Lake Matthews Grad Party 5/27/17

Hi gang!

This was my second gig of the Memorial Day weekend of 2017. We played for a graduation party for a nice fellow who graduated from culinary school, Hector. He was an excellent host. The day started with me fighting the holiday traffic down the 15 freeway. Local residents know why this area is called "Slow-rona".

Once I got off the freeway and headed toward Lake Matthews it was smooth sailing. 

As you can see, all the lush green vegetation is quickly turning brown now that the rain has stopped and the weather is getting hot. It's going to be a scorcher of a fire season this year. But Lake Matthews was looking great after our wet winter. 

I arrived to the back yard party on time but everyone else was already here. They were even more worried about the holiday traffic than I was. 

Here are the lad busy setting up. Today we have my friend Rick on drums and Skip is back on keys. Kelly's husband Jack is running sound. 

Here's my "big" rig; the Neo410 and MB500 with my LB75. I did bring my Guild Pilot 5-string as backup but I left it in the case. 

Here's a stage shot now that we're all set up. It was a bright day but not too warm and once the sun started to set we got plenty of shade. 

This was also part of the entertainment this evening. There was also a bounce house to the right of the band. The kids had a great time.
 

I was looking forward to the catered barbecue.

You can see the bounce house in the background here as we start to sound check. That's Paul filling in for Daniel on fiddle today.

Here's Rick's pretty blue kit. He's putting in his hearing protection. He has always worn hearing protection for the 25 years I've known him.

Skip is on keys and singing the high harmonies this weekend. I asked here where the "bass pro shop" was and if they had good prices on Fenders. 

This is the view from Hector's back yard, overlooking the lake. 

Here, let me zoom in on the lake a little bit. 

After sound check we just look at our phones for a while until downbeat. 

Then we were told that we get to have supper before we start playing. Cool! You don't have to ask us twice. 

I had the sausage, BBQ rib, and brisket with some beans. I passed on the bread and potatoes. I'm trying to watch my girlish figure.
 

There were also snack and drink tables, chips, cold cuts, adult beverages, etc. 

I didn't try the Jungle Juice, but that Knob was smooth! 

This was full of a nice product from Ballast Pointe.

Now that we've been fed and drinked, it's time to start making some noise.
 

The line dancers are already on the floor.

 

Art is singing one of his big hits. Paul can really wail on his fiddle. We've known Paul for a long time and was in the band for a short time when I first joined going on six years ago.

Kelly claps along.

Here's a glam shot.

For dessert we had fresh, and I mean really fresh donuts.

 After dessert we're up for one more set. The line dancers are back.

To honor the grad.

At the end of the evening there was more food! These are called pupusa. They are Salvadoran, a thick corn tortilla stuffed with cheese and pork.

You put a little sauce on it along with some cabbage slaw and eat it like a taco. Man, these were great. I had three of them.

Then it was time to pack up our toys and go home. It was really a nice party.

I've got two more gigs to report on this weekend. We played at Newport Dunes for the "Boots On The Beach" festival opening for Pickleback Shine. That's the band that my friend Greg plays with. I'm also playing the beer garden at the San Bernardino County Fair on Memorial Day. I'm hoping to see Aaron Tippin too. Thanks for looking!


Thank you for your indulgence,

BassCliff

 

Valley View Casino 5/25/17

Hi gang!

Well, here is the first of four gigs for my busy Memorial Day weekend. I hope we are all very thankful for the sacrifices of those who paid for all the freedoms we have.

Me and the KRB did our second gig at the Valley View Casino. I took a half day vacation from the day job so I could get down there in time to load in and set up. The rest of the band carpooled with Kelly from South Orange County. I had twice the drive they did but it was a pleasant day for tooling on down the 15.

Then there's a good half hour of two-lane road once you get off the freeway until you get to the big sign.

If you can't read the green sign, there are two other casinos in the area, the Pala casino and the Pauma casino. I've played all of them with different bands. I make the right turn and head up the hill to Valley View. You can see it on the left at the top.

This is the view from the load-in area. You can see why it's called "Valley View" Casino.

This is the loading dock backstage. I have to wait for security to check my gear before I setup on stage.

Here's a view of the "band behind the bar" stage, complete with automatic curtain that the sound guy opens and closes during the first and last songs of the set. So cheesy, but fun.

As I take the stage there is a college softball game on the big screen, Florida and Alabama. I love watching young ladies play ball.
 

Yes, Mario uses the house kit (V-Drums) for this gig and we all go direct, using IEMs. It's a pretty cushy gig. Here's the mixer, a Behringer Q32 (IIRC), and assorted amps, controllers, and wireless stuff in the rack.

My IEM pack and iPhone mixer were ready and waiting for me.

The band starts getting set up. You see Bill Noble, our sound guy for the evening, overseeing this squirrely bunch of musicians. Bill is a great guy. We've worked with him several times over the last couple of years. He runs a lot of sound in the San Diego area. He'll be at our El Cajon concert later this summer.

Here's a close-up of my little personal mixer. These iPhones are so small that I have to use my glasses to get my mix set at first. Once I learn where all the voices and instruments are then I can do it on the fly.

Channel 1 was drums, channel 2 was instruments, channel 3 was voices, channel 4 wasn't used for us.

Here's Art installing his IEM pack, hiding the cord in his shirt.

OK, we're ready to go. Kelly checks her texts just before the curtain opens. She has family and friends coming out tonight.

The curtain opens and we put the hammer down!

The crowd started off a little light, mostly Kelly's family and friends, but it grew throughout the night. We didn't pack the place but it was a good, appreciative crowd.

After our fist set I hurried to the employee dining room. Because I worked only a half day I skipped lunch.

I grabbed what looked good, a nice stuffed pasta shell, pizza, some grilled vegetables, sauteed green beans, a nice salad with extra turkey, ham, and cheese, plus coffee. It was a long day.

Then we were back on stage for another set. Here we play one hour sets with half hour breaks. Tonight was 6pm-10pm. When we play on Sunday it's 5pm-9pm.

On the next break I went back for dessert. I helped myself to a slice of pumpkin pie and a fudge brownie. I also had room for a frozen fudge bar. Hey, I didn't eat lunch today.

Kelly charms the camera one more time.

The gig seems to be over quickly. I guess I was having fun. Not much to pack up, just a couple of basses and my backpack.

After security checks out our gear as we load out, we make our way back to the security office to turn in our badges and pick up our drivers licenses.

That nice two-lane road back to the freeway is VERY dark at night.

After a two hour drive I make it safely home. I'm back in the office in the morning, dull-eyed and ratty-tailed, trying to learn Intel AMT. (Anybody have an "AMT For Dummies" guide?) I'm off on Friday, going to see some friends in a band called The Fab 8. Then I'll be playing two more gigs with the KRB, a private party Saturday, and a "Boots On The Beach" festival Sunday. Then I'll be playing the San Bernardino County Fair on Monday, Memorial Day, in a new "project" (more like a pick-up band) with my good friend Joe. But who knows? I could be doing a few more gigs with Joe's new project. It's going to be pretty traditional, vintage and classic country, and I love that stuff. We'll see.

Anyway, that was my Thursday night. I'll be back with more. And please remember why we observe Memorial Day. My gratitude goes out to everyone who gave their all to keep us free. Thank you. May God bless your families.


Thank you for your indulgence,

BassCliff