Old School gigs

[811952]

Yep.  Should be fun, and if I'm not mistaken there are at least two of the three original, er, Americans in the group.  The venue is an outdoor amphitheater.
 
Here's their site:
http://www.venturahighway.com/  
http://www.venturahighway.com/gigs.php
 
John

[keith_h]

Sounds like it should be a fun gig. I remember going to see America back when I was in high school (mid-70's). It was at the local junior college theatre that seated about 500. It was a great place to see them, good acoustics and up close.  
 
Keith

[foth]

Isn't it difficult to keep your balance while getting a foot massage?
 
I think The Decorum Destroyers would be a good band name.

[811952]

I was seated with my feet kicked up on the drum riser (literally a laid-back gig).
 
Decorum Destroyers would be a good name.  At least I'm there in spirit!
 
John

[Bradley Young]

I'm assuming that this was not a Shiatsu-style massage.  
 
For the uninitiated, here's my recollection of the shiatsu experience (while I was in Singapore):
 
1) you are greeted by a kindly, older asian lady.  She is about 4.5 feet tall.
 
2) She seats you and smiles and nods as you remove your shoes.
 
3) She begins the massage.  You notice that her fingers are like tooled steel, and begin to feel uncomfortable.
 
4) Introduction's over, she begins to actually massage your feet.  You realize that she can most certainly break concrete with her bare hands.
 
5) You're still trying to maintain you machismo, but you're concerned that the tear rolling down your cheek might give you away.  She smiles at you malevolently, she's broken tougher men than you.
 
6) You can no longer handle it, and begin to weep and yell: MOMMY-MOMMY-MOMMY!
 
Thank the nice lady for stopping the punishment, and limp home.
 
Needless to say, I'd have a hard time playing while that happened.
 
Brad

[811952]

Just got home a bit ago from the gig opening for America.  It went well and was fun, but they still hadn't shown up by the time my rig was loaded and I was leaving!  No sound check per se, other than roadies (who were pretty cool guys, several of which have been with the band for ~25 years) noodling around through the equipment.  Odd, and I don't know if I could leave that much of it up to other people or not, if I were at their station in life.  I guess they must be pretty laid-back guys, to leave it all up to them and to still be using the same folks year after year.  Interesting to note that the bass player uses an Ibanez SoundGear bass (not that I ever actually SAW him use it, or saw him at all), yet there were more than a few very expensive guitars.  Go figure.  Also, they ran a dozen EAW small traps and 6 subs with less power (~7500 watts of Crown) than my band uses at the same outdoor venue, but it was still clean.  All-in-all lotso fun...
 
John

[811952]

Here are a couple of pix from the America gig, courtesy of photographer Bob Poynter.

 

[811952]

...and a link to a hack-job of Badge recorded from painfully near my bass rig at a gig sometime this spring.  Craptastic, yes, but somewhat indicative of my approach to bass where beer is involved.  Oh, and try to ignore the somewhat out-of-time tambourine..
 
http://mysite.verizon.net/restg6c4/sitebuildercontent/sitebuilderfiles/badgebass.mp3
 
John

[David Houck]

John, the balance on that recording is perfect!  The bass is out front where it should be, the drums are right there with the bass, you hear the keyboards just fine, and you certainly wouldn't want the guitar any louder that where it is.  Even the vocals are ok, although I could see bringing them down a bit.
 
 
Seriously, very nice bass lines and the bass sounds great!

[palembic]

Yep ...very horny bass ...huhu ...ah ...no ...
ooops ...was this on another occasion??
Anyway ...watch your back for those bullyboys!
Hehehehehehehe
 
Paul TBO

[811952]

We played a biker benefit last Saturday outdoors.  We have a sound tech now, after not having one and running it from the stage.  The sound tech (my brother) has awesome skills and does a very active mix.  We have a killer PA also.  Anyway, about 3 songs into the first set I turned my amp all the way down and let the mains do all the work.  Such an incredibly good feeling to hear it coming back at you from the people!  I love this...
 
John

[foth]

John
I'm playing an outdoor biker benefit this Saturday.  They'll be doing a burnout competition right in front of us.  I should be able to hear again about this time next week.
Paul

[811952]

Paul,
 
Earplugs are a neccessity.  Sounds (no pun intended) like a blast though!
 
John

[radar3162]

Can one of your band members please contact me with info on a event I am planning. @ tobydog3162@yahoo.com c/o Deon

[811952]

Deon,
 
email is on the way...
 
John