Could be a big night

[Joe Muscara]

Tonight my band is playing a blues jam at Dan Electro's Guitar Bar. If it goes well, I'm hoping that maybe it will lead to some gigs. But, I've gotten a bit nervous about it. A friend of mine told me some stuff that has me concerned that the guy running it might give us a hard time. I'm also nervous about my solos, if I take any. I'm usually better about this kind of thing, but starting with my friend's email, my head is swirling. Oh well, wish me luck! I'm trying to remind myself just to have fun and anything else is a bonus...

[timwat]

Best to you, Joe!

 

I'm sure your audience will get off on seeing and hearing you have a great time playing. Enjoy yourself, let us know how the gig goes.

 

Tim

[Karl Sutton]

having fun has been my #1 focus at gigs lately - if that's in place everything else seems to be too - good luck!

[BluesKeys]

Jams can be a political mess. Don't let the attitudes of the regulars distract you. Go up thereand BLOW THEM AWAY....

 

best to you Joe

[wmp]

Jams can lead to gig, but sometime they don't. If the guy running it is a tool, rubs you the wrong way, or makes you uncomfortable, don't engage. If you don't feel comfortable playing by his rules, don't play. Have a beer and just take in the scenery.

 

I'm doing house band on one of these things tonight. The guy running it thinks he's Bill Graham and he can't play to save his ass. He pisses off a lot of people. I just ignore him or laugh at him. I'm pretty sure tonight won't be my big break.

[delirium]

If it goes well, I'm hoping that maybe it will lead to some gigs. But, I've gotten a bit nervous about it. A friend of mine told me some stuff that has me concerned that the guy running it might give us a hard time. I'm also nervous about my solos, if I take any.

 

this is similar to job interview, everybody got anxious and nervous. That's why I say to my self I care but not that much,

and one drink before to relax won't hurt...

good luck.

[David Loving]

Just relax and do not let any negatives get in the way. Ignore the MC and the gossip, etc. Stay in the moment and disregard any urge to think about the future. Try to stay in the tune, in the pocket. That will free you to stretch out and play the way you know you can. Best of luck with the event!

[Chris Link]

Hope this isn't too late, but if you take any piano or organ solos, keep it simple. Oscar Peterson pyrotechnics are great (my favorite player), but as I've said before, Count Basie in his trio/small group sessions, played the best "rests" in the business.

 

Oftentimes, less is more. A decidedly unflashy but thoughtful piano solo or really tasty organ fill will go a longer way to showing your chops and musicianship than an overblown, dissonant piano blues that doesn't fit the groove of the tune or a bunch of palm smears on the organ.

 

 

[wmp]

Hey Joe, how'd it go?

 

Here's my very first Dave Horne style gig job report. Though probably not a typical Dave Horne gig job.

 

I was right. Last night wasn't my big break. But I made my food and gas for the week plus dinner and few pints. A rare three pint night with a shot of scotch I didn't order. I had all kinds of my favorite fun.

 

First I had dinner with my bass player buddy I only get to see a few times a year. Our first real hang. The guy running the jam was his typical self, holding court as if it were a real gig. Got a good laugh out of him really pissing off one of my very favorite drummers just before the set. I wanted this guy relaxed and happy, so I got between 'em with a big smile. Told the drummer "Dude! Please calm down or I'll have to smack him." Turned to the boss with the same big grin and told him. "Dude! Please don't upset the rhythm section or I won't let you play first set."

 

Played a very enjoyable opening set to a packed house with three great players and the boss. I only took the Hammond because it was a cheap gig, I was feeling lazy, and I figured it might scare away the bozos. Piano beginners are often scared off by a Hammond.

 

No such luck. Three unabashed keyboard jammers and two of them sucked. The first kid made himself comfortable at my rig before he asked. I mentioned to him that this was a breach of protocol, but I let it slide. I told the boss that all keyboard players must talk to me first.

 

The next guy was a friend of the boss. Never got to find out how much he sucked. Big guy, a little drunk, already sitting at my rig when the boss called me over to say hello. I grabbed his drink off my Hammond, pounded it down and said, "You're all done. Get the **** out now." He did so in a hurry and he was profusely apologetic. So was the boss. He never saw any of my real cantankerous side before. He begged me to let the guy play. I got to laugh at him and ignore him at the same time. That was all good fun.

 

The third jammer was a blonde cutie who should have been arrested for loitering. Nothing but major triads in the root position. The funniest part of this is that she got a gig out of the deal. She did look pretty hot pretending to play.

 

It was a lovely warm evening, so there was a lot of pretty hardware lined up outside. I like that more than gear porn. Got to ride a Sportster and an ElectraGlide.

 

Lots of jammers. Typical mix of terrible, so so, and some of the best around. When it hurt to play or listen, I went for a ride. When it sounded like fun, I played and had fun. Got to play with a few more of my favorite folks I don't see often who were not on the house band. Lots of good players there who didn't play. They just came to enjoy the carnage.

 

Yeah it was a cheap gig. But when you consider the good food, good drink, good music, good friends, and entertainment of all kinds, it was easily worth as much as a real gig and a trip to the zoo. I'll probably even score a real gig or two out of the deal too. I had 'em all fooled. If sunshine up the pipe were worth anything, I'd be rich. Actually, I am. Because good guys who are good players enjoy playing with me.

 

I only play this jam two or or three times a year. I bust his chops because he deserves it. Big leagueing folks at this level of the game is sort of pathetic. I found out over dinner that under all that attitude and political mess, he really is a solid guy. After the bass player's stroke, he threw a couple of benefits and paid the mortgage for a few months. How can you hate a guy like that?

 

Joe, I hope you had a blast last night yourself. How was the guy running the jam?

 

[Joe Muscara]

You guys rock. I really appreciate all the support.

 

We got home at 2, and they started tearing down what was a perfectly good house across the street at 7:30 in the friggin' morning. So I'm too tired for a full report, hopefully later.

 

But, the guy running the jam was totally cool. I think it was my friend that was "off" instead! I think our set went okay, but it flew by before I even knew it. I'll have to check the videotape later and see how it went from the outside. I do know that the band really dug it (we've seen some of our favorite bands play here, so it was cool to play on that stage) and hopefully we can do it again with some regularity, at least until we start playing real gigs.

 

Thanks again, all!

[kanker.]

Sweet! Glad it went well man

[Cliffk]

Good to hear it, Joe!

[David Loving]

Nice going!

[otherstar]

I'm play guitar in Joe's band and I think things went very well last night. We had a blast, we played pretty well, and the audience seemed to have a good time. Thanks all, especially Joe for your hard work for the band!

[timwat]

Very cool, Joe (and his guitar player!). It's a great feeling after having fun at a gig, glad to hear you guys did good.

[Joe Muscara]

I play guitar in Joe's band

ROTFLOL

 

[and he should be able to figure out why]

[MusicWorkz]

Light up those keys Joe

[Joe Muscara]

Hey guys,

 

Thanks again for all your support. I did see most of the posts before I left, and they really helped.

 

The guitar player and I talked to the guy that runs the jam beforehand, and he was totally cool. We were quite relieved.

 

I've been to open mics where they are really concerned about time between acts, but at Dan's, it was very cool. We obviously didn't drag it out, but there was no pressure. There was a good crowd at the beginning of the overall jam, but by the time we played, they all went... somewhere else. The guy that danced like "The Jerk" was there though, and you can see a bit of him in the YouTube clips. I was worried for a second that he was going to crack Rebecca up.

 

The set flew by for me, and I didn't take any solos. I wish I had, but sometimes, it just ain't working.

 

We all enjoyed it, and we are hoping to do it again some more.

 

Here's a funny aside. Both Rebecca (the singer) and Lori had new boots. In fact, Rebecca bought hers that day, and was concerned about climbing on to the stage. I hadn't gotten a good look at them until we were up there playing. At one point, I looked over at her and thought, "look at the size of those heels! How does she stand in those things??"

 

If you go to the link "My band on YouTube" in my sig, you can see the three songs we did. The first one is the one that comes up on that page, and the other two are Misery and Memphis in the top row below it.

[otherstar]

I play guitar in Joe's band

ROTFLOL

 

[and he should be able to figure out why]

 

Maybe, but I'm tired...

[Legatoboy]

Joe,

 

(this of course should have been said pre gig! )

 

Stretch a little, find yourself, whats the worse that can happen! That's my approach to every gig now even the tight ones, give yourself a few moments. It may even relieve the gig stress. Sorry I was late for the party as usual of late! too many gigs and work of all sorts in general!

 

Tony

 

[Bosendorphen]

Caught this thread a bit late, but glad it went well Joe!!!

[Joe Muscara]

Stretch a little, find yourself, whats the worse that can happen! That's my approach to every gig now even the tight ones, give yourself a few moments. It may even relieve the gig stress.

Yeah, I'm usually a bit better about that. In fact, it's been pleasantly surprising lately that I've been a bit adventurous when I play. That's an awesome feeling.

 

Thursday I let myself get caught up in a few too many things like I've described, and that stifled me some. Doing these again should help overcome that. Heck, I'm hoping next time I'll just be ready to rawk.

[Joe Muscara]

There is something I forgot to mention in my "report" above. Instead of using my amp, I simply plugged the Electro into one of the DI boxes laying on the stage. This place provides the PA, the monitors hang from the ceiling (I guess to give us more floor space), and the sound is great for us and the audience. This is the third or fourth place in a row I've played where I didn't need an amp or monitor at all. That's something for another thread I want to ask.

 

But the house didn't ask nor give me stereo. Should I complain?

[ProfD]

Congrats on the gig Joe. Continue to free yourself and just play.

 

Regarding the PA system, if it is adequate and also minimizes your load in/out, don't complain about something as silly as stereo.

[Joe Muscara]

[stage whisper]I don't actually care about stereo live. I've gone to the kanker school of live audio in mono, and it works for me.[/stage whisper]