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Post by bigdaddy on Jul 26, 2009 9:52:36 GMT -8
ok, instead of strangest places to play, i was thinking about the best/worst gigs i've done:
here's one of the worst. I was playing in a band in Austin around 1980, and a place called 'Club Foot' (really tacky) was having a week-long 'battle of the bands', you know what these are, really just a way to get bands into the place to drink and hang aorund hoping to get noticed. The 'promoter' was a complete dirtbag. I think the 'prize' was a real gig there at some point haha. So we have our night, like a Weds maybe, and we hang around all f-ing nite waiting to play, there must have been 10 bands scheduled, finally we go on abt 1:30 am. By then the drummer was completely blotto-wasted! On the first note, the lead player's amp blew up, and he started panicking, so the other 3 of us keep going, and i swung my bass around right as the lead player was bending down to fool w/ his pedals-wham!! nailed him right in the forehead. So now he's bleeding too from a big gash over his eye. The rythym player and I got our cords crossed so by the end of the 'set' we had a huge rats-nest between us, I had to stand abt 2 feet from his amp cause I was so tangled up in his stuff. At the end of the set, the lead player goes beserk, gets on the mic and with blood streaming down his face, he starts cursing the club, the promoter, the other bands, his mom, Jimmy Carter, the Shah of Iran, etc...completely lost it. The punch line is that we won the contest!! haha, how bad must those other bands have been!!
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Post by wormdrive66 on Jul 28, 2009 9:40:43 GMT -8
Around 6 years ago i was in a band that was about to lose our drummer so we had a final show for him and had a replacement lined up. Everyone had a few too many drinks and we really stunk up the place. So I'm packing up my gear at the end of the night and for what reason i don't know our 250lb bipolar roadie decides to pick me up by my neck, it took everything i had Not to bash him in the head with my favorite guitar that i was holding at the time. Then i look around to see who has my back and i see our vocalist swinging a Mic stand at our Bass Player. They proceeded to beat the crap out of each other and get us kicked out of the Club. I had to go back the next day and replace ceiling tiles that had holes punched in them. Needless to say we never played another show. Ahh yes Good Times. NOT......
I did once see a band get into a full on Fist Fight on stage. They Fired the Bass player and finished the set as he packed his gear. "Your out of the Band Dude, Pack your Shit"
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Post by Richard on Jul 28, 2009 15:41:33 GMT -8
The best gig I have ever played ( at least the most fun ) was a wedding last year at incline village. It was with my 3-piece band. About halfway through the 1st set, almost everyone was doing a conga line to Stone Free. The line included small children all the way up to Grandparents. At that point, we could do no wrong, and had a great time. We would try and play non-dance tunes just to give the people a break, and they found a way to dance to the song anyway. A great group of people
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Post by coolsongz on Jul 29, 2009 8:22:42 GMT -8
:oThe worst experience had to be when I sliced open my finger an hour before my set and it was deep enough for stitches. Being on my left hand all I could do was super-glue it shut. It hurt like hell but I played anyway knowing I could just get it stitched the next day. Half way through the gig the glue released and a string went deep into my finger. The crowd was way into the song and pain just jolted through my body and tears streamed down my face but I finished the song with a cringing smile on my face! I took a break and went to the restroom to re-glue my finger , clean my guitar, and scream. I played another hour and got the finger repaired the next day. NEVER want to do that again!
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Post by coolsongz on Jul 29, 2009 8:55:58 GMT -8
The best gig wasn't even a gig, it was just one of those moments in music I'll never forget. I was playing at the Lumberjack festival in West Point at the Firehouse sharing the stage with AYU. During an extended break I wandered across the street and noticed a man wearing a T shirt that I wanted. I followed him into the club (lyons or moose or something) that he was going into to ask him about the shirt. He recognized me from across the street and offered me the shirt if I would get up and play a few with his band at the club. Sounded like fun to me so I ended up playing a while. Then an old couple stood up. Somebody said "play something they can dance to, play it slow" so I began to play a sultry version of Unchained Melody. The dance floor cleared for them and every face was fixated on them as they danced and clung to each other. When the song concluded the whole crowd was on their feet and I did not understand. A man approached me and said "I've never heard it sung more beautiful, Thank you. And you have to know something, They have not danced together for many years, and she is dying. They are taking her away tomorrow back east for treatment. He cannot go with her and she is not expected to make it. This was probably their last night together and you just played 'their' song." I looked up and there was not a dry eye in the place. I was the only person there who had not known that. Needless to say there were many hugs as I left and I will cherish the T shirt.
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Post by jlev on Jul 29, 2009 9:45:38 GMT -8
So many to choose from both good and bad, but if you are talking about the whole experience both playing and otherwise one that comes to mind is the Redding Thursday Night Farmers Market.
When we(the Bayou Boys) got to the gig we were met by the sound crew and they helped us load in. Then we met a guy who was our "hospitalty person". His whole job was making sure we were happy and had what we need. The show was in this park right downtown. He took us into a building that bordered the park and in the basement there was a green room stoked with sandwiches and drinks. Very cool and comfortable. We emerged to do a sound check.
When it came time to play we come back out to a sea of people. It looked to me like the whole town turned out, but I heard that the usual crowd was about 2500 people. They just loved our music and partied away.
Looking at the schedule, they did it every week, lots of great acts of which we were probably the least known. Lots of world music, blues, zydeco(like us) and R &B.
After the gig we repaired to our comped rooms at the Hilton.
I love my job!
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Post by Richard on Jul 29, 2009 10:01:29 GMT -8
The best gig wasn't even a gig, it was just one of those moments in music I'll never forget. I was playing at the Lumberjack festival in West Point at the Firehouse sharing the stage with AYU. During an extended break I wandered across the street and noticed a man wearing a T shirt that I wanted. I followed him into the club (lyons or moose or something) that he was going into to ask him about the shirt. He recognized me from across the street and offered me the shirt if I would get up and play a few with his band at the club. Sounded like fun to me so I ended up playing a while. Then an old couple stood up. Somebody said "play something they can dance to, play it slow" so I began to play a sultry version of Unchained Melody. The dance floor cleared for them and every face was fixated on them as they danced and clung to each other. When the song concluded the whole crowd was on their feet and I did not understand. A man approached me and said "I've never heard it sung more beautiful, Thank you. And you have to know something, They have not danced together for many years, and she is dying. They are taking her away tomorrow back east for treatment. He cannot go with her and she is not expected to make it. This was probably their last night together and you just played 'their' song." I looked up and there was not a dry eye in the place. I was the only person there who had not known that. Needless to say there were many hugs as I left and I will cherish the T shirt. Thats a good one for sure  |
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rand
Mad Skills
Posts: 106
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Post by rand on Aug 1, 2009 14:13:39 GMT -8
one of my favorite gigs was the one I did with my friends Joe Lev, Kenny Nichols, Kyle Rowland and blues legend Mick Martin for natomas Charter School. A blues in the school program sponsored by the Sacramento Blues Society. Mick had the whole class participating and it was a real joy to see the love of music in the eyes, hands, and hearts of todays youth
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Post by jlev on Aug 4, 2009 11:33:43 GMT -8
The BITS gigs are great Randy!! Not so many this year a in years past, Blues Society money is tight. If I could I would do em every day!
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Post by bigdaddy on Sept 19, 2009 20:53:57 GMT -8
here's another one of the worst, we played in a cinder block bar in San Marcos, Tx, abt an hour south of Austin, the band started duing happy hour, it was basically a red neck contruction worker bar, the 'bar' was a board laid across a couple of kegs, the stage was right in the middle of the room, so you had tables in front and a bunch of pool tables behind you. I dont know how many times we f-ed up a count off when someone guy would break a rack on like 1-2-3 1/2 'CRACK! Then after abt an hour, they are all good & drunk and the fights started. Some guy stated swinging on a dude at the bar, they went down in a pile of bar stools, then 3-4 other dudes jumped in.. and this fight lasted at least 1/2 hour, it kept going and going. No real damge done since they were all so drunk no one could land a solid blow.We were in such a hurry to get out of there the drummer left a bunch of pieces, and we had to drive down again the next day.
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rand
Mad Skills
Posts: 106
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Post by rand on Sept 20, 2009 23:23:57 GMT -8
In response to defiance -In my opinion, I don't recommend doing anything before or during a gig that is going to affect your performance. The blues in the school program I had the honor of participating in was about a hour and a half long. i can go without smoking or drinking for that long of a time. How 'bout you? Besides what kind of message are you conveying to the youngsters. Wow man I can't play sober, even for a moment Sure some of the kids, quite possibly toke a bit and probably even have better weed than you do. As an adult, I just don't think it sends a positive message to them about ones self. Have you ever been around someone who's been drinking or smoking pot, when you haven't.? The smell of either can be displeasing when you're up close and talking to them sometimes. Just wait til after the gig
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bobb
one post pony
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Post by bobb on Nov 9, 2010 12:47:23 GMT -8
My post responds to "coolsong" above who sliced her finger right before the gig. I did the same thing. New upright bass player (from a Fender), new heavy articulating stool. Setting up at a steady weekly gig at an Italian restaurant in Davis- the stool attacked my left #1 finger! Blood all over the place including the floor, the fingerboard, the strings. I stopped the blood flow by wrapping it in a handkerchief with tape, hold it up in the air and play bass with the other fingers. It was horrible and the worst 2 hr gig I've ever played. I've since only used the stool at home, already set up.
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Post by bassman on Nov 15, 2010 21:13:52 GMT -8
Best gig could have easily been the worst gig.
We were booked to play a private Halloween Party just a few weeks ago. The day before the gig the band members get an email from the lead vocalist saying that she had laryngitis. We put together a quick conference call and sure enough her voice is so bad she literally could not make herself understood on the phone.
Not to worry... we gave about a third of her songs to the other members of the band to sing and cut the rest. We figured we would just repeat some of the songs from the first set in the third set... and offer the host and hostess a steep discount on the fee. It was a much better solution than cancelling that close to the event.
On the day of the gig the lead guitarist writes to say he has a sore throat but will tough it out. Not to worry. Of course, several hours later at the sound check he can't sing a note. Now we are screwed. We have three hours to fill and about an hour's worth of material.
The savior? Live kareoke. We passed around our set list and had people sign up to sing with the band. We had printed lyrics to most of the songs and promoted the signups throughout the three hour gig. The two remaining singers sang as many songs as they could, we repeated a bunch, stretched out a bunch, and the party-goers happily provided a whole lot of vocals. One guy wanted to sing a song we knew from the radio but had never played as a band. During a break we printed the chord progression from the Internet and, presto, a new song for the band made it's world premiere.
The quality of the music -- well, the singing anyway -- was the worst show ever but the vibe and fun was the best ever. It was the ultimate in band/audience interaction. Host and hostess loved us and a fantastic time was had by all. Lots and lots of dancing and the drummer had to explain away a pair of panty hose found in the equipment truck the next day.
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Post by mrfoster on Nov 18, 2010 8:34:02 GMT -8
Best gig could have easily been the worst gig. We were booked to play a private Halloween Party just a few weeks ago. The day before the gig the band members get an email from the lead vocalist saying that she had laryngitis. We put together a quick conference call and sure enough her voice is so bad she literally could not make herself understood on the phone. Not to worry... we gave about a third of her songs to the other members of the band to sing and cut the rest. We figured we would just repeat some of the songs from the first set in the third set... and offer the host and hostess a steep discount on the fee. It was a much better solution than cancelling that close to the event. On the day of the gig the lead guitarist writes to say he has a sore throat but will tough it out. Not to worry. Of course, several hours later at the sound check he can't sing a note. Now we are screwed. We have three hours to fill and about an hour's worth of material. The savior? Live kareoke. We passed around our set list and had people sign up to sing with the band. We had printed lyrics to most of the songs and promoted the signups throughout the three hour gig. The two remaining singers sang as many songs as they could, we repeated a bunch, stretched out a bunch, and the party-goers happily provided a whole lot of vocals. One guy wanted to sing a song we knew from the radio but had never played as a band. During a break we printed the chord progression from the Internet and, presto, a new song for the band made it's world premiere. The quality of the music -- well, the singing anyway -- was the worst show ever but the vibe and fun was the best ever. It was the ultimate in band/audience interaction. Host and hostess loved us and a fantastic time was had by all. Lots and lots of dancing and the drummer had to explain away a pair of panty hose found in the equipment truck the next day.[/quote Hey, just wanted to chime in and say what a cool story that is!! When life throws you a lemon, make lemonade!! Great Job!! |
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booger
SKilled Member
Posts: 10
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Post by booger on Jan 6, 2011 11:33:47 GMT -8
Okay - Worst Gig Ever We were playing a benefit gig (for Haiti Relief) along with about5-6 other bands. You know how these things go, you're slated to be on at 10pm but after everyone else oversteps their limits on time, you end up going on at Midnight. No worries about that, it was for a good cause. Well, by the time we go on, the soundman has had a few too many Long Island Ice Teas and promptly decides to turn off our vocals after the first song. WTF? We finish the song without vocals & ask the nice gentleman to turn them back up. He does, we begin, and then the mics disappear again. WTF again? We stop the song and ask him to please leave the faders alone after he turns our mics back on. We start playing and I realize that the mains are now off. The monitors are working, but the mains are not. The soundman has no explanation, and can't figure out how to get them to work again, so we turn the monitors out to the crowd and belt out two songs without issue. Next song, the monitors are now out as well. Finally, the bar owner gets involved and tells the guy to leave. He starts unplugging all his cords from the mixer to go & the owner tells him to leave it right there, he can pick it up tomorrow. He wouldn't go, and had to be "escorted" out of the club by security. It was probably for his own good, because we were ready to kick the crap outta the guy. Worst gig ever - with a positive twist. The entire crowd loved us and we left them wanting more (always a good thing) Plus, we came out looking like the good guys that got rid of the drunk soundman |
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