Playing Live Is A Crime...Or It Should Be.

I get so high from playing.
People that know me can attest to the lingering after effects of a well done show.

The gentleman I have been rehearsing with was asked to do a 'cameo' at a show in a dive called "The Back Door."
"You bring your guitar man, let's go."
After getting lost, he managed to get us to the place reasonably late.

As we entered, I saw a small place with two pool tables, the bar, and a small dance floor.
Maybe fifteen people in attendance. The youngest looked to be sixty five.
My eyes rolled involuntarily and I foresaw a really bad night in the making.

Shotgun tells me he will set up in the corner. I press the issue and ask where to set up my rig.
We're a good twenty minutes into setup when Big Joe and Nashville Nick...I am at a loss with these names, Nick being all of five feet tall with hat and boots and maybe one hundred and ten pounds, including guitar.
More sequins than Elvis.
Anyway, the two come over and tell us not to set up. We'll only be in the way - wait until called.
More eye rolling.
Okay - no worries.
Shotgun calls another drummer and asks him to come down. At least we are networking.

Nick and the crew have not played together before. It shows. The bass and drummer were tight, but Nick and the vocalist were out of synch with the other two. It was subtle, but music tends to put on a glaring spotlight when it doesn't work.  You don't have to be the best musicians, but you have to be able to read the crowd and feed them...so they feed you.
Don't misunderstand me either, Nick is a very talented guitarist. The vocalist was not my cup of tea, but he had heart.

What they failed to do was read what the crowd wanted.
By ten pm there were fifty or so people. And for ONE number, three ladies got up to dance.
They flat out boogied. Didn't care one whit who was watching or hooting and calling, they were there to dance.

So when Shotgun and I got the call to play (a blonde C&W gal sang two numbers prior to us) I turned to him and whispered, "Dance tunes."
The vocalist wanted to do a number with us - 'My Girl.'
Then we let go.
'Soul Man'
'Reach Out'
'I Was Made To Love Her'
'I Can't Help Myself'

They did not sit down. A group of ladies started things off. Within a few bars of 'Soul Man' the men joined in. Soon, the floor was full, I mean full.
We, the band, pushed our stuff backwards to let them have more floor space.
I was standing almost directly in front of the door to the establishment. More than once I was 'ducking' incoming patrons.
But they danced!
It's not so much just playing, although I get incredibly high from that.
But when you and the audience click...
It is sublime.






It was a bit after Midnight and magic again was there.


Thank You and Goodnight!