Open Mic'd

Got a message from our singer, Patti, that she would be at the Cottage Hotel in Mendon with Steve Sunday night to check out the open mic scene there. Scott and Hot Pockets had wanted to drop in there to scope out the stage for the upcoming gig. Most of the band do not go out much, and had not been there before.

Its always a good idea to personally check out a venue before the first time you play there. Despite the size connotation of a hotel, the place is pretty small - maybe 7 tables for dinner and a 12' bar. There's another with game tables next to the diningroom that seems like wasted space - I was told bands used to play from there in the old days when Marshall Tucker Band played there, for instance.

There was a young lady playing Taylor Swift songs while chairs and beers tracked down. Then the MC, Ricky, played a song with one of his students from Jovi's music where he teaches and sells instruments. A few pre-teen girls at the adjacent table were giggling and scribbling and I saw one write some names on the sign-up sheet after ours.

Ricky smoothly let them go ahead while H.P. went out to get the guitars. They were done before he came back! Time to quickly set up, tune and find out the guitar had some electrical problem (its the pots!) and Scotty switched to Ricky's Martin (ha!). Off we went into Rockin' in the Free World, Blue on Black, Almost Cut my Hair and finally Been Awhile. By then H.P. had to bend every string to keep in tune since the bass had warmed up.

Another tuneup and Ricky wants to play too, so Scotty convinces H.P. to do Little Wing. H.P. is not feeling really confident about that song, but reluctantly agrees. Emphasizes the parts he is sure of and tries to fade back on the rest or dance around.

Then Ricky wants to do another to close out the night - do we know "One Way Out"? H.P. doesn't even know what song that is- oh "Might be your man I don't know" Allman Bros. Ricky says don't worry you guys can do this! A dry run through the chorus and the all-important stop in there and we're off again, this time Ricky signing, playing the rhythm, and telling H.P. what note to change to on the bass- hilarious and impressive! "A!",  "D!", "E!" "stop!"

Later H.P. realizes he has never heard a recording of Almost Cut My Hair and hadn't heard One Way Out since he sold his old Vinyl records and tossed his tapes 20+ years ago. Great way to close out 2012!

Got a message from our singer, Patti, that she would be at the Cottage Hotel in Mendon with Steve Sunday night to check out the open mic scene there. Scott and Hot Pockets had wanted to drop in there to scope out the stage for the upcoming gig. Most of the band do not go out much, and had not been there before.

Its always a good idea to personally check out a venue before the first time you play there. Despite the size connotation of a hotel, the place is pretty small - maybe 7 tables for dinner and a 12' bar. There's another with game tables next to the diningroom that seems like wasted space - I was told bands used to play from there in the old days when Marshall Tucker Band played there, for instance.

There was a young lady playing Taylor Swift songs while chairs and beers tracked down. Then the MC, Ricky, played a song with one of his students from Jovi's music where he teaches and sells instruments. A few pre-teen girls at the adjacent table were giggling and scribbling and I saw one write some names on the sign-up sheet after ours.

Ricky smoothly let them go ahead while H.P. went out to get the guitars. They were done before he came back! Time to quickly set up, tune and find out the guitar had some electrical problem (its the pots!) and Scotty switched to Ricky's Martin (ha!). Off we went into Rockin' in the Free World, Blue on Black, Almost Cut my Hair and finally Been Awhile. By then H.P. had to bend every string to keep in tune since the bass had warmed up.

Another tuneup and Ricky wants to play too, so Scotty convinces H.P. to do Little Wing. H.P. is not feeling really confident about that song, but reluctantly agrees. Emphasizes the parts he is sure of and tries to fade back on the rest or dance around.

Then Ricky wants to do another to close out the night - do we know "One Way Out"? H.P. doesn't even know what song that is- oh "Might be your man I don't know" Allman Bros. Ricky says don't worry you guys can do this! A dry run through the chorus and the all-important stop in there and we're off again, this time Ricky signing, playing the rhythm, and telling H.P. what note to change to on the bass- hilarious and impressive! "A!",  "D!", "E!" "stop!"

Later H.P. realizes he has never heard a recording of Almost Cut My Hair and hadn't heard One Way Out since he sold his old Vinyl records and tossed his tapes 20+ years ago. Great way to close out 2012!