Well, hello strangers!
While it's only been a month, it seems like we haven't played live in a year. Luckily, we're about to get more active again here in another month. So, we're using the down time to work on some new aspects to the live show, setting up the next album, etc. I promise we have been working and will be working, just not on a stage as much until Fall kicks in. Stay tuned for a bunch of dates going up on our calendar in the next week.
So, about last night... The night was a big one for us in several ways. First off, it was our first show ever with live drums. Our normal setup is that the main drums (kick/snare/hats) run from my keyboard and Cisco plays hand percussion along with it. Now, Cisco is playing full kit and, for the time being, I've take the auxiliary percussion back to the keyboards. I'm proud to say that Cisco is doing a great job on the kit. We use a great deal of sequencing - you've heard the songs, there's a lot going on from the keyboard (and if you don't know - aside from the guitars, our album was all done with keyboards). Anyway, running the sequencer requires me to set the timing. It's kind of reverse from what a drummer is used to. In their world, they're setting the tempo, not following it. So, when bands like us go and do this, it takes a lot of focus and concentration to lock in that groove and hold things together. That's why I've always admired Roger Taylor from Duran Duran. Even back in the early days, before the high tech click track systems, he did just as we're doing, same method, and he did a great job at it. On our side, I'm happy to say that Cisco and the rest of us pulled it off!
Speaking of "the rest of us." There's more of "us" now! Last night was also our first show with Brian Barton on bass. It was kind of weird, for me, to look over to my left and see someone there. The past year, I've had Heath to my right and no one to my left. At one point during the set, I looked over and almost spooked myself when I saw someone there. Cracked me up and I think I got lost in the song we were playing. Oh well, shit happens. I give Brian credit - I think he had about 2 weeks, something like that, to try and get familiar with our show... a three hour show. That's a lot to cram in during a short period of time. Again, like Cisco, he pulled it off. Anyway, it was fun having him there and I look forward to future shows.
And future shows... I think the key word I said in that last sentence above was "fun." This new formation of the band has been fun for Heath and I. Really fun. I think Cisco and Brian are feeling it, too. We're all seeming to click and over time, as we tighten things up and get more comfortable with each other, I think our show is going to crank the fun factor to eleven.
Now, back to this specific place... It's an interesting concept that I was drawn to early in 2013. I saw an ad that this bowling alley was having live music. I knew that I, as a customer, would be into attending something like that. So, I gave the contact info to our agent and told her I wanted Sand Dollar Rodeo to play there. As a performer, it's an odd gig. No one really watches you like a regular concert, they bowl and listen. So, there's no fancy stage or blinky lights (on us anyways - they do kill the lights and get the disco bowling thing going on the lanes). But, it's nice when you get a compliment because it means someone really listened to you. I much prefer that to a bar gig where you're a jukebox designed to sell booze. Then, when the booze sells, the drunks start making requests of crap that you'd never play. I'll take the bowling alley over that any day. That's how I got started playing the breweries. It was something different that I thought would be a nice change for the listener, rather than having to go see us at a club. Now if I can just find a roller skating rink with bar service... well, I guess that could be a little dangerous. Maybe we'll stick with the bowling alley.
So, that was last night. We'll be doing it again on Friday, September 13th. If you're in Fort Worth and want a fun night (that doesn't cost a fortune), come on down to Cowtown Bowling Palace. We'll see you there! I'll leave you with a few pictures that Brian's wife, Carrie, took last night .
Stay gold,
RH
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| Sand Dollar Rodeo v 4.0 |
