This past Saturday (9/26/15) the KRB played the largest single day charity car show in the country. Cruisin' For A Cure boasts over 3500 cars on display and over 200 vendors and exhibitors. They loved us and we've already been invited back for next year. Here's the flyer.
We had to load in super early, a 7:30 AM call time. I always plan to be there at least a half hour early and this is the bank time when I left my house.
Yes, I left my house about 6am on a Saturday morning, practically unheard of!
I arrived at our assigned gate at the fairgrounds and was able to drive right up to the stage. To do this I actually had to drive on the parade route. More on that later. Here's the stage.
Under the tarps were tables of plaques and trophies that would be given out later that day.
Kelly's husband, Jack, was running sound, had the PA pretty much in place, and was finishing up all the connections.
The theme of the day was, "Hey! This band sounds like Jack!".
I set up my rig and took pictures of the cars surrounding the stage. The area directly behind the stage is always rented by the same restoration shop. They do good work.
I guess I should've been paying more attention to where I was placing my cables. I hurt myself on the gig. My thumb caught a tack, nail, or staple under the stage's astroturf and took a chunk of skin right out of the tip. Ouch!
It bled like crazy for about 15 minutes but eventually subsided after continuous direct pressure. I thought I would get blood all over my bass but it stopped before sound check.
This nice Corvair was near the stage. I've always had a soft spot for these cars. I helped my Dad fix up one just like this when I was a kid. It was our family car for years. He painted it red!
This restored, slightly modified VW Bug was right behind the stage. My daughter loves Bugs. She could have this one for only $40,000. Notice the 4-wheel disc brakes?
I had to get a shot of this contraption as it rolled by on the parade route. Don't ask me about it. It's wacky but kind of cool.
Art, Daniel, and Mario find the stage and start setting up. Everything is going along nicely until Mario notices that his floor tom legs don't fit the drum. The correct legs are in his other hardware bag. Oops.
But Mario comes up with a plan! It worked wonderfully!
Yes, drumstick legs for his floor tom. Pretty cute.
We finish setting up and go park our cars before we sound check. We have to hit the parade route again to get to the employee parking lot.
I snap a couple of pictures along the way. I couple of folks gave me a funny look. I told them, "Here's a classic Astro van, only driven to gigs by the original musician owner, just a baby at 123,000 miles!"
As I rolled along the parade route I overheard a couple of other guys talking as they eyed my van, "Wow, that one looks kind of funky!".
Jeff got a late start this morning but he made it to the gig on time and was ready to go.
Kelly arrives for sound check, well-caffeinated and looking cute.
Mario even has a couple of drum stick left over to play with.
This really cool acca pella group, Augie's Side Effect, performed all over the grounds today. They opened the festivities by singing the National Anthem. They were terrific.
This was our announcer for the day, David. He was a little old guy with a great voice and great sense of humor. He must've had a career in radio or voiceover, a real pro.
I hadn't seen the Oscar Meyer Wienermobile in a long, long, time. I had to run over to the parade route behind the stage and grab a photo.
This is what my Astro van could look like, if I didn't kill it driving to all my gigs.
Here's a panorama of just one of the parking lots full of classic cars, acres and acres of classic cars.
Oh yeah, I heard there was a band at this car show. Here's Art giving Daniel some devil horns during that song.
Kelly throws in some harmony.
We take a break so I cruise around looking at all the fine machinery, taking pictures of those that catch my eye. Here's a Cobra, only $90,000.
Here's a '56 VW Bug, with the oval rear window, a steal at only $35,000.
We're getting ready to start our second set. Kelly takes an amp-selfie with me.
Kelly gets her girls up to sing about dogs, a song from their CD "Songs About Dogs".
It's a little later in the day now and the crowd is really starting to get into ..... the shade. It was in the 90s today.
It's break time again so I go looking for more classic cars in cool buildings. Here's an Ultima GTR in the middle of a bunch of classic Corvettes and other muscle cars.
And another VW Bug convertible for my daughter. Please pardon the puppy.
The break is over and the band gets back to work.
Kelly puts on her black straw hat. I like it. I'm thinking of getting one.
Here are a few shots from friends' social media.
I must be singing "Wagon Wheel" again.
The first set was lightly attended but the other three attracted good crowds. Everyone had fun but it was too hot to dance.
At the end of the day, 2:30 PM, we could not pull back onto the parade route. It was going continuously throughout the day. Part of the parade route was right behind the stage and every time someone would race their engine I would turn around to see if my amp was blowing up. We had to haul our gear about a half mile out to the parking lot. I sure am glad I got a Rock-n-Roller cart.
Then, wouldn't you know it? Freeway construction made my drive home miserable.
But I won't complain too much. It was a pretty nice day, a little warm, but I got to play some music, make a little money, see some cool cars, and help raise money and awareness for prostate cancer.
At one point of the day Kelly was reminding the audience that free prostate cancer screenings were being offered in a building near the stage. She encouraged everyone to get their free screenings. I said, "You know, my back door could use a new screen." The band laughed. I said, "What? Did I say that on the microphone? I meant the back door of my house!"
A good time was had by all. Thanks for looking.
Thank you for your indulgence,
BassCliff
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