · #19 01-31-2011, 04:20 AM

Zeke!

Tom F · #20 01-31-2011, 05:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nukes_da_bass

That bar looks familiar- is it in Middletown?
All the bad stuff seems to happen in Middletown, or Walden (I lived in Newburgh almost 10 years, founding member of The Hotrod Band).

It's GW's in Chester. There's plenty of excitement whenever we play Middletown - the last time we were there it was a big fight and multiple arrests, although fortunately it happened after we played, and outside the bar. I never understood that fight considering the place we play is around the corner form the police department!

My only experience playing in Walden was the Walden Harvest festival with a different band a few years back. Now *that* was an experience!

Quote:

Originally Posted by Plays_For_Dog

Zeke!

Zeke is the best. He's a rescue - unknown breed, unknown age (2-ish), awesome temperament. I hope to one day be as cool as he is.