Lethbridge
We left Van Sunday afternoon after a trip to the record store (my radio show is gonna kick ass the week after we get back). The route took us into the mountains, this time on a set of smaller, winding highways. At one point it seemed like we were never going to stop ascending, or run out of hairpin turns. We knew we couldn't make it all the way to the next town that night, so we slept in the van on the side of the road. Not pleasant, but I've accepted that this is going to happen some nights.
We got into town late in the afternoon and met the promoter (J) at his place. We were instantly fed (yet another awesome host). This show was a late add-on, and had been fraught with booking problems. J explained to us the long history of venue issues in L'bridge. I give him full credit for fighting the good fight, but I can see he's in a tough spot trying to cultivate a music scene here. We had a lot of good dialogue about this.
Mondays aren't great nights for shows anywhere outside RF$$-world. We had the option of either playing a house show on the fly, or getting on a bill opening for two metal bands at a bar. J suggested that although we wouldn't get the door, the bar might be a better option for selling merch. He must have called 30 of his friends to try and get them to go see us. If this show wasn't gonna fly, it wasn't for lack of his effort.
This was a tough call. I leaned toward playing the bar just because we'd have a good sound system (no way to have vox at the house) and wouldn't have to worry about noise complaints. We all got behind this idea, and I have no regrets. On the other hand, hindsight is 20/20.
So we show up at the bar. It is in a giant, open garage in the middle of an industrial park *ahme*Mokena*ahem*. We drove into a fenced-in area in the back where the other bands were barbecuing before the show. This was definitely metal territory, and that always puts me a little on edge. Metalheads are usually really picky, and BB is not for someone who a) is a perfectionist or b) does not want to be challenged. We chose our most conservative sounding tunes to play.
A few of J's friends did show up, but we played to a largely empty warehouse. It felt so much like that show last year, it was not even funny. Only this time there was a smoke machine - which caused some breathing problems in the band. We got off on the wrong foot and never really recovered. I was super-uptight about making mistakes (damn sloppy punk rock), so when they inevitably happened I got twice as bummed. We sold one CD and made nothing at the door. We probably just should have done an instrumental set at the house.
I was thinking I'd like to stay and watch the next band. They had an ENORMOUS drum kit (sorry, didn't get a picture... you'd have to see this to believe it though). They took so long to get ready, we just said fuck it and went back to J's place.
It was cool just to hang out, our host has been really awesome to us. I think he understands the situation. We'll have to remember not to be so quick to opt for the nice sound system over the intimate, friends-only show. It's like selling your soul to the devil.
Tomorrow: the Baron returns to his former Western home.
We got into town late in the afternoon and met the promoter (J) at his place. We were instantly fed (yet another awesome host). This show was a late add-on, and had been fraught with booking problems. J explained to us the long history of venue issues in L'bridge. I give him full credit for fighting the good fight, but I can see he's in a tough spot trying to cultivate a music scene here. We had a lot of good dialogue about this.
Mondays aren't great nights for shows anywhere outside RF$$-world. We had the option of either playing a house show on the fly, or getting on a bill opening for two metal bands at a bar. J suggested that although we wouldn't get the door, the bar might be a better option for selling merch. He must have called 30 of his friends to try and get them to go see us. If this show wasn't gonna fly, it wasn't for lack of his effort.
This was a tough call. I leaned toward playing the bar just because we'd have a good sound system (no way to have vox at the house) and wouldn't have to worry about noise complaints. We all got behind this idea, and I have no regrets. On the other hand, hindsight is 20/20.
So we show up at the bar. It is in a giant, open garage in the middle of an industrial park *ahme*Mokena*ahem*. We drove into a fenced-in area in the back where the other bands were barbecuing before the show. This was definitely metal territory, and that always puts me a little on edge. Metalheads are usually really picky, and BB is not for someone who a) is a perfectionist or b) does not want to be challenged. We chose our most conservative sounding tunes to play.
A few of J's friends did show up, but we played to a largely empty warehouse. It felt so much like that show last year, it was not even funny. Only this time there was a smoke machine - which caused some breathing problems in the band. We got off on the wrong foot and never really recovered. I was super-uptight about making mistakes (damn sloppy punk rock), so when they inevitably happened I got twice as bummed. We sold one CD and made nothing at the door. We probably just should have done an instrumental set at the house.
I was thinking I'd like to stay and watch the next band. They had an ENORMOUS drum kit (sorry, didn't get a picture... you'd have to see this to believe it though). They took so long to get ready, we just said fuck it and went back to J's place.
It was cool just to hang out, our host has been really awesome to us. I think he understands the situation. We'll have to remember not to be so quick to opt for the nice sound system over the intimate, friends-only show. It's like selling your soul to the devil.
Tomorrow: the Baron returns to his former Western home.
posted by the baron ash von foolishness at 2:53 AM
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