Well.....fourth time back at the Brewers and still as exciting as ever! The pub was packed tonight due to it being Gorilla and Denise's 30th Wedding Anniversary. Congratulations to you both and many thanks for requesting that we play for your event - it was an honour and a most enjoyable evening.
The evening started in a relaxed manner whilst we were setting up, but then two rather important monitor leads appeared to be missing! Instant stress, without the monitors working properly, we wouldn't be able to hear each other and the music could have been a disaster. Three different people searched through the equipment but they were nowhere to be seen. Dan and Andy worked hard to find a work around but it simply wasn't going to plan. In a last attempt, whilst waiting for Chaz, our stand in bass player, Andy sat discretely in the corner and got his soldering iron out to make and repair another lead. All turned out ok in the end and the speakers worked perfectly. Chaz arrived around 845 and proceeded to set up his guitar and amp.
It was extremely hot again tonight, and despite loads of people retiring to the garden, the floorspace in the pub was still quite full. We kicked off with our usual "Pretty Vacant" and for the second gig in a row now since the leaving of Jock, we kicked off without sound checking! Not a good idea but time was against us and after a few feedback issues in the beginning rapidly rectified by our dedicated sound man Dan twiddling with his knobs on the desk, we continued without any major problems. There was lots of interaction with the audience tonight, with emphasis on Gorilla and his wife and people were dancing from quite early on. A first for our first set! We think that due to Gorilla being a biker, most of his guests at the pub were biker related and appreciated our style of music. I don't think there was one of us in the band that didn't enjoy performing at this gig and it showed. During the break, people commented on the fact that we looked like we were having fun and have gone from strength to strength since our very first performance in the Brewers six months ago. Our set list was shortened slightly, and was a repeat of the Wheelwrights last week with a few numbers that Chaz was unfamiliar with being dropped out, but we still managed to fill our time and run over with additional banter between songs. "Parklife" went down really well tonight and after nobody volunteered to come up on stage and help us out, we requested Gorilla come up and do the honours himself. He obliged not really knowing what he had to sing but after a practice run in the intro, he had it weighed off and did a fantastic job! It was great and as he was the host of the party, everyone came into the pub to watch and take pictures and video of him participating. Gorilla himself seemed to enjoy it which was great to see. Whilst he filled in the simple "Parklife" bits, the rest of the pub joined in with the chorus and it sounded superb. It's a great song when everyone gets involved. He also came up and joined in with "You Really Got Me" unprompted and his guests were pleasantly entertained.
We finished off with our usual "Johnny B Goode" with "Wipeout" in the middle and there simply wasn't enough dance space for everyone. It went down rewally well and after announcing that it was our last song of the evening, they all went wild shouting for more! Gorilla himself approached Beanz and said "I don't think I heard you right!". When the Gorilla says you haven't finished, you haven't finished! We already planned in advance that our first public performance of "Freebird" was going to be the encore song as requested by Gorilla but decided to do "Born To Be Wild" first. By now everyone was in good spirits and it was nearing midnight. Harley had his work cut out for him learning "Freebird" as the origional is some nine minutes long and has three guitars playing in it. We all know that had been worried about doing it for ages and both Beanz and Andy gave him continued support and assured him that if he played it live like he plays it in practice, it will go down a storm whether close to the origional or not.
A big cheer came from the pub as the inital notes were played, and suddenly the dance floor was full of couples slow dancing and group hugs moving in time for the music. As a band, we always said we should have a slow "ballad" style song to perform to give people the chance to slow dance and by jove I think we found it! That is until the second verse is over anyway and then it explodes into a deadly instrumental of which Harley truly displayed his talents with his awesome four minute guitar solo. The pub chanting his name on the closing notes was great to hear and he deserved the recognition for his hard work and efforts. To play "Freebird" with one guitar and even using the slide, is a feat for any talented musician and despite playing next to a pool table full of food which we thought may have put him off he did it and did it well! How do you play slide guitar and wipe the dribble from your chin all at the same time?
Overall it was another successful gig and was enjoyed by both the band and the audience. We want to thank Gorilla for asking us to play, there are loads of bands out there and he chose us. For that we are truly appreciative. Tanya, thanks for keep having us back and the food was lovely. We weren't sure if we were allowed any or not but Harley couldn't resist any longer!
Donk and Dan, cheers as always for your efforts. They don't go unoticed!
Another special mention to Chaz, for doing yet another suberb job filling in on the bass for us, but this week, the Man Of The Match award has to go to Harley for his amazing efforts on getting "Freebird" performed. You simply got on and done it, despite being worried for the first time and have no ego for us to contend with. You simply are a star and I am proud to be associated with you.
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