August 4th, Regina, SK
Last night was eventful, so this is gonna be a longy.
Anyone who has ever lived in Regina knows of the Plains Hotel. I’ve said to many a cat "I once slept in the parking lot of the Plains hotel" and received a shocked reaction. To tell these same Reginonian’s that we were to play at Charlie’s Blues Bar in the Plain’s Hotel, receives the same lack of envy.
The Plains in Regina.
My van’s alarm system was set off no less than 4 times during the dinner hour. I ran down 3 flites of stairs, on four occasions to find no culprit.
Carl was first to communicate with Rick, our soundguy. He said "I need to see a list of your songs."
"Well, you won’t recognize any of the songs, we’re an original band" explains Carl.
"-uck, we don’t do originals at the Plains! The is a g-damn cover bar. I’m gonna kill the guy who booked this! -uck!"
Joe and I were loading in, talking with some drunken old men smoking by the door. "You guys are too nice to be from Ontario", explaining further that Ontario is evil.
Soundcheck was just plain abusive. The drunken dinner crowd jeered and heckled.
After soundcheck, I headed outside to the smoking patio.
As I walked out, a gigantic man with long black hair stopped me and said "you guys are pretty good, but my buddies hate you." His buddies gave me the "we’re going to kick your ass" look. Yikes!
Out on the patio, a woman looked right at me, then to her friends and said "That was the worst band I’ve ever seen. Tonight is going to suck! Oh sorry, I didn’t see you there."
"Um, that’s alright." I faked my worst smile.
A huge biker then went on to explain to me that we definitely were the worst band he had ever seen. "Basically, I know music, and you guys aren’t making music. No offence buddy."
"None taken." My hands were shaking through nerves and anger. The biker was just praying that I’d talk back to him.
We set-up the stage strategically like we were ready for war. I stood well out front, in range of first assault. Jojo stood just behind me, to defend stage left. Mim’s expensive keys were placed beside a post and wall. Carl had the backstage entrance covered.
We discussed packing up and cancelling the gig. I definitely didn’t want my guitar to become a Juicy Fruit commercial. Some idiot kept screaming at us "Toronto sucks!" as we sat hiding in the corner.
Sometime during the first few songs, another well-tattooed and weather-torn biker held his bottle up, and motioned as if he was throwing it in my direction. He fake-tossed with his right hand, leaving the bottle in his left. I must admit, I totally flinched.
The worst was over. The crowd started to warm up to us within four songs.
Yesterday I wrote of Sheena who was supposed to go to a cottage. We were mighty she showed up with a two tables of open-minded music fans. All of a sudden, we had section of crowd that didn’t want us to fail. They laughed, they danced, and they cheered. The rest of the bar couldn’t help but start to smile.
Even the "Toronto sucks" man shook our hands after the first set. Those other haters left or were kicked out by the humongous bouncing staff. (thanks Mike)
We were very careful to be most diplomatic throughout our three sets. A lot of rough looking people came in, let us know we sucked, and left. Sheena and her crew danced and danced.
We avoided certain songs throughout the evening. We didn’t play our song called "Hell’s Angel". We refrained from the hip-hop songs until the crowd had warmed up a little.
During our third set, an older man came in with his drunken entourage. He was wearing a well-worn tasseled leather coat and acid wash jeans. He sat down right in front of the stage, looking very judgemental and drunk.
Carl addressed the crowd just as he arrived. "I think we’re gonna do another hip-hop song. Who wants to hear some hiphop?" We received an equal response of jeer’s and cheer’s.
We played our song called "Maybe Yo’ Momma" At the end I said "That’s the Thelonius M.I.M." on the keyboard solo.
Our tassled friend screams out "Don’t blame her buddy!" He was on the hating tip.
Luckily, we followed with our tune "Hold You Dear". Tassleman LOVED it! He was sold. After the show, he molested me, kissing me on the neck during a drunken and admittedly scary hug attack.
Rick, the soundguy was happy. The barstaff were super nice. Possibly our hardest gig, but well worth the final outcome.
Tonight, we get to do it all again!