November 1, 2002 - Iron Horse, Northampton with: The Mammals
HENNING: I was a little concerned at how the turn out was going to be for this show. It seemed like we were the only ones doing anything to promote it. Appearantly, IHEG told the Mammals that they would promote it but I didn't see anything besides our posters (and I even hung up less than usual after being approached by the threatening city worker.) They didn't even put up the posters that the Mammals sent them for the club. Nothing on the WRSI either. After they played the Mammals on Friday, I assumed they would mention the show but nope. So, the turn-out was weak, AND I wouldn't be surprised if a few of those that did show up never do it again after having to wait outside in the freezing cold for over an hour. Why was this show posted as starting at 9:30? How hard can it be to do this right? To treat customers with respect. Eeesh. The thing is, once youare inside the Iron Horse and the show starts up, everything seems all right again. Even if there aren't that many people and even if you felt mistreated, there is this sort of magic there, it's so cozy and warm, you can't help cheer up. Before anybody entered the club, we walked around and put an Activity page and writing impliment on each table. As people started filing in and sitting down, I headed down to the green room for a bit. Before walking down the stairs though, I glanced around the room and saw that every person who was seated was staring down at their Activity Page with a pen in their hand. It looked like the SATs were happening or something. It was great. Nobody told us to start or suggested an introduction or anything so I just made the decision that we should start now and so we did. We opened the show with the accapella/hand percussion based "Waiting For A Ride". Nobody knew how to react. I sensed some embarrassement coming from my left and right on stage, but I thought it was pretty good anyway. Other highlights of the show were me forgetting how the chorus to Ayla went, us playing the new song really well, and us doing "Waiting for a Ride" again when I felt like we were losing the crowd. It worked, they came back. Also, I enjoyed sort of berating this guy who yelled out "Freebird". This was the same guy I think who hooted at a truly inappropriate moment during the new song. Idiot. I guess the show went pretty well. It didn't feel so good to me. In fact, it seemed kind of terrible, but others seem to think it was good so there you have it. Naight was recording for us, so I am looking forward to hearing that. The Mammals were great. The square dance, though a little tedious at first, was really funny and happy and it brought the crowd in closer, physically and mentally. Ken did a wonderful job on the drums. After the show, we packed up and hung out with Neil - the host with the most, honestly. I was talking to Tao when Eric Surer came up behind us and said that it was time to clear out. I got kind of flustered and went outside meaning to wait around a bit and say goodbye to everyone etc. But instead I just jumped in the car and drove home. On the way, I realized that I left without saying goodbye or doing a dummy check for forgotten instruments. There was no sense of conclusion on the evening, I had the nagging feeling that I forgot something. It may have been a guitar stand. It may have been nothing. In the future, I have to make sure that I don't rush myself away from gigs. The follow-up seems important. I need to take a few breaths and let the evening sink in before taking off. Remind me. MAX: It's rare when I leave a gig without any kind of feeling for how it went, but that was my impression of Friday's Horse gig. I had made plans weeks in advance to attend a Halloween party on 11/1, and after much deliberation decided to keep those plans (in retrospect, I would have rather stayed and watched the Mammals. The party was winding down by the time I arrived, dressed as a gay Mexican wrestling star). So I left the Horse without getting to talk to the other School-heads and since the Rockumentary has been quiet I didn't really know how everyone else felt. I thought we played well and I enjoyed the set. For some reason I didn't think the crowd was very into it, but maybe that perception was off. In any case I came home and spent the weekend going through band withdrawl. It will be at least three weeks before I do any playing, due to my self-imposed wedding break, and I found myself walking around the house humming "Ayla" and thinking about some pretend gig to look forward to. Someone book some gigs please. TONY: BRIAN: Winter is hitting prematurely, and it's a drag when people are freezing outside, lined up, banging on the windows of the Horse, while we're soundchecking. The banging part isn't the drag--it's understandable. Things were running nearly an hour behind. That was the drag. But once in, everyone was toasty and warm. Everyone who sat down got to work on a SFTD Work/Funsheet, complete with fill in the blanks, a maze, places to draw, etc. We got some great responses. A little surprised that the show wasn't so crowded. But we played pretty well. MVP goes to Tony Westcott, who looked great, and seemed to be having fun. I must admit, it was cool to be on the same stage that Lou Barlow and Bob Mould had been on the same week. It was also cool to have the Mammals let a pop band open for them. But like Thane Thomsen said to me, "They call themselves a string band, but they're such a rock band". And that's sort of true. With just banjoes, ukes, light drums and bass, they give off the happy energy of the best pop/rock. Ruthie is one of the best stage presences I've witnessed in a while. And over all, once again, what great people. The square dance......I'll let someone else describe. So, I just have to admit, though. Most of that day and night, I was in a pretty dark mood. I was having a hard time getting in any sort of groove and did not feel comfortable on stage. Ning has taught me that just because I didn't enjoy something, it doesn't mean I have to impose my black cloud on everyone, so for all I know, it was a great show. KEN:	Set list?