Stone Blue started out with Glenn playing some acoustic tunes, then the whole band going electric. They were awesome. I have known Glenn, the guitar player, for a couple of years (SEE NOTE), but had never seen him play with Stone Blue. He played well, sang well, and is also a good showman. His bassist, Greg, is real good, and shares the vocal duties quite competently. And Bill, the drummer, is a good drummer. In all, they don't really seem to have any weak spots. Heopfully, we'll get to share some more gigs with them. If you get the chance, check them out.
Stone Blue played so well that it put pressure on us to perform well when our time came. And I think we played the best we ever have. We had a pretty big audience (thanks to Mike and Scott), which always makes things better. The whole band played well and seemed to have more fun than ever. We did two sets, starting out at around 11PM. We did a set of 15 songs, then a set of 10. We played several things that we have never done live before, and all went well. (I've noticed that I using the word "well" a lot in this post. Hmm.)
Mike used his blue Vintage '62 Fender Stratocaster last night. He only had one rehearsal on it after having a new pickguard and pickups installed. What a beautiful guitar. And he debuted his new Budda 30-watt head (thorugh his Vox speaker cabinet). He also had his G&L along, which had been his main guitar the last few times out, but didn't use it.
Scott played his own drum set, for a change. Many of the performances we do involve multiple bands, so the drummers usually share a kit. It is usually not Scott's set, but last night it was.
I used both of my Fender basses: the Aerodyne Jazz for the first set and the Vintage '57 Precision for the second set. My amp rig was the Carvin BX120 (1x12) combo and the Ashdown 2x10 extension cab. I was happy with my tone and volume. The basses have different sounds, but both worked well through that rig. I had just picked up my Precision from a neck adjustment the day before, and hadn't been playing it much before that because it had developed some fret buzz, so I figured I'd go with my trusty old Jazz bass for the bulk of the work. Also, the Jazz was set up with the basscam mount...
I tested the basscam last night. It didn't affect my playing at all, and had only the slightest effect on the balance of the bass. The lighting was real bad, and the audio picked up mostly the bass (since I was standing right in front of my amp). I am going to try to dub some of the audio that Mike recorded over the video that I recorded. Our next gig is at the Iron Shields Law Enforcement Motorcycle Club BBQ on July 26. I'll have daylight for that one and I won't have to stand right next to my amp, so that should get me better results with the basscam.
See the basscam mounted on the head of my Jazz Bass?
We got home about 3 or so last night. That's a bit tougher on the 45-year-old version of me, but I did get some chores and garden work done today, and I'm going out riding with Dave tonight (I am going to try the helmet cam in photo-every-five-seconds mode), so today hasn't been a total loss.
Last night was the good side of the music scene. I am not shy about my abhorrence of many of the people, and the BS that goes on, in the music biz (even at the local level), but last night involved none of that side of it. Heck, we even made money (I have already donated my portion to Little Shelter via their web site: http://littleshelter.com/fundraisers/donations.htm). I think that will be my plan from now on: Any money I get from music performances goes to Little Shelter.
A big "Thanks!" goes out to everyone who attended or helped out, especially my bandmates (Joe, Mike, and Scott), my wife (Diane, who took a bunch of photos and drove my drunk ass home), Dave Drew (who organizes the gigs at Bartini and does much for local musicians), Joe (the owner of Bartini), Jackie (the bartender at Bartini), Stone Blue (Glen, Greg, and Bill), and the Harborfields contingent.
Time to get ready to ride. Have agreat week! And keep smiling! :-)
Last night: Joe, Me (with my Precision Bass), Mike, Scott.
XXX
NOTE: Glenn had tried out for Juke House when Mike had to take a sabbatical a couple of years ago, and we didn't choose him, by a hair. He has never been bitter about it and we have stayed in touch, and hung out a couple of times. Things have worked out great for both of us. He is a perfect fit for Stone Blue, and Juke House reformed last year with its original four members and is doing well, so it's all good. On a sidenote, when Stone Blue was playing last night, Diane leaned over to me and asked "WHY didn't you guys choose him?" Scott also commented that we didn't know he could sing like that. Again, it has worked out well for all, so it's cool.
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