This past Saturday me and the ANB took part in a happy occasion. We played for Carl and Shannon's wedding at the Arroyo Trabucco Golf Club. It's a rustic looking venue with a lot of charm and old west appeal. I liked it. I guess the bride and groom did too.
It was such a beautiful day here in the suburbs of Southern California. The clear skies, cool temperatures, snow-capped mountains made for a perfect day to take my trusty Astro van out for a picnic before we start working. Bob van Astro was quite hungry today because it'd been a week since his last feeding. At $3.069 per gallon this was a $59 picnic.
I had left a few minutes later than I had planned but still left a little wiggle room in the schedule. It's a good thing because the traffic was a little stickier than I had hoped. But I made it to the venue just a couple of minutes after call time.
The Arroyo Trabucco Golf Club is in South Orange County in Mission Viejo, a nice part of town.
I drove past the clubhouse and the golf shop looking for the event venue.
This must be it.
And here's your sign. This is definitely it.
In the foyer was the guest book. Carl and Shannon have known the band a few years and have become good friends and fans. I guess that's why they hired us.
I enter the ballroom to find Jason and John engaged in the setup tango. I'm going to wait a bit before I cut in.
I take in the room. It has kind of a mountain lodge vibe with the high ceiling, rafters, dark wood, etc.
After I set up my gear we notice that Arnie has still not arrived. He's bringing the PA. It turns out that he forgot the sub and had to turn around. He was almost 45 minutes behind call time so we all rushed out to unload his truck and get the PA set up.
The wedding concierge consults with Arnie to make sure he knows the order of events.
The rest of us continue the setup dance, running cables, plugging in, turning on.
After a rushed sound check we have some time to kill. The grounds look nice. In a few weeks, after the hot weather gets here, the hills will all be brown again.
Carl and Shannon take their vows out on the lawn. It was a lovely ceremony.
Arnie set up an extra rig on the right side of the drum kit for Carl to use. He's going to sit in and sing a couple of songs for his new bride. That's Carl's "road worn" MIM Tele.
Here's a shot of the complete stage area. The guests are out on the patio for cocktails and hors d'oeuvres before supper.
Oh hey! I think I forgot the chick singer.
The band wanders out to the patio to have an adult beverage before we get started.
Here's a glam shot before the guests enter the ballroom. We are getting dangerously close to having some fun now.
Amanda and Arnie go over the itinerary and set list. Jason ponders the meaning of photobombing.
The tables were beautifully set. Everyone, including the band, was able to have supper before the party got started.
It's a festive room. The guests have taken their seats and are waiting for the wedding party to make their entrance.
Arnie, with his script, plays emcee and introduces the wedding party as they make their entrances. John is the D.J. playing a different fanfare for each couple.
Last to enter are the bride and groom, to a standing ovation.
Then we have supper, toasts, speeches, laughs, tears, and good wishes. This meal was top notch.
When it's time to cut the cake there will be plenty to go around.
Then it's time for the garter toss, the bouquet toss, father/daughter dance, etc, all of the traditional practices that make weddings fun.
We get the thumbs up and it's show time! Carl loves his old school country so we made sure to play plenty of that along with some other dance tunes.
The ladies just finished an electric slide.
We took only one short 5 minute break in the middle of our two hour dance set. We had played a quiet dinner set earlier.
The guests were having a great time celebrating this happy occasion. Carl sat in and played guitar. His friend Aaron sat in and sang a couple. A good time was had by all.
Jason on drums and cymbals. He kept it pretty well under control tonight.
John had his hands full most of the evening, playing keyboards and running sound and being the D.J. Here you see him with one hand on the keyboard and the other on the mixer.
It was a really fun party and before you knew it, it was time to pack up. Even the dance floor left.
Carl and Shannon are planning to come see us at one of our regular spots, Stillwater Spirits and Sounds, this coming Wednesday night since they live close. Carl sure knows how to honeymoon, right? Then the band has a couple more private parties on the weekend. Thanks for looking in on my little gigs.
Thank you for your indulgence,
BassCliff
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