Sorry it's been so long. I've had kind of a slow winter as far as my musical life but it's starting to pick up. First let me tell you about a backyard birthday party I played recently.
On a Saturday in November I played a fun casual with a real pickup band. I haven't played a pickup band gig in many years. My friend Craig celebrated his 70th birthday party. A drummer buddy of mine, Tom, with whom I worked in the early 80's, is also a very good friend of Craig's. When he found out Craig was going to use a DJ, Tom said, "Oh no! I can get you a live band...and I'll play drums!" Craig agrees so Tom, knowing that I worked with Craig, called me up and I told him it sounded like fun. So Tom asked, "Hey, can you find us a guitar player? And a keyboard player? Do you have a PA system? Oh, and can you rent me a drum set?" (Tom was flying in from Wyoming.) So I put it all together and we played for Craig's backyard birthday party. I was told there would be about 150 guests but I think there were over 200. It was quite a party. But the cops never showed up. I guess they were invited too. Craig's house and yard are all decked out in a Southwest motif, complete with facades for a general store and a mine, some cigar store Indians, swinging doors, succulents, rocks, trails, etc. It's a pretty amazing place for a party.
This all started when I loaded up most of my gear in my trusty Astro van. I brought my full PA system and my small bass rig.
Thankfully it was a short commute to the party, just past one of my favorite interchanges here in the So. Cal. Driving west at sunset can be brutal.
Traffic was made worse during my relatively short commute by the freeway widening project. If you know where to look you can see the tall buildings of downtown LA.
Like I said, the freeway is a mess around here. But the party was still only a little less then a half hour away from home.
I hauled all my gear in with some help from my buddy Tom. It's kind of a weird setup. The kit is on the raised patio next to the jacuzzi. The rest of us would be in front on the ground. I put my rig on the same level as the drums. Mike's guitar amp would go on the steps. Gary's keyboards would go direct to the PA. It was a little odd having the drums so far away. I liked not having the volume but I felt a little disconnected. We mic'd the kick drum and made it work.
This is a view of the upper level of the back yard looking out from the stage. It looked like the set of a spaghetti western. I was hoping to see Clint Eastwood. He never showed but I heard that Dick Van Dyke's son was one of the guests.
This is our lovely hostess, Jannine, wife of the birthday boy, in front of the back porch which had two bars.
This was my view out over the pool. The peak you see in the distance is Mt. San Antonio, a.k.a. Mt. Baldy.
On the lower level you see Craig's ham tin camper, a vintage unit that he restored. They are called "ham tin" because they are kind of shaped like the canned ham containers.
I'm all set up just as the sun sets. I did bring my 5-string Guild as a backup but left it in the gig bag. There was not an abundance of room and the footing was a little tricky.
Our keyboard player, you might recognize Gary from a previous gig, and guitar player Mike, whom you might recognize from the True Willie Band, are here now and just about set up.
Here's a shot of the back yard just before downbeat. It's already a bit crowded.
On a break I took a few photos of the back yard. This sculpture was made entirely of deadwood from the desert. It is a life sized horse.
Gary took this photo of the General Store facade on one of the lower levels of the yard. There is also a facade for a mine entrance that Tom built.
I found a new friend. I think she's kind of sweet on me.
The tacos were excellent this evening. We were able to sneak in front of the very long line to get some supper. It's amazing what happens when you say the magic words, "I'm with the band."
I enjoyed a couple of chicken tacos and a couple of pork tacos along with my Modelo Negra.
There were vats of several beers to choose from, plus wine and mixed drinks at the bars. Craig and Jannine really know how to throw a party.
Mike also enjoyed a couple of tacos.
Gary was too polite to cut in line so one of the assistant hostesses brought him some tacos right to the stage.
The gentleman in the suit is an official from the city of West Covina, here to give Craig some special recognition. That's Craig next to his wife Jannine.
Let it be known that today has been declared "Craig Day" in the city of West Covina.
Our lovely hostess makes a short speech.
Mike and Gary are ready to rock and roll some more.
Tom is ready to pound the tubs. He had a little trouble with the rental kit. It has not been treated kindly. You may notice the floor tom setting on scrap wood since the stand was stripped. The snare stand didn't hold too well either. But Tom made it work. He's been doing this a long time.
Gary nabbed a picture of me while I decide what to sing. Before certain songs we would have a little huddle. "OK, the verse is one, four, five and the bridge is four, five, six minor, four with an extra measure" kind of thing.
This is another of Gary's pictures of Mike with is beautiful tobacco burst ES335.
Here's a couple of guys just having fun.
Another shot of the guests and the horse sculpture.
Yes, we had dancers. Here's the birthday boy and his friend Rey. She's an actor.
Yes, we got the place jumping!
We had a few guests sit in. Robert did "Roadhouse Blues" and Kevin did "Stormy Monday", both with harps. After the harp intro we all looked at each other wondering, "Who's singing this song?" I didn't know enough of the words but I was going to fake it. Just then Gary got on the mic and nailed "Stormy Monday". Gary also did Tom Petty's "Breakdown" which was a lot of fun. We also had Deedee sit in with her banjo and play "Wagonwheel" with us. I wish I'd taken a picture.
The load-out was a bit of a nightmare because Craig and a lot of his friends are into campers and they were all parked in the driveway. We had to carry or roll everything out to the street. We were scheduled to play until 10pm but got paid extra to play until 11pm. I got home way after midnight but I was well fed and well hydrated, if you know what I mean.
It was a pretty cool party. Thanks for having a look.
Thank you for your indulgence,
BassCliff
