Hi guys,
Just got back from playing a gig with my band and it was...uh...a `unique` experience I felt like sharing. Hoping to get a few replies off other people about any particularly crazy/epic/downright weird experiences on (or off!) stage in a musical context.
So this evening we were booked to play at the local rugby club. I'll point out here that our band plays jazz, so we were somewhat apprehensive - but the organiser assured us that they've held this event a few years running now and it's always been a jazz band. Apparently the players always came away loving it.
(The players in question were all university students back for the holidays, so ranging from 18 to early twenties, making us even more nervous)
Upon arrival, we were greeted by a teeming horde of already-drunk rugby players and associated girlfriends etc. Lots of lurching around, people tripping up and getting in the way. Made setting up quite an intimidating prospect, what with all the shouting and the odd punch being thrown.
Still, we cracked on and played through the first set, which went well enough despite a few pieces of glass/bottle being thrown on or near the stage. (Took us a couple of songs to read the atmosphere and figure out what they liked)
Things got a bit more hairy during the interval, as some loud disco music was put on to cover the silence, and everyone got up and went beserk on the dance floor. Getting up and turning the disco music off after our break-time was over was quite unnerving, as they did seem to be enjoying it. After a couple of heavier funk numbers, I paused to change a page and the keys/drummer played a few bars of the `Pirates of the Caribbean` theme, to which the whole room cheered and began dancing. They didn't know the whole thing, though, and after stopping a huge, hairy muscular man charges up and shouts very aggressively; "PLAY IT AGAIN! NOW!"
Playing it again seemed the safer option.
We eventually finsihed the second set mostly intact, and packed up our kit to the accompanying *crunch, crunch, crunch* of our feet on the broken glass all over the floor. Felt like the first gig out of `The Blues Brothers` film in the Country & Western joint, but without the chicken-wire. (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RdR6MN2jKYs)
Turns out they did have a good time and enjoy it in the end though, we did get paid and the organiser has booked us in advance for next year's rendezvous. I've asked if we can start a couple of hours earlier though, before the drinking commences...
Just got back from playing a gig with my band and it was...uh...a `unique` experience I felt like sharing. Hoping to get a few replies off other people about any particularly crazy/epic/downright weird experiences on (or off!) stage in a musical context.
So this evening we were booked to play at the local rugby club. I'll point out here that our band plays jazz, so we were somewhat apprehensive - but the organiser assured us that they've held this event a few years running now and it's always been a jazz band. Apparently the players always came away loving it.
(The players in question were all university students back for the holidays, so ranging from 18 to early twenties, making us even more nervous)
Upon arrival, we were greeted by a teeming horde of already-drunk rugby players and associated girlfriends etc. Lots of lurching around, people tripping up and getting in the way. Made setting up quite an intimidating prospect, what with all the shouting and the odd punch being thrown.
Still, we cracked on and played through the first set, which went well enough despite a few pieces of glass/bottle being thrown on or near the stage. (Took us a couple of songs to read the atmosphere and figure out what they liked)
Things got a bit more hairy during the interval, as some loud disco music was put on to cover the silence, and everyone got up and went beserk on the dance floor. Getting up and turning the disco music off after our break-time was over was quite unnerving, as they did seem to be enjoying it. After a couple of heavier funk numbers, I paused to change a page and the keys/drummer played a few bars of the `Pirates of the Caribbean` theme, to which the whole room cheered and began dancing. They didn't know the whole thing, though, and after stopping a huge, hairy muscular man charges up and shouts very aggressively; "PLAY IT AGAIN! NOW!"
Playing it again seemed the safer option.
We eventually finsihed the second set mostly intact, and packed up our kit to the accompanying *crunch, crunch, crunch* of our feet on the broken glass all over the floor. Felt like the first gig out of `The Blues Brothers` film in the Country & Western joint, but without the chicken-wire. (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RdR6MN2jKYs)
Turns out they did have a good time and enjoy it in the end though, we did get paid and the organiser has booked us in advance for next year's rendezvous. I've asked if we can start a couple of hours earlier though, before the drinking commences...