"Check In" here before and after your gigs this weekend!

[MoD_Scotty]

Played a show last night at the New Brookland Tavern, in Columbia, SC. It was a benefit show for a guy that had been in a bad motorcycle wreck (he was the singer of a local band called Testing Ground).

Anyway, we're opening (which we haven't done in AGES, but was a nice change of pace), so we show up hella early. Turns out there was another show scheduled before ours (bunch of emo bands), so we hung out outside and waited for them to clear out.

Sound dude was really cool. We had to play a shorter set than usual, but overall, it was a great gig. One of my earrings actually came out, but I managed to pick it up and put it in my ear mid-song...and nobody noticed! I dunno if that's a good thing or a bad thing.

Next weekend: We're playing The 1st Annual Augusta Tattoo convention, opening for THE CLASSIC STRUGGLE! (They're on Ironclad/Metalblade....so yeah, we're stoked)

 

[jgsbass]

Almost forgot to post.
ROAD TRIP!
Sat. Going waaaay upstate for a wedding (outdoors).
From there I'm going to Newton, Mass for more of the same.

So far from NYC, I had to post a pic of me and some of the locals

 

[supermonkey]

The Eyes played the Grant Park Summer Shade Fest in Atlanta last Saturday. It was unbelievably hot and humid (which played havoc with tuning). But the stage was covered/shaded, it didn't rain, and we got a couple of free beers. Plus it was actually about 10 degrees cooler than the prior weekend, so I don't complain...

We played our 45 mins pretty well (much better than last show), we attracted some attention, got a really good response -- esp. for our closer, a patented Ramones-style take on Eno's "St Elmo's Fire". It was too hot and nasty for me to jump around as much as usual, but we still put on a show.

The only problem was the backline bass rig, for they provided an SVT w/ a fridge cab. Ordinarily, excellent. Love the SVT -- when I don't have to load it in or out. But this was a newer SVT, no fan, in a high heat situation... So we got about 3/4 of the way through our set before the tubes overheated and the whole rig shut down. I was running direct thru the PA, but the bulk of entire sound was moving thru that amp, so when it gave out, the bass pretty much completely left the monitors, and was cut by about 50% out front.

Anyway, here's a couple pics, including one of me implementing a very fine version of Bass Face v.02...

Please note that I'm fully aware that shorts are NOT rock'n'roll -- unless you happen to be Angus Young. The sheer heat of the day required some extreme measures...

 

[mimaz]

So far from NYC, I had to post a pic of me and some of the locals

Is that really a "do not disturb" sign for the sheep?

 

[jgsbass]

Is that really a "do not disturb" sign for the sheep?

Yep. Didn't work.

 

[jgsbass]

And my labor for Labor Day Weekend is:
Last night, Sat. night and Sunday night. Then I rest on Labor Day

 

[rreynoldsbass]

I'm playing a house show @ six. I'd rather slam my junk in my sock drawer. I'll be sure to let you know how that goes.

I know, you're thinking, "Which one is he going to do?"

 

[mimaz]

The Fab Benders are off for the holiday weekend, but I'm doing a gig with the steel drum band tonite........we did the same gig last year, a reception for returning students at a local college, went over really well.

 

[MoD_Scotty]

We played the First Annual Augusta Tattoo Expo on Saturday. When we were asked to play the gig a few months ago (which was being planned to be held at the Marriot downtown), the first thing we asked was "what's the PA situation?" Of course, we were told it was all going to be taken care of.

So naturally, when we talked to the show promoter this Friday to get a few last minute details, we asked for clarification on the PA situation. We were told to "just go ahead and bring whatever you'd need."

W T F?!?!?!?!?!

So long story short, we combined what little PA gear we have with what little PA gear one of the other bands had, and rigged up a crappy PA for vocals, keys, and bass drum. We were playing second, so we tweaked everything during the first band's show, and it actually sounded pretty good.

BUT, when we started sound checking our own setup, we noticed the horn on the main PA cab was blown. Thankfully, I realized that the cab had two sets of inputs, one of which could could isolate the horn or the woofer. Problem solved!

So we start playing our set (only about 3 hours after we were originally scheduled to play, but no big deal). There were plenty of people there, reactions were great, and we were kicking ass. Then our drummer broke his double bass pedal. Halfway through our set. GREAT.

So as the guys from Classic Struggle hauled ass to grab their pedal for us to borrow (MUCH PROPS!), I decided to give the people a little bit of Primus' Southbound Pachyderm. I improvised the hell out of the end and added a bunch of diddly-diddly-wah solo crap, and it turned out pretty cool. The crowd dug it.

We got The Struggle's pedal hooked up and finished the gig. Overall, it was a lot of work (scrambling around trying to get three different bands gear into the middle of the hotel, while trying to set up our own PA at the same time, etc), but it was definitely worth it. It was great to play with both By The Sins Fell Angels and The Classic Struggle. It was also great to work with a signed, touring band (The Struggle is on Ironclad/Metalblade) who were really down to earth and were willing to go out on a limb for us. Good times.

 

[darkfinger]

All right,
Two fun gigs tomorrow:
1. Playing at lunch hour at the University of Winnipeg Campus for all the new university kids...(stoked! a whole bunch of cute girlies runnin` around while we play! whoo hoo!)

2. Playing above a kitschy used clothing shop called Ragpickers...a super small room but its a total blast...plus its not really a `venue` so it has that boozecan/afterhours club vibe to it...sweet.

I`ll post a review and pics after the shows

 

[capnsandwich]

alright, I'll start with Friday. I've got a church gig with a band that I've never played with before but they asked me to play so I will. Saturday I'm going to my church and recording a 3 song demo with the praise team. For Sunday I'm playing at my church and then going to another church and playing for a Spanish service and then heading up to the studio and recording with my band. Busy weekend!

 

[Passinwind]

This Sunday's my last gig (at least for now) with my jazz group. It's an outdoor festival in my home town. We have a nice slot, a killer sound man and PA, beer garden with microbrews, and huckleberry ice cream and pie. Gotta love that!

Here's the link: Bingen Huckleberry Festival. I'll try to get a few pics this time. It's usually a pretty wild mix of people there.

 

[Lazylion]

My country band will be at Addy's in Manassas VA Friday and Saturday night, with an outdoor Sat-afternoon gig sandwiched in between! Busy after a couple of weeks off.

 

[darkfinger]

All right,
Two fun gigs tomorrow:
1. Playing at lunch hour at the University of Winnipeg Campus for all the new university kids...(stoked! a whole bunch of cute girlies runnin` around while we play! whoo hoo!)

2. Playing above a kitschy used clothing shop called Ragpickers...a super small room but its a total blast...plus its not really a `venue` so it has that boozecan/afterhours club vibe to it...sweet.

I`ll post a review and pics after the shows

Allright...here`s the review...no pics though due to lack of planning...
the university gig was awesome...we showed up at ten this morning for sound check and played at 11:45....We were tight right up until the last song, where we decided(by we of course I mean the drummer ) to play the song several bars longer and twice as fast as the usuall way we play it.
Other than that it was a super fun set...plus we got unlimited free booze, so by 2ish we were all hammered....good times

second show:
Took all of our gear straight from the Uni gig (thank god one of our singers was sober!) to the next show and split for eats..naps..etc.
My guitardist and I showed up at around eight thirty for sound check...surprise! we`re supposed to supply the P.A....luckily our second guitardist had an easily accessable P.A. and we set up...keep in mind that we all have been drinking since 11ish....you can imagine how the show went. Missed changes, off time, drunken nonsense...oddly everyone in the crowd seemed to dig it but wow, we were so off. From now on, I`ll only drink alot after the show....or so i hope...

 

[Ajrocks]

most people don't know when you mess up. Plus if you were all still drunk, you probably had a high level of energy and had a lot of fun and the crowd will eat off that!!!

 

[Fretless1!]

I didn't know whether to put this under "Gig" or "Horror Story".

Played Labor Day weekend with a cover band (not my normal, original band) for an outdoor biker party. Maybe 50-75 people. Mostly redneck biker wannabees. Some real bikers but mostly wannabees.

As soon as we got there, two guys start digging in my cooler asking where the beer is. I said, "My beer or your beer?". Pointed them toward the kegs.

Then one of the two was asking if he could see my bass. Another was asking if I was going to let him play later. Yeah, buddy, did you bring your bass, help me load, unload, set up, run lights, or anything? Nope just stood around watching while we worked, just showed up wanting to play my $1500 bass. Bite me. I asked him if he could play fretless. He said, "Sure, I can play anything." I don't think he even understood the question.

We were mainly ignored for the first two out of 3 sets. Don't know why. We played well, played all the Southern Rock and Biker standards. They just didn't seem to care.

Then everybody and his brother and sister wanted to "sit in", "sing", or otherwise be a part of the show. We had a guy who called himself "Jazzman" set in. According to him, he's played all over the world blah, blah, blah. We played 3 blues songs with him. All in the same key. He barely got through that.

And then the female "backup singers" came up... I'm not even going there. Ok, I will. These are the same girls that were dancing for some guy for his birthday. They all swore they either got topless or nude. Ladies, I'm standing 15 feet away from where you're dancing. I did not take my eyes off of you. You did neither.

By the end of the night, I'd had waaayy too much beer, lost a Maglite, and got eaten alive by chiggers... But, I made $100.

All in a nights work.

 

[Passinwind]

By the end of the night, I'd had waaayy too much beer, lost a Maglite, and got eaten alive by chiggers... But, I made $100.

Sig material, that is!

 

[WayneS]

We played at the Riverfest Chainsaw Circus yesterday in Greeneville Tn. Over 40 bands playing in all. We were the 4th band to play so there wasnt hardly anybody there. We played at 3pm. The guitarist had some technical difficulties, but other than that, it was a pretty good gig. We did get all of the free beer that we wanted.

 

[DanielleMuscato]

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We were really worried about this one... There was a HUGE festival in town last night... 25 bands on 3 stages, downtown streets closed, police on horseback, a BBQ contest, the whole thing. The festival was free, and the booking agent who set up this show made it $8 + 2 under 21... *and,* if was an early show (we played 7:15 to 8). We didn't think anybody would be there, but it actually turned out okay. And, we played really well... a lot of people told us how good we sounded afterward, and a buddy of mine told me my tone was really good

We have more photos of the other bands we played with, fans, etc, but I don't have them off my camera yet.

P.S. Schroeder 21012L, 55 pounds, *easily* (at 1/4 power from a Crown K2) kept up with Jake's huge drum kit two feet away with no reinforcement! Love that cab!

--
Photo by Justin Easley
www.justineasley.com

Thank you, Justin!

 

[Lazylion]

Tonight, it's my country band at the Charles Town WV Moose lodge, and tomorrow my brother, my cousin and me at Coleman Power Sport, a motorcycle dealership in Woodbridge VA, starting at noon. I hope the weather cooperates, the last two gigs it's been very hot, and not well attended. Good thing we're not playing for the door!