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Playing a motor cycle meeting/party

#23
This thread is cracking me up royally, partly because I am a Harley rider who is a member of a motorcycle riding club, and partly because I am a clean-cut licensed civil engineer who wears a tie to the office every day (plus I play bass in rock bands.........pretty radical, huh?) Next thing ya know I'm gonna run down the hallway with scissors!

When I first saw this thread, I couldn't help thinking of the scene in the Blues Brothers movie where Jake and Elwood had the chicken wire and they played the Rawhide theme song over and over. Too friggin funny!
 
#25
I have done hundreds if not thousands of biker gigs in my 47 yr. gigging life. Most of this info is spot on. I have done many,many Hell Angels gigs and have several HE friends and they are usually VERY cool. There is one outlaw gang in my area now that I have repetedly refused to play for as they are seriously dangerous (google worst biker gangs). I knew another musician that was beat half to death at a gig of thiers, even though it was probably for breaking the rules so to speak.

I have a cool biker story:
Playing at Lous Pier 47 at Fishermans warfe in SF, a gig the band had done for over 10 yrs. On a break I walked through absoulutely standing room only trying to get to the head and squeezed between 2 people standing against the wall bar seating area touching both equally with my body, (really packed). I came back to my table of friends and sat down. A minute later one of the guys I squeezed through came up to he table and yelled at me "why did you grab my ass over there" I said I never did that it's standing room only over there. He goes Yes you did. drawing a lot of attention. He literaly started to dive on me and SIX Hells Angels friends grabbed him in mid air (they were obviously close and listening! They carried him to the staircase leading up the bar and tossed him down the stairs then followed him out to confirm the message, (don't F**K with our friends)

Fun times indeed! Mostly great peopple who consider their friends family.
BUT there times I see one of "them" seriously unstable and dangerous that I COMPLETLY avoid sometimes even eye contact as I have a pretty well honed "crazy" radar after close to 50 yrs of gigging.
Understand the rules, don't mess with em' and enjoy your gig.

peace Kirk
 
#26
About ten years ago I was living in a small mountain town in CO. The Hells Angels had their big Summer rally there which I believe is mandatory attendence for all Angels unless they have a really good excuse for not going. We didn't play a specific event for the Angels but had a couple bar gigs lined up that week and a bunch of Angels showed up. We were playing a bunch of heavier classic rock(Hendrix, Cream, Sabbath, etc.) so I figured we would be right up their alley and I'm sure we would have been if it was older bikers who showed up but these guys were all in their 20's/early 30's. I talked with them on set breaks and asked how they liked our song selection. They politely told me that they liked our band and dug what we were playing but they were really more into newer rock and rap and hiphop stuff. Waddyaknow! Really made me realize that age demographics were more important than lumping all bikers into the "Born to be Wild" fan set.
 
#27
Bit more info...


We are a common act at a known biker bar (run, owned and catered to)... I've not had any issues... have had a few times that I was slightly concerned that something was brewing.


1-We play outlaw country... not really worried about material...

2-My partner is not a white guy... tough to hide it and assimilate it.


I'm white bread w/bike endorsement... don't fake the biker stuff....

He is a Harley owner/rider/driver... inked totally up.

------

The club is a known 1% er.. they seemed cool...

Apprehensions....

1-my biggest apprehension is safety (personal and gear) and/or how payment is made.

2-my lack of street knowledge of the inside... is it considered to be an allegence with a particular club if we play their party....

They asked us...
 
#29
Kirk Bryant said:
I have done hundreds if not thousands of biker gigs in my 47 yr. gigging life. Most of this info is spot on. I have done many,many Hell Angels gigs and have several HE friends and they are usually VERY cool. There is one outlaw gang in my area now that I have repetedly refused to play for as they are seriously dangerous (google worst biker gangs). I knew another musician that was beat half to death at a gig of thiers, even though it was probably for breaking the rules so to speak.

I have a cool biker story:
Playing at Lous Pier 47 at Fishermans warfe in SF, a gig the band had done for over 10 yrs. On a break I walked through absoulutely standing room only trying to get to the head and squeezed between 2 people standing against the wall bar seating area touching both equally with my body, (really packed). I came back to my table of friends and sat down. A minute later one of the guys I squeezed through came up to he table and yelled at me "why did you grab my ass over there" I said I never did that it's standing room only over there. He goes Yes you did. drawing a lot of attention. He literaly started to dive on me and SIX Hells Angels friends grabbed him in mid air (they were obviously close and listening! They carried him to the staircase leading up the bar and tossed him down the stairs then followed him out to confirm the message, (don't F**K with our friends)

Fun times indeed! Mostly great peopple who consider their friends family.
BUT there times I see one of "them" seriously unstable and dangerous that I COMPLETLY avoid sometimes even eye contact as I have a pretty well honed "crazy" radar after close to 50 yrs of gigging.
Understand the rules, don't mess with em' and enjoy your gig.

peace Kirk
Click to expand...

Sounds like you don't want to bring your wife or GF to one of these gigs.
 
#30
When I used to tend bar in a late night dive, I had some biker customers who were very protective. One non-biker was really giving me some **** over nothing one night. I turn around for a second and look back to see a 6' 4" biker holding the guy way up against the wall with one hand while drinking with the other. I said, "Ricky, please put the guy down so he can leave." Ricky looked at me like I was spoiling his fun, but he did. The guy quietly walked out. The real bikers were always polite, protective and, if they liked you, loyal.

Never touch their bikes nor their women. Ever.

Music tastes will vary by age. Can't go wrong with good rock and roll.
 
#31
When I've played for the Ugly Muthers club house, there were guys at the party (Biker Rodeo) from the Sinners, the All Americans, and at least a few others.

It was cool. Your mileage may vary, but there were lots of clubs in attendance and everyone had a good time. One of our bands fans showed up on a Hayabusa, and the Harley guys all seemed to think it was a pretty sweet bike.

I don't know who's organizing this thing, but I'd ask him if other clubs are invited (If your band can bring people) and generally what to expect.
 
#35
I played a benefit where they were collecting donations for a recently deceased biker who perished in an accident. We were one of three bands. The first band was a cover band like us, but they were PERFECT. Knew 100's of songs (had the binder), all of which were well known to the crowd. Some of the band had leather, singer had a long perfectly white pony tail, they had the mark farner-esq guy destroying the parker fly and the hendrix style guy destroying the strat.

We didn't know HOW we were going to go up there and add to the night, for the third band was an original act and we just saw covers done RIGHTEOUS.

But we ended up going up there and destorying because of the songs we played that no one else did. THIS crowd (no one is the same anywhere outside of love of music) really appreciated the SURF TUNES, and also anything DOORS. We even had the first band at the side of the stage watching us, because we songs like Crystal Ship in the bag.

So do what you do, but sprinkle in some rare gems you think these dudes would listen to when they got BACK from a ride, not just during. Either way like others have said you can't really have a bad time there if you're already booked to play. You are expected (live music), but bonus at the same time (because they already trust the establishment and their tastes). E N J O Y
 
#39
Phalex said:
Best crowd you'll ever play for.

2 things:

Don't be an A-hole.

Don't go looking to get laid.

Follow those two simple rules and you have nothing to worry about. IMO, bikers look out for you. No one messes with your stuff, and if they offer to pitch in with carrying PA and such, they are a very conscientious group.
Click to expand...

This has been my experience. When we pulled into a rustic rural place out in the sticks, a huge, bearded guy walked up to the van and said, "Are you the band?" My brother: "Uhhhh, yes?"
"OK, if anybody gives you any ****, come get me and I'll kick their ass."

It was the fastest load-in ever. We had at least six guys asking, "Where do you want this?" as they moved all the heavy gear to the makeshift stage. At load out, all the guys who were still conscious carried all our gear back to the van. Nothing went missing. We had to step over several guys passed out face-down in the dirt, though.

"Rocking Down the Highway" was the hit of the day, BTW. The more Doobie Brothers, the better. "Born to Be Wild" would be good, too.
 

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