Conference napalm::guitar

    You were in The Wild Thing??? I remember a local band with that name.
    The members always had their pic in the Worcester T&G, fairly out-
    rageous hair-dos for the time.... same band??
    
    Edd

    
                     " Wild Thing, I Think I Love You "
    
    The same damn band, but the Liberace haidos were gone.  There guitar
    player, Pancho, went into "P.F. and the Flyers".
    We had Bass, B3 - Organ, Lead Guitar, and Drums. Probably the best all
    around cover band I was ever in, till the Drummer lost his marbles.
    Guess playing 7 nights aweek for months on end got to him, or probably
    his wife or the combination of both.
    
                                                        Stormin'

    Anybody ever play BYOB's? If you haven't, let me tell you I think they
    are the balls. Firstly, it's a whole different attitude. Most people
    who go to them go with their ladies and a bunch of friends. It's pretty
    much a cheap night out. $20 bucks buys admission for both AND a couple
    of racks of brew between 'em (buds for the dudes and bud lites for the
    dudettes). Since they're (for the most part) not there tryin to get
    laid, it really makes for a different attitude. Everybody dances, and
    dances, and dances....regardless of whether your band is any good or
    not. After the last tune, your gauranteed to have to do an encore.
    Everybody just seems to have such a good time.
    
    From the band's point of view, there's no hassle with club owners, the
    money is usually better, and it seems like SRO everytime I've done one.
    Admittedly, there's no snob appeal to 'em; the band never will be
    "discovered". 'Course if you're like me, you've been "discovered" so
    many times playing clubs you're sick of it by now (read facetious).
    
    I wonder if these types of things are the way of the near future for
    music venues. I've done some clubbing recently, in fact just this past
    weekend, and the I get the feeling that the club scene is a whole lot
    different than it was say 10+ years ago. The audience, what little there
    is these days, seem jaded by so many good groups. There really is no
    shortage of club bands. Some are better than others, but I think for the 
    most part, not that much better. The level of talent, skill and
    equipment has risen dramatically to sort of equalize everything and
    everyone else. And yet even when there is a band that
    is really worth hearing, *maybe* there's a half dozen more people than
    there were last week. 
    
    And then there's human nature.  I've been up to Classics in Manchester NH 
    several times. The band is THE best I've seen insofar as club bands, or 
    should I say semi pros go. Yet since they play three times a week, every 
    week folks just get jaded as to how good they are. I hear "yeah good
    band...but after you see 'em a couple of times ..." Don't get me wrong,
    the place does a great business, this is just the critique I've heard
    from people I know who have been there more than twice. And what gets
    me about this is that the group changes their material like most of us
    change our bedsheets - once a week.
    
    Other observations/thoughts anyone?
         

    I played in the local Fitchburg Ma area. At one time or another I
    played the following:
    
    	Ye Old Oyster Bar (Fitchburg)
    	The Elbow Lounge (Leominster)
    	William Austin's Tavern (Route 2, Fitchburg/Westminster line)
    	The Red Rooster (Keene, N.H.)
    	The Mahaki lounge (Gardner, Ma)
    	The Polish American Country Club (Gardner, Ma)
    	The VFW (Westminster, Ma)
    	The Sitzmark (Westminster)
    	Cathay Island (Leominster)
    	The Mail Coach (Acton, Ma)
    	King's corner restaurant (Leominster)
    	Slattery's pub (Fitchburg)
    	
    	The Oyster Bar was probably the best place to play, and was the
    best place to see bands. They hosted everyone from Griswald, Whitecap,
    Prism, Adam's Apple, The Lean Street Sliders, Johnny Moore,
    Tunesmith... all little-known but great bands. The easiest gig I ever 
    did was William Austin's Tavern. I played acoustic solo sets from 8:00 
    to 12:00 from Thursday to Sat. Some evenings I would start at 8:00 and 
    play straight through to 10:00 without stopping. I would place an empty 
    beer mug on the piano, people would come up and toss me a few bucks to 
    play requests. I would pack up my gear and be home tucked in bed by 1:00. 
    Some nights my tips would exceed my pay. 
    
    These are the only ones that I can remember the names of, but there
    were tons of short-lived bars. The old braincells are a bit slow at
    this point.
    
    Mark
    

        Can't help wondering what you mean by " already been discovered",
    almost sounds like you were caught breaking and entering, or can I
    safely assume that you are Making A Big Noise, With The Big Boys, like
    in Big Time?  I've known a few people that have been there and now they
    are selling "AMWAY" or I as I call it "SCAMWAY".
        I know there's nothing better, but on the other hand there's
    nothing HARDER, if it were easy, guess everyone would be there!!!!!!!!
        
                                KEEP ON ROCKIN'

        Since you're from Fitchburg, I was just wondering if you ever
    remember a club called the "Blue Fountain?".  Only played there once, and I
    think it was back in 1973.  Two Bike Gangs came in one night and the
    place cleared out.  The owner called the police and they never came.
        They were the Dirty Oil Men, and Heavens Devils, so it was us and
    them.  The first thing they asked for was, Born To Be Wild, and then
    one of them went up to the drummer, who was on the verge of mental
    collapse, and instructed him to play Wipe Out, and "it better be good
    or else"  When people are your bread an butter, you gladly oblige.
        So, things turned out good, but I learned not to count on the men
    with the Tin Badges to help you out. Not against Bike Gangs anyway!
    
                            The Never Ending Story
    
    
    

PF and the Flyers eh ?

What ever happened to them.  I used to see them all the time a Timothy's
Too.  Used to see Ammie Mann there a lot too, WAY back when...

jc

    Belive it or not, you can still catch them at the one and only Log
    Cabin on rt.20 in Shrewsbury. They play like ever other week or
    somthing like that. I havn't seen them I just see it on the sign on
    the way home from work, but I think its still the same guys except for 
    Ponchco.
    
    Mike ro Phony___

    re .6  I vaguely remember the Blue Fountain, but never played there.
    I seem to recall it was somewhere off Pratt road, near Turner's Hall,
    but I could be wrong about the location.
    
    Mark
    

Amazing.  I got in trouble at the Log Cabin once...

;)

    
    Gee, you guys are dragging up all these clubs I'd rather forget about....
    
    Anybody remember the Dew Drop Inn (honest) and Ted's in Northboro (both
    now demolished)?   Oh, I forgot, noone in here likes C&W  8^)  8^)  8^)
    
    I played a marathon session at the Log Cabin once...we were doing the
    8-1 evening gig and the usual 12-7 afternoon Jamboree band couldn't
    make it, so we played 12-1 (thirteen hours!!!) and asked for the $150
    for each gig plus an extra $50 for the effort.  The owner got p***ed
    because he thought since we didn't have to move our gear, we should
    have gotten *less* than the $300...what logic.  Our last gig there, in
    any event.
    
    How about Xit 13 in Worcester?  Got to play there opening for
    Eugene Chadbourne and Shockabilly...
    
    							Brian

Yep, the Dew Drop and I forgot the name of the place accross the street...
All the dead heads used to hang out there.

Remember:

Southbound ?
Tumbleweed ?

    
    	Re -1
    	You're talking about The Cutoff. Great place. Too bad
    	they mowed it over. Southpaw, Tumbleweed, The Sty Monsters,
    	The Slugs, High St. Band, Redwing, etc. Cheap beers, pool
    	table, and the local talent was pretty friendly.
    
    		I just realized how much I miss that place.
    
    	Neal

Yeah !  The Cutoff !

Piggy Bob And The Sty Monsters I remember them.  They've been around for years
with different members I guess.
Anyone remember Donny Lavin ?  Great Keyboard player.  I think he played with
Southpaw and Tumbleweed.

jc

    Donny Lavin now plays with Slipknot (I think).  The Cutoff!!  What a
    place.  The floors were slanted and it was always my preference to use
    the woods out back rather than the mens room.
    
    Last I heard Billy was out of the bar business and into the painting
    business.
    
    	joe.

Ha the log cabin,, Dick, the biggest in the world...

Mahaki,, aka "Rogers Arena OF death..." played there about,,,,, 3,000 times,,,

Remember taking an extra long time to get out of there one night,,
it was about 2:00 a.m... and the boys who work there were just bringing
in a new shipment of toys..

"NO LIE" They had enough automatic weapons to attack Libya,, Needless to
say, we beat feet...


Elbow lounge,, oh yea,,, add another 3 or 4 hundred to that room..
(Digeronimo brothers,, leominsters finest. the place is now a recovery
house for addicts and alchies..  a fitting end wouldn't you say..)

Westminister VWF,, very scary place...

The Bull Rich,, now there was some fun times..

Rics Saloon  in Gardner,, "bring your own false teeth, and pay no
attention to that man swinging from the chandelier..  He'll be
duking it out with the bouncer soon enough anyway.. and if you go 
out back,   watch your nose..  something will wind up in there if 
you don't..."

Then there's the ever infamous rotor club in ayer, now Karens Resturaunt/Lounge.
What a yoke this place is..


Bascially, I'm really down on the club scene, and between you and me,
(shh don't tell anyone,,,) I've had it...

If I hear "SKKKKKKKKKYYYYYYYYYYYYNNNNNNNNNNNNNNAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAARRRRRRRRRRRDD"

one more time,,, some poor b**t**d is gonna die.

>    Donny Lavin now plays with Slipknot (I think).  The Cutoff!!  What a
>    place.  The floors were slanted and it was always my preference to use
>    the woods out back rather than the mens room.
>    

    Donny used to play with us a lot, but now now only occasionally - tho he
just happened to have played last saturday's gig at the Blue Plate (another 
fine establishment - and one of the finest managers, 'Tiny' Stacy). Donny is
one of the last "Hammond w/leslie" men around, and is always fun to play with.

     The cutoff was basically responsible (criminally, some might say) for 
keeping Slipknot alive for many years, giving us a chance to play somewhere on
a regular basis. I'll always be grateful to Billy for that. Not only were the
floors slanted, but so were the ceilings, and by the end (summer of 83, I think)
we were expecting a collapse on any serious bass note. I had my parked car
totalled by a drunk one night there, but that's another story...

Bruce

     ... How about "K-K-Katie's" in Kenmore Square, before the Disco fever
    started killing off most of the clubs.
    ... "Mickey's"  & the "Cricket" in Ashland - Aerosmith and Jon Butcher
    used to play there.
    ...."RiverSytx" in Kittery, Me. - Free Pizza for the band.
    ... and my favorite ...  the "JOLLY ROGER" in Norfolk, VA. We'd
    play two weeks at a time there. Tues - Sunday 8:00pm - 2:00am, and on
    Sundays the band also had to start off the weekly Sunday Jam session that
    was from 4:00 - 7:00. Everyone in town was invited jam and of course
    use the band's amplifiers. Actually there was some great local
    musicians, alot of Navy too. One of the "great" perks of playing at
    the Jolly Roger was that the band could stay in the apartment above
    the club.... we stayed one night. We weren't used to cockroaches
    the size of turtles. We soon found out that all the motels in the
    area had em' too. Not as big though.
    
     I wonder if the "Jolly Roger" is still there ??
    there ??    
    
     member the Jolly Roger, Norm ???
    
    Artie

    Hi Bruce.  Didn't know you were among us again (I ain't-a-been
    readin' notes too much lately).
    
    	joe.

    Re. .11
    
    ...yes, some of us DO play country.....;^)
    
    .....and, as a matter of fact, I'm playing at the Log Cabin tonight.
    I've done the Wednesday night gig there off and on (mostly off!)
    for a couple of years; it's ok for grocery cash, but nothing to
    write home about.
    
    	I'd comment about Tumbleweeds in North Grafton, but I don't
    want to get this notesfile held for libel....;^)
    
    	Nicest current country club to play in?  Probably the Club Boston
    in Fitchburg.  Decent pay, decent management, adequate stage (but
    GREAT electricity - i.e. grounds!), dollar draft beer - we like
    that gig!
    
    	Biggest disappointment? Texas in Worcester center: started out
    with great promise, then ZIP - nothing!  I sometimes wonder if
    Worcester has secretly outlawed country music - I've seen at least
    two radio stations and godknowshowmany country music clubs fold,
    all within city limits......
    
    					--Eric--

    I used to play a bar called The Zoo in Manchester, N.H.  There were
    more bikes than cars outside, which should give some hint about the
    bar.  One night, our drummer said "Somebody get me a beer" over the PA. 
    Took about three seconds for the beer bottle to whiz by us and crash
    against the back of the stage.  And they liked us!  We had some wild
    nights! 

    Another favorite was the King of Hearts (Clubs?  I forget) in Lawrence,
    Ma.  The bouncer there used to START the fights.  Had some wild nights
    there, too. 


    Three Copper Men in Lowell, Ma.  We played upstairs and the "dancers"
    were downstairs.  The place would be just about empty when the show
    downstairs would end.  Whooosh, the place filled in 5 minutes with some
    very rowdy guys.  Then, when the show started again, the place would
    empty.   One night the band and the dancers all went out to breakfast
    at the end of the night.   I laugh every time I think of that. 8-)

    Kevin
    

    RE: The ZOO in Manchester...
    
    Man, the stories I could tell about THAT place...surley would be SET
    HIDDEN!
    
    moi

re:20 

Club Boston,, Decent Management..

Right maybe on a good day...

(Sounds like you do the Sunday shift anyways with the C.W. thing..)

I've know Tom for a while now,, Between him and his old man, they both
are canidates for schiztophrenics of the year award..

Club Boston used to be the Hideaway Lounge.  Arguably one of the worst
dives since Spencers Lounge....  He put about 400k into the place, and
is trying to build a paradise island out of a recyled dump.  The
only thing for a under 3 dollars in that place is a glass of Strohs beer
and if yo can get the first one down, you maybe o.k....

Maybe I'm just too synical...


But try working there on a fri/sat night when he takes a shot at the top 40 
cover thing.....


for what its worth,,, in my opinion..   He's an ass 

    
    re. 22 
    
    Bill, I actually LIKED playing there!  Sure it was a tough dive, but
    they liked straight-ahead, no B/S rock.  The meaner and nastier the
    better.   As long as the band had the goods, it was cool!  ZZ Top OK,
    disco a death sentence.  
    
    We just had to remember two things: don't bring any girl friends to the
    gig and don't even talk to someone else's girl friend when we were
    there.
    
    
    Having some bozo start a fight with the other guitar player in the band
    was NOT cool, though.
    
    Kevin
    
    

    Re. 23
    
    Sorry. I should have qualified that "decent management" with "compared
    to most", I suppose.  ;^)  Of course, there are other owners that
    don't pay us promptly at the end of a night, or complain if our
    volume is above a whisper, or complain about the songs we do (or
    don't do), or .......etc. etc.  The fact is, we have been treated
    fairly there, which is better than some of the B.S. I've had to
    put up with elsewhere.
    
    And then there's the clubs that try to combine two different genres
    of music at once.  Way back in '77, the Putt-Putt Lounge in Rochdale
    had country music - then during our breaks, out would come a belly
    dancer!  We had some strange nights there....
    
    Or the club I played in Manchester NH a few years ago: they wanted
    to give country music a try, so we went to do our regular gig -
    then, during the breaks, a deejay would play 120 decibel disco.
    Good gawd!
    
    Or how about the bigger clubs that book two bands at once....doesn't
    it sound great if one band is playing a soft tune and the other
    is cranking?   Arrrrrgh!
    
    					--Eric--

re:25..

Well let me tell ya something, prior to working for him a few times in
Club Boston, (remember, previuosly it was the hideaway) we had
LOTS of trouble getting money out of him..  it was a fact that
everytime we worked there, we got the same old story..

"You guys sounded great.."

"You guys played great.."

"I wnat to work you into more weeks.."

and then 

"oh yea,,, my brother needed a loan, and so, I need to get to the
bank,, and so,, can you come back Monday for the money..."

Worse yet was the way he ran his books..  He'd right down the bookings
on matchbook covers, napkins, anything he had handy, and if you were
lucky, they made the calendar,, if you wern't, you were (9 times out of
10,) bounced for the last band to get the week.

Now his big stint is, he'll pay you 275 a night, unless you don't pull in
$275.00 a night worth of door fees.  If you don't he pays you only
what you pulled it.

in other words,, you're working for the door.

The place holds what, 50/75 people...

He's nuts...

Plus, one of his complaints we heard was

"I can't stand it when bands come in here, set up, play and leave..."

Tom what the &^%$% you want them to do..

He claims he wants bands to do their own advertising, put up fliers,
make and distribute mailing lists, and he'll still give you the door.


tell ya what we gave him... well I better not, the moderators might not
like the verbiage...

Good luck, and if things work out, fine.. but my advice:

Watch out for this guy,, he's nuts.

   All these memories...

   I "grew up" (some would argue this choice of words :-)) in a house 
   across the street from the Mail Coach in Acton.  Played there once or 
   twice, too.  It's not really a music club, more of a local bar.

   I remember "PF and the Flyers" from the old Mill Hill Club in Hyannis
   on Cape Cod.

   The Cinema Lounge.  (Then across to Cathay Island when you get bored.) 
   Ah...  :-)  

   Friends of mine played the Mohawk just a few years ago.  It's closed now,
   isn't it?  Anyone remember "Northeastern Expressway"?  Saw them there,
   doing YES covers...

   Remember the old Maynard Pub?  That was a cool gig, for a small place.
   Especially once you became a "regular".

   There was another Biker Bar in Hudson Ma, who's name I can't now 
   recall.  It was right on the water of Lake Boone.  Quite a few good nights
   in there, especially a certain New Years Eve party...  :-}  Ah, it was 
   "Monyhan's", I think.

   I live in Manchester, NH now, and have never been to the ZOO.  I don't
   even really know where it is.  Even though I ride a Harley, I've been 
   told (even by mc club members) that one should stay out of there, "unless 
   you're into pumping iron".  Fights are the norm on Friday nights, 
   apparently...

   -- Sam

    Re. 26
    
    As a matter of fact, there is no cover charge on Sunday at all,
    so I can only guesstimate what the registers take in.  We've been
    pretty filled on the four or five Sundays I've been there this year.
    
    I do appreciate the warning.  We'll watch our step.
    
    					--Eric--

     The old "BACKROOM" near Framingham State on Rt. 9 was ripped down
    last year and is now a floundering strip mall. I saw the CARS play
    there right after they changed there name from CAPTAIN SWING.
     Right down the road, TIMOTHY's and TIMOTHY'S TWO, are also in the
    process of being torn down to make way for  ...you guessed it- another
    mall.
    
    Couple of other fun clubs ... the ABTERYX (now condo's)in Hyannis, the
    MiLL HILL Club, & ON THE ROCKS in Falmouth ... there was a small
    trailer for a dressing room -  when we lingered around too long after
    the gig, the owner or some goon came around with a barking German Shepard!
     
    
    AJ
                                                     

    RE: .27
    
    Ya Sam, Northeast Expressway sure brings back some memories.  The
    guy had a nice, white strat and he used to do a great version of
    "Roundabout" and Elliot Randall's "Reelin' in the Years".
    
    Mike

                     " OUR FANS ALWAYS COME FIRST "
    
    Artie, 
           Great to hear from you again!  Couldn't beleive it when I was 
    reading the replies to "Clubs Can Be Fun", and I'm going, SHIT!, this
    guy's played in exactly the same places I have, he's even played in
    Virginia Beach, and the same Club too!
           You remember the time we were at Jolly Rogers and someone from
    the audience yelled out something like, " Hey how come the lead guitar
    player never says anything over the mic," and I adeptly answered that,
    " I said everything I had to say back in High School."
           Just wondering if you were with us, when "Smokin'Joe" was
    together, and Micheal Brannon, a Booking Agent, didn't want to pay us
    money do, so we took a ride up to Hudson, MA. and our suttle drummer
    put HIS FIST, RIGHT THROUGH THE GUY'S HOUSE!
           Ah! the Music Business, there's nothing like it in the world.
    
                                                        Abby Norm L.
    

<< re .28 (eric)
<<As a matter of fact, there is no cover charge on Sunday at all,

Part of the mystique with that room is the shoot from the hip style
of entertainment. he has in there...

Friday and Satruday nigths are run completely different from week to week.


Anything from general bizz top 40, to progressive orignial bands that
put most of the top 40 crowd out in the parking lot hoping Boomers
isn't too full yet...

then he has the fools in there,, what next...  Arthur Feilder woulnd't
suprise me at this point.

We were of the harder rock fm hits variety, a lot of other bands were
G.B. bands with the G.B. sound, then the progressive original bands with
their own sound, then enter sundays, and he waltzes to the other end
of the spectrum, and does the country jam thing.


I think he should find a venue and stick with it..  Basically he dson't know
what he's doing, but I'm glad that you're making it work on Sundays.  (Friday
nights are pretty lame per norm, saturdays o.k.)

By the By, we aint working there any more,, not after we heard about the
Gate thing on the weekends..

Second fact, we aint working at all any more, were done in september,,,

sad story,, band lasted 9 years.. we're all just tired..

re:Mohawk.

Yup shut down.  Looks like it's being used for storage right now.
I've played there about 4/5 times, and I'll say it was easily the warmest
crowd you could ever play to. Best gig there was when we played
with Micky Spirro (Incredible Two Man Band).. Lots and lots of fun, 
we did the first and third set, they did the second and fourth.  Nice bunch 
of guys too. had some fun that night...


The only game in that neck of the woods now is the Rotor Club (about three
miles down the road) and that place is no birthday party either.  since
they've renovated they got some shit-head con artist in there running
the show, (We call him Hollywood) and he's got even less brains then your
average stop sign.  But if you ask him, he's Don Law the second..
(Gimme a break.. He makes me want to puke..)


Butter Cup Lounge was a fun room too..  Till it burnt to the ground
that is.

    
    How about Joie's in Shrewsbury, now a car wash....
    
    The owner and bar staff were always nice to my band, Secrets, in fact
    they gave us four months of work, two weekends a month, on a sliding
    scale (more $$ every month) without ever having seen or heard us.
    
    Too bad that place went under...
    
    Ray, your band used to play there a lot, didn't it?
    
    							Brian

    I wouldn't say Joies went under, they sold the place to a builder for
    over one million dollars. I played there a number of times in the past,
    it always seemed to have a big crowed who like to woop it up! I might
    be dating myself but, anybody remember the Last Chance Saloon in
    Worcester?? Now that was a fun place to play.
    
    Mike__

    re:31  Yes , I remember the "negotitations" with that agent.
          I wonder if he still has that video he shot of us at
          the "CAFE 20 " another fine club on Route 20 ???       

 << How about Joie's in Shrewsbury, now a car wash..
 <<Ray, your band used to play there a lot, didn't it?



Yep, sure did, about three years running.'Rip' was the guy we used to work 
through..He was the greatest guy to work with in my 15 years of playing clubs

He dealt you straight, and gave you the real deal..  All he asked for
was that in return.  We gave it back ten fold.. He'd even cast
extra money your way if he had a better than usual weekend.  Most
of the jerks out there today will tell you it was slow, regardless
of how well they really did.  (Enter Dick fom the Log Cabin.. I hate
that guy..)

  
But Joies: 
Must have played there at least 30 times.  Matta of fact, we worked the last 
two weekends before it was bulldozed..  

The last night was a riot, Joe (the bar keep) started
throwing shit all over the place,, kind of a bar wrecking party... Rip 
just sat there laughing,, turns to us and says, "anything you guys think
you want.. better get it now." I went behind bar area and grabbed Robin
and said, "I'll take her..."

That earned me a nice elbow in the ribs..  all in jest .. 

We were doing the Log Cabin (yuck) one night last year, and in walks Rip 
about 7:30 for a beer..  Walked  right up to us and said,

 "You guys STILL doing this shit.. I hope you've gotten better !!!"

We all laughed hysterically, then he bought us all a round of beers.. Said
he saw the name on the sign, had to stop in..

No doubt about it. A great-great guy. we'll never forget Rip and Robin.
He gave us more work then anyone.. (and usually two or three weeks
in a row too.,. what a blessing..)

<< The owner and bar staff were always nice to my band, Secrets,

I remember yous-guys (Secrets,,) "Your agent and our agent were both agents."
(Eastside Entertainment.. Bruce Smick, the wonder fag! What an dildo
that guy turned out to be..  what ever happened to Bruce.  I always envisioned
some big mean bass player socking his teeth out..  A to dream a dream..)

but Joies,, ah yes all a fond mamory now...

What happened to Secrets ?

Clubs on the North Shore:

Lil' Earls in Gloucester
1886 House in Beverly
Pegasus on Rt. 1 in Rowley
The Summit Club in Peabody
Headliner's North (Nashua? I forget...)
Ace of Clubs in Lawrence (already mentioned)
Whatever Grover's in Beverly was before it was Grover's (forget the 
  name...used to see The Dawgs and the Nervous Eaters and the Fools there a 
  lot)
Frolics - Salisbury Beach
Mr. C's Rock Palace - Lawrence?

I used to go to all these clubs in the late 70's. What dives most of them 
were!

Alan S.

    
    Re: .37
    
    Secrets folded about five years ago.  Typical BS....the lead player
    didn't like one of our singers and managed to force her out, our piano
    player had to either quit or get divorced (honest), so Bruce's partner
    (Joe ???) came in so we wouldn't have to cancel gigs.  Then our *other*
    singer cancelled a gig because it was the day of her dad's funeral, so
    the lead player flips out and forces *her* out, we get a great male
    singer who also played guitar and started rehearsing to get back out in
    the clubs and our lead player quits, saying he's tired of all the
    BS...this after he caused half the band to quit....ecch.
    
    I put together another band with one of the old singers, this new
    singer/guitarist and a drummer, and started looking for work.  We did
    exactly one wedding before I quit. The drummer didn't think we were
    "ready", and I was tired of rehearsing while we could have been making
    $$$.  I turned down four weddings!!!  Maybe I should have stayed, the
    band I went to next only lasted three months....
    
    What was funny, when I called up Bruce Smick and gave him a demo tape
    of the new band, Visions, he called back with two weddings *the next
    day*.  Yeah, he was a jerk, but he got us work.
    
    							Brian

I saw a band at Joies about 5 years ago (maybe more) with a young lady
singer who did a Janis Joplin tribute that brought tears to your eyes.

She'd come out in a coffin and pop out of the coffin with some southern 
comfort and start singing.  She was awesome.  Anybody have a clue who the
band was ??  They were great.

jc

    Cafe 20 oh my gawd!!!  That brings back memories.  That was the
    second club that I got into when I was under age.  I think I was
    17 and the drinking age was 18, I got in using a friend of mine's
    draft card (no picture).  I used to go and see Sunrise Express there.
    
    The first club I got into as a young punk was The Fox Underground
    below the old Fox Lounge on Rte. 9.  That was to see Babe Pino.
    
    RE: Joie's...a friend of mine used to waitress there, Ellen McNamara.
    She was in my homeroom in high school.  I think she moved to Califor-
    nia and married a doctor.
    
    	joe.

    
    	When Ray Pelkey asked me to come down to Joies to see his 
    	band play, I ended up getting my Van washed. Why didn't you 
    	invite me down while the club was still there Ray? :-).
    
    	Guy
    

    Gee, he invited me to Joie's to see the band play too. I got a bunch of
    beers and a gig!!!
    
    BTW - This probably ain't the note for it but what the hell... In the
    20 or so years I've been involved in bands in some capacity the status
    quo has always leaned towards "I was in this band for 2 months and then
    was with another for 4 and another for 3 weeks...etc.etc.etc...."
    
    Ray, I tip my hat in the general direction of you folks. Keeping a band
    together for 9 years is no easy task. Knowing when to pack it in is
    just as valuable. You are to be commended. 
    
    ...or committed!  8^P
    
    Edd

re: .-1

>  Did the band play "Tiny Bubbles"?
.
.
.
> Knowing when to pack it in is just as valuable.

I know that when any band I'm in starts playing "Tiny Bubbles", it's time
to pack it in...

;^)

re:Guy  Your van looked terrible, and I thought it was just the motivation
you needed.

re:edd, yes, that was a gayla event, and scrap book material..



And yes, sad but true, the moment of thruth was last night, and
the always delectable Foxx Pass has gone the way of Big Fins on
Buicks.  

A few odd weddings, and this cowboys off to pursue other
interests.. like weekends with out having to work for instance,
and then there's always the rush of getting cote to show up for
a special pest appearence at the Winter Street Stud-ay-o...  Right Edd ?


Anyway, it was a fun nine years, (Geesh! 9 count em!)

 and we're all still pals, I just can't see to the comitment anymore...  


re: Greg, What key?  It's o.k. as long as you stay out of  F#..

    
    For those of you that never went to see Foxx Pass..........
    
    Too Bad, you missed a great band.
    
    Guy
    

re:46..

Thank you Guy!

We tried,, it was fun.

    > We tried...
    
    No, you *succeeded*...
    
    Edd

    How about  "RALPH's DINER" in Worcester .... That was kind of a
    neat club, being above an actual old fashioned railroad car diner.
    They had a blues's band on the first floor and R&R upstairs & a
    house PA system.I don't know if it's still there .. small room but
    they really packed 'em in like sardines.
    
    AJ

    Hey Artie,
    
              Ralph's is about 3 miles from my house, and I understand that
    it's one of the better clubs around, which brings up a good question?
              What happened to Rock'n Roll, on the East Coast?  Before they
    raised the drinking age to 21, there were more clubs than you could 
    handle, now it seems, it's D.J.'s or RAP or Soul type groups, like the
    kind you'd find at a Holiday Inn.
              I'm not so sure it's because of the drinking age, but shows a
    general New England attitude about Rock.
              Can't even think of too many good Rock Groups that have come
    out of this area, since the Cars, J.Geils, Boston and Aerosmith!
              Seems like Canada, Australia, England, the West Coast and
    New York are still putting out good bands.
              There must be good talent here, WHAT'S HAPPENING?
    
                         Long Live Techno Geeks................
    
                                                                Norm L.
    

             Ralph's is about 3 miles from my house, and I understand that
    it's one of the better clubs around, which brings up a good question?
              

<<	     What happened to Rock'n Roll, on the East Coast?  Before they
<<   raised the drinking age to 21, there were more clubs than you could 
<<    handle, now it seems, it's D.J.'s or RAP or Soul type groups, like the
<<    kind you'd find at a Holiday Inn.


Nothing happened to Rock and roll, rather ask what happened to  the
people that USED to like like ROCK And ROll.  The only games in town
in my parts that are doing anything at all are DJ clubs.. (euuuu..)

<<              I'm not so sure it's because of the drinking age, but shows a
<<    general New England attitude about Rock.
 
Well, if it aint the drinking age, it could certainly be the level of panic
eveyone in Mass has about driving after looking at a beer, never mind
sittin yourself down in a nice cozy room for four hours of music and
casual drinking..

<<             Can't even think of too many good Rock Groups that have come
<<    out of this area, since the Cars, J.Geils, Boston and Aerosmith!

Nope, not true, still some good bands coming out of the area..  The Joneses
The Smitherenes... there's still hope..

 
Basically, after 17 years of having fun playing, looks like the good thing
has come to past.  Infact, I'm giving up.. (I just can't do weddings, I'd
rather do nothing at all..)  It's just too much agony for too little fun.

    Re: .50
    
    When I lived in CT, I heard people say it.
    
    I moved to Worcester, MA in 1981 and people were saying it.
    
    People are still saying it.
    
    Face it, being musicians, we have tunnel vision.  To us, music is a big
    deal.  To the average joe, music is something they hear on the radio.
    Go blame Thomas Edison for inventing the phonograph, OK?  8^)  8^)
    
    As for "there *must* be good talent", hey, ever heard of a bell curve? 
    Excellence implies that something of lesser quality exists.  Lots of
    it, in fact.
    
    						Brian

     If there seems to be a slump of bands "making it" and breaking
    out of Massachusetts, I'm sure it's NOT because of lack of talented
    musicians. The economics of the area have got to take most of the blame. 
     A band should be able to develop while the players are in jr.
    and high school. But very few schools sponsor any high school
    dances with live music. After that, there should be clubs to play at, but
    due to outrageous insurance fees and liquor and entertainment license
    fees, etc. many clubs have stopped live music. Figure in getting
    an old van or truck registered, insurance, a rehearsal space, and
    every thing else . ... with no where to play - how ya gonna make
    it ?   I give credit to any band that can survive more than six months
    around here.  - 
    But, that's show biz.  
      

 <<I give credit to any band that can survive more than six months
 <<around here.  - 
 <<But, that's show biz.  
   

So then I guess that nine years would be somewhat of a clinic ??

Believe it or not, we worked fairly regularly, but lately... it's been
like treading water with a hurricane blowing.  You're bound to go under
eventually.

all things change,,, eventually, it'll come back, but never at the rate
it was at in the late 70s early 80s... Them was the days...

    Congrats, Ray....   I think I'm one of the few to catch one of your first
    gigs, at the Country Barn in Lunenburg about 9 years ago.  I was playing
    in a band called Stranger and the other band was with Mike Oullette, I
    can't remember their name.  It was a good time. Stranger lasted about
    a year and Mike's band even less than that.
    
    In reference to rooms to play, I have to agree, the state of Mass, has
    to be the blame for most of this, for club owners, insurance is
    killing them.  This is interesting because after reading most of your
    comments, it seems every club you mentioned, you remembered most from 
    either the big fights they use to have, or how drunk people would get.
    I wonder if this has anything to do with why the state is the way it
    is??    
    
    
                                                        Howard
    
    

    I remember listening to Thom McCabe as we got ready to shut The Red
    Barn down for good as a rock club...
    
              "I can't stand 18 year olds any longer..."
    
    (That may not be a direct quote. WTF, t'was ~15 years ago!)
    
    It seems so paradoxical. If I never hear "Fre...", "Freeb..."
    (Gahd, I can't bring myself to say it! That Skynyrd song...) again
    it'll be too soon, and it seems alot of people feel the same way.
    But who's working and making money? Bands that play 'classic' rock
    and roll. Could it be there's a small group of FB fans out there who
    are real loud and vocal who are skewing what the club owners think
    the public wants? And could it be that this loud minority are also
    killing the scene? (I've never seen a fight at a jazz concert, yet 
    rock club memories are held together by the fight scenes...)
    
    A thought.... Do your average 'rock club' go-ers go for the music?
    Or do they go for something else, and the music is only a peripheral
    that, if wrong, will just send them out? (Imagine the crowd at The
    Rotor if you played Madonna or Chick Corea all night...)
    
    Edd

<<I think I'm one of the few to catch one of your first
<<gigs, at the Country Barn in Lunenburg about 9 years ago.  I was playing
<<in a band called Stranger and the other band was with Mike Oullette, I
<<can't remember their name.


Yae Howie, that was that big three band thing we did..  Everyone added to the
p/a system till it stood about fifteen feet off the floor!!

The band Mike was in was Mirror Image,, they went on for a while.  nothing
came out of it.. To bad they were a lot of fun to hang out with.
Munci was Ca-razy...

by thje by..

You also use Rics cellar to reherse in, we used to have to swap off
nights with you guys.  a littele crowded it was....

And do you remember Linda Duchenous ?

(Rics sister in law ??)

Well she came back and sang with us starting last year, (same Era when
Edd worked with us...) but it just did't work..  as far as the clubs/crowd,
it got old quick...  And yea, I think it's got a lot to do with it.  Club
owners like the money, but what went along with it sucked. (Broken windows,
smashed up bathrooms, busted up patrons...)

re:Edd.

And whats wrong with FB ??  Those are three of the best chords ever
played.  (I agree,, whole heartedly,, IF I EVER HEAR "SYNNNNNNNARRDD"again,
For sure, I'll vomit..)

"What song is it y'all wanna hear..."

Ack.

I love skynyrd for the blues... But I HATE playing that crap !

Gimme 3 Steps, Sweet Home, Call Me The Breeze...

Ack.

re: blanme it on the State

In every state I've worked in the past few years (all 3) I hear the same thing.
The insurance is killing the clubs, it's all the state's fault. I hear it from
friends as far away as Nebraska and California. 

Personally I doubt that the State(s) is to blame but rather the quality (or lack of
of) of the audience. The rising cost of insurance is directly related to the 
increased liability of serving alcohol to drink. That coupled with the fact
that mostly only young folk or fairly unresponsible types drink heavily (which
is the major source of income for clubs and bars) anymore the business is dying.

The trend is that the club scene is dead or severely wounded until people 
learn to stop drinking and driving. To a small degree our (ultimate) customers 
killed the business.

dbii

    Re: .59
    
    I recall that prior to 1970, when many states started lowering the
    drinking age, that clubs were few and far between, at least in CT.  The
    only place to go see live music were auditoriums (those were the days
    of "package" tours, hosted by a local DJ and six bands each playing
    their three hits) and "battle of the bands" at the high school, or if
    your town had one, a community youth center. 
    
    Once 18 year olds could drink, suddenly there were clubs everywhere, or
    so it seemed. 
    
    Working as a beer commercial certainly has drawbacks.
    
    								Brian

<<Gimme 3 Steps, Sweet Home, Call Me The Breeze..
<<
<<Ack.

MAJOR ACK..

Especially when you just pulled of a real tight tune that took a few rehersals
to put together,,, (hey after nine years with the same guys, twern't much
we couldn't wrap up in one night..)

only to have some mental midget in the back yell..

	"SKYYYYYYYYNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAARRRRRRRRRRRRRRD"

And the the other side of the room yells..

	"ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPLLLLLLLLLLLINN"


UNCLE!! I Give!

The only consolation was we had the mics, and the last laugh...

	I should really nail down my Zep & Skynrd, huh?

	Your_friendly_mercenary

    Since this conference is full of noters who have gigged live or are
    currently in working bands, etc., I'm sure there are a number of "war
    stories" floating around out there.  
    
    Had a great exprience during a gig ?
    
    Had a horrible experince during a gig ?
    
    Let's hear about it ... we can be our own therapy group ... I'm sure
    some of these will affect our lives forever !   8^)
    
    
    Scary

	What started out to be a great evening of good music turned into
	performance hell ....

	I was "planning" to go hear some buddies in a country band, possibly
	jumping up during the last set and playing 5 songs or so.  Nope ...

	After the 1st set the drummer introduced me to some guy that "wanted
	to do some old country standards and needed someone to play country
	lead to 'em".  "No problem", I said ... "you just lay down the chords
	and I'll decorate 'em !".  Mutual smiles and handshakes.  No problem ...

	In the middle of the 2nd set we get called up.  Keep in mind we 
	hadn't even discussed what songs, what key, nothing !  Since I was
	just going to be adding fills, I really wasn't too worried.  But when
	I realised that NONE of the other players knew the songs at all, I 
	started to have some doubts !  I *assumed* the other guitar player 
	was his regular guitar player, but you know what happens when you 
	*a-s-s-u-m-e*, don't you ?

	We "played" 4 songs ... I only remember the 1st one (Folsom Prison) 
	which ended up sounding like something from the Blues Brothers, and 
	the last one (Farewell Party).  The middle 2 were such horrors, I 
	think due to shock my memory blocked them out for my own sanity.

	During all these songs, the other players were all looking at me
	so I could cue them for chord changes - hell, I barely remembered
	them myself.  Needless to say, there were no "leads" during this
	nightmare.  

	The last line of "Farewell Party" goes something like, "... I know 
	you'll be glad when I'm gone ...".  After the singer uttered this, 
	he cut off the mic, left the stage, grabbed his coat, and hit the 
	door - me and the rest of the guys were still playing !!!  I 
	managed to work us into an ending and we slithered off the stage,
	wrapped in the sound of silence.  The regular band came back up and
	finished the 2nd set.  When they came off stage, I said my goodbyes
	and hit the road.  4 songs seemed like an eternity !  I figured 
	once the guy saw that the songs were bombing he would cut it short.
	Nope, this guy evidently had big b*lls, 'cuz by god he was gonna 
	sing those 4 songs - damn the torpedoes and hang a left !

	I'm glad it wasn't *MY* band up there, but I still felt bad for 
	these guys ....


	Scary .....

    This note falls under a good experience;last friday night as a 
    matter of fact.
    Our band was playing toward the back of a club called "Champions 
    lounge"when this cute, bountiful, blonde walked in w/ who I
    considered to be her boyfriend.It seemed she knew almost every 
    male in the place;greeting them,hugging them,conversing w/them,
    obviously an awkward situation for her date.You could just see it
    on his face.Anyway,after she got a few drinks in her she was off
    and made her way to the to the front of the dance floor of which
    the stage was adjacent to at ground level.I'm the drummer and was 
    about 5 feet away from her.Well she started dancing with some other 
    guy constantly making eye contact w/ me and the rest of the band 
    to make sure we were watching her(you know the type).
    AS if it was'nt fun enough watching her 38's beat up and down
    to the rythym of my bass drum she takes her hand and slides            
    one shoulder of part of her dress down around the middle of her
    arm somewhere!!!!!!!If you could have seen the look on the faces
    of the rest of the band,and they all look back at me as if to say
    "this is gonna be a great night" and it was .
    Don't get me wrong,she left w/ her date but he was not happy to
    say the least and I can't say that I blame him. 
    
                                                   Rick
    

    We used to have some frinds set up our equipment for us.  Diring one
    song, the keyboardist would take his portable organ, lean it frontwards
    by holding a strap with his left hand, and play a wild lead with his
    right hand so everyone could see.  One night, he leaned the organ
    frontwards for his lead, and the legs fell off!!!  He had to finish the
    song playing with keys with his right hand and holding the organ like a
    suitcase with his left.  The people in the audience just thought it was
    part of the act (I think!).  
    
    Chris D   

    Our crowds have been real good .. but most of the folks that like our
    music would sleep in their car/truck/farm animal in order to go party.
    
    And, no, we don't play "Free Bird" !   8^)
    
    Scary ... who hears that almost EVERY time we play !!!

Geeshhh  So many stories, so little time..  Probablyione of the funniest
involves none other than our own Captn' Edd Cote..  There was a spell
when Edd had joined Foxx Pass,,,   and not with out many a chuckles being
had...

Cote, Lets entice the reading audience about the time your
synths dropped tune, midway thru a song...

HA!  EASILY, the longest three minutes of my life...

It got so bad, that we all stopped playing, see, cuz Cotes keyboards are 
sounding like something a cat dragged in after a ups truck ran it over
for or five times.....  

We're all yelling at Cote,, "Stop playing,, Stop Playing!! You're out of tune"  
Edd keeps on playing, and yells "What,  I can't hear you, and *someone's* out 
of tune BIG TIME!"


Halrious!  but during those three minutes, I could have used a hole to
crawl in..  I thought Linda was gonna strangle you Edd.

    I got two... One involve Scary...
    
    1)  We (2EZ) was playing this annual party for the second year, and
        we're jamming along to this Tesla song.  There is this cool bridge
        in there thats just perfect for some team head-banging.  So I
        sauntered over to where Scary was playing and we're bangin' away
        (Ala KK and Glen - ya know?) and when that passage was over I
        turned to walk away since it was Scarys' big lead.  Well, some how
        I hooked the cord from his EQ stomp box around my foot and and
        unplugged him three notes into his lead...  If looks could kill...
        Had to have been there.  It was so funny I almost lost it
        laughing so hard...  Remember this one Scary ?    ;)   ;)   ;)
    
    2)  Playing with RnR, we were on stage at Shooters in Greenville.
        This beautiful women comes in (and man, she WAS beautiful).
        She is dancing off to the sinde of the stage right next to wear I
        was playing licking her lips, making eye contact - You know this
        goes... She even went as far as to lean against the door knob to
        "undulate" (if you get my drift here...).  Anyway, I had a heck of a 
        time concentrating on what I was doing up there (probably playing 
        "Brown-Eyed-Girl" or something).  Worse than that the whole time
        my wife is watching me, watching her watching me...
    
        This was a Saturday night gig, so I was feeling no pain by the end
        of the last set, and this girl is still there.  So, everyone is
        putting up their guits and locking up racks/amps etc... and I'm
        kneeling on the floor putting my guit in it's case when this this
        vixen comes over and bends over and put her curvacious behind right 
        in my face...Well, being a little tipsy I'm like "Nice A$$ baby!".
    
        To top the night off, my wife was standing right behind me when I 
        said that.  It was a long night after that...Me trying to explain
        my actions to a rather PO'd spouse...  ;)
    
    
    jc

    
    What? Doesn't everybody use A=418hz once in a while?
    
    I get the squirts just thinking of that little adventure...
    
    Edd

>>        To top the night off, my wife was standing right behind me when I 
>>        said that.  It was a long night after that...Me trying to explain
>>        my actions to a rather PO'd spouse...  ;)
    
    
        Rule number 1: NEVER take a wife or S.O. to a gig.  I learned that
    one many years ago.  :^)
    
    Chris D.

    RE: Rule #1
    
    Oh we had to, she was running the mixing board !
    
    Also, it was my birthday and she had a stripper come out and get me
    all wound up before the show !  All in all, a tough night to play...
    
    jc

    She had a stripper for you but gets upset 'cause a girl sticks her
    clothed *ss in your face!!??!!??
    
    Chris D.

      My favorite was playing this club out on the boonies. The night
    was going sort of slow until about 11:30 when a biker bachelorette
    party hits the place. The got quite loaded, made spectacles of
    themselves on the dance floor, and tried to get me and my bandmembers
    to forgets our parts by showing us THEIR parts. Outrageous and somewhat
    memorable.
      Then there was one of my acquiantances from my work with DEC that
    came out to see us. I had all I could do to keep this one on the
    professional level. She stayed the whole night and while we were
    packing asked if I did a "solo" act after hours. Without losing
    my composeur I answered, "Sure, If you have a place for me to plug
    in!" I restrained myself, and to this day don't know if she was
    just kidding, the way she said it. At 2:00 A.M. the world is a
    different place!
    
    						-bOOm- 

    Way back around '73 or so we were jamming in a friends garage out in the
    burbs on a warm Sunday afternoon.  Let me paint the picture for ya; four
    long-haired, skinny, snot-nosed punks; yours truly on Thunderbird bass,
    my best buddy with his trusty Dan Armstrong plexiglass, a new guy with a
    Marshall stack, a gold-top LP, and no shirt or shoes, and the drummer.
    We were consuming mass quarts of Schlitz and in the middle of our 2+ hour
    version of Spoonful, when one of the neighbors pops his head into the
    garage.  Oops, we figured he came to complain about the noise; au contrere.

    "Hey guys, we're having a little backyard pool party down the street and
     were wondering if you'd mind coming over and playing.  We've got plenty
     of food and I'll give you $25 bucks apiece".

    "Well, uh, gee, uh.... We're not really a band, we don't know any real
     tunes, etc, etc."

    But this guy had had a few tee many martoonis, if you know what I mean,
    and would not be denied.  So we packed up our stuff and headed over.
    Sure enough, there was this backyard filled with middle-aged folks,
    decked out in stuff like leisure suits and plaid pants, drinking like
    there's no tomorrow and chasing each other around the pool.  We stuffed
    ourselves full of burgers and clam dip, unpacked, and continued where
    we left off with our Cream tribute.

    "Hey guys, do you know that song, I can't think of the name, but it goes
     'hey girl I love ya, tell you what I'm gonna do'?"

    Having never been to a wedding, we were virgins when it came to the art
    of the Hully Gully.  We had no idea what this guy was talking about.
    But again, he was insistent; we just HAD to do this song for his guests.
    So he proceeds to try to teach it to us, even though he could barely
    stand up and didn't remember half of it anyway.  The best we could come
    up with was a version of Johnny B. Goode, where (I swear I'm not making
    this up) we sang "hey girl I love ya..." somewhere towards the end of
    the chorus.  He seemed happy with that, we ate some more, got paid,
    and a good time was had by all.

    RE - rule #1 ...
    
    Yes and no ... Scary Toy #1 is quite a jealous one (we usually
    dedicate "Jealous Again" by the Black Crowes to her ...  8^), but
    usually things are pretty cool.
    
    3 weeks ago, we were playing this club and Scary Toy #1 left at about
    11 or so ... heaven knows she's heard all these songs too many times
    already.  There were 2 ladies (loose term, I guess ..) sitting stage
    right and every guy in the place was hitting on them all night.  A
    couple of babes for sure, but 1 was a drop dead blonde barely dressed
    in a black mini ... quite a distraction.  I noticed during most of the
    songs she danced to, she was looking at our other guitar player - well,
    I thought she was looking at him ...
    
    After I had walked my wife to the car, blondie comes up to me and wants
    to know when we'll be going back on.  I tell her 5 minutes, and she
    says, "I'll be waiting ..." and flashes a BIG smile ... hey, it's rock
    and roll ...
    
    After the gig, I was wrapping up cables and stuff .. she comes up
    telling me how much she enjoyed our music, blah, blah, blah.  I'm
    still wrapping cables.  Then she walks closer and undoes my shirt
    pocket and slips something in it and buttons it back up.  Then she
    says, "don't take that home, ok ?" ... flashes that smile again and
    walks out the door ...
    
    After she left I finished packing my gear and decided I better check
    out my "present" ... it was a condom in a pack with her phone number on it.
    Can you say "subtle" boys and girls ?  I knew you could.  I threw that
    thing away !  No wife in the world would be *that* understanding ...
    
    Scary                                     

    Thats true Scary dude... but just think of the fun you could have
    before your SO removed everything you had fun w/......
    
    
    Bonzo

    Hmmm ... lessee .... walking around with a voice like Minnie Mouse
    doesn't sound too inviting, not to mention another trip to divorce
    court !  Last trip cost over $10K (but worth every red cent !).
    
    Scary (who loves to play .... GUITAR !) 

     I feel inspired to tell a story from my younger days ;^):

     There we were, 5 longhairs, with our cover versions of Stones, Who,
     Them, Animals etc. hits, doing a job in a small club on a saturday
     night. We arrived in the afternoon to have time for putting up our
     equipment. When we had carried everything up and connected it, we 
     decided it was time for getting something to eat, so we went down-
     stairs to a restaurant located just beneath the club.

     Now, I'm the type that usually don't drink anything but a few beers
     when doing a job, my playing starts getting totally trashed when I
     get anything more than a few ones, so I just had a beer with my din-
     ner. At this time, I noted the others ordered wine, but what the
     heck, we're living in a free world, I thought. So, after finishing,
     I decided to go up and check my amp and so on; the others indicated
     they were just on their way up too.

     So, I went up, tuned my guitar, birds started flying in my stomach,
     as it always do on a job, twisted the buttons a bit, and waited.
     And waited. Then audience started popping up, more and more of them.

     At the time when we were supposed to start playing, the other members
     of the band were still not there. 15 minutes later, they arrived.

     One of them fell on his way to the stage. Another got his foot into a
     mike stand and got it turned over. The drummer started banging on his
     drums with a foolish grin on his face. They were drunk as hell!!

     We only did one set. How we got through it, I don't remember. What I
     did remember, it was one of the most embarrasing moments in my life.
     At certain moments in the songs, we were supposed to do some rather 
     precise breaks; they were not done; the drummer simply just banged 
     away. A majority of the songs were supposed to be played in a certain 
     key; the other guitarist and the bass player just made quick decisions
     to change the key. And so on.

     After the first set, the other band had luckily arrived, and I was
     able to make an agreement that they took over for the rest of the
     night! Later on, the drummer somehow found his way outside the club
     and got caught in a bypassing policecars's spotlight, when he was gi-
     ving some solid kicks to a parked car, that had insulted him in one
     way or another; he had to spend the rest of the night on the station!

     Poul

    
    Playing one time at the immortal Log Cabin (mentioned in some earlier
    replies here) in Shrewsbury, MA when the neck on the singer's guitar
    snapped off while he was playing it.  His attitude was that we were
    done performing, I pointed out we were only three songs into our first
    set, so the club owner might construe that as leaving early....
    
    A buddy of mine was playing in a blues club down in CT one night.  He
    was wandering around the club with his axe soloing, thanks to his
    wireless setup.  Anway, someone offers him a beer, he says OK, so they
    pour the glass into his mouth, no problem.  This being a hit with the
    audience, a few other beer offers arrive.  Then suddenly we hear a lot
    of wrong notes and bad timing, and look over to see some gorilla
    pouring a *pitcher* down his throat, causing him to choke....
    
    							Brian

    My story:
       
    The guy who put us in touch with the agent said, "It's a great club,
    but you gotta keep the volume down...the club owner's a maniac about
    volume."
    
    The agent who got us the gig said, "It's a wonderful opportunity,
    but you gotta keep the volume down."
    
    When we arrived, the club was situated under a railroad crossing
    and there was a dead and somewhat stripped car in the parking lot...
    it did not exactly strike me as a genteel mellow place.
    
    As we were setting up, the club manager said, "I'll only warn you 
    once about keeping the volume down.  If my waitresses can't hear 
    the orders after I warn you, you're outahere."
    
    Since we had plenty o' tunes in the set list, it wasn't too difficult
    to pick the mellower ones, e.g _Dirty Work_ by Steely Dan and _The
    Lowdown_ by Boz Scaggs.  And, when the first set started, we were
    quiet...I was playing through a Fender Princeton with the volume on
    3!  Applause was polite, but not overly enthusiastic.  I thought, 
    "Well, it's only the first set...folks are just getting warmed up."
    At the end of the set I made the announcement that we'd be back in
    20 minutes...don't go 'way...tip the waitrons, etc.
    
    The club manager came over to let us know the club owner had showed
    up during the first set, checked out my band, and told the manager
    to fire us after the first set because we were...
    
    ...too quiet!  
    
    Ahhhh...the business of music...gotta love it.

    re: too quiet 
    
    Yah that's happened to me too...
    
    My story:
    
    A bunch of years ago we were playing the Barn at Loon Mt. (any ski nuts
    out there?) and since it was winter I had one of my pseudo-colds that
    last forever. I usually will suck on a cherry cough drop to keep from
    getting too dry  when this happens. We were boogieing along when I
    sucked the darn thing halfway down my throat, chocked and saw the thing
    shoot like a horizontal missle launch accross the dance floor where it
    dissappeared in the tangle of legs etc...I laughed so hard tears ran
    down my cheeks...and never missed a note...
    
    many of my best stories are best not shared in a potentially mixed
    forum like this one...
    
    dbii

    I got another...
    
    We (RnR) were doing our sound check in a Greenville club called
    Studio B... they aren't known for having the greatest electrical
    system in the work there.  
    
    Anyway, to make a real long story short, I went up to the mic with my
    guitar plugged in during sound check and got a WICKED zap off the mic. 
    Musta been an inch long, big blue arc from the mic top my lip.  I felt
    like I was a was toast...History, dead meat... I mean the freakin'
    lights in this place dimmed.
    
    I guess the outlet that the PA power amp was plugged into didn't have a
    ground or something, so it picked me to ground thru.  Ouch!
    
    Good lesson though, never get near a mic until you touch it with your
    hand or something.  The line from your lips to ground is right thru
    your heart.
    
    jc (One lucky dude)

    Re: Loon Mt.
    
    I used to frequent there, Sugarloaf, and Killington!
    
    Mike

    RE: .84
    
    Touch the strings of your guitar to the mike an watch for
    sparks before you touch it with a body part. You'll know if
    there's a ground problem, believe me. And it won't hurt a
    bit. I've used this method ever since a saw white one night.
    (ground problems are not something that you want to discover 
    after you've started into a set.)
    
    rjb

    -1
    
    Will it really spark?  I don't wanna try this out next time, and not
    see any sparks, and think everythng is a-ok and then get a mega-zap!
    ;^(

    If you're got your amp on it'll probably go POW....
    
    Better method, go to the hardware store and spend $1 on a "voltage
    tester", essentially a small light bulb attached to two leads.  They
    come in 100V varieties (what you want) and 12V (for auto wiring).
    
    Touch one lead to metal on the mike (XLR connector is a good place) and
    one to your strings.  If it lights up, switch the polarity on your
    amp.  
    
    You can also check with just your cord plugged into your amp, run one
    lead to the sleeve of the 1/4" plug, one to the mike.
    
    						Brian  

    It'll spark, but Brians got the best idea yet. 
    I figure I'm pretty lucky I got to play at ALL after that !
    
    jc (Wasn't a happy camper that night !)
    

    re .87: Only if there's sufficient potential difference (voltage
            difference) to cause the dielectric (air, in this case) 
            to break down. A lot depends on the humidity and the shape
    	    of the two 'electrodes'.  
    
    re .86: Use a VOM (voltohmmeter) set to AC and 200 volts range.  Probe
    	    the mic mouthpiece and a pickup (or some other metal on your
            guitar).  More than about 3 or 4 volts indicates a bad ground
            somewhere, which, in addition to causing nasty shocks while
    	    singing and playing, usually means 'rock n roll buzz' in
    	    the PA.
    
    I try to run the entire band off one circuit; in fact, I try to
    take the power out of one duplex Edison socket (wall plug) and 
    use a Weber strip to distribute power to the band.
    
    I might be digressing, but I think nearly all of the general public and
    many musicians think that bands draw a huge amount of power.  A typical
    five piece band draws about what a hair dryer takes...maybe 15amps or so.
    
    Do the following:  Look on the back of every piece of electronic gear
    your band uses.  There's supposed to be a tag that calls out the 
    required power for this piece of gear.  Say you're using Twins for
    amps: without having one in front of me, I'd guess the nameplate 
    calls for 200 watts of 120volts AC power, but let's be conservative
    and say it calls for 300 watts.  Your bassist uses a huge rig that
    asks for 400 on the nameplate.  You've got a k/b player that uses a
    Twin.  There's a club PA (ie, we're not talking tri-amped with 
    compression here ;^} ) that asks for another 500 watts:
    
    	Guitar 1:	300
        Guitar 2:	300
        Keys:		300
        Bass:		400
    	PA:		500
    			---
    		       1800 watts
    
    Since power = volts X amps and we know the voltage is _supposed_ to be
    120v, the current (amps) required for this example is:
    
       1800 watts / 120v = 15a.
    
    This current figure represents the MAXIMUM that all the equipment will
    ever need.  In reality, based on measuring current draw in a club situation
    with an eddy-current ammeter, a band typically draws about 1/3 or less 
    of the maximum value.  This means the five-piece band is drawing
    something around 5a.  In the midst of a kick, or a whole note the entire
    band plays, the figure migght jump up for a moment to 10a.
    
    Even the most wimpy wiring scheme usually puts 15a breakers or fuses
    on each circuit, so one is generally safe using a single outlet as long
    as you aren't sharing it with the ice maker or whatever.
    
    Jeez, did I ramble, or what?
        

    re -1:
    
    I'm not talking quarter inch arcs here. Just tiny dancing blue
    lights right along the contact point between the strings and 
    the mic. (BTW, this assumes that the strings are grounded.)
    
    If you want to test it, flip your ground the wrong way and try
    experiment. I NEVER use a mic before trying this. And since I've
    been doing it, I've never been shocked.
    
    Ron B
    

    
    It was an omen:
    
    The same night I got zapped, during the last set (like during the
    last three or four songs), the singers Mrs went to the delivery room.
    It was an interesting night all around.
    
    jc

    I always do it with my amp on and I've never heard
    anything more than a little crackle. I your method
    works, though, all the better. Keep it handy though.
    If you haven't checked it and the first songs being
    counted down you're not going to want to run to your
    guitar case.
    
    rjb
    

Imagine the scene...

The Band have been playing for an hour,  then I loose all the signal from 
the rhythm guitarist.  I get to the stage at the end of a song and ask him
whats up... "I've blown the marshall!", ok... I get into the car and shoot off
tio the rehearsal hall, pickup a spare amp, get back to the gig, set every 
thing up for the dude concerned (who has been twiddleing his thumbs), still no
signal at the desk... so I get back to the stage and ask if he has any output
at all and he says "No, I can't understand it, I've checked everything!"

So I check everything, a) Lead from guitar out of first FX in the loop
		       b) Lead from FX to amp ok but plugged into the
			  wrong channel on the AMP!

To top it all, the AMP was perfectly ok!

AAAAAAAAAAAAAARRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRGGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHHH

I hate it when members of the band you work with don't know their own gear!

Bob

    The bass player in a band I used to be in was in the bad habit of 
    leaving his basses at gigs overnight. One night he broke with 
    tradition and took the basses home. The next night he arrived 
    at the last minute and realized that he had left his basses home.
    We were about 30 miles from his house, and due to start the first
    set. He jumped in his truck and screamed home, got the basses and
    screamed back. He missed the entire first set, and the first couple
    of songs of the second set. We did all of our acoustic stuff, and
    most of the mellower tunes we had on our list. Needless to say it
    sounded quite thin. 
    
    What hurts is the guys in this band were constantly busting my balls 
    because I never left anything anywhere and hauled all my gear home
    each night. There were a couple of instances where they regretted not 
    taking my advice.
    
    Mark
    

    
    I played a private Christmas party for a restaurant/lounge last night. 
    Only employees and invited customers.  The place was packed! 
    Waitresses dancing on tables 'cuz there was no room left on the dance
    floor!  10 minute breaks because the crowd was yelling for the band. 
    The band banging out the tunes.  Pandemonium on the field.
    
    And to think that I got *paid* for playing that gig.  8-)
    
    Kevin
    
    
    

    Hey Kev, you should let me know, I'd have let you borrow the 900 to rid
    their heads off with!  ;^)

    
    Actually, I was using a friend's KH M3 that took heads off cleanly, no 
    ripping necessary. 8-)
    
    M3 through Marshall 4-10's = my-kinda-tone!
    
    Kevin
     

    
    	Hey Jerry, remember the M3 thru your Marshall cab?  It was a nice
    	tone...

    
    8 more hours before I step back out on a stage.   B^)
    
    But the last time I was on a stage was 3 years.   B^|
    
    And thats when I will see what I've been missing  B^)
                                                              Mark.

    Good luck !  My band just bit the big one, so I'm glad someone's
    gigging out !   8^)
    
    Scary (who's gonna jam New Years Eve though ...)

    Hey, I've even rid myself of some old inexperienced attitudes about
    other kinds of gigs.
    
    Most of the weddings I've played have been a lot of fun.  Two were
    AWFUL, but one wedding was INCREDIBLE!
    
    It started slow - and right after the traditional toast to the bride
    and groom, people came up to the mic to wish them well and people
    started to fall asleep.
    
    Then this one late middle-aged "aunt" (her name was probably Tessie -
    know what I'm sayin') steps up to the mic, and (in a VERY VERY thick
    brooklyn jewish accents) shouts:
    
    	"Enough gawd-damned Tawwwwkin' already!!!! Let's  PODDY!"
    
    and from then on it was like a frat party.  I've never felt so guilty
    for accepting money to play.   I'd have PAID to play that one!
    
    Anyway the lesson I learned is that a party is a party.   It's the
    people who are there NOT the occasion.
    
    I seriously doubt that many club gigs are nearly as rowdy and fun as
    some of the weddings I've played.

>     <<< Note 1833.102 by DREGS::BLICKSTEIN "The Rippers are on a tear" >>>
>              -< It's the PEOPLE who R there, NOT the occasion! >-

	I second this. For years I played mostly private parties & then
	about a year ago switched to playing mostly clubs. I miss the
	parties (we still payed some, but not too many in the last
	year). An Dave is right, there often is someone out there who
	get's the party rolling.

								Jens

    I remember a gig when the stage was low and not very deep,and we had to
    stick the foldback speakers at the edge of the dance floor.A few folks
    nudged them regularly while dancing,so we asked thro' the mike for them
    to watch out for the speakers,very expensive etc,etc.
    	One particular guy took this as a challenge and started bumping
    them more often,and eventually fell over them completely.I saw him at
    the bar during the break,had a quiet word about his conduct,when he
    says,"I've got a friend here tonight who's gonna kick the SH*T out of
    you!"
    	"Oh yeah? Tell him he'd better get some backup," replies me in a
    fit of bravado.
    	Back up on stage,after moving the monitors closer,I see the same
    guy talking to a Schwarzenegar clone,who stands up,leaves the club,
    and returns minutes later with 3 more triangular bruisers!!! OHH
    SHEEIITT!!
    	The rest of the band didn't know until I told them at the end of
    the set.The four giants hung around for an hour and a half,waiting for
    us to pack up and leave,and had to give up due to our starting a jam
    with some local musicians that carried on most of the night.Saved!!
    

>     <<< Note 1833.102 by DREGS::BLICKSTEIN "The Rippers are on a tear" >>>
>              -< It's the PEOPLE who R there, NOT the occasion! >-
    
    Yep, thats why I bring Mrs Cooper to any gigs...She's a dancin'
    machine and it infects other people to do  likewise....
    
    jc

    Not sure if this is the best spot for this note, [ standard disclaimer
    here ]...
    
    I play in a country band.  We're booked pretty solidly until April, but
    we're always trying to expand our list of clubs to play.  So, here's my 
    question:  Where are there clubs in the area centered on Maynard that 
    feature country bands?  'Centered on Maynard' means we'd like to play
    in the area bounded by the Atlantic ocean, Worcester, the RI border and
    southern New Hampshire.  We only play Friday and Saturday nights and
    the occasional Sunday afternoon jamboree.
    
    What say ye, o'guit-noters of Taxachusetts?

    Don't know if you're still looking or not, but I passed Willy's on Rt.
    9 in Westboro and the sign advertised "live country music, Sunday
    afternoons"... It's on the north side of Rt. 9 between Rts. 135 and Rt.
    20...
    
    Suegene

    Thanks, Suegene.  We've got a tape at that club...just need to follow
    up and see what the deal is.
    
    BTW, I've eaten lunch at Willy's: great ribs!  Close to the SHR
    facility.