This was my Saturday night gig, a very nice "how do you do". It was a fund raiser to benefit the Pasadena Playhouse which is a pretty special place.
It started as a rather gloomy day in Lake Wobegon as I left for the gig.
It rained off and on all evening and didn't clear up until after the party got started. It was raining on the 210 freeway as I passed the Miller Brewing Company, a familiar site for commuters.
I must bet getting close now, I see my sign.
Yes, this is the place.
We had to arrive between 2 and 3pm even though our show didn't start until 9pm. It was a logistical nightmare. Besides all the construction going on in the area, there were four different musical acts and we actually played across the street from the Playhouse in an office building that was still under construction.
I unloaded my gear and drove back around the block to the underground parking.
This is the "ballroom". As you can see, bare concrete floors, open ceiling, bare insulation in the walls, etc.
But the sound and light company did it up right. Here's the lighting console.
This sound company was also using L'Acoustic gear.
We even had side fills consisting of one each of these subs and tops. It was very nice. And the 12" version of these monitors were pretty dang good, even better than the 8" versions from my gig the night before.
I was the first to arrive. My rig looks lonely.
This was what the backstage area looked like. I told you, this building is still under construction.
This was some of the sound gear right behind the curtain.
The view of the ballroom from my mic.
Mario was next to arrive and starts setting up.
This is Joe, our FOH guy, with his manly beard of sound.
This is James, our monitor guy, getting the lowdown from Kelly.
The other band, working with Elizabeth Lyons (out of Nashville), did their show before us. Their bass player, Eric, let me borrow his Fatboy.
Here is Kelly, Daniel, and Elizabeth Lyons as we get ready to sound check.
Elizabeth even got Jeff to smile for a photo.
Art has a perpetual smile.
Here's Kelly joining me for my "amp selfie" during sound check.
Mario looks so cool behind his blue sparkle kit.
James is at the monitor board. Brian and Jeff look on and get stuff working the way it should. This was an excellent sound crew.
This was our set list. We were playing dance music for all the patrons.
The decorators tried to hide the rough edges of the room. You can see the insulation in the incomplete walls.
Originally this party was supposed to be on the third floor, which was a little more complete. But it turned out to be more convenient to move it downstairs and just rough it a bit.
After our sound check we left the venue and went across the street to the basement of the Playhouse where our dressing rooms were located. This is one entrance to the office building where the party is being held.
We walked across the street and down the alley to the Playhouse basement.
We took a squeaky elevator ride downstairs and started down the hallways.
Then we turned and went down another hallway.
That was followed by another hallway. Or did we double back?
Daniel said, "This is turning into a scene from 'Spinal Tap'."
We finally found our dressing room. Kelly had her own private room.
It was a nice room. But we had it smelling like a locker room in no time.
Then we went down another hallway to the hospitality room, a large, handsome room.
Mario, Art, and Jeff enjoyed the sandwich, cheese, cracker, fruit, vegetable, and cookie platters.
We had a LOT of time to kill so we rehearsed some vocals and talked about the set list for our gig Monday night. Then I took a little walk to get some air and take more pictures. Here's another of the front of the Playhouse, opened in 1925.
This is more of the office building where we were playing. It takes up the whole corner of the block. The bottom floor will be restaurants and the others will be retail and office space.
Elizabeth Lyons and her guys did and acoustic set for the cocktail and hors d'oeuvres hour. Sorry for the lousy picture. It was taken through the glass with the reflection of the wall behind me.
This is the Playhouse itself. It seats 636 and is currently going through some renovation.
A view from the stage.
When I got back our handler had brought us some pizza and salad. Why not?
These are a few of the more famous people who have been in productions at the Pasadena Playhouse.
Lawrence Fishburne.
Hal Linden.
Megan Mullally.
Ray Charles.
I even got a tour of the orchestra pit. They usually fit about 13 musicians under the stage here.
Here we are, all dressed up before we head back across the street.
We have a small troupe of professional dancers working with us to help get the crowd enthused.
Unfortunately this was NOT my paycheck for this gig.
Now it's time to walk back over to the ballroom to put on our show.
Before we hit the stage we hit the restroom. You know it's a fancy affair when they decorate the lavatory with fake diamonds.
Another "amp selfie" just before we start our set.
It was a lively crowd.
Daniel tears it up with "Devil Went Down To Georgia".
These ladies were the life of the party and stayed until the bitter end, 11pm.
They loved the band so much they wanted a picture.
They also wanted a "girls only" picture, but didn't quite make it. Thanks, Mario.
After all that fun we just had to pack it up and head home. The stage and sound crew, Joe, Matt, Jeff, James, Brian, Terrence, were all real pros.
Then the following Monday night at Disneyland again so I'll have more pictures to share soon. Thanks for looking!
Thank you for your indulgence,
BassCliff
