I dont actually have any but the season is coming and I thought some of you old vets might have some good stories to relate.
*gets the popcorn*
*gets the popcorn*
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New Years Eve Gig stories
- Thread starter Jimmy4string
- Start date
I turned one down last year because it didn't pay enough IMO.
Then I had us play a party at my house for free. Lol.
Then I had us play a party at my house for free. Lol.
Last year I played a party at me house. (it's also is my BDay) A good time was had by all. Our #1 fan, a drunk neighborhood guy, who appears at our occasional outdoor shows, stopped by (my avatar), and the CB trucker on I-75 made several random appearances over the PA throughout the show. Oh and the people who still in love with the Sticky Icky made quite a smoke machine effect, not my thing no more, but I ain't gonna look down my nose at ya. Premium Tequila for me after we played, The wife is wanting to do it again this year too.
Sub'd cause It's also my birthday.
I was in the catering business for a good long while, so I wasn't playing NYE shows. I have only done a handful of them over the years. All went well.
I want to see a horror story!
I was in the catering business for a good long while, so I wasn't playing NYE shows. I have only done a handful of them over the years. All went well.
I want to see a horror story!
I haven't played a NYE gig since the mid 70s, preferring to stick close to home with family and friends. But I'll go ahead and share the last one I played. You want "old" you get old 
It was NYE 1975, a private party for the Licorice Pizza record store chain. Our lead guitarist managed one of the stores so that connection got us the gig. All we knew was it was at a "big house" in Bel Aire. (If you aren't familiar with Bel Aire it's a small community west of Los Angeles, next to Beverly Hills.) Knowing the area we figured it would be pretty upscale. But man, when we got to the house after driving down a long tree lined driveway our jaws dropped. It was a HUGE mansion along the lines of the Beverly Hillbillies. Apparently Licorice Pizza's owner was good friends with a record producer who's house it was. (I didn't recognize the name then and can't remember it now.)
We carted the gear in the front door and our jaws dropped again. The place was insanely opulent. We were told to set up along one wall of the living room where they had a full PA and lights already set up. Once we were set up and sound checked we were given a tour of the house. It was seriously like being in a movie set. Twin winding staircases, giant chandeliers, multiple party rooms. Every room was dripping with luxury. In the kitchen a staff of several people was busily preparing a massive amount of food. It was one of the biggest kitchens I'd ever seen.
During the house tour I noticed one thing. Now remember, this was 1975 and record industry connected. Every party room had table with a bowl of cocaine next to a big mirror and ivory "straws". There were also bowls full of joints everywhere, along with two fully stocked bars with bartenders. Yeah, this place was set up for a major 1970s party.
Guests started arriving around 8 and by the time we started playing at 9 the place was packed with at least a couple of hundred people, even more as the evening went on. It was one of those nights where the crowd loves everything you play. Of course, being NYE, and with amount of intoxicants being consumed it was a pretty primed group. We played until 1 AM and during tear down numerous people came up gushing about how great we were. We did play well but considering the altered states of the partiers I took the over-the-top "you're the best band I ever heard man" compliments with a grain of salt.
We even got lucky weather wise. Rain had been forecast for earlier in the evening but it held off until we were loaded out and driving home.
It was one of the most fun gigs I've ever had and hadn't thought about it in years. Thanks for starting the thread Jimmy and bringing back fond memories
It was NYE 1975, a private party for the Licorice Pizza record store chain. Our lead guitarist managed one of the stores so that connection got us the gig. All we knew was it was at a "big house" in Bel Aire. (If you aren't familiar with Bel Aire it's a small community west of Los Angeles, next to Beverly Hills.) Knowing the area we figured it would be pretty upscale. But man, when we got to the house after driving down a long tree lined driveway our jaws dropped. It was a HUGE mansion along the lines of the Beverly Hillbillies. Apparently Licorice Pizza's owner was good friends with a record producer who's house it was. (I didn't recognize the name then and can't remember it now.)
We carted the gear in the front door and our jaws dropped again. The place was insanely opulent. We were told to set up along one wall of the living room where they had a full PA and lights already set up. Once we were set up and sound checked we were given a tour of the house. It was seriously like being in a movie set. Twin winding staircases, giant chandeliers, multiple party rooms. Every room was dripping with luxury. In the kitchen a staff of several people was busily preparing a massive amount of food. It was one of the biggest kitchens I'd ever seen.
During the house tour I noticed one thing. Now remember, this was 1975 and record industry connected. Every party room had table with a bowl of cocaine next to a big mirror and ivory "straws". There were also bowls full of joints everywhere, along with two fully stocked bars with bartenders. Yeah, this place was set up for a major 1970s party.
Guests started arriving around 8 and by the time we started playing at 9 the place was packed with at least a couple of hundred people, even more as the evening went on. It was one of those nights where the crowd loves everything you play. Of course, being NYE, and with amount of intoxicants being consumed it was a pretty primed group. We played until 1 AM and during tear down numerous people came up gushing about how great we were. We did play well but considering the altered states of the partiers I took the over-the-top "you're the best band I ever heard man" compliments with a grain of salt.
We even got lucky weather wise. Rain had been forecast for earlier in the evening but it held off until we were loaded out and driving home.
It was one of the most fun gigs I've ever had and hadn't thought about it in years. Thanks for starting the thread Jimmy and bringing back fond memories
My best was when I played in a country band. Packed house with dancers all night, got paid very well, open bar and prime rib dinner. Played two hours went home...great night.
Ahhh the good old days! Too bad i was under 10 till '79During the house tour I noticed one thing. Now remember, this was 1975 and record industry connected. Every party room had table with a bowl of cocaine next to a big mirror and ivory "straws". There were also bowls full of joints everywhere, along with two fully stocked bars with bartenders. Yeah, this place was set up for a major 1970s party.
Guests started arriving around 8 and by the time we started playing at 9 the place was packed with at least a couple of hundred people, even more as the evening went on. It was one of those nights where the crowd loves everything you play. Of course, being NYE, and with amount of intoxicants being consumed it was a pretty primed group. We played until 1 AM and during tear down numerous people came up gushing about how great we were. We did play well but considering the altered states of the partiers I took the over-the-top "you're the best band I ever heard man" compliments with a grain of salt.
...
It was one of the most fun gigs I've ever had and hadn't thought about it in years. Thanks for starting the thread Jimmy and bringing back fond memories
Many years ago our band had a CD coming out and headlining a huge show at a big name venue.
Was supposed to put us in the game so to speak as a known original act.
Then our drummer quit because he wanted to play guitar in the park with his druggie friends.
Ruined everything.
Was supposed to put us in the game so to speak as a known original act.
Then our drummer quit because he wanted to play guitar in the park with his druggie friends.
Ruined everything.
Ahhh the good old days! Too bad i was under 10 till '79
Ha
. Yeah, you were a bit young to, ahem, enjoy the 70s 
I was 25 when that gig took place so prime time for me. It was actually an era that was rough on a lot of people. Fortunately I never indulged in excesses of anything harmful and survived the decade with most brain cells in tact There was one other NYE I played post '75. NYE Y2K, the wife was sick and went to bed early. My son (now guitarist in my band) came over to hang out. Just the two of us jammed all evening. That was a really nice NYE
okcrum
in your chest
Man, that sucks. Weirdly, I just got a call for NYE a couple of days ago, so this year's a casino gig. I'd had a streak of early NYE gigs going but the best recent one was in Utah a couple of years ago (right at the entrance to Zion National Park) backing Long John Hunter. The gig was great but even better was the conversation with him, his wife, and me driving up together (5 hours 
) and back.
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Our 4-piece band was booked for several years in a row to play NYE at an outdoor neighborhood block party in an exclusive subdivision. We typically set up in the cul-de-sac at the end of the street, and the neighbors had hot-food tables in their drive ways, and there were several 'open' bars with one chap even mixing Crown Royal hot toddies to help everyone keep warm through the evening. One year the weather forecasts had been predicting a chance of rain so when we first got there we set up in the drive way at one house and played the first set as the weather began to roll in. We eventually moved the band inside the open double garage doors and continued to perform as the crowd gathered outside in the street. We were genuinely surprised at their commitment to the party as the audience remained throughout the night bundled up in coats under umbrellas dancing and singing in the rain! We all had a memorable good time.
I've always had a strict "no drinking no drugs" policy for myself when it came to gigs.
Which, typically, was a complete and utter failure.
Same for the rest of most of the bands I was in during the 80s.
So we were doing a New Year's gig at some hotel in Alberta, actually, and everybody, band and crowd, was absolutely hammered. Our keyboardist thought it would be a cool trick to get up on his organ (he had a Hammond L-101; not a B-3 but still a good piece of living room furniture) and it was strong enough to take his weight. There was a pretty low suspended ceiling in that room, and he shifted one of the tiles and hoisted himself up into the ceiling. His plan, as he told us later, was to make his way over the stage, hidden inside the ceiling, and then nimbly drop down next to the guitarist just before the solo, and "rock out" with some air guitar next to him. Had he been sober it would still have been a dumb-ass plan, and sort of cringeworthy too; (does anyone actually enjoy having somebody do air guitar next to them while they're playing?) and we probably would have gone "don't do that".
Needless to say that is not what happened.
Nevertheless, hammered as we all were, we just sort of looked and went "what the fu ck is he doing".
Since he was kind of a fat bas tard, and drunk to boot, he only made it to a point just over the drums, at which point he lost his balance, and fell, crashing through the suspended ceiling and bringing several of the tiles with him, on to the drummer. He knocked over the drummer and trashed most of the kit, which was well appreciated by some of the crowd but not all, and not much by the drummer. I busted a gut laughing but it wasn't all that professional. It was a pretty swanky hotel, two stars at least.
I think we made it through the night but I don't really remember much after that.
Actually that same drummer, at another gig in another place, had the damnedest thing happen, too. We were playing at sort of a country bar, and behind the stage, behind the drum riser, was a pair of saloon-style swing doors that had used to lead to the now unused kitchen. During one song, his throne slipped off the back of the riser, and he disappeared through the swing doors, which closed behind him. When we heard no drums, we all looked around, and surprise surprise... no drummer! It wasn't Spontaneous Human Combustion a la Spinal Tap but it was pretty funny!
Which, typically, was a complete and utter failure.
Same for the rest of most of the bands I was in during the 80s.
So we were doing a New Year's gig at some hotel in Alberta, actually, and everybody, band and crowd, was absolutely hammered. Our keyboardist thought it would be a cool trick to get up on his organ (he had a Hammond L-101; not a B-3 but still a good piece of living room furniture) and it was strong enough to take his weight. There was a pretty low suspended ceiling in that room, and he shifted one of the tiles and hoisted himself up into the ceiling. His plan, as he told us later, was to make his way over the stage, hidden inside the ceiling, and then nimbly drop down next to the guitarist just before the solo, and "rock out" with some air guitar next to him. Had he been sober it would still have been a dumb-ass plan, and sort of cringeworthy too; (does anyone actually enjoy having somebody do air guitar next to them while they're playing?) and we probably would have gone "don't do that".
Needless to say that is not what happened.
Nevertheless, hammered as we all were, we just sort of looked and went "what the fu ck is he doing".
Since he was kind of a fat bas tard, and drunk to boot, he only made it to a point just over the drums, at which point he lost his balance, and fell, crashing through the suspended ceiling and bringing several of the tiles with him, on to the drummer. He knocked over the drummer and trashed most of the kit, which was well appreciated by some of the crowd but not all, and not much by the drummer. I busted a gut laughing but it wasn't all that professional. It was a pretty swanky hotel, two stars at least.
I think we made it through the night but I don't really remember much after that.
Actually that same drummer, at another gig in another place, had the damnedest thing happen, too. We were playing at sort of a country bar, and behind the stage, behind the drum riser, was a pair of saloon-style swing doors that had used to lead to the now unused kitchen. During one song, his throne slipped off the back of the riser, and he disappeared through the swing doors, which closed behind him. When we heard no drums, we all looked around, and surprise surprise... no drummer! It wasn't Spontaneous Human Combustion a la Spinal Tap but it was pretty funny!
I'll just pass on a quote from an old friend I played with off and on
with for almost 50 years.
When midnight arrived, the waitress at the bar brought everyone in the band
a glass of champaigne (sp?).
He just looked at it and said 'Shame pain? No thanks, I've already had real pain over the last year'.
He's been gone a couple of years now, but I miss his odd wit.
with for almost 50 years.
When midnight arrived, the waitress at the bar brought everyone in the band
a glass of champaigne (sp?).
He just looked at it and said 'Shame pain? No thanks, I've already had real pain over the last year'.
He's been gone a couple of years now, but I miss his odd wit.
Got a show in Tennessee for new years eve (06). Playing a house party for friends and others. 5 piece Appalachian black metal band. Since me and another dude were only 17, I had to beg my mom to let me travel overnight. She finally caved lol.
The drummer (other 17 year old) shows up mid day to load his kit and my bass. We're gonna ride together as usual. Have a amp waiting in Tennessee. We load, tell mom bye and all that, and she makes sure I know not to f@$k around.
We meet up with everyone else at one of the guitarist house (also my girlfriends house/now my wife). We burn a couple and say another set of goodbyes. After a quick talking too from the singer about the minor car not screwing around in VA, we're off to bring the brutality.
The car ride was cool. Me and the drummer exchange stories of banging our chics, i played some video games, jammed some tunes. Fun ride down to Tennessee.
The VA/TN border was coming up and I had the green and papers in hand waiting. As soon as we cross I start rolling lol (I didn't say I was a smart kid). We make one stop, at a liquor store. Another member gets out of the lead car and asks "what do you guys want?", which we replied "alcohol, any type". Of course we get a $10 half gallon of vodka.
We get to the house and it's in the middle of a subdivision, really nice house. Some chic was doing all this while her parents were out of town. We load into the basement. Kinda small but, that's cool.
We were told not to drink before we play. Didn't wanna be sloppy. Everyone else is indulging getting ready for the tunes. Everyone was cool, was either a friend or someone else's friend. Good crowd to be around.
Getting close to twelve so we start playing. Went really well. Everyone was in there groove, hit all their cues, the borrowed amps even sounded good. We finished up and watched the home town band, and they slayed as always.
The night boils down to your usual party. Good people, good tunes, no food lol. We got paid $2 and some change for playing, and a little bag of bud.
The ride home was boring. Dreading the next day, back to school. It's sucks going from metal beast to just another person in the hallway, but it's a good life lesson I think.
There's more details of the night. But I'm at work, secretly typing on a phone and it's hard to get the story out with just my thumbs. But that's my new years eve gig story.
One day I'm gonna sit down and really write about my experiences as a teen.
"Stories of a inebriated minor ruling the world"
The drummer (other 17 year old) shows up mid day to load his kit and my bass. We're gonna ride together as usual. Have a amp waiting in Tennessee. We load, tell mom bye and all that, and she makes sure I know not to f@$k around.
We meet up with everyone else at one of the guitarist house (also my girlfriends house/now my wife). We burn a couple and say another set of goodbyes. After a quick talking too from the singer about the minor car not screwing around in VA, we're off to bring the brutality.
The car ride was cool. Me and the drummer exchange stories of banging our chics, i played some video games, jammed some tunes. Fun ride down to Tennessee.
The VA/TN border was coming up and I had the green and papers in hand waiting. As soon as we cross I start rolling lol (I didn't say I was a smart kid). We make one stop, at a liquor store. Another member gets out of the lead car and asks "what do you guys want?", which we replied "alcohol, any type". Of course we get a $10 half gallon of vodka.
We get to the house and it's in the middle of a subdivision, really nice house. Some chic was doing all this while her parents were out of town. We load into the basement. Kinda small but, that's cool.
We were told not to drink before we play. Didn't wanna be sloppy. Everyone else is indulging getting ready for the tunes. Everyone was cool, was either a friend or someone else's friend. Good crowd to be around.
Getting close to twelve so we start playing. Went really well. Everyone was in there groove, hit all their cues, the borrowed amps even sounded good. We finished up and watched the home town band, and they slayed as always.
The night boils down to your usual party. Good people, good tunes, no food lol. We got paid $2 and some change for playing, and a little bag of bud.
The ride home was boring. Dreading the next day, back to school. It's sucks going from metal beast to just another person in the hallway, but it's a good life lesson I think.
There's more details of the night. But I'm at work, secretly typing on a phone and it's hard to get the story out with just my thumbs. But that's my new years eve gig story.
One day I'm gonna sit down and really write about my experiences as a teen.
"Stories of a inebriated minor ruling the world"
