Sunday 10 June 2007

Our first gig-a game of two halves

Been too busy to blog. A small matter of a gig to rehearse for you see. We now have the facilities at St Joseph’s school and we used them to full potential last week. Things were stacking against us Diddler working late each night, I had an important presentation at work which was bothering me a bit, but far worse Wifey hurt her back and was in pain for most of last week. SJ had the dreaded lurgey, Wifey stepped on her guitar lead and bent her jack input on her electric guitar breaking the wood around it.....that evening she made emergency repairs it was solid but not great!!!!!!!
but Dom had bought a lovely red Pearl drum kit (way over what he budgeted for !!) Diddler was also sporting a brand new Epiphone (also red in colour). some how we managed to cover all the set on Thursday and Friday we were fairly happy by Friday......Thursday I had had a little rant as I felt we had switched off a bit but my strop served as a source of amusement rather than anything else ???!?!?!?!?
The day of the gig arrived and the band amassed at our house Dom set his Drums up in the front room and we kind of dotted ourselves around the house in any space available together with Eric’s Linda and The Dark Marge who was busy re stringing his mandolin to left handed.....why?.....cos he’s left-handed !
Zoot....a baritone ,saxophonist type person from Wifey’s marching band was also there being very Zootish and explaining he had turned down Jools Holland for Hot Machero that night....the Diddler looked up at him and muttered under his breath. in his broad Scouse drawl...” Oh aye...and I had to turn down Macca (Sir Paul McCartney) as he had invited me over for a jam like” I couldn’t help smile,
We performed Sing and Lola two songs we were a bit worried about especially Lola. Wifey had even burnt our dinner the night before cos of Lola!.....bloody Lola! I’d like to paint a picture of five people sitting there like a bag of nerves but it really wasn’t the case.........I felt calm and relaxed and everyone else appeared the same. We arrived at the venue with plenty of time...The Dark Marge failed his audition for being our Roady when he juggled with one of Dom’s brand new unscratched mint condition pride and joy of a drum he would have got away with his misdemeanour as his only witness Eric’s Linda kept shtum .....SJ however was going to be a whistle blower and grassed on the Marge thankfully no damage was done and Dom was cool about it. With the PA all set up instruments tuned and ready the guests started to role on in. Then it hit me ..........this blog....most of the people that knew me were going to be there. most of the people I have contact with end up in this blog ahhhhhhhhhhhhhh! Cruella my boss was chatting to Mother dearest and the Marge ,Fraggle was chatting to Jockanese K....(.MBE)............Locker room James.......Agent A and her trusty side kick and husband ....R. Wayne.....they were all there....... It was a nightmare come true, the amount of stick dished up to so many people in this blog who didn’t know each other were going to join forces and gang up on me I was sure!
Wifey called us in and we opened with Into the deep ....wifey’s patched up Vintage rocked out the opening riff my bass banged out a D in a pulsating rhythm...Dom crashed his new Drums as if to announce...we are here ! Diddler’s pick joined in the fun and his voice announced the first line of the song...”Into the deep” this was it Hot Machero were a proper band SJ came in with her backing and the icing was on the cake we breezed through it. We followed with -Time of your life- Hand in my pocket Whistle for the choir-Lola (which went great!) and she’s electric. We were really pleased with this first set and surprised at our own performance and set off for a well-earned break. Zoot on his tenor sax Wifey with her alto and Dom and I did the girl from Ipanema this was followed by the amazing Simon the sound Guru Edwards and Terry Vass from Diddly Skwat doing a few songs. Simon played his Piano accordion and Terry borrowed Dom’s drums I kind of played my bass along being shouted the chords by Simon . The Skwats were brilliant and Wifey and Zoot joined in with the brass .....well good fun!
Then .........call the Police the show was stolen! Our 5 year old Rockstar (He’ll be six this week) marched up to wifey and wanted to sing. He took a mic from her and sang “Eddy oh Eddy” with this the band in unison played the tune...it was awesome...even the bridge....“Camp-er-van” it was spontaneous ....really cool. The band kinda clicked in and there was a huge round of applause for our little boy I was so proud I knew Wifey was too.
The second half of our set started well Dock of the bay was good...“Don’t you forget about me” however was not good Wifey’s pedals were playing up from the moving of the equipment in the break!!! , Sing and Breakfast at Tiffany’s weren’t great either . I wanna hold your hand with guest singer Locker room James ended the set on a high.....although cramp in my little finger made me grimace some what.!!! for our encore...we played” Into the deep” again.
We all had a great time and the feedback was mostly positive but for our first gig we were really happy .
It was my birthday bash and I had a great time and a fantastic cake ......I’ll end this blog with some quotes of the day.....and the fact that ............Hot Machero have gigged we are now a band!

Cruella to Mother Dearest
“I didn’t know you were a child bride”

Dark Marge......In response to....“how are we doing what are people saying ?”
“Well I’ve had two beers and I haven’t got into a fight yet!”

Dom to Dark Marge.....
“ You have a look of I’ve just dropped the drums on your face”

The landlady of the Boot ......in response to “ We don’t seem to have scared away your punters!”
“ No we turned the jukebox up on the other side of the pub, you couldn’t be heard around there”

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