Stones Throw Winery 10/25/20

Ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls, friends and neighbors, in-laws and outlaws,

It was a rare gig (aren't they all?) on a Sunday afternoon for us, Arnie Newman's Country Club Band, a.k.a The Hairy Legged Pickers. Amanda wasn't on this gig. Bummer. She really pretties up the band. We played an event at the Stones Throw Winery in San Juan Capistrano.

Iva Lees is a New Orleans style eatery here in the OC. I must say, their "Fred Chicken" was excellent. But I'm getting ahead of myself.

It was a pretty gloomy day when I left my humble abode to begin the trek into the OC. The clouds were threatening. In fact, it did rain on me a little bit during my commute.

The winery was on a frontage road next to the freeway right where Google maps said it would be.

It was a charming, welcoming place.

It looks like the old farmer's house who used to run the citrus farm that used to be here. This property is supposedly the oldest citrus grove in Orange County.

Of course, being the hired help I had to pull around back. We opened the corner of the tent to make load-in easier.

This was the sign next to my parking spot. I guess I had better watch out. But since the day started off a bit cool I don't think the snakes will be too active.

Arnie and Jed were already here, almost done with the PA. I just had to help with the sub. I suggested putting it right in the middle. That's the way Alabama does it.

After I got set up I said "Hi" to an ex-girlfriend. She's lost a little weight lately.

It's a lovely venue. The tent was nice. I just wish the weather was a little better. It never rained on us and the sun eventually came out for a bit and warmed us up.

I don't know why but my mask makes me look like I've got two black eyes.

Even the pumpkins were "socially distanced" in front of the stage.

Look at that! This was the amp that Arnie used today. It wasn't any bigger than a distortion pedal but packed 44 watts. This little rig sounded great.

I think it really helped that Arnie got rid of that monster of a pedal board he was using in favor of this Kemper unit. It has all the sounds, and remembers them.

This was my IEM mixer today. It's not wireless but it sounded great and will remember my mix for next time. Cool!

And you've all seem my rig hundreds of times. Today I brought the Jazz Special with flats because we were playing pretty traditional country.

Here's a view of the venue from the stage. Looking pretty good.

I think we're done with sound check, hence the empty stage while we all change into our cowboy clothes.

I don't think we did too good on tips today. The weather scared a lot of folks away. Or maybe it was that tiny person stuck in the tip jar.

As we start our show this nice young lady brings up refreshments for the band.

She was nice enough to bring up a Sam Adams. Good stuff. I had another with supper too.

And away we go! John wasn't here today either. Just Arnie, Jed, Paul, Dave, and this old country bass player. We played pretty straight country all afternoon. It's what they wanted to hear.

We're on a break now. Unfortunately this event was lightly attended. Everyone had fun, there just weren't very many "everyones".

There are quite a few orange trees left on the property but it seems nobody maintains them.

We are back for the second (of three) sets while folks dine and drink.

I told the crowd, "I've just released a new fragrance! But nobody on stage likes it." Ba-dum-pum-tish!

On our second break the band makes its way to the feeding trough.

Oh boy! I've been waiting to try this "Fred" chicken.

Wow! This was really good fried chicken. It was a very institutional piece of chicken but was prepared excellently. We enjoyed a nice meal.

The dessert table was happening too!

And we are back for one more set.

We found out that there is a band following us, we had no clue. No biggie. That just meant that we could quit a little earlier than we had planned so we could clear the stage for the next group.

We cleared the stage quickly and the other musicians started putting their gear up. All in all, a pretty cushy gig. I was home by 6pm, even after stopping by the store to pick up some suds. They were out of my fav Stone FML but they had my favorite hazy IPA. This one is just tart enough, just wheat-y enough, and at 6.2% you don't have to drink a lot to get relaxed after a gig.

And that was my Sunday afternoon gig. We haven't played on a Sunday afternoon since the last time we were at Swallows Inn, December of last year IIRC. (Oops, I think I may have forgotten to blog that one.) Dang, I miss that place. I guess I miss'em all. Anyway, thanks for putting up with me. I don't think we have a gig next weekend so Paul and I were talking about going out to the range. That'll be fun. Until next time, Act Justly, Love Mercy, Walk Humbly.


Thank you for your indulgence,

BassCliff

Giracci Winery 10/16/20

 Hello my friends,

This past Friday was another "Wine Down Friday" at the Giracci Vineyards here in Orange County. I left work for the gig at 3pm and the day was still quite warm. Thankfully it cooled off nicely as the evening progressed. We played three sets from 6pm to 9pm.

Tonight we played under the gazebo rather than in the dirt in front of the barn. Not having to play in the dirt is nice but the gazebo, as you know, has its own challenges. It was a shot load-in from Big Betsy to the "stage" area.

Perhaps you noticed I was first to arrive. After unloading and parking I noticed Arnie had pulled up. I gave him a hand schlepping gear and setting up the PA.

Drummer Dave arrives and joins the setup dance. We set up as far forward as we could to get the bulk of the sound out from under the gazebo. It worked out well and lessened the standing waves that gazebos create.

There was a wedding party rehearsing for their ceremony tomorrow. They interrupted our setup dance just for a few minutes while they practiced their moves.

The food truck arrives with Greek and Mediterranean food. I love this stuff.

Drummer Dave and Magic Fingers Johnny continue the setup dance. Johnny is pulling double duty as the soundman tonight.

Johnny doesn't run any cables or lift any gear besides his own, but he knows how to run a board.

It looks like we are dangerously close to sound check. It's a simple setup, single sub, two speakers on sticks, two monitors out front, and one monitor for Dave. Johnny takes a feed into his rig from the monitor send.

Johnny Magic Fingers uses his fingers to dial up a sound out front on his tablet.

Dave and Arnie try to decide whether to soundcheck with our Bette Midler medley or just play a blues jam.

Arnie and I both brought our acoustics but played them on only one song tonight. Arnie went direct without an acoustic amp.

OK! We're all set up and sound checked. I look back at the stage area as I walk over to my green room (Big Betsy) to change into my cowboy clothes.

Folks are lining up to enter the event. All the tickets were sold out. Pretty cool.

After donning my jobbing toga I walk back to the stage and find that there is still a line waiting to get in. Verrry cool.

It seems the stage is just as I left it. I placed my rig out from under the gazebo. We had placed the floor wedges way out front on the stairs. We could still hear them just fine but they did not add to the ambient noise under the gazebo. This was the most pleasant experience I've ever had playing under a gazebo.

We had time to stop by the bar before downbeat and pick up a barley pop, just enough to wet my whistle.

Yay band! This is our selfie just before we start making noise.

Our crowd was till arriving as we began but they were already well into the wine and the food.

I think this is where Johnny Magic Fingers plays his big boogie-woogie number. The long intro give me a chance to snap a picture of him tearing up his keyboard.

It was a lovely, pleasant evening. We've been playing so seldom lately that any chance to get our strings in the breeze is a treat.

I brought my usual rig, Kiesel PB5, Fender Kingman, GK MB500, Carvin RL210. I did run it direct into the PA so I could keep the stage volume down.

On the last break I visited the food truck. The proprietor loved my Johnny Cash song.

The grilled chicken pita sandwich was calling my name.

And it tasted great. I washed it down with an 805.

"Well, my Mama met my Daddy down in Alabam. They tied the knot so here I am..."

Dave did a great job tonight keeping a lid on it under the gazebo.

Well drat, that one table up front never showed up all evening. They must've heard I was going to play bass tonight.

Regardless, it was a great crowd and we had a ton of fun.

Some of our biggest fans danced on up to the stage to share in the fun. Yay band!

Too quickly it was over and we turned back into roadies.

Next Sunday we have another event at another local winery, A Stones Throw Winery in San Juan Capistrano. I haven't the foggiest idea what that event is about but we'll be out in the fresh air and sunshine making noise and hopefully entertaining real live people. Thanks for looking in on me and my little music thing. You guys are great.


Thank you for your indulgence,

BassCliff