Different Gigs Different Places
The last time BlueShadow performed it was a backup band to Joanie’s covers of Patsy Cline. It was a great show. The following week-end the band was scheduled to play a Motown gig back at Wilderness Crossing (Friday), The Inside Out Gallery (Saturday) and Patsy Cline at the Mills Community House.
Inside/Out Gallery
We had agreed to play a benefit for Andre’s House (a good cause doing great things). http://www.andresplace.org/ I had arrived earlier in the day to be sure that stage had plenty of outlets and was ready for the band to set up. Michelle St. Amant was busily working with her group setting up displays for the art show and silent auction. Michelle is the founder of Andre’s place and is one very hard working person. I let her know that the band stand looked fine and we would be ready to play at 7pm. What I didn’t say was that the bass player was new to the band and the guitar player was a fill in. Our regular guitarist Mike was getting married the next day. I was not worried Dave Egger is a fine bass player and fill in guitarist was A.J. he has sat in with us before.
The Inside/Out Gallery is located in the warehouse district downtown Traverse City. This part of town is working to convert unused warehouses into restaurants, art galleries and music venues.
The BlueShadow Band started to set up the stage at the Inside/Out Gallery at 5pm. In the background of instrument cases closing and speakers being set up, was the Michigan/ Michigan State football game playing (Michigan State never lost the lead). The scene was bliss.
7pm arrived and they opened the doors and people started to come in. At first it was not much of dance crowd but as set two progressed some dancers came out on the floor. They could really dance! They were all over the dance floor. The band was entertained. Toward the end of the second set the leader of the band that our new bass player came from showed up. I thought there might be a little trouble. I was wrong. He was cool and went on to say that the band sounded good wish our bass player and the rest of the band “good luck” and left amicably.
During the show there was a woman taking video of the band she introduced herself as a contributor for the local public radio/tv staion. They were making a documentary of local bands and she was getting clips from some of the Traverse City venues. This conversation lead to a call from the station and invited us to play on their TELEGANZA in the coming month. Sounds like good advertising we will do it.
Back to the Wild Pony
It was Friday night and we were back at the Wild Pony. A good crowd was there with a few dancers. Some of those dancers were already dressed for Halloween. We played the first set fine but, by the end of the second set it had all gotten to loud. It went from music to a din. No one was happy with the performance. Joanie felt like she straining by the end of the night. This became a big concern—we had a sold out performance at the Mill House the next night.
Patsy Cline at the Mills
I arrived early to the Mills Community House to find Joanie and Jerry already there. The community group was also there setting up. After the rest of the band arrived, there was discussion concerning the acoustics “how live the hall was”. I tested both the sax and clarinet –they were both too loud. Fortunately I packed a mute and various reeds, even with those accessories I had to play everything between pp and mp all notes above G had to be played an octave down. Our guitar player was nearly playing at 1 for is master control. The brass players were struggling to keep a “buzz”. The final sound check was completed 10 min. before the doors opened.
As the crowd filed in the band hung out backstage. It was a long wait in small back stage area. The band members talked about everything from other bands playing in the area to car problems. Finally the time came and we took the stage. Even though we had to play very soft, the sound was good. We had the crowd clapping along with the music and 5 or 6 couples dancing in the back.
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One week 3 gigs 3 different locations. All in all, it was pretty satisfying.
