Journal, News, Guests by Jim Fitting
Clearing out the basement
I was just looking at some old photos. Mostly because the mold in my ex-wife's basement was catching up with some albums I had. I used to take a lot of pictures back when and I am glad I did. There's been a lot of gigs over the years. Look at this picture of the marquee at the Keystone Berkeley from about 25 years ago....
But there ain't no way I could capture or describe the way it felt a the the Lizard last Tuesday. No friggin' way. A sold out show and that much fun is a beautiful thing. Thanks boys...
And the Lounge ain't no slouch either: it's the end of the night, the bar is closed. The Everyday Visuals are banging out the harmonies over the piano like Pet Sounds. Billy Ruane is working the stairs like a vaudeville routine as he says "goodnight". And we are looking at one of the microphones we have borrowed. Each one comes in it's own suitcase; with a fresh pop filter to protect it in case it should fall off the table in the middle of a song like Born Again...Luckily Matt Malikowski's abilities as a sound engineer are exceeded only by his kindness.
It was a night where we felt right at home. We preached and prodded and the audience said amen. Sean worked the songs about prison, Miss Tess sang Folsum Prison Blues, and Jesus Gonna Be Here Soon. Kimon testified about Manic Monday and the front row said amen brother. During Dinty's piano solo on tumbling water never runs up exile st, Billy offered the throne to Sean, and he ascended with grace and charm. Workin' the kick and snare royally, but of course never presuming to tang the hump, no sir. We was in the catbird seat. I tell ya I think I'm gonna miss that basement barroom this summer...
Tuesday night the week before was the same, except that it felt like there was more of a crowd (of loud people). Well there were a lot of musicians there... Rose and Sharon Lewis rolled out the La La La's and a beautiful English breakfast tune. Champagne took us to Sin City and back to Mendocino County ( or vice versa). We found jPo downtown in LA at the Pioneer Chicken stand. Then I revealed a lifelong abbhorence to the key of C#. So we played Love Train ( which was in C). Amy Fairchild and Kimon dueted on a Louvin Brothers tune. And when Andrea Gillis sang Keep Your Hand On the Plow; it was amen brother all over again.
The point is, it doesn't matter about the size of the marquee or if they spell your name right (though that helps). There is something very elusive (cash?), well yeah, but the being a part of a band like this and getting audiences like we had on some of those Tuesdays. That's it.
But there ain't no way I could capture or describe the way it felt a the the Lizard last Tuesday. No friggin' way. A sold out show and that much fun is a beautiful thing. Thanks boys...
And the Lounge ain't no slouch either: it's the end of the night, the bar is closed. The Everyday Visuals are banging out the harmonies over the piano like Pet Sounds. Billy Ruane is working the stairs like a vaudeville routine as he says "goodnight". And we are looking at one of the microphones we have borrowed. Each one comes in it's own suitcase; with a fresh pop filter to protect it in case it should fall off the table in the middle of a song like Born Again...Luckily Matt Malikowski's abilities as a sound engineer are exceeded only by his kindness.
It was a night where we felt right at home. We preached and prodded and the audience said amen. Sean worked the songs about prison, Miss Tess sang Folsum Prison Blues, and Jesus Gonna Be Here Soon. Kimon testified about Manic Monday and the front row said amen brother. During Dinty's piano solo on tumbling water never runs up exile st, Billy offered the throne to Sean, and he ascended with grace and charm. Workin' the kick and snare royally, but of course never presuming to tang the hump, no sir. We was in the catbird seat. I tell ya I think I'm gonna miss that basement barroom this summer...
Tuesday night the week before was the same, except that it felt like there was more of a crowd (of loud people). Well there were a lot of musicians there... Rose and Sharon Lewis rolled out the La La La's and a beautiful English breakfast tune. Champagne took us to Sin City and back to Mendocino County ( or vice versa). We found jPo downtown in LA at the Pioneer Chicken stand. Then I revealed a lifelong abbhorence to the key of C#. So we played Love Train ( which was in C). Amy Fairchild and Kimon dueted on a Louvin Brothers tune. And when Andrea Gillis sang Keep Your Hand On the Plow; it was amen brother all over again.
The point is, it doesn't matter about the size of the marquee or if they spell your name right (though that helps). There is something very elusive (cash?), well yeah, but the being a part of a band like this and getting audiences like we had on some of those Tuesdays. That's it.
