I got a call from a nice fellow who's been away from gigging his band, Raining Horseshoes, for a couple of years due to a job change. Anthony is starting to get back into it. Not only did he call me for the bass slot but he also asked me for a keyboard player. So I recommended my friend Gary. We were looking forward to doing the gig together with my old buddy Art from the KRB.
On the way to the gig in Norco, a.k.a. Horsetown USA, we had to stop and pick up our passes. When I pulled up I saw Art and Candy, our fiddle player for the evening.
From there it was a short drive to the rodeo grounds, the George Ingalls Equestrian Event Center.
When we arrived Gary, playing keys tonight, was already there. Gary also plays bass but you don't need two bass players on the gig, usually.
I was looking forward to some fun stuff. I haven't worked with Candy for years. She's a sweetheart.
There was a trailer stage for us, not a lot of room but Paul (FOH) had a nice sound system for the entertainment.
There were all the trappings of a fun gig, like a mechanical bull.
There was a nice display of horse buggies.
On stage was a quartet of very talented ladies playing everything from Haggard to Fleetwood Mac to original tunes, Americana to Gypsy Jazz.
We talked a bit after they finished their set. They had that special something in their playing and singing together that made me think they were sisters.
Sure enough, they are The Darden Sisters out of Orange County. These ladies are really terrific.
Here is the view from the FOH. Sorry I didn't get a picture of Paul, the sound guy. I could tell he knew his stuff. Unfortunately, you see the crowd there.
Those kids came to play on the hay bales only after the Darden Sisters left the stage.
This is Milo (drums), Anthony (vocals), Art (git), and Candy (fiddle) as Anthony called a band meeting.
It turns out that our three sets would be cancelled. The lack of attendance was due to the wind. In the evening it really kicks up. Last night all the vendor booths were literally blown away and even the sound board was almost blown off its table. The lighting had been blown down and smashed. Gary and I were a little disappointed.
But at least we still got paid. And we got to chat a bit with the Darden Sisters. This is Clarah (git) and Selah (fiddle) with Candy.
Selah even took a selfie with this old ugly bass player.
So this is another case of "The Gig That Never Happened". Sure, we asked Anthony about the "paid rehearsal" scenario but he just wasn't into it. He didn't want to put himself or us through the indignity of playing for no one on a hot, miserable, windy, dry, and dusty rodeo grounds. I kind of really did want to play, but after being told twice that we were not playing, and getting paid, we all just chatted and visited for a while and then I made my way home to spend the evening with family. Pretty cool.
There you have it. Sorry to disappoint. There are no action shots, no food, no line dancers. At least I got to meet some really beautiful and talented young ladies. You guys should check out The Darden Sisters.
Thank you for your indulgence,
BassCliff
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