Thunderbird Club

[Chucky Stiletti]

I'll leave the house, my gear won't. Those occasional 'jam band' things I used to do(B/L moved out west somewhere), I only hadda take a bass. Amp was-usually-provided.

problem there is….once they know you’ll play for free….

 

[Chucky Stiletti]

You need to write a book. You are, after all, the most intersecting man in the world (at least among those who I know personally…). I’ll be your editor. Let’s do it when I retire. The early years, playing Europe, returning home, Rosa, and now.

“intersecting?”…….dunno…

 

[dagrev]

we are looking for a drummer for a new project...years ago (almost 40) a very well known, seasoned player told me “would you trust a person that wants to beat on skins for the rest of their lives?”…

enuf said....

 

[TBird1958]

I thought the 90’s belonged to Seattle.
Which brings up a thought - if the 70’s (mid and on) belonged to disco, and the 80’s belonged to big hair bands and glam, and the 90’s to Alt and grunge, what did the 00’s and teens and 20’s belong to? I can’t think of any real dominant defining genres for those periods.

The '80s were much about New Wave, I didn't really like it much at the time, but looking back there was some really cool stuff from that time.
For most of the '90s I taught Model Making at The Art Institute of Seattle, it was a part time job, usually 8-12 hours a week on Thursdays and Fridays. It was an awesome job, worth it for the women alone even though it paid very well. The music scene here was totally on fire with punk, garage and of course what became grunge, it was a great time to be alive! I really have to dig out a couple pics from that time.

 

[dagrev]

yep….we once had a drummer throw a drum stick at a guitarist because he was yawning onstage (full house)…..the guitarist freaked out and wiggled a monitor loose from the ceiling that inevitably landed on top of the drummer’s brand new DW kit who jumped over the kit and got the the guitarist in a headlock all mid set………. needless to say, the establishment (was kind enough) paid us for the remaining 2 months of the contract (by law didn’t have to) and sent us on our merry way……can’t write this stuff….z

Holy poopie! (whatever that is.)

 

[dagrev]

I thought the 90’s belonged to Seattle.
Which brings up a thought - if the 70’s (mid and on) belonged to disco, and the 80’s belonged to big hair bands and glam, and the 90’s to Alt and grunge, what did the 00’s and teens and 20’s belong to? I can’t think of any real dominant defining genres for those periods.

Female antic artists maybe. Mylie for starters......

 

[dagrev]

Gotta love Neil!

On advice from counsel I plead something.

I kid, because I care! Nothing personal at all.

 

[JIO]

You might be right, but I always kinda thought Indie was more or less a meandering genre that started around the early 80’s with multiple peaks and valleys since then. I think R.E.M. was Indie. Probably Smashing Pumpkins and Radio Head as well. All were pretty popular 30+ years ago and I guess still are. But it just doesn’t have the same defining moment feel of disco, punk, grunge…

Love Radiohead and all Thom York/Johnny Greenwood projects.

 

[Gaolee]

I mentioned last week that TSC's had a show on Sunday (last) night. I organized the night of 3 bands opening with two singer/songwriters performing 'in the round' (a traditional format for s/s's) and the second band which is Bond Girls' drummer Phil's other band 'the Road Runners', garage rock favoring classic R&R covers. (Elvis, Johnny Cash, The Monkee's) On Friday Phil contacted me that their guitarist was sick & they might have to pull out. Told him to keep me posted on his development.

On Saturday, (luckily) he said he was good to go. Ok. Mid-day Sunday Zach, our drummer informed me he couldn't perform. He has a record of health issues and he's also in finals for his law degree. (stress) We rehearsed on Thursday, only running our 45min set - but it was enough to trigger chronic fatigue syndrome, one of his health issues. Because drumming (physical excursion) triggers it - he disclosed that he would have to leave our band. He is meeting with his Dr on Tuesday so I told him to let me know what he advises before we jump to conclusions. But, I fear the diagnosis will be the same and we will all be sad to see him go as our drummer. He did so well for our last recording session earlier this year - I was really impressed with his playing which was the first time recording for him.

So back to the gig - at first I thought I'll just have to tell the club we can't play. But then I considered options; BG? - we're playing there in 3 weeks on a Saturday night, and after talking w/Cherie - we decided against it. So then I looked at songs that Paul & I know that Phil knows. (TSC's was a trio for a couple years and had a bunch of mostly instrumentals we did) I collected 11 songs and Paul & Phil agreed to play. We did the set and people seemed to like it ok. Mission:Accomplished ... I'm sure anyone playing in bands has similar stories -

It sucks when that kind of thing happens. It can be pretty tough to deal with. And yeah, similar stories seem to be more the rule than the exception, for health, personality, and all kinds of other odd issues.

 

[Gaolee]

Hey @Gaolee, I can change my reservation to two beds. We can be roommates. Fair warning, I snore. Big time.

 

[Gaolee]

Drummers also have a tendency to blow up.

Exactly. It has happened to me. But it got better.

 

[Gaolee]

yep….we once had a drummer throw a drum stick at a guitarist because he was yawning onstage (full house)…..the guitarist freaked out and wiggled a monitor loose from the ceiling that inevitably landed on top of the drummer’s brand new DW kit who jumped over the kit and got the the guitarist in a headlock all mid set………. needless to say, the establishment (was kind enough) paid us for the remaining 2 months of the contract (by law didn’t have to) and sent us on our merry way……can’t write this stuff….z

The show alone would pack 'em in. There's a story about Charles Mingus and Eric Dolphy feuding during a set. Mingus got pissed and challenged Dolphy to a knife fight. Dolphy mentioned that he didn't have a knife. Mingus figured out that he didn't either. So, he went across the street and bought two knives, came back, and gave one to Dolphy. I don't know what happened next or even if it was true. Both survived just fine, so I assume the knife fight didn't actually happen. I'm pretty sure the antics were all part of the schtick. A real fight between the drummer and guitarist, while probably entertaining in a chaotic way, isn't exactly part of a sustainable stage show.

 

[JIO]

It's 'cos yer the "local band". When our group worked at a hotel on Miami Beach, we were better and more versatile than outta town bands that would be booked in one of the other rooms. But they got more $$-and rooms-'cos they were from N.Y.(or wherever). A lotta venue managers seem to think that all the 'good' bands come from somewhere else.

yep -

 

[BklynKen]

The show alone would pack 'em in. There's a story about Charles Mingus and Eric Dolphy feuding during a set. Mingus got pissed and challenged Dolphy to a knife fight. Dolphy mentioned that he didn't have a knife. Mingus figured out that he didn't either. So, he went across the street and bought two knives, came back, and gave one to Dolphy. I don't know what happened next or even if it was true. Both survived just fine, so I assume the knife fight didn't actually happen. I'm pretty sure the antics were all part of the schtick. A real fight between the drummer and guitarist, while probably entertaining in a chaotic way, isn't exactly part of a sustainable stage show.

It would take "dueling guitars" to a whole new level.

 

[JIO]

It sucks when that kind of thing happens. It can be pretty tough to deal with. And yeah, similar stories seem to be more the rule than the exception, for health, personality, and all kinds of other odd issues.

I forgot to add one more thing that potentially could have derailed the night - the club proves a nice back-line of a new full Gretsch drum-kit, a 2x12 Mesa cab/amp, Fender Champ guitar amp, and stands. Phil set up the drums and said "where's the cymbals?" club: "they were recently stolen..." !!! I quickly called Paul who had just left home to go back and get our cymbals, which he did ~ luckily 3 attempts at derailment was the limit.

 

[JIO]

The show alone would pack 'em in. There's a story about Charles Mingus and Eric Dolphy feuding during a set. Mingus got pissed and challenged Dolphy to a knife fight. Dolphy mentioned that he didn't have a knife. Mingus figured out that he didn't either. So, he went across the street and bought two knives, came back, and gave one to Dolphy. I don't know what happened next or even if it was true. Both survived just fine, so I assume the knife fight didn't actually happen. I'm pretty sure the antics were all part of the schtick. A real fight between the drummer and guitarist, while probably entertaining in a chaotic way, isn't exactly part of a sustainable stage show.

Mingus was a volatile guy - apparently chased his landlord with a sword when he came around for back-rent...

 

[MCF]

“intersecting?”…….dunno…

I really need to be more careful re what Apple thinks I’m trying to say.

 

[Nocturnal]

I thought the 90’s belonged to Seattle.
Which brings up a thought - if the 70’s (mid and on) belonged to disco, and the 80’s belonged to big hair bands and glam, and the 90’s to Alt and grunge, what did the 00’s and teens and 20’s belong to? I can’t think of any real dominant defining genres for those periods.

NU Metal was big in the 00's along with boy bands.

 

[MCF]

On advice from counsel I plead something.

I kid, because I care! Nothing personal at all.

Just keep your mouth shut and let me do the talking. It may, or it may not, work out.

 

[Gaolee]

It would take "dueling guitars" to a whole new level.

And another story. My brother played in an alt-country band some years ago. The BL/singer/songwriter was a fall-down drunk and complete womanizer. I don't know how he managed to attract women, but he did all the time. They had a fiddle player for a while who was a blond bombshell, and also completely nuts. She could fool you into thinking she was sane, but it was only a matter of time before something would happen. It was inevitable that BL and crazy fiddle player would eventually get together, and they did. It was also inevitable that they would have some kind of messy breakup, and they did. After all that drama, she showed up at one of their gigs in a bar in the Ballard neighborhood. Veronica and others who know Seattle will know there are a bunch of bars there with music, and they can be a little wooly at times. All was well at this show for a while. The band had the crazy fiddle player come up for a couple songs, which she did and life was good. After the band was done, BL was sitting somewhere and a woman came over and started getting affectionate. I don't think he even knew her. Crazy fiddle player took offense, and a complete brawl between the two women broke out. I wasn't there, but my brother said there were flying chairs and all kinds of mayhem for a short time. Country days and country nights, I guess. Apparently somebody restored order pretty fast and the cops never came. Crazy fiddle player didn't see any issues about what had just happened.

I wasn't at that show, but sure would have been amused to see it. Knowing all of the actors in the drama is what would have made it especially good. Crazy fiddle player didn't beat the slobbers out of BL, even though he pretty much deserved it. And was probably too drunk to defend himself anyway.