January 19th, 2019
Final Gravity
Santa Fe Springs Swap Meet
Personnel:
Mike - Guitar
John - Drums
Melissa - vocals
Me - bass
Bear with me: I'd like to share some background so there is context for the gig report.
Mike, John and I formed a short-lived cover band in the 90's called Deja Vu along with vocalist Bill. In 2007, we got back together and started doing original material, playing lots of gigs and recording and self-releasing an album. This lasted until 2010, when Bill left and we got Melissa. We kept gigging, released an EP and started working on a second album. I left the band in 2011 after playing one last gig and the remaining members recorded strong, detailed demos for the second album in 2012. Then, the project went dormant.
I have been primarily a bedroom warrior since, only playing with a drummer a couple of times in the intervening years.
Cut to 2016 when we all got back together to finish the record. It has been a slow process but we have already released a new single and will release more music and the entire album in 2019.
Melissa is also the lead singer in an all-female Led Zeppelin tribute called Lady Zep and they had a scheduled gig at the Santa Fe Springs Swap Meet. Melissa thought it would be a good idea for Final Gravity to play one song, so we got together for our first rehearsal in seven and a half years last week. We worked up two songs and then decided on one for the swap meet show.
I woke up the morning of the gig after a restless night; work the night before had been a real mess and I left things unresolved when I went home around midnight. My girlfriend didn't sleep well, either, and it turned out she had food poisoning from the night before. With her barfing and feeling bad, I considered canceling and staying home with her, but she urged me to go on with the show.
I played through the song a couple of times, decided the Dingwall Combustion was the best bass for the job, stuck it in a gig bag along with a spare cable, tuner and the strap and headed for the garage.
As I was walking through the door into the garage, I somehow whacked my left hand against the door frame and an instant purple egg popped up between my index and ring finger knuckles. It was painful, but didn't prevent me from playing.
Got in the car and drove an hour to the venue, 45 miles away.
Arrived early enough to catch Lady Zep doing soundcheck. The plan was for me to just plug in and play through their bassist's gear. I decided against bringing my multi effects pedal. It's only one song and why complicate things?
I was able to leave my bass in the "green room", which in this instance was a metal storage container next to the stage.
The beer garden area was quite large and could easily hold several hundred people Here is a shot from the back looking towards the stage.
The view from the stage, bassist's perspective:
I love beer and I saw the swap meet had a large beer bar. Since I only drink craft beer (I choose not to support the huge beer companies due to their shady business practices), there wasn't anything there I wanted. I had a soda instead.
John showed up during Lady Zep's first set and Mike arrived about half an hour before we were supposed to play. We were opening the second set (of three) for Lady Zep with our one song. Here's Lady Zep in action while we gathered our members:
Anyway, it was now our turn. I plugged in and didn't touch any of the other bassist's settings (respect, y'all). John the drummer made no adjustments. Mike brought a multi-effects unit and went direct into the PA.
Here's the full video of the song.
At 6:19, I think a couple of the guys down front are discussing my right hand technique. LOL. They may not have seen the "flamenco" style back-and-forth across the strings (that I totally copped from Geddy) before?
Afterwards, John and Mike and I hung out while Lady Zep played their second set. The number of people in the audience was quite a bit higher by this time. I finally relented and had a beer, proving I am able to get over myself once in a while. Also, I had to wait until they finished their set so I could get my cell phone; I took it out of my pocket and left it on the bass amp just before we played. D'oh!
I said my farewells and drove back home, marking an end to the first gig I played in front of people since August 2011.
Epilogue: girlfriend got better and as of 24 hours later is fine.
Final Gravity
Santa Fe Springs Swap Meet
Personnel:
Mike - Guitar
John - Drums
Melissa - vocals
Me - bass
Bear with me: I'd like to share some background so there is context for the gig report.
Mike, John and I formed a short-lived cover band in the 90's called Deja Vu along with vocalist Bill. In 2007, we got back together and started doing original material, playing lots of gigs and recording and self-releasing an album. This lasted until 2010, when Bill left and we got Melissa. We kept gigging, released an EP and started working on a second album. I left the band in 2011 after playing one last gig and the remaining members recorded strong, detailed demos for the second album in 2012. Then, the project went dormant.
I have been primarily a bedroom warrior since, only playing with a drummer a couple of times in the intervening years.
Cut to 2016 when we all got back together to finish the record. It has been a slow process but we have already released a new single and will release more music and the entire album in 2019.
Melissa is also the lead singer in an all-female Led Zeppelin tribute called Lady Zep and they had a scheduled gig at the Santa Fe Springs Swap Meet. Melissa thought it would be a good idea for Final Gravity to play one song, so we got together for our first rehearsal in seven and a half years last week. We worked up two songs and then decided on one for the swap meet show.
I woke up the morning of the gig after a restless night; work the night before had been a real mess and I left things unresolved when I went home around midnight. My girlfriend didn't sleep well, either, and it turned out she had food poisoning from the night before. With her barfing and feeling bad, I considered canceling and staying home with her, but she urged me to go on with the show.
I played through the song a couple of times, decided the Dingwall Combustion was the best bass for the job, stuck it in a gig bag along with a spare cable, tuner and the strap and headed for the garage.
As I was walking through the door into the garage, I somehow whacked my left hand against the door frame and an instant purple egg popped up between my index and ring finger knuckles. It was painful, but didn't prevent me from playing.
Got in the car and drove an hour to the venue, 45 miles away.
Arrived early enough to catch Lady Zep doing soundcheck. The plan was for me to just plug in and play through their bassist's gear. I decided against bringing my multi effects pedal. It's only one song and why complicate things?
I was able to leave my bass in the "green room", which in this instance was a metal storage container next to the stage.
The beer garden area was quite large and could easily hold several hundred people Here is a shot from the back looking towards the stage.
The view from the stage, bassist's perspective:
I love beer and I saw the swap meet had a large beer bar. Since I only drink craft beer (I choose not to support the huge beer companies due to their shady business practices), there wasn't anything there I wanted. I had a soda instead.
John showed up during Lady Zep's first set and Mike arrived about half an hour before we were supposed to play. We were opening the second set (of three) for Lady Zep with our one song. Here's Lady Zep in action while we gathered our members:
Anyway, it was now our turn. I plugged in and didn't touch any of the other bassist's settings (respect, y'all). John the drummer made no adjustments. Mike brought a multi-effects unit and went direct into the PA.
Here's the full video of the song.
At 6:19, I think a couple of the guys down front are discussing my right hand technique. LOL. They may not have seen the "flamenco" style back-and-forth across the strings (that I totally copped from Geddy) before?
Afterwards, John and Mike and I hung out while Lady Zep played their second set. The number of people in the audience was quite a bit higher by this time. I finally relented and had a beer, proving I am able to get over myself once in a while. Also, I had to wait until they finished their set so I could get my cell phone; I took it out of my pocket and left it on the bass amp just before we played. D'oh!
I said my farewells and drove back home, marking an end to the first gig I played in front of people since August 2011.
Epilogue: girlfriend got better and as of 24 hours later is fine.
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