Ed of H gigs; 2021

[edwardofhuncote]

Last night, HGB returned to the stage at our hometown stompin' ground, the Chaos Mountain Brewing Co. in Callaway, Virginia to help them celebrate another year in business. We last played here for a Halloween party in 2020. The folks at Chaos Mtn. like most of the microbreweries, are HUGE supporters of the music community in our little corner of the world, and we're sure glad to be back on their stages. I think every one of our fans came out last night too! Wow, was it loud and rowdy... everyone was ready to have a good time.

Took along the old Series I, and my Persuader 5. you know... in case you need to kick a hole in the wall. 

It was a little too loud in there later on for most of what I got to be worthwhile, and hey, it still ain't the lost Betty Cantor tapes, but here's my guys warming up at soundcheck with a little bitta' "Deep Ellum Blues".

*couple more from last night...

Brian brought the "Dark Hollow" as heard on the Grateful Dead Reckoning album with Bobby's 3rd verse, that no one else including Bob Weir ever sings anymore, but kinda' ties the whole song together. Brian changed the key to suit him, and added a big Ab chord near the end for effect.

I brought out the Persuader 5 for most of the second set. I love how it sounds on "Atlantic City" here. Persuade? Shoot. That thing changed my life.

[David Houck]

Very nice!

[hankster]

How great to have a gig! 

[edwardofhuncote]

It sure is, Rich. I made the most of the time off of gigs by working (like a fool... still doing that) and playing music at home. Revived an interest in playing guitar that just isn't going away either. But man it's nice to play with the guys again... the comraderie, the cutting up, even the work before and after.

We played a private Birthday Party last night at a beautiful log cabin country home. It was supposed to be an outdoor thing, but a line of evening thunderstorms put the kibosh on that. So they pushed all the furniture out of the way, set us right in the middle of the living room with this huge vaulted ceiling, set the main speakers outside, and monitors inside. We threw down right there; studio-style. Everybody loved it.

I took along the older Distillate and the '67 Starfire. I just didn't take pictures because it was a private residence. I sure would have liked to though... that was quite a pad.

[edwardofhuncote]

Well, gigs breed more gigs apparently, as things begin to loosen up in our little corner of Virginia.

Harwell-Grice Band is booked at another private party this weekend, a direct result of the last one we played a couple weeks ago. Our next big public appearance is Franklin County's Independence Day celebration, and we're all looking forward to playing to sunset and fireworks and our hometown fans, but always glad to throw down at a backyard bash too.

I blurred this one out (for privacy's sake) but we like to pull "Cold Rain & Snow" into a jam set, and this turned out to be a fun one. Joining us on resonator guitar is our go-to sub, Ernie Power, and subbing on mandolin, Stew Werner IIIrd.

This is my older Distillate, 81D 1986 by the way... I played it all night.

[hieronymous]

Well, gigs breed more gigs apparently, as things begin to loosen up in our little corner of Virginia.

Harwell-Grice Band is booked at another private party this weekend, a direct result of the last one we played a couple weeks ago. Our next big public appearance is Franklin County's Independence Day celebration, and we're all looking forward to playing to sunset and fireworks and our hometown fans, but always glad to throw down at a backyard bash too.

I blurred this one out (for privacy's sake) but we like to pull "Cold Rain & Snow" into a jam set, and this turned out to be a fun one. Joining us on resonator guitar is our go-to sub, Ernie Power, and subbing on mandolin, Stew Werner IIIrd.

This is my older Distillate, 81D 1986 by the way... I played it all night.

That video is cool! Just sitting on top of your amp or on a shelf? The mix sounds nice on my computer speakers.

Here in the SF Bay Area things are on the verge of opening up, actually past the verge (officially "opened" June 15) - small groups have been playing here and there, bigger concert bookings have appeared - it's very interesting.

[edwardofhuncote]

It was a fish tank, I think Harry... that house was uhh-mazing. But it was a private party, so I didn't want to broadcast anything too specific from it.

The mix ends up being whatever it is. I can't tell the guys, (especially Josh) tape is rolling - it corrupts his whole stage persona. He's naturally very funny, when unforced. So I get what comes out. Mostly I just try to hear how I'm doing with the band, try to improve on my own, week to week. Listen for patterns I like or habits I need to break. Visual cues too, for things I do or don't do. Sometimes I see things I like in these amateur grab samples.

While the tune was a little loose, I love how the bass sounded here. That. That's what I like, right there. That Distillate when dialed-in... you can't get a bad sound.

[edwardofhuncote]

Just got word yesterday; there is an open gig possibility/invitation for New River Bound, (neo-oldtyme ensemble) to play in Fincastle, Virginia on 7/10. We haven't played in a couple years now... and there's a completely finished, but unrealeased recording project in-the-can, going stale, so I am excited about the prospect of a reunion. (and maybe resuming a gig schedule?)

*I think this picture may be the last gig we played together. 9/2018

**Just got confirmation from other band members; everyone is on board for 7/10 and a refresher/rehearsal date before - New River Bound rides again! 

[David Houck]

Congrats!

[edwardofhuncote]

A Big Stage for us last night, and man it's fun to be famous in a small town.

Harwell-Grice Band headlined Franklin County's Independence Day celebration last night at Cy Dillon Stadium. Yeah... of course I don't expect you ever heard of it, unless you grew up in Rocky Mount, Virginia where Josh and Gabe did. Stewart and me are transplants in this part of Virginia... I'm originally from North Carolina, and Stew hiked down from West Virginia, but Franklin County is the home of our little band of weekend warriors. The home-folks love us, and couldn't wait to come see us play in town again. Josh is a teacher at the school here, and it was a very cool thing to see all his kids running up to the stage. He and Gabe have had this band going for 18 years now. Stewart is the 2nd banjo-man, and I'm the 3rd bass player. Although technically a first-call sub for a missing man, he's with us so often, that we think of Ernie as a regular band member too, and what a monster on resonator guitar. I've been playing music with Ernie somewhere for nearly 30 years now. He was in for Brian last night, who was vacationing with family, something long overdue.

It was super-fun playing to a big crowd of our hometown friends and fans, especially with sponsors and pro-audio guys making it all possible. It was great to see everyone able to get out and enjoy the event. Strange Truth; I saw a booth set up doing COVID vaccinations right next to a booth with deep-fried Oreos. Now there's a picture you just don't take...

I played the old Series I #77-621 most of the evening, and switched off to the fretless Distillate a few times. My rig that lives in the sketchy-looking Band Truck is an old Alembic F-1X and Crown poweramp, feeding a Mesa-Boogie Diesel 15 loaded with a ToneTubby Superman 15 hempcone speaker. I'm really enjoying not only how it sounds, but not having to carry a flippin' bass rig around anymore. Here's one tune we kinda' last-minute decided to rip. (this is the fretless Distillate...)

Then J.P. Sousa marches played while the fireworks show finished the night off just right, while we were loading out. What a great time.

[edwardofhuncote]

Couple more pictures from friends of the band...

[David Houck]

Nice gig; and nice T-shirt!

[mario_farufyno]

So good to see a live gig again, I was starting to think it was gone... Well, in Brazil we still keep waiting things get back to normal, but this lifted me up. Thanks, Greg.

[edwardofhuncote]

We thought for sure our return was going to be a rainout, but the stormfront rolled through and after an hour delayed start, New River Bound finally got to play music again. We think it's been at least two years since the last time, and of course there were mistakes and miscues, but even with no rehearsal at all, that magical chemistry was definitely there, and came through. We played late into the night, and afterward we were invited (booked) to play the Fincastle Festival at Summer's end, 9/18/21.

Fincastle, Virginia is the county seat of Botetourt County, and is a fairly old town for the continental United States. Its founding dates to the 1770's. I went to High School and Technical School here back in the 1980's. A lot of the historic architecture is still standing and in use today.

https://www.visitroanokeva.com/blog/post/local-history-fincastle-botetourt-county-virginia/

[David Houck]

Being able to back your car right up to the rear of the stage for a quick get-away is always a plus.