Day 2
Venue: John & Peter's
City: New Hope, Penn.
Band's Caloric Intake: 6800
Band's Mood Ring Color: Orangish
Phrase of the Day: "Get me awaaaay from those Fritos"
After several hours of serene suburban sprawlin' we got into pre-gig mode. Applied make up, stretched out our jazz hands and played a variety of Commie trust games. On our way out of Baltimore we stopped for a spiritual re-charge at the local Guitar Center. I bought some sticks, Allison bought a keyboard stand, Tom was trying to barter with a guy in Pro Audio for his goatee - but failed.
In the car I devised a game that I believe will catch on very quickly in the US - The rules are simple, the pleasure is unimaginable. It doesn't have a name yet but I am open to suggestions. Basically, one names 2 real full names from ones high school and one made-up name. After this, the other bored, nauseous passengers then have to guess which name is bullshit. Extra points for you if you can keep the first name constant (i.e. John Glenn, John Roberts, John Balls) or construct believable sounding Indian surnames.
Three short hours later we arrived in New Hope. New Hope is a great town if you like over priced tie-dye gear and yuppies pretending to be hippies pretending to like you. I kid, I kid, its a great town, home to The Bucks County Play House, where I won an acting award several years back for my one man review "Shelly Long: Where The Shit Are You?"
We arrived at the bar and announced ourselves. This was met with smiles and confusion since we walked into the wrong fucking bar. Too bad- the bar looked cool. At the right bar, John and Peters, we loaded out with the help of some locals who were wonderfully kind and juiced for our set.
John and Peters is a cool looking venue, cavernous and cottagey - blues & rock semi- famous rockers pictures pepper the walls. The stage is situated smack in the middle of the room and carpeted really really nicely. I think the stage doubles as a gymnasium for toddlers during the days. The sound is pretty good and the lighting rig is no joke man.
We set up, drank beer, ate various foods and talked to locals. We hit the stage with a mission to rock and by all accounts succeeded - though Tom's amp died two songs in, and the NHL playoffs are systematically trying to fuck our draw, we overcame these obstacles and played a spirited and energetic set. The highlights included a powerful "Sooner or Later," "That's Alright Momma" Featuring Z-Cup on lead vox, and my personal fav of the night Tom sharing with the audience that he is indeed the son of Cindy Lauper and either Sting or Captain Lou Albano.
The crowd felt our heat and were thoroughly entertained. We made some friends, some cash and a thoroughly strong enough response by the club to be asked back again on a Saturday - Holla Holla!
And so we did our thing in New Hope and hit the road back to Baltimore. On the way home I once again debated Tom on the merit and glory of right wing, religious or wacky sports talk radio. Allison and Joe slept, Ray serviced himself in the back row for most of the trip, all the while barking uncontrollably every time he saw a bright red car. Why do you do that Ray...? Perhaps we will find out later this tour.
Amit
No comments:
Post a Comment