Les Mizzell Posted January 20, 2014 Share Posted January 20, 2014 OK, so not the strangest location, but the strangest/scariest gig. This was a hard to find weird club/fishing camp on the Edisto River somewhere south of Branchville, S.C. We played there a lot, usually for the door, and the rednecks came out in droves so we usually made pretty good money. I almost never walked way with less that $150 or so in my pocket which for a 16 year old back in the early 70's, ain't a slack amount. The club was set up with a large hall for the band/dancing/whatever, a nice loading dock that was basically the stage once you opened the doors in the back of the hall, another big room full of pool tables, and a third room inbetween that contained the bar. So, one hot Saturday evening, a fight broke out in the pool room. We kept an eye on it, but kept playing. The fight showed no hope of slowing down or getting smaller, spread into the bar area, and then started spilling out into the main hall. Folks were breaking cue sticks over each others heads, beer bottles flying, bloodied injured folks falling off to the sides... It was getting pretty nasty, we started fearing for the gear (gear comes first!), so we opened the doors at the back of the stage and quickly slid our equipment back into our truck. The fight spilled out into the parking lot, the folks that were just observing from there got pulled into it, somebody produced a shotgun, took a shot at somebody else. More guns came out At that point, we decided it would be best just to forget the rest of the gig and drive off. We were heading out of the parking lot as the police were heading in. Found out the next morning that a couple of club patrons had been killed along with a sheriff's deputy, number of folks ended up in the hospital, some on the critical list, and the place was immediately shut down indefinitely. Heard (but can't confirm) that it burned to the ground about two weeks later. Never got paid for that night. Oh well.... Les Mizzell ---------------------------------------------- Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bill H. Posted January 20, 2014 Share Posted January 20, 2014 Mental institutions in the Seattle area for union scale (way back when). If you were members of Local 76 and could stand to do them, you could sign up for these things at Union HQ - which had some kind of handshake deal with the state to provide entertainment for the inmates. As a wide-eyed kid I was glad there were guards around, but our drummer (who I swear was insane himself) got a perverse kick out of playing them. He'd head to HQ and line more of them up without telling us, and then we'd bitch him out. Dan's comment about playing in a loft reminded me of the converted bank I used to play in Aberdeen WA. They didn't convert it much at all though - it looked like you were playing in a bank that served booze. The tables were in teller's booths, and our "stage" was the bank guard's observation platform above the front doors. Somehow we got an L-101 up there. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EscapeRocks Posted January 20, 2014 Share Posted January 20, 2014 The second was a bar and grill at a small local airport in Lincoln Park NJ. We played just next to the airstrip so while we were playing, private planes were taking off behind us and people were practicing take-offs and landings with helicopters. Villapiano's? Table 13, your pizza's ready! Please welcome the "oh need ers" David Gig Rig:Depends on the day Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Synthoid Posted January 20, 2014 Share Posted January 20, 2014 Sunset Pub and Grill [video:youtube] When an eel hits your eye like a big pizza pie, that's a Moray. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joe Muscara Posted January 20, 2014 Share Posted January 20, 2014 The second was a bar and grill at a small local airport in Lincoln Park NJ. We played just next to the airstrip so while we were playing, private planes were taking off behind us and people were practicing take-offs and landings with helicopters. Villapiano's? Table 13, your pizza's ready! Please welcome the "oh need ers" Presidential flash cards? "I'm so crazy, I don't know this is impossible! Hoo hoo!" - Daffy Duck "The good news is that once you start piano you never have to worry about getting laid again. More time to practice!" - MOI Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
I-missRichardTee Posted January 20, 2014 Share Posted January 20, 2014 Oy, never played any places like that. The most fun place was called The Underpass in Elmwood Park, NJ, sadly no longer there. It was called such because it was literally under Route 80. Divey, smoky, pool table with a bad lean, but a good built in crowd, and a grizzled soundman who would make *anyone* sound decent. My old band had a standing gig the last Saturday of every month playing from 10 until close. Being in an industrial zone, that was usually around 2-2:30AM. God, I miss that place. Was in a band that rehearsed in that area when it was still called East Patterson. Played the "Gold Star" and a bowling alley there, but never had the pleasure of playing the Underpass, though I prolly drove past it a thousand times. I had a brother in Lincoln Park. Remember them having some weird noise/decibel laws. Villapiano's may have stopped live music by midnight on Saturdays, so nothing loud on Sunday-dunno for sure, never played there. If memory serves ( OT a bit but in the spirit sort of ) Rascals singer Eddie Brigati had a home in Lincoln Park where we rehearsed. Just about under Rt 80, if you consider under the George Washington Bridge as part of the confluence of 80, 46, and God knows what other highways out of Jersey. I played a gig just about under the G Wash Bridge called Tom Swift's. The pianist who recently passed, knew Chick Corea, and to my good fortune, Chick came in to club and sat in on Drums.. he was amazingly musical.. a highlight of my life. I was on bass, and very happy that evening -) You don't have ideas, ideas have you We see the world, not as it is, but as we are. "One mans food is another mans poison". I defend your right to speak hate. Tolerance to a point, not agreement Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
I-missRichardTee Posted January 20, 2014 Share Posted January 20, 2014 The second was a bar and grill at a small local airport in Lincoln Park NJ. We played just next to the airstrip so while we were playing, private planes were taking off behind us and people were practicing take-offs and landings with helicopters. Villapiano's? So Joe, Happy New Year... So, you DID live around Jersey area, right? If so, did you know of a music store called Muscara's or something like that? You don't have ideas, ideas have you We see the world, not as it is, but as we are. "One mans food is another mans poison". I defend your right to speak hate. Tolerance to a point, not agreement Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SteveCoscia Posted January 20, 2014 Share Posted January 20, 2014 Most gigs had the usual amount of weirdness. The weirdest might have been Lupo's Heartbreak Hotel in Providence, RI. - this was early 80s. A female manikin hung from the ceiling. A rope was tied around the manikin's neck. Seemed weird to me. Steve Coscia Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joe Muscara Posted January 20, 2014 Share Posted January 20, 2014 So Joe, Happy New Year... So, you DID live around Jersey area, right? If so, did you know of a music store called Muscara's or something like that? New *Jersey*??? Uh, no. And Happy New Year to you. "I'm so crazy, I don't know this is impossible! Hoo hoo!" - Daffy Duck "The good news is that once you start piano you never have to worry about getting laid again. More time to practice!" - MOI Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
I-missRichardTee Posted January 20, 2014 Share Posted January 20, 2014 So Joe, Happy New Year... So, you DID live around Jersey area, right? If so, did you know of a music store called Muscara's or something like that? New *Jersey*??? Uh, no. And Happy New Year to you. Now wait a minute just hold on to your hat here! How do you know such hole in the wall places, unless you are some kind of a 007 spy or something like that... ok I get it.. never mind ! But then again, maybe you lived on the Island? You don't have ideas, ideas have you We see the world, not as it is, but as we are. "One mans food is another mans poison". I defend your right to speak hate. Tolerance to a point, not agreement Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Theo Verelst Posted January 20, 2014 Share Posted January 20, 2014 Probably a blues performance at a Mechanical Engineering university section party. That's not that weird though, isn't it.. T Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
area51recording Posted January 20, 2014 Share Posted January 20, 2014 The second was a bar and grill at a small local airport in Lincoln Park NJ. We played just next to the airstrip so while we were playing, private planes were taking off behind us and people were practicing take-offs and landings with helicopters. Villapiano's? So Joe, Happy New Year... So, you DID live around Jersey area, right? If so, did you know of a music store called Muscara's or something like that? I bought my first organ (Farfisa VIP 345) and Leslie from Gene Muscara..... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
I-missRichardTee Posted January 20, 2014 Share Posted January 20, 2014 Gene Muscara? See, I told you, might be Joe's Daddy or Uncle or somethin! lol You don't have ideas, ideas have you We see the world, not as it is, but as we are. "One mans food is another mans poison". I defend your right to speak hate. Tolerance to a point, not agreement Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ChiefDanG Posted January 20, 2014 Share Posted January 20, 2014 Gene Muscara? See, I told you, might be Joe's Daddy or Uncle or somethin! lol I spent a good deal of time in Muscara Music, in the 70s. Belleville, or maybe Lyndhurst. Our singer pretty much lived there and got great deals from John (I think) Muscara- older man who owned it. Maybe Gene was his son? Maybe I don't remember crap anymore. Professional musician = great source of poverty. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
area51recording Posted January 20, 2014 Share Posted January 20, 2014 It was Belleville. I might have the first name wrong, but I remember it as being Gene, and as far as I know he was the old man. This was around '73. There used to be another guy there we all called "Smilin' Bill"....that dude was ALWAYS grinnin' I'm not sure but I think he wound up taking the place over after Gene retired. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
area51recording Posted January 20, 2014 Share Posted January 20, 2014 ChiefDanG, do remember another big store that was on Rte 22, around Union, I think? Can't remember the name but they wound up with a bunch of my $$$ way back in the day.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ChiefDanG Posted January 20, 2014 Share Posted January 20, 2014 ChiefDanG, do remember another big store that was on Rte 22, around Union, I think? Can't remember the name but they wound up with a bunch of my $$$ way back in the day.... Rondo's ? Professional musician = great source of poverty. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hurricane hugo Posted January 20, 2014 Share Posted January 20, 2014 1. This is the best thread in internet history. 2. This is for all the guys that did mental hospital gigs: [video:youtube] http://blip.fm/invite/WorkRelease Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
J. Dan Posted January 20, 2014 Share Posted January 20, 2014 Thought about another one... a Lesbian bar. Not all that weird in and of itself, just a little different. But our drummer was a cop, and at the end of the night, we're all sitting at the bar waiting to get paid after they were closed. Some underage folks sitting there doing shots, and they passed around a joint. Now, our drummer's off duty and not going to do anything, but didn't want to freak them out either. So they're going around asking what each of us do for our day jobs. When it got to him he just kind of mumbled, oh just a sales job, it's boring. There were only a few guys there and they were not straight. The same cop/drummer got his ass grabbed in the bathroom while taking a leak. Never in my life got more requests for 4 Non Blondes. Dan Acoustic/Electric stringed instruments ranging from 4 to 230 strings, hammered, picked, fingered, slapped, and plucked. Analog and Digital Electronic instruments, reeds, and throat/mouth. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rusty Mike Posted January 20, 2014 Share Posted January 20, 2014 ChiefDanG, do remember another big store that was on Rte 22, around Union, I think? Can't remember the name but they wound up with a bunch of my $$$ way back in the day.... Rondo's ? Definitely Rondo. It's a kitchen supply place now. I remember the keyboard guy was named Bill. A rather large and arrogant fellow from what I recall. They were a Yamaha dealer, whereas the place I worked wasn't. . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
area51recording Posted January 20, 2014 Share Posted January 20, 2014 Yup. Rondo...bought my first 145 Leslie there....$425 brand spankin' new! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
I-missRichardTee Posted January 20, 2014 Share Posted January 20, 2014 Rondo rt 22 , no recall of purchases there. But I recall Silver and Horland where my Dad bought me a sax. Somewhere in the Bowery. Later it was Manny's.. and later Ponti's moved near Manny's on 48th St.. I met King Curtis there and Ronnie Cuber too. You don't have ideas, ideas have you We see the world, not as it is, but as we are. "One mans food is another mans poison". I defend your right to speak hate. Tolerance to a point, not agreement Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joe Muscara Posted January 20, 2014 Share Posted January 20, 2014 So Joe, Happy New Year... So, you DID live around Jersey area, right? If so, did you know of a music store called Muscara's or something like that? New *Jersey*??? Uh, no. And Happy New Year to you. Now wait a minute just hold on to your hat here! How do you know such hole in the wall places, unless you are some kind of a 007 spy or something like that... ok I get it.. never mind ! But then again, maybe you lived on the Island? I think you have mixed up your Joes. "I'm so crazy, I don't know this is impossible! Hoo hoo!" - Daffy Duck "The good news is that once you start piano you never have to worry about getting laid again. More time to practice!" - MOI Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Michael Wright Posted January 20, 2014 Share Posted January 20, 2014 Yup. Rondo...bought my first 145 Leslie there....$425 brand spankin' new! "I cried when I wrote this song Sue me if I play too long" Walter Becker Donald Fagan 1977 Deacon Blues Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
J. Dan Posted January 21, 2014 Share Posted January 21, 2014 I think you have mixed up your Joes. Easy to do. Texas and Jersey are very similar. Dan Acoustic/Electric stringed instruments ranging from 4 to 230 strings, hammered, picked, fingered, slapped, and plucked. Analog and Digital Electronic instruments, reeds, and throat/mouth. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
elsongs Posted January 21, 2014 Share Posted January 21, 2014 I once did a gig at the airport. Well, technically it was at a restaurant in the airport. For any of you who know or have flown into Los Angeles International Airport (LAX), it's this building, specifically: http://photos.nomadicnotes.com/img/s1/v47/p844936067-4.jpg Back in the late '90s, a friend of mine who's a concert promoter hired my band to play for his birthday party, which was there at the LAX Theme Building, in the Encounter Restaurant. Inside it was like any other lounge, albeit due to the circular nature of the architecture, we played off in one corner but weren't visible to the entire place. Still, it went pretty well and I actually thought it was a cool opportunity to play in such an iconic building. It was only weird knowing that we were in the middle of the airport and can see planes taking off and landing. Also, this was pre-9/11 so we had no problem bringing our gear to the airport. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
I-missRichardTee Posted January 21, 2014 Share Posted January 21, 2014 My friend had an upcoming gig at the top of the Trade Center ( Maybe called "windows of the world" ) restaurant. odd thing was it never happened because the date was Sept 11 2001! You don't have ideas, ideas have you We see the world, not as it is, but as we are. "One mans food is another mans poison". I defend your right to speak hate. Tolerance to a point, not agreement Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MorayM Posted January 21, 2014 Share Posted January 21, 2014 English country pub deep in the Cotswolds - looked like it hadn't changed since 1948 and was hosting "the UK's first inland shellfish festival" (the festival was inland, not the shellfish). It was a fairly amateurish affair, but a nice location and the food was excellent! (if you like crab). There with my old Floyd band, we were playing after a thrash metal band made of 11-year-olds. They blew us off the stage completely! I also nearly had an argument with the police on stage in the middle of the set, see the embarrassing stories thread for the full story. North Haverbrook - Godsticks - SoundCloud Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AlanV Posted January 21, 2014 Share Posted January 21, 2014 It was Belleville. I might have the first name wrong, but I remember it as being Gene, and as far as I know he was the old man. This was around '73. There used to be another guy there we all called "Smilin' Bill"....that dude was ALWAYS grinnin' I'm not sure but I think he wound up taking the place over after Gene retired. Oh God, I think my mom rented a Rhodes from them one time during a show with the Montclair Operetta Club. They needed it for the song "The Rhythm of Life" in Sweet Charity, I think. Nord Stage 2 SW73, Kurzweil PC3LE7, Moog Sub 37, Alesis Ion, Rhodes Stage 73, Moog Werkstatt-01, Yamaha CP-300 ------------- Knock knock Who's there? Interrupting synthesizer Interrup-MOOOOOOOOOG Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AlanV Posted January 21, 2014 Share Posted January 21, 2014 ChiefDanG, do remember another big store that was on Rte 22, around Union, I think? Can't remember the name but they wound up with a bunch of my $$$ way back in the day.... Rondo's ? Definitely Rondo. It's a kitchen supply place now. I remember the keyboard guy was named Bill. A rather large and arrogant fellow from what I recall. They were a Yamaha dealer, whereas the place I worked wasn't. Ahh, Rondo. When I frequented the place the guy who did keyboards was named Andrej (some Polish last name). Saw a write up on him in Keyboard Magazine. Remember going there once and they were trying to unload a really nice condition Roland RD-1000. That thing was a beast. Almost pulled the trigger on it, too. Nord Stage 2 SW73, Kurzweil PC3LE7, Moog Sub 37, Alesis Ion, Rhodes Stage 73, Moog Werkstatt-01, Yamaha CP-300 ------------- Knock knock Who's there? Interrupting synthesizer Interrup-MOOOOOOOOOG Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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