Keeping Up To Speed
I tried. I really tried to get back into the swing of keeping up with my blogs. But, I haven’t done a very good job, now, have I? I’ll try to get through this, and give you all something to chew on, and through this coming July, I’ll see if I can’t at least blog about the new club we’re playing, Club 111 in Pontoon Beach. It’s a facility that’s been there for a while, but never had any success staying open. I’ve never played there as a band, but have sat in with bands that were playing there. 15 years ago. The guys that have taken it over have big plans, and really want to build a quality establishment. I want to help them do that. Read about it next month, and see how it goes.
I have one memory about playing that place many moons ago. Probably around 1992. I don’t remember the band, but they asked me to jump up and sit in. At the time, I was doing the “blues thing” with Three Blind Mice, featuring my buddies Paul Joseph on bass and vocals, and “Scummybear” on vocals and drums. Great band, great grooves. I was recovering from losing “my bear”, who married another man. I poured my soul into that band.
Back to the jam session, I jump up, half crocked (imagine that!) and we fumbled for some stuff to play. I don’t think I really knew anyone in the band. I can’t remember if I did. I remember slopping through Clapton’s (Cream, actually) Crossroads, and I think we managed a Stevie Ray Vaughan tune. It went over well, considering.
Afterwards, as I walk off stage thanking the boys for letting me jam, the doorman, a tall, stocky black gentleman with a shaved head and dark sunglasses approached me, mumbling something I couldn’t quite decipher over the music.
“Excuse me?” I politely asked, pointing to my ear. “Didn’t make that out”.
“You got some brotha back there, know what I’m sayin’?” with a smooth swing to his voice.
I still kind of blankly stared at him. I heard the words, but, I wasn’t following him. Too many Bud Lights! He picked up on my confusion.
“I’m sayin’, aint no white boys play blues like that, man! You got some brotha in you somewhere!” He flashed a coy smile as he realized I got it. High praise, indeed! I shyly smiled, and patted him on the sholder.
“Thanks, man! That’s the nicest compliment I’ve ever gotten,” I told him.
Not sure if there are many Celtic/Norwegians with African heritage in my bloodline, but, you never know!
We’ll be at Eddie’s this month as well, and that is always like a homecoming. There’s bound to be a good blog in there for that one. As long as I can find time to write it, and still remember all the juicy tidbits, I’ll gladly share them with you.
Most of the past gigs have all but faded from my memory. Eddie’s was the party it always is. All our friends there, rocking and having a great time. Mikey got up and we jammed a ton of Van Halen! That was a blast. I saw tons of black Rock Bottom tee-shirts everywhere, white skull emblazoned across their chests. What a trip!
There was a side story involved at the Saturday show. As many of my readers that personally know me know by now, the mystery woman I met the month previously is Becca. About two weeks after meeting, we met for lunch, and hit it off like we did the night we first met. It’s been building since then, and we’ve become quite close.
That Saturday, she brought out BOTH her sisters, and her mother and father as well. YIKES! No pressure here, Deron… Is this going to be like “Meet The Parents?” Am I Gaylord Focker?
“Circle of trust”, and Robert Deniro signaling that “he’s watching me” is all that was running through my head! Play Van Halen’s Eruption in front of 75 people? No pressure. Meet the parents and have them watch me play, now THAT’S pressure!
On top of that, Becca hadn’t broken the news to them yet that we were seeing each other. With the ink not yet dry on her divorce, she was reluctant to want to explain that she had started seeing someone else. I guess I can understand that. Nothing makes one feel like a 10 year old again than having to explain something to your parents you’re not comfortable about.
So, we pretended that we were just “friends” around their table. Yeah, right. Mom saw through that after about 3 minutes! Mom’s are like that.
They liked the music, I’m told, and I talked with them on break for a bit. We kicked off into the second set, and Motley Crue’s Wild Side finally ran them off. In all, I was impressed that the stuck around that long! My parents never come hear me play!
That eased the pressure on me, and the rest of the night was a real blast. For the first time since I can remember (since I was married), I was playing “for someone”. Someone special. It felt great!
Saturday, June 16th was our triumphant debut at Schatzee’s in Belleville. Again, a bar that I’d sat in with different groups that have played there, but never played there myself. I choked down a cheeseburger and fries waiting for Boozie to show up. They have a grill there not unlike Fast Eddie’s Bon Air. Everyone was very nice that we met, and the manager of sorts was Debbie, who used to tend bar at Eddie’s, so we already had someone on the inside to back us.
I noticed they had Blue Moon on tap, and I ordered one with a slice of orange. As I sipped a few swigs of the frosty, sweet brew, I discovered I like it better in the bigger glasses, 24 oz size. In a smaller pint glass as was served here, the orange was a bit too prevelant!
“One thing they are strict on here,” C.J. told me, standing on the stage as I tuned my guitars, “they expect us to start on time, and follow their schedule. It’s printed up over here,” he said, motioning to a faded, crinkled sheet of paper taped to the side of a house speaker directly to my left.
“Understood,” I told him.
Well, not apparently understood by Boozie. There was no sign of him, and we were running behind. C.J. was appearing pretty upset. At one point, he flipped his phone shut and snapped “he got lost!” After setting up the drums, Boozie had ducked out to get some food or something, and on his way back, got lost! Not how we want to start our first show! What can you do?
What amazed me was, yup, I know I sound like a broken record, but, all the people in the crowd, a brand new bar, mind you, wearing the familiar black and white Rock Bottom Skull! Amazing! We actually brought a crowd! Of course, that made selling the tee shirts that much easier with so many walking around modeling them for us.
Boozie strolled in, and it’s hard to stay mad at him for too long, he’s so laid back. We kicked into gear, and everything fell right into place. The mix was good, Steve sang his ass off, and everyone responded accordingly! Good times! I did miss Becca. She didn’t make the trip down. After being “solo” for so long, I can’t believe how quickly I missed her.
On break, I bellied up to the bar and ordered a Bud Light, instead of another Blue Moon. Just not quite in the mood for Microbrews tonight. Not in a pint glass, anyway.
“You guys are really good”, the cute little bar maid told me. “You’re way better than Pole Position!”
“Wow! Thanks!” I said, gulping that familiar cold, crisp, clean flavor of Bud Light (I often call it Soulard Mineral Water...). “Who is Pole Position?”
“Oh, they are like our favorite band here. They play all that 80’s shit! We love us some 80’s!” she said.
“Great” I told her. Sounds like we're a hit.
“But you guys are way better!”
Funny how some people can think there is such a competition between bands, like we are sports teams or something. And, for some, I suppose there is a certain level of competition. But, as an artist (humbly, if I can even say that with a straight face), I’ve never had any competitive ambitions regarding music. And I’m a competitive guy (play poker against me sometime!).
But, I am embarrassed when people start comparing our band with other bands, and treating them like we’re playing for the Super Bowl or World Series or something. It’s music! Just enjoy us like eating a steak. Then, next week, go eat pizza! That’s what it’s all about!
The night went quite well, I don’t remember much past that, and we got our pay, which was a substantial pay cut for us, seeing as it was our first time in the club, and the were taking a chance having not heard us before. They promise that will be recified when we come back next time. I’ll believe that when I see the cash in my hand! I do believe we deserve it. We earned it with a good show (Boozie’s rock star appearance notwithstanding) .
After all, we’re better than Pole Position.
That’s what she said, anyway…
I have one memory about playing that place many moons ago. Probably around 1992. I don’t remember the band, but they asked me to jump up and sit in. At the time, I was doing the “blues thing” with Three Blind Mice, featuring my buddies Paul Joseph on bass and vocals, and “Scummybear” on vocals and drums. Great band, great grooves. I was recovering from losing “my bear”, who married another man. I poured my soul into that band.
Back to the jam session, I jump up, half crocked (imagine that!) and we fumbled for some stuff to play. I don’t think I really knew anyone in the band. I can’t remember if I did. I remember slopping through Clapton’s (Cream, actually) Crossroads, and I think we managed a Stevie Ray Vaughan tune. It went over well, considering.
Afterwards, as I walk off stage thanking the boys for letting me jam, the doorman, a tall, stocky black gentleman with a shaved head and dark sunglasses approached me, mumbling something I couldn’t quite decipher over the music.
“Excuse me?” I politely asked, pointing to my ear. “Didn’t make that out”.
“You got some brotha back there, know what I’m sayin’?” with a smooth swing to his voice.
I still kind of blankly stared at him. I heard the words, but, I wasn’t following him. Too many Bud Lights! He picked up on my confusion.
“I’m sayin’, aint no white boys play blues like that, man! You got some brotha in you somewhere!” He flashed a coy smile as he realized I got it. High praise, indeed! I shyly smiled, and patted him on the sholder.
“Thanks, man! That’s the nicest compliment I’ve ever gotten,” I told him.
Not sure if there are many Celtic/Norwegians with African heritage in my bloodline, but, you never know!
We’ll be at Eddie’s this month as well, and that is always like a homecoming. There’s bound to be a good blog in there for that one. As long as I can find time to write it, and still remember all the juicy tidbits, I’ll gladly share them with you.
Most of the past gigs have all but faded from my memory. Eddie’s was the party it always is. All our friends there, rocking and having a great time. Mikey got up and we jammed a ton of Van Halen! That was a blast. I saw tons of black Rock Bottom tee-shirts everywhere, white skull emblazoned across their chests. What a trip!
There was a side story involved at the Saturday show. As many of my readers that personally know me know by now, the mystery woman I met the month previously is Becca. About two weeks after meeting, we met for lunch, and hit it off like we did the night we first met. It’s been building since then, and we’ve become quite close.
That Saturday, she brought out BOTH her sisters, and her mother and father as well. YIKES! No pressure here, Deron… Is this going to be like “Meet The Parents?” Am I Gaylord Focker?
“Circle of trust”, and Robert Deniro signaling that “he’s watching me” is all that was running through my head! Play Van Halen’s Eruption in front of 75 people? No pressure. Meet the parents and have them watch me play, now THAT’S pressure!
On top of that, Becca hadn’t broken the news to them yet that we were seeing each other. With the ink not yet dry on her divorce, she was reluctant to want to explain that she had started seeing someone else. I guess I can understand that. Nothing makes one feel like a 10 year old again than having to explain something to your parents you’re not comfortable about.
So, we pretended that we were just “friends” around their table. Yeah, right. Mom saw through that after about 3 minutes! Mom’s are like that.
They liked the music, I’m told, and I talked with them on break for a bit. We kicked off into the second set, and Motley Crue’s Wild Side finally ran them off. In all, I was impressed that the stuck around that long! My parents never come hear me play!
That eased the pressure on me, and the rest of the night was a real blast. For the first time since I can remember (since I was married), I was playing “for someone”. Someone special. It felt great!
Saturday, June 16th was our triumphant debut at Schatzee’s in Belleville. Again, a bar that I’d sat in with different groups that have played there, but never played there myself. I choked down a cheeseburger and fries waiting for Boozie to show up. They have a grill there not unlike Fast Eddie’s Bon Air. Everyone was very nice that we met, and the manager of sorts was Debbie, who used to tend bar at Eddie’s, so we already had someone on the inside to back us.
I noticed they had Blue Moon on tap, and I ordered one with a slice of orange. As I sipped a few swigs of the frosty, sweet brew, I discovered I like it better in the bigger glasses, 24 oz size. In a smaller pint glass as was served here, the orange was a bit too prevelant!
“One thing they are strict on here,” C.J. told me, standing on the stage as I tuned my guitars, “they expect us to start on time, and follow their schedule. It’s printed up over here,” he said, motioning to a faded, crinkled sheet of paper taped to the side of a house speaker directly to my left.
“Understood,” I told him.
Well, not apparently understood by Boozie. There was no sign of him, and we were running behind. C.J. was appearing pretty upset. At one point, he flipped his phone shut and snapped “he got lost!” After setting up the drums, Boozie had ducked out to get some food or something, and on his way back, got lost! Not how we want to start our first show! What can you do?
What amazed me was, yup, I know I sound like a broken record, but, all the people in the crowd, a brand new bar, mind you, wearing the familiar black and white Rock Bottom Skull! Amazing! We actually brought a crowd! Of course, that made selling the tee shirts that much easier with so many walking around modeling them for us.
Boozie strolled in, and it’s hard to stay mad at him for too long, he’s so laid back. We kicked into gear, and everything fell right into place. The mix was good, Steve sang his ass off, and everyone responded accordingly! Good times! I did miss Becca. She didn’t make the trip down. After being “solo” for so long, I can’t believe how quickly I missed her.
On break, I bellied up to the bar and ordered a Bud Light, instead of another Blue Moon. Just not quite in the mood for Microbrews tonight. Not in a pint glass, anyway.
“You guys are really good”, the cute little bar maid told me. “You’re way better than Pole Position!”
“Wow! Thanks!” I said, gulping that familiar cold, crisp, clean flavor of Bud Light (I often call it Soulard Mineral Water...). “Who is Pole Position?”
“Oh, they are like our favorite band here. They play all that 80’s shit! We love us some 80’s!” she said.
“Great” I told her. Sounds like we're a hit.
“But you guys are way better!”
Funny how some people can think there is such a competition between bands, like we are sports teams or something. And, for some, I suppose there is a certain level of competition. But, as an artist (humbly, if I can even say that with a straight face), I’ve never had any competitive ambitions regarding music. And I’m a competitive guy (play poker against me sometime!).
But, I am embarrassed when people start comparing our band with other bands, and treating them like we’re playing for the Super Bowl or World Series or something. It’s music! Just enjoy us like eating a steak. Then, next week, go eat pizza! That’s what it’s all about!
The night went quite well, I don’t remember much past that, and we got our pay, which was a substantial pay cut for us, seeing as it was our first time in the club, and the were taking a chance having not heard us before. They promise that will be recified when we come back next time. I’ll believe that when I see the cash in my hand! I do believe we deserve it. We earned it with a good show (Boozie’s rock star appearance notwithstanding) .
After all, we’re better than Pole Position.
That’s what she said, anyway…
posted by Deron at 1:30 PM
0 comments
