Wilmouth Stock

Subject: Guitarist - Rock Bottom
Venue: Wilmouth Machine Co., Brighton, Illinois
Date: Saturday, October 20th, 2007


Dave is an old hockey buddy of mine. We skated together back in the day; he was a defenseman, tall and gangly, I was a rookie “power forward” a little taller and a little older, trying to bring up my skills with the more experienced Pee-Wee players. Although I’d been skating since I was six, I didn’t start playing hockey until 7th Grade, and I had a lot of catching up to do. I wanted to be goalie, so I figured my lack of stickhandling and such wouldn’t be an issue when I joined the team. But they had two goalies already, and as big as I was, they wanted me out there banging guys, not stopping pucks. So, I had to pay my dues as a third line role player and try to catch up.

At that age, it’s tough being one of the weaker, new players. Kids can be really tough. I had some real assholes on that team that rode me hard for being a rookie. It toughened me up, and made me mean as well, which a hockey player needs to be. I learned to take it out on the other team when I could. And I did.

Dave was never one of those guys. We always had a friendly rapport. He was a 6th Grader, and I was in Jr. High, so I guess he respected me for that. He never said a bad word to me.

A couple years later in high school, when I played on an older Midget level team, I did get my shot at playing goal, and I relished it. It was everything I hoped it would be. All in all, I really, really wished I would have gotten the chance to be a goalie from the start, but at least I got one chance, and I made it count. We beat Cahokia, admittedly a weaker team, 8-3, for my only appearance in the pipes in youth hockey. I’m 1-0!

I did make some nice saves, which surprised even me. In warm ups, I couldn’t stop a beach ball! Every shot they took was like trying stopping a B-B. It wasn’t nerves, either, because I was excited. It was adjusting to the game, the angles, and the bigger nets, having played so much street hockey. I thought I was doomed as every warm up shot sailed by me into the back of the net!

But, when the game started, I stopped the puck on some really big plays, and had the time of my life. Got some hoots from the crowd of parents who were amazed that Boyd kid could actually stop a puck. Apart from crushing kids in the boards, I wasn’t much use for anything else!

As I stepped off the ice that night and basked in the glory of my first (and only) goaltending win, Dave’s mom, who was watching the game, waiting for Dave’s Bantam level game following mine, rushed up to me and said “Wow! I was asking everyone ‘who is that new kid in goal for these guys?’ I had no idea that was you! Way to go, Deron!”

These are good people.

Dave and I remained friends in the many years that followed, and our paths went in very different directions. Dave went on to play Junior B level hockey for the St. Louis Jr. Blues based out of Affton. I, of course, learned to play guitar.

Occasionally we’d play roller hockey together in pick-up games. He’d really filled out at about 6’5”, and quite a player. I was usually in goal now, living out my fantasies at tending the pipes because I could call the shots, not a coach or my parents. And we drank beers. Plenty of beers. Sometimes I’d stop Dave on a breakaway. Sometimes I didn’t. We’d drink afterwards and needle each other about it.

One day last year, I ran across Dave at a Rock Bottom show, as I often would now that my hockey days are over, and he told me about his huge party he was throwing up at his place in Brighton. Halloween costumes, bon fire, hay ride. And, he wanted to book us. How much would we charge?

I always get nervous when this question arises. How much to play your house? First off, we probably can’t fit at your house. So, now we’re talking outside. Second off, we’re loud. Very loud! We’re going to piss off your neighbors. The common reply is “oh, all my neighbors will be there!” See, there’s usually no way out of this conversation!

So, one way is to be honest, and tell them that it’s going to cost some money. That usually gets them thinking. And if they say “fine”, then basically it’s worth it, and we’ll go ahead and do it, telling them that they are in for it, as long as they understand how loud we are, what kind of power it takes to run our lights and sound, and all that. While I can do something for a friend, I can’t ask the rest of the band to donate time, and the soundman who works his ass off for this. It’s just the way it has to be.

With Dave, he had his ducks in a row. He lives out on property in Brighton, with few neighbors, who, of course, will all be there. He owns a machine shop with industrial machines to operate, and set us out back under a covered overhang, so there was plenty of power and shelter. And the price was right for him, he even paid us a bonus after we were done last year. Like I said, good people.

Last year was a blast. We had a hell of a time. Which isn’t what we’re usually expecting in a “private party”. Yeah, the cops did come about 1AM, but they were nice, and just asked us to shut down the band, which we complied. I think the huge fireworks display they set off got their attention. Past that, no real issues, and a great time was had by all.

This year, we were eagerly awaiting our return to Dave’s “shed”. From what I was told, there were to be improvements. He’d extended the “overhang” where we played out over the crowd. There were to be other add ons was well. Great! Let’s make a great time even better!

Bec and I made the long trek up to his “estate” up through Fosterberg. We dressed for the occasion as well. While I still wore my roadie clothes on the way up, I was waiting to change into my Gynecologist lab coat and dress clothes to become “Dr. Seymor Bush”. Stethoscope included!

Becca wore an extremely sexy cop outfit, with short, short skirt, bare midriff, long, black PVC boots that ran past her thighs, and fish net stockings. Oh la la! She was gorgeous! Please, arrest me! I’ve broken the law! Perhaps a strip search is in order?? In that outfit, she must have stood about 6’2”! I was in heaven! I’m such a lucky guy! I’m not much for dominatrix, but, uh, I could get used to it…

Naturally, it took longer to get there than I’d remembered, and I could have taken 255, the local highway that had been lengthened to reach up into Macoupin County, but no matter. We got there soon enough, and I loaded in and set up.

Many at the party had passed us going the opposite way riding in the hay ride headed into town. There were quite a number of them! There were a good number back at the grounds as well. The place looked very festive as well. Dave had created a metal fire breathing dragon, which looked a lot like Stegosaurus, and that was to set a huge pile of word and debris alight to create the bonfire that stood outside the “shed”. He’d built a huge shed where the overhang once stood, so that the area we played in was all covered, and that will help keep the noise down, I suspected. Backing into the shed to unload, I spotted Mr. and Mrs. Boozie, dressed as Pebbles and Bam-Bam from Flintstones fame. Spanky, drummer from Frantic, was also in attendance dressed as Fred. I didn’t spot Wilma, now that I think of it.

The stage area looked great! While we still stood in gravel like last year, Boozie’s drumkit was up on a very nice metal platform with a huge Budweiser banner running along the bottom. Like playing the VP Fair on the Landing! Flanking each side of the stage hung two huge metal balls from the ceiling. One near Stage Right was painted black, and cut out like a black cat, I’d say, with a flashing red police light in its mouth. The second, not far from my head in Stage Left, was painted like an orange Jack-O-Lantern, and also was lit up. It all looked first rate. I was very impressed!

One of the added “features” this year Dave wanted to try was to elevate the drums with a fork lift. However, I was told in the tests that didn’t work too well. It was all too heavy. The fork lift kept tipping. They also planned to “fly” C.J. with the overhead crane, but he hadn’t gotten power out to it yet. The only thing ready to go was the “fire breathing dragon.” Oh well, we’re still going to have fun! The place looked neat!

Setup was quick, and then I found a place to change into my costume to prepare for the show. Bec and I schmoozed for a while, seeing many familiar faces. I also gorged myself on some jambalaya and some roast beef. Oh, and the cup cakes were to die for! The whole food spread was very, very impressive! Dave showed us the coolers full of beer for the band, and we settled in as C.J. and Ness arrived to set up, and Steve appeared as well with Theresa. Only Ness was in costume, a sexy Bat Girl outfit.

People began streaming in from the hay ride, and a queue formed around the food tables as everyone dove in for some good grub. I figured it was soon to be time to fire up since the bulk of the party had now arrived. We were scheduled to commence at 8PM, but it was past that as the hay ride went long. Dave let us know he wanted us to go ahead and wait until the bonfire was lit before playing. As long as Dave is happy, everyone is happy!

We had a few power issues, and at one point, my amp went dead. Not good! Hope this wasn’t going to be a trend tonight. I told you what a nightmare these things can become! I searched for Dave, but he was nowhere in sight. In fact, it’s really going to be hard to track him down at an event like this. Not only is he the Master of Ceremonies, per se, he’s the stage manager, the event manager, and, well, it’s his party, damn it, and he’s there to have fun! Guess I’m just going to have to wait!

A ring of people formed right outside the entrance to the shed, and I surmised they were about to light the bonfire. I also surmised that’s where Dave was, manning the dragon, so tending to my power issue was going to have to wait. From over the tops of people’s heads, I could see a small blue flame was now emanating from the dragon’s nose, but for several minutes there was very little action past that. Scrambling behind the dragon were several sets of legs, attempting to correct something it seemed.

In my heart, I hoped nothing would go wrong for poor Dave, who was struggling to get this prop to work as he designed it. These always sound like good ideas, but… Have I ever told you the pyro stories from Saturn Cats? Catching Steve’s head on fire? We didn’t need a repeat of some of the things I’ve seen when boys play with fire!

With little fanfare, orange flames began to shoot from the mouth of the “dragon”, and that was cool enough! But, not quite far enough to light the pyre. Just short. Uh oh. They scrambled some more, adjusting and fitting. I have no idea what they were doing. I doubt anyone else did either. It was an odd moment. Many began to have doubts this was going to work at all.

Then, flames shot forth again, this time blasting the side of the pyre! The head of the dragon was on a hinge, and they swayed it back and forth, spraying fire on the pyre, which quickly set ablaze and lit the night sky! From Poplar Bluff and now this, I’ve seen some wild bonfires here recently! What’s up with that? Flames lept to the sky, tickling close to the surrounding trees, and heat engulfed us all. Most slowly backed away from the raging blaze.

I turned and look back at the shed, and noticed my power was back on. Carson must have tended to it for me. Right on! I’m ready to rock! So was everyone else! Full bellies, bonfires lit by fire breathing dragons, beers and other drinks flowing! It’s time for Rock Bottom!

Actually, before we could get underway, I’d noticed they had already begun the Halloween Costume Contest as I made my way towards my side of the stage. All manner of costumed contestants paraded before us, receiving applause on which they were judged. A group of five dressed as the Addams Family, and that took down top prize. No Uncle Fester, I’m disappointed to say, but a neat Cousin It! Skyle from Rebel Train is the original Cousin It, I might add…

Boozie delighted us all with the Addams Family theme song as an intro, along with several others, including the Flintstones. Boozie kept playing them, and I began to wonder if we were going on at all!

He played the familiar Rock Bottom intro, replete with siren and “Kick ass and chew bubble gum” announcement, and we tore into Poison’s Nothing But A Good Time. We were off to have a good time of our own.

I glanced to notice how incredibly packed the crowd was! I mean, there were more people than an Eddie’s show, it seemed! Unbelievable! No Mikey, though! Where’s Mikey? We can’t play Van Halen without Mikey!

My guitar amp was having some trouble filling my stage area, which is expected at an outdoor gig. I left it about where I normally keep it, in hopes that Carson would bring me up in the monitors. He didn’t. Frustrated, I walked back to the head and cranked it up, not expecting it to make much of a difference. I was wrong! It sounded glorious! I fired that bitch up, and my guitar just sang! It was a real charge!

The shed was rocking, and we were at the peak of the night. I rattled off good tunes to play to keep them going, and we connected very early. I threw in some Dokken for my buddies because they always request it, and I know that was one of Dave’s all time favorites. The opening set really rocked.

About halfway through, however, a disastrous thought occurred to me. This might be the very peak of the night, and we were using what for most intents and purposes were our throw away songs and set. The basic dynamic of playing a night club is the first set is usually thin, and the party gets started later. That wasn’t the case here, and I should have been aware of that. I should have been ready, and I failed. I was kicking myself for not starting with our stronger songs and really setting this place on fire.

Speaking of which, I was beginning to be concerned of that very fact! The bonfire was huge, and the winds were strong, lapping all over the place. The heat was so intense, they quickly removed the fuel from the “dragon” in fear it could explode. He’d placed the bonfire far enough away from the shed that it seemed safe, but I’m not sure he expected the bonfire to be so huge, and the winds so strong. We didn’t need a Great White performance!

Some of his buddies/employees started to douse the fire with water from a hose, and that increased the smoke factor immensely. Boozie made a comment to me about us all asphyxiating in here if we didn’t get another door open. It wasn’t that bad, but, it was getting thick.

We wrapped up the first set and the crowd went wild. It was as good as any club show we’ve played in Rock Bottom. Indistinguishable from Eddie’s, Rumors, or Shatzee’s. Better than some places we’ve played! It was a real home run of a set. I just hoped enough of them would stay to hear us get rocking on the second, more powerful selection of songs.

Dave was all smiles, and approached me about the smoke problem.

“Oh, one of my guys freaked out, and was wetting down the fire. You wet that all down, and all you get is smoke! I had to go turn the water off, and that was that!”

It was true, the smoke had abated, and the fire was much more manageable now.

Like a lunkhead, I’d forgotten to bring lawn chairs for my beautiful Rebecca to sit in, so she sat on the drum stage by my side of the stage on our break. Her sisters also were in attendance, so she had some company while I worked.

I kissed and loved on her, and then made my way to the restroom, a group of porta-pottys that were placed outside the shed. This was one hell of a party! It began to cross my mind that this might evolve into an annual Brighton Fall event! Wilmouth-Stock!

As I worked my way to the john, many in attendance stopped me and heaped praise on our set and sound, and I again signed drumsticks and tee-shirts. I’m still trying to fathom that one. I work at a hospital, but these people want my autograph for playing songs that other people wrote, made famous, and made tons of money on. Whatever puts a smile on their face, I suppose!

I did my best to keep an eye on time as to not take too long a break. There was no structure to this gig whatsoever, and people would be cutting out soon to boot, so we needed to keep the party up and running, lest we lose our crowd. Many appeared to be evaporating as it was, after that shed packed first set that tore the roof off (well, fortunately not literally!)

I corralled the band (mainly Steve and Boozie, as C.J. was promptly in position, lighting a cigarette, waiting to gear up), and we fired off the second set. Once the sounds of Skid Row’s Youth Gone Wild filled the shed, people crawled from the woodwork and started filling the grounds in front of us again, head banging, dancing, whooping, and hollering. It was right where we left off, much to my amazement!

The flow of the second set was perfect, and we managed to top the first set, I’d say. We were connecting with everyone, and this was coming off as a huge success. Old buddy Kene, guitarist from Frantic (and former teammate of Dave and myself in the old hockey days), whispered in my ear (at 110dB) that Dave wanted to do Talk Dirty with us. So, we stopped the action to drag him up, and the place went nuts. Another homerun set!

I managed to dedicate Tesla’s Love Song to my beloved Becca and to our wonderful trip we had to Cancun last week, and gave her a kiss at the conclusion. Hey, this wireless guitar transmitter is fun! That felt very special. She was obviously having a ball. As was I!

C.J wasn’t happy that I pulled Pour Some Sugar out, but it was also a huge hit, filling the dance area with lots of partying women, and drunken dudes. Several of the women were very friendly, I might add, but, hey, I’ve only got eyes for one, ladies! She’s the real deal! But, it just showed we were connecting, and everyone was having a wonderful time.

We rolled off to take our last break, schmooze with the crowd, and drink some beers. It was a wonderful show so far, and I anticipated that was probably the highlight of the evening. In fact, I was amazed we had that strong a crowd for the second set. Another home run.

I grabbed some of the wonderful crème filled chocolate cup cakes and gorged myself. Relaxed for a bit, held my beautiful girlfriend who had changed into warmer clothes, and enjoyed the moment. The show was going wonderfully. In this set, I’ll see to it that we get Kene and Spanky from Frantic up.

I made my way back into position about 25 minutes into the break, and C.J. was still in his corner, ready and willing. I’m motioned to Steve, and he started to make his way over, and then disappeared. Damn it! Boozie was basically stumbling around the shed, looking as though playing drums was the last thing he was interested in. It is like wrangling cats!

I finally got Steve to wander back on stage about 35 minutes into the break, and we gave up on Boozie. He was rocked! I’m not sure he remember who Rock Bottom was at this stage. We recruited Spanky up, and just played our normal set. Hell, Spanky has seen us enough times, he already knew what songs to expect!

The crowd had thinned as I’d expected, but the ones still there were pretty wasted, and they were very loud! A rocking crowd, to say the least! Dave came up and pretty much sang every song we played along with Steve until we got to Sweet Child O’ Mine, and that pretty much did Dave in! I looked for Kene, but he was no where to be seen. Guess I’m on my own!

Boozie stumbled around stage and poured shots of Captain Morgan Parrot Bay into our mouths, and that was pretty gross. Not a big fan of it. Jager would have been much better! Becca like it, though. I don’t think Boozie even touched his drums at all the final set. It was all Spanky. Nice to have a pinch hitter come off the bench like that!

Mercifully the night was soon finished, and the cops hadn’t appeared. Dave was all smiles, as was the handful of revelers that had stayed the entire evening with us. The boys helped me load my Durango, and I fished out the last of the beers in the cooler. Boozie and his wife were annihilated, and I made sure they had a ride home. They didn’t need to be anywhere near a steering wheel!

C.J. paid me my handsome cut for the evening, and he looked pretty buzzed as well. Kene appeared and apologized for not getting up on stage, he’d passed out! Then he woke up, wandered around, and passed out again! Now that’s a party!

God only knows what Dave will cook up next year to top it. Can’t wait for another Wilmouth Stock!