Ed of H gigs; 2022

[edwardofhuncote]

And a whole New Year begins... 

Nuthin' to see yet, but the dates are starting to come in and get confirmed for Harwell-Grice Band, beginning in March. Looking forward to another year with my guys. In 30-plus years of playin', I can't remember being so content with a gig.

There's talk/email at least leaving open the possibility that New River Bound may try to reform and play some dates this year too. That'd be great if it happened... we played twice last Summer, and the chemistry was instantaneous.

Meanwhile, (between steroid injections and a lot of frustration) I am woodsheddin' pretty hard trying to be a better guitar player. Or maybe trying to figure out who I am with that instrument, is a better way to put it. I would try for a gig playing guitar, 'cause I know that's the fastest way for me to get better... unfortunately the only other picker in my circle who'd have been up for it... didn't make it to 2022. I'll just keep workin' at it. Neighbors probably wish I'd quit, or the juice would go off. 

Anyway, I  feel kinda' silly putting my weekend warrior nonsense up here, but well... that's about all I got. 2022, hold your ears, here I come.   

[jazzyvee]

Hey Greg, i too have some gigs coming in, though i had my first one of the year cancelled last weekend. On Wednesday i joined a jazz big band a have been in a few times in the past but had to leave due to touring and long commutes for work. Anyway it was a nightmare as i began to grasp how far my guitar chops have diminished since i have been concentrating on bass playing.  Anyway they are a good bunch and know i will get up to speed again. Then this afternoon i got a call from a band looking for a guitarist for a couple of gigs. The gig is not till the end of April so i have some time to regain my confidence.

[edwardofhuncote]

Well, here's an interesting one that just got confirmed... a return engagement to play for the Southwest Virginia Ballet. A few years ago, they ran a show called "Ties" (as in, railroad ties...) and we played some of the original soundtracks for it. During the first run of the show, we got to perform it with the show, live.

They've asked us back to run it again this year, at at Roanoke City's amphitheater in Elmwood Park. https://www.svballet.org/dance-company/ties/

Last time we played for them was 2016 at the Jefferson Center. That was a big night. Pretty big deal again. (I'll probably be on upright bass for this one...)

[edwardofhuncote]

Harwell-Grice Band is back; tomorrow night in Franklin Co. is our season-opener...


This is an annual affair we are invited to play each year, that (like a lot of other annual affairs) had been put on hiatus the past couple years. Hunting is a popular pastime in this part of Virginia, and each Spring they have a wild-game cook-off. And the job... well, lucky for us, the local music is welcomed by the hometown crowd, and indeed a good many of our regular fans and friends will be there. I hear dinner is included with the gig again this year. It'll be nice to see everyone again after the Winter, and really good to play some music with the guys. I will probably hit the Waffle House on the way home though... somebody else can have my dinner ticket.

[edwardofhuncote]

Woah... BIG turnout last night. We didn't play very long, just a half-hour before people were seated for dinner, and another set after. We had a great time reconnecting with each other musically, and our friends in Franklin County. (and beyond) HGB is off to a good start in 2022.

I played the old '67 Starfire for Set 1, and the Hyak Scroll-body fretless to finish out Set 2. This is my old Mesa WalkAbout Scout 15, and the pedalboard with an outboard lowpass filter I use sometimes for non-Alembic basses. For a 'set it and forget it' effect, it works pretty well, especially with these two.

They had about everything you could imagine there, and a few things you wouldn't have thought of. All jokes aside, these folks know how to fix things up after a hunt. Waffle House, by contrast, is still only doin' carry out... made my Hash Browns 'smothered and peppered'.

Next week, we're at, Hammer & Forge Brewing Co. in Boones Mill, Virginia but I picked up a side gig tonight with some other folks!


*couple pics of us onstage came from somewhere...

[rv_bass]

Looks like a good start to the year! 

[hammer]

I have to admit that in thirty years of gigging I’ve shared the stage with drunks, women who want to dance with the band and audience members who are musicians and ask to sit in. However, I’ve never shared it with critters. Looks like while it made for a tight set up at least you knew what to expect from those with whom you shared the stage.

[edwardofhuncote]

We're at Hammer & Forge Brewing Co. in Boones Mill, Virginia tomorrow night. If you're coming, slow down to 45 mph (about 72 kph for my buds o'er the sea) 'cause Boones Mill is famous for  just two things... Moonshine and being a Speedtrap. FWIW, I run the Town's Water Treatment Plant, but I don't wear the badge off the job.

I've loaded up the Persuader 5-string and Ol' 621 with my F-1X and Crown XLS rack-rig, and the neighbor's kid helped me heft that Mesa Diesel 15 into the car ... I'm going to see how much that plate-glass front window at H&F can take.

Pictures Saturday. Maybe video. It's always so loud in there, usually anything I get is just a dinful racket... we'll see how it goes.

[edwardofhuncote]

Had a good time with the boys Friday night... decent crowd turnout too, for our return to the tiny stage at Hammer & Forge. (really tight in this corner, especially for five of us after all our stuff is in place) Played the Persuader 5-string for Set 1, and Dave's old Series I for Set 2. Happy to say the big heavy gig-rig here is back in the sketchy-looking Band Truck for another year. I was tired but happy at load-out.

Oh yeah, for the second set, everybody brought out their new tunes for a trial run. I had a J.J. Cale/J.C. Mayer-inspired "Call Me The Breeze", Gabe brought one he got from an older Alison Krauss & Union Station album, "The Road Is A Lover", and Josh had a winner with one called "Lay Me To Rest", from guitarist Kenny Smith. A couple more times through and these will be ready for primetime.

We're off for a couple weeks, but I am subbing next week in a Stanley Bros. tribute band, on upright bass of course. (I'm subbing for my Dad... cotton-candy-ass is whining about his shoulder hurts or something...)

[bigredbass]

A gig and Awful House afterwards.

That's what I Like About the South.

[edwardofhuncote]

I'm loading up for the first rehearsal for the Southwest Virginia Ballet production of "Ties". Really hoping that it goes better than Jazzy's rehearsal did yesterday!

#buildingisonfire #runforyourlife #evacuatewithbassguitar.

(more concerned about practice running past my bedtime!)

[edwardofhuncote]

Had another rehearsal with the Southwest Virginia Ballet yesterday, and the first full length runthrough of the entire program. This was especially helpful for us, to get the visual cues for the portions where the score will be performed live. Extremely important to hit those marks on time. And a gear update; they don't care what I use, so I have opted to play my Custom fretless 5-string for the show, which happens to open right around its 5th birthday. https://www.svballet.org/dance-company/ties/

*since no one will see me, here's the sides of C14588 no one ever sees but me!

In local news- Harwell-Grice Band is at home at the Farmer's Market stage in Rocky Mount for the annual Strawberry Festival next Friday. Ice cream, berries, shortcake, music, and the work-weeks' end. Then Saturday night we're up the street at Buddy's Barbecue. https://buddysbbqva.com

*Not to be confused with the BBQ joint of the same name in Tennessee. Nope, this is a North Carolina style, but to make it a little more attractive to the local folks, the sauce is moonshine-infused. I ain't kiddin'... read the menu!

Seriously, Buddy's is a fun gig, and so is the Strawberry Festival. It's great to play at home. Really, great to play anywhere.

[edwardofhuncote]

Bad news. It sounds like the Franklin County Strawberry Festival is a bust for this evening... there's a line of severe weather headed our way and bound to hit just about the time everyone would be getting staged. In the past, we've moved the show indoors, but this time they decided to bump it up to next Friday... annnd... half of us are committed elsewhere next Friday. Well, shucky-ducky. 

Honestly, I could probably use another night off. My rockstar medical team put another round of magic sauce into my spine yesterday afternoon. Hands still feel puffy and hot. I could play, but would rather not. 

[hammer]

Sorry to hear about the cancellation.  Hard to believe that there are parts of the country that are having strawberry festivals when here in Minnesota none of the trees have leaves yet and other than grass - everything is still shades of brown.
 

[edwardofhuncote]

Last night was about as sad and sloppy of a gig as I have played in a while. But you know... it was still good to play!

I didn't bother trying to take any pictures or capture any of the fun, just... environmentally, (you have to picture this) we're staged on a covered wooden patio, wrapped around in tarps and plastic to keep out the driving rain and wind. Every few minutes, somebody has to use a push broom to coax the water pooling up in the tarps over the side to prevent a collapse. I had rainy-day options for what bass to play. But I had just put a new set of TI Jazz Rounds on Ol' 621, my F-1X and Boogie Box were already onstage when I got there, and Josh was makin' deals with people to help keep us high-n-dry. So I stuck a big trash bag in my side pocket, and played my classic Alembic, loud and proud, both sets. Probably not the worst scenario that old bass has been in. By the time we got paid and loaded out, it had quit raining outside. 

Maybe better weather next week for the SWVa. Ballet. I sure hope so.