Comments on the Ott's II Evening...

Whitey:  As mentioned on other pages, I thought our sound was really well done, and the guys rose to the occasion.  The first song "Learning to Fly" was well played, so that set a good tone for the night. 

Personally...I felt much better behind the kit then I did at The Little Spot.  Being able to hear the bass drum for me was huge.   Being able to hear the other guys without straining was like going from my old VW Bug to Deneen's Lexus.  I was really happy with my playing on Message in a Bottle.  The guys in the band know I had been worried about that song since we started playing it, and when it was over I was relieved.  I was also releived that Blue Eyes, and One Way or Another seemed to go well.  They were two others I had butchered in practice.  By the end of the 2nd set, a nice little chunk of skin had opened up on my left ring finger, right above my wedding band.  By the end of the night, my sticks were pretty bloody, so I felt like I gave my all, and then some...

TC's Take on TC-  As far as a my self assessment, that's a loaded question.  On the return to Ott's on a hot summerlike night it took a few songs to get warmed up and get rid of the nervous gitters, but after that felt like we revved it on Bon Jovi's "Dirty Little Secret." Also was pretty please with the new powerful mic's.  We need to get some of those.  Except for the trip up on the first set on song order of Lady and the Middle, thought the boys in the band adjusted well. 

Always something.  Highlights too many to list, but from a band perspective, really liked the second go around of "What I Got" to keep people grooving.

Comments from JR:  As far as last Sat's gig, a few thoughts...  I was now where near 100%. (I'm not sure why but I had more of a case of the jitters that usual.  I think it's probably something to do with that whole "Curlin" disaster, as this horse hates me or Whitey or both....and here he comes again).

Once I settled in, I began to have fun.  Fun is the operative word- it's contageous.  Too many people have told me since we began that onstage I don't look like I'm having any... not true at all.  I'm just concentrating so hard on not f__king up it just tlooks that way.

I also have to fine tune the volume control and settings on the axes (I'm using 4, and each one requires different everything).

I feel we need to come better prepared as far as our raps- anectodal history on songs, sort of like what we tried to do with Greg Kihn (but somehow got away from).  I think audiences love being talked to if we've got something to say (but obviously I'm not talking about killing the vibe on a good dance number, I'm talkin about talking when we need to fill time).

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Of the songs I remember as having come off the best?  What I got/White Wedding/Come Out and Play/Jet Airliner/Don't Fear the Reaper/Jenny (though I cut the middle short by two riffs)/ Message in a Bottle.

Reaction from the club was all positive, and we'll flat out kill when we play the great outdoor deck!!  I feel pumped about Trios as well, once I can learn to relax a little more and appear to be having as much fun as I truely am, and get that "Curlin" fiasco out of my head....sky's the limit..rock on boys!  I've never felt better about the band and our future than I do now.

Kev was unable to comment on the evening, having a majority of his free time spent on coordinating outfits with John, and having it dry cleaned in time for the next Trios gig.  Had he been available, Kev would have noted his stellar play. 

See, it's always best when you add your own comments...