My NYE's gig @ Seizure World

[mwbonsall]

I hope everyone had a great and safe New Years Eve. We, The Midnight Confessions, played one of our usual venues, Leisure World in Mesa. For a retirement community they are very active and love to dance.

We had a new guitar/vocal sub for the first time, David Maestes. David and I have been friends since Junior High School, both played in different bands since that time, but have never played in the same band. This was very cool for me to have him with us, and he plays and sings great.


We had not so Arizona weather yesterday, lots of rain and cold for us, low 40's. The drive was very wet:

The nice big stage:

Fast forward, Poof, we are all set up:

My rig:

Steve's drums:

David's rig:

Russ's Keyboards:

Here we are hanging out in the green room:

The venue had a fantastic buffet for the paying guests, so they brought us Jimmy Johns sandwiches (better than nothing):

And the party gets rolling:

Nice shot of David and me:

Steve:

Russ:

Praying everyone has a great, blessed New Year!!

Mark

 

[McG]

What a nice stage and room. Not to mention a bunch of active seniors. (I'm one myself.) Very cool NYE gig.

And yeah, unusual weather for AZ but any rain in the southwest is good.

 

[BassCliff]

Hi Mark!

Nice accommodations there, a nice room, a good sized stage, nice green room, and those sandwiches are pretty good! I really like your rig. And I really enjoy seeing the guitar player show up with a small amp. That's all you ever need.

I just learned that my buddy Rick Schmidt has a steady gig at a place called the Buffalo Chip Saloon in Cave Creek with Pat James and his band "The Elements", Friday nights and Saturday and Sunday afternoons. He's a steel player but is playing bass for this gig. He's an excellent bass player too.

Happy New Year to you and yours. Many blessings.

Thank you for your indulgence,

BassCliff

 

[growlypants]

Very Cool! I know I've commented before, but it bears repeating: Nice RIG, you got there! In that one shot, your bass seems to be fretless on only the E and B strings - wonder if anyone's ever tried that. Happy New Year!

 

[great bleudini]

I played in Oracle for NYE. It was a white knuckle drive back into Tucson at 2 am. Once we got to a lower elevation the snow turned to rain but it was sure was a sight for an Arizonan.

 

[mwbonsall]

What a nice stage and room. Not to mention a bunch of active seniors. (I'm one myself.) Very cool NYE gig.

And yeah, unusual weather for AZ but any rain in the southwest is good.

I am one also! I like the rain and cool weather for a change, but I don't like loading in and out in this weather.

Hi Mark!

Nice accommodations there, a nice room, a good sized stage, nice green room, and those sandwiches are pretty good! I really like your rig. And I really enjoy seeing the guitar player show up with a small amp. That's all you ever need.

I just learned that my buddy Rick Schmidt has a steady gig at a place called the Buffalo Chip Saloon in Cave Creek with Pat James and his band "The Elements", Friday nights and Saturday and Sunday afternoons. He's a steep player but is playing bass for this gig. He's an excellent bass player too.

Happy New Year to you and yours. Many blessings.

Thank you for your indulgence,

BassCliff

Thanks Cliff. David uses a Peavey Delta Blues, only 35 watts but sounds great and is plenty loud. Pat James has a good band and the Buffalo Chip is a cool place. I talked to Rick about filling in with us last year but it didn't work out. Rick has also worked with some old friends of mine at a Casino in Pinetop, Hoot Hensen, Mike Ballard and Brett Anderson. I hope we can work together someday.

Mark

 

[mwbonsall]

Very Cool! I know I've commented before, but it bears repeating: Nice RIG, you got there! In that one shot, your bass seems to be fretless on only the E and B strings - wonder if anyone's ever tried that. Happy New Year!

Thank you! I would be lost without frets.

I played in Oracle for NYE. It was a white knuckle drive back into Tucson at 2 am. Once we got to a lower elevation the snow turned to rain but it was sure was a sight for an Arizonan.

Tucson is supposed to get significant snow tomorrow, stay safe! We never get snow up here.

Mark

 

[BassCliff]

Hi Mark,

Thanks Cliff. David uses a Peavey Delta Blues, only 35 watts but sounds great and is plenty loud. Pat James has a good band and the Buffalo Chip is a cool place. I talked to Rick about filling in with us last year but it didn't work out. Rick has also worked with some old friends of mine at a Casino in Pinetop, Hoot Hensen, Mike Ballard and Brett Anderson. I hope we can work together someday.

Mark

I'm glad you've been able to meet Rick. He is really good people and very, very talented. I miss working with the guy.


Thank you for your indulgence,

BassCliff

 

[JRA]

looks like a fun time was had by all! i'm with the previous posters: nice gig! nice room! cool to have a NYE gig in the first place, but way cool to be treated well by the venue --- with those accommodations. thanks for sharing the experience...and your ax looks killer!

 

[SWRnut]

Great report. Happy New Year.

 

[5StringBlues]

Leisure World sounds much more fun than Seizure World.

 

[faulknersj]

Nice! Thanks for sharing! We Arizonans aren’t equipped for these above freezing temperatures in the 40’s lol!

 

[74hc]

How do you like the DCB's? Been thinking of those or super doubles.

 

[G19Tony]

Very nice photography. I’m happy you had a good gig for an appreciative audience.

 

[Chad Michael]

Thanks for the photos and mini-documentary...

I noticed the subs coupled center - stage: smart

 

[Jughead6]

Leisure World sounds much more fun than Seizure World.

Thank you. I was at a loss for words when I read the title.

 

[Cowboy in Latvia]

Initially I thought this was another post about a band member having an issue with strobes during a gig. My reaction to the title, after reading the actual place name, shows that I am still a kid...and an inappropriate one at that. I know it wasn't right and really isn't funny but I couldn't help but giggle.

 

[mcarp555]

Nice report! I liked the 'instant stage setup' photos. If only! And I really liked Russ's keyboard shell. Everything nicely contained and hidden from the audience.

 

[Ekulati]

Hey guy, yup, lived in Tempe for 30 years, played there a few times. Many gigs in fact on the "senior circuit," most recently with a great Clapton trib I was in from 2011 to last year when I moved to east coast. They loved us. I also remember you guys in fact, we crossed paths somewhere...

Some of those gigs can be duds, but overall most are fun, and far better than bars. Good job, happy new year!

Edit: and I see you know Pat James...don't know him personally but heard him many times. My cousins are the owners of the Buffalo Chip. In fact at their wedding, I sat in with Pat and sang Nick Lowe's "I knew the bride..." for my crazy cousin...small world!

 

[tubedude]

Looks like a nice retirement home gig. Nice chunk o' lumber on that bass top! Great to play a gig where the guitard doesn't use a bigass Marshall.