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Keyboardist called Boomerang
- Thread starter BrewsterRooster
- Start date
Texas is crazy sometimes! That sounds like something out of Porky's the movie
Loved the rock salt story! That would have been awesome to see! Sorry about the drum set, though.
As for the ongoing saga here in Tennesee...well, it's like this:
I pulled in to the gig last night and the GF said, "Hey, isn't that [Boomerang's] car?" I looked right next to where I'd parked and got a cold shiver. "No," I told her, "there's just no way. It's gotta be someone else." I started unloading, and the front door to the place opened. And who was standing there, holding the door? Yup. I just about re-packed my stuff and left. But then it got more interesting. He greeted me, I gave him a nod...and then he said, "Well, have a good gig. I'm going to hear [such-and-such band] down at [such-and-such place]."
Oh, my stars. Hope springs eternal...I asked, "So you're taking off, huh?"
"Yeah," he said. "You didn't hear about that? They fired me over that spat last Saturday! Can you believe it?"
Uhh...yeah, I guess I can believe it. Last Saturday and every other gig for the past two months, but who's counting?
He continued: "I don't know what the big deal was! I just don't get it!" Spit and sputter, groan and mutter. Then, "Well, I guess I'll see you around."
And, he was gone.
HAPPY DANCE!
I walked in and caught sight of BL#2. I simply smiled, he simply winked, and nothing else was said. Gloriously clean-sounding gig with a very receptive audience. I could hear everybody, nobody touched their volume knobs after balancing for the first tune, the dynamics were on the money, BL#1 sang her heart out and sounded great. Everybody was visibly relaxed, a load finally lifted. Even the air felt lighter. Bliss!
I did not ask, nor does it even really matter why Boomerang appeared at the gig, but I have a guess. I think he was fired by both band leaders two days ago, stewed about it, then showed up anyway thinking he'd just set up and play like before. BL#1 had not arrived yet when he was departing, so I figure BL#2 probably told him to leave his stuff in the car and not even think about loading in.
We have a rare Saturday off, so both BLs invited the GF and myself out for the night. We'll probably do the usual - have some dinner, go catch another local act, or just tip a few and pal around like ordinary friends - and I imagine the subject will probably be brought up just long enough to be put to bed. In a morbid sort of way, I'll admit I'm curious what actually went down. But even absent an explanation, the deed is finally done. Like, actually done.
As amusing as this thread has been, I still think it's a shame when things like this go down. Somebody else on this board made another thread awhile back about the most important things in a band, and I believe I opined that one of the things I think is critical to long-term success is having musicians who are on a par musically. I really do think that had a lot to do with the way this whole thing turned out, and if there had been any foresight in that regard, some hurt might have been avoided.
Just saying. Live and learn, right?
As for the ongoing saga here in Tennesee...well, it's like this:
I pulled in to the gig last night and the GF said, "Hey, isn't that [Boomerang's] car?" I looked right next to where I'd parked and got a cold shiver. "No," I told her, "there's just no way. It's gotta be someone else." I started unloading, and the front door to the place opened. And who was standing there, holding the door? Yup. I just about re-packed my stuff and left. But then it got more interesting. He greeted me, I gave him a nod...and then he said, "Well, have a good gig. I'm going to hear [such-and-such band] down at [such-and-such place]."
Oh, my stars. Hope springs eternal...I asked, "So you're taking off, huh?"
"Yeah," he said. "You didn't hear about that? They fired me over that spat last Saturday! Can you believe it?"
Uhh...yeah, I guess I can believe it. Last Saturday and every other gig for the past two months, but who's counting?
He continued: "I don't know what the big deal was! I just don't get it!" Spit and sputter, groan and mutter. Then, "Well, I guess I'll see you around."
And, he was gone.
HAPPY DANCE!
I walked in and caught sight of BL#2. I simply smiled, he simply winked, and nothing else was said. Gloriously clean-sounding gig with a very receptive audience. I could hear everybody, nobody touched their volume knobs after balancing for the first tune, the dynamics were on the money, BL#1 sang her heart out and sounded great. Everybody was visibly relaxed, a load finally lifted. Even the air felt lighter. Bliss!
I did not ask, nor does it even really matter why Boomerang appeared at the gig, but I have a guess. I think he was fired by both band leaders two days ago, stewed about it, then showed up anyway thinking he'd just set up and play like before. BL#1 had not arrived yet when he was departing, so I figure BL#2 probably told him to leave his stuff in the car and not even think about loading in.
We have a rare Saturday off, so both BLs invited the GF and myself out for the night. We'll probably do the usual - have some dinner, go catch another local act, or just tip a few and pal around like ordinary friends - and I imagine the subject will probably be brought up just long enough to be put to bed. In a morbid sort of way, I'll admit I'm curious what actually went down. But even absent an explanation, the deed is finally done. Like, actually done.
As amusing as this thread has been, I still think it's a shame when things like this go down. Somebody else on this board made another thread awhile back about the most important things in a band, and I believe I opined that one of the things I think is critical to long-term success is having musicians who are on a par musically. I really do think that had a lot to do with the way this whole thing turned out, and if there had been any foresight in that regard, some hurt might have been avoided.
Just saying. Live and learn, right?
Glad this is finally resolved, although I am going to miss the saga!! 
Meeting in person is a mistake. It has been handled. Going over it again only opens the door to more issues and manipulation.
This. And that's why:
So there. Period. There's always douchebags in the audience. That dimes down the whole vibe, and making it bad for the rest of the audience. Can be band members too. Some solve these problems with rock salt. I don't.
Dang -this was a good thread! Rock on Brewster Rooster! Happy musical days for you sir!
"Can you believe it?"
He still doesn't realize he's been fired several times?
Wow!
Talk about clueless, and I'm sure he honestly can't fathom the reason for his departure either.
Oh well, at least it's over.
Sounds like you've got a great band happening finally.
Best of luck!
Epilogue:
As mentioned, both BLs, my girlfriend and myself went out Saturday, had some dinner and did a little barhopping to hear other local bands. We caught a cool acoustic/electric act at the first place, and an outstanding variety group at the second venue. We specifically wanted to hit the second one because it's a swanky venue and a high-water mark as local gigs go - BL#1 landed us a weekend there in September, and we're hoping to secure a spot in the rotation. It was a rare, relaxing night on the town and I didn't want to spoil it with too much shop talk, but I did ask why Boomerang had appeared at the last gig. And I could not believe my ears. According to BL#2, "He showed up to say he just didn't have time to wait around for things to improve, and that he was quitting the band."
I was stupefied, and I'm sure my expression reflected it. Once I scraped my jaw off the floor, I confirmed yet again that he'd actually been fired prior to the gig. That was answered in the affirmative. Fired by both BLs as of last Thursday. But apparently that didn't fit into Boomerang's schema of how things work in the real world. Reminded me of Al Pacino's character Lefty from Donnie Brasco: "You don't walk out on me. I walk out on you."
That pretty well confirmed for me that Boomerang really wasn't firing on all 8 cylinders...
<iframe width="560" height="315" src="Donnie Brasco - You don't walk out on me - YouTube" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>
At jimmy4string - thank you for the kind words. I do think things just took a huge turn for the better!
Happy playing, all.
As mentioned, both BLs, my girlfriend and myself went out Saturday, had some dinner and did a little barhopping to hear other local bands. We caught a cool acoustic/electric act at the first place, and an outstanding variety group at the second venue. We specifically wanted to hit the second one because it's a swanky venue and a high-water mark as local gigs go - BL#1 landed us a weekend there in September, and we're hoping to secure a spot in the rotation. It was a rare, relaxing night on the town and I didn't want to spoil it with too much shop talk, but I did ask why Boomerang had appeared at the last gig. And I could not believe my ears. According to BL#2, "He showed up to say he just didn't have time to wait around for things to improve, and that he was quitting the band."
I was stupefied, and I'm sure my expression reflected it. Once I scraped my jaw off the floor, I confirmed yet again that he'd actually been fired prior to the gig. That was answered in the affirmative. Fired by both BLs as of last Thursday. But apparently that didn't fit into Boomerang's schema of how things work in the real world. Reminded me of Al Pacino's character Lefty from Donnie Brasco: "You don't walk out on me. I walk out on you."
That pretty well confirmed for me that Boomerang really wasn't firing on all 8 cylinders...
<iframe width="560" height="315" src="Donnie Brasco - You don't walk out on me - YouTube" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>
At jimmy4string - thank you for the kind words. I do think things just took a huge turn for the better!
Happy playing, all.
He'll either find another band to mooch off of, or he'll go back to tormenting you when he gets bored....
You know this thread had it all -heroes, villians, nutty keyboard players, a a bass player fighting for justice
a legless cat(well now it does). AND it had a happy ending and epilogue. You rarely get all of that on TB
Good stuff Brewster Rooster
a legless cat(well now it does). AND it had a happy ending and epilogue. You rarely get all of that on TB
Good stuff Brewster Rooster
oddly enough, its usually keyboard players that keep coming back -- i guess because finding one with a decent rig is usually hard to find and ive worked with one sporadically over the years who wasnt as bad as the OP's Boomerang (this guy was just a know-it-all and a 'one-upper': he had to one-up you on any story you may tell....annoying. He also has a pill problem, which is the reason why he gets fired each time in the first place)
Most elusive is the synthesizer/sampler guy that can get all the right sounds for the songs, plays simple pads when needed, can play piano ballads without turning them into honky-tonk butcherings, and relegates B3 only to songs that require it -- that guy maybe an azzhole but he will always work
Most elusive is the synthesizer/sampler guy that can get all the right sounds for the songs, plays simple pads when needed, can play piano ballads without turning them into honky-tonk butcherings, and relegates B3 only to songs that require it -- that guy maybe an azzhole but he will always work
