3/17/09: New’s Jersey, Hampshire, York and Massachusetts

So I’ve been a bit lax over the last 5 days about feeding you, the voracious reader, your bits of delicious tour fodder.  My profound apologies.   Sometimes this life does not afford proper time for reflection cause it gets a bit whirlwindy.  What with the travel and the like…

We flew out of Miami on the 12th.  The entire cast and crew on a single flight.  My apologies to those in the employ of Continental. My better angels ruled the day in that I was able to turn my back on the peer pressure of shots and beers for the two hours prior to boarding.  Not a tough sell as I have on occasion flown while wretchedly hungover and did not enjoy it one bit, to say the least.  

Got to our hotel in Parsippany, NJ and had the night off.  Not much to tell here.  Although we did eat at the Harold’s Deli that was connected to the hotel.  On the menu and posted elsewhere was a sign encouraging patrons to share.  And for good reason.  The portions were ridiculous.  We ordered once and had food for the whole time we were there.

Played a show in Morristown the next night.  Got to play in a closet cum dressing room.  Tightest quarters as of yet.  And yet, we persevere.  I did get kicked out of two different bathrooms at the venue.  One because I wasn’t a member of the union and the other because I wasn’t a rich enough patron to grace what I can only guess to be a platinum and gold gilded restroom.  My kneejerk response was to show them my “all access” laminate and say that this area was covered by said badge.  However, it didn’t feel right to be a wiseass in New Jersey.  I felt like it might tip the cosmological scale…

Next we go to Keene, NH.  Beautiful drive and cute little town.  Except for all the dirty liberal hippies.  I kid.  But no sales tax.  And in order to play there we had to sign a blood oath to the Libertarians.  Weird but whatever.  Anywho, another interesting and new challenge.  We weren’t in the back of a semi, but it was directly in front of and on the same level as the audience.  There was a pit, but it was being used for a higher purpose.  Bric-a-brac storage.  Our sound guy repeated that oft said mantra passed down the generations of sound guys and drummers throughout history.  ”Dude, can you back off a little but tonight?”  Here, I will pat myself on the back.  Every drummer in the world can play loud.  Playing softly while maintaining energy can be a little tricky.  I’ve spent the last 8 years playing in a grocery store pit and have figured it out (hopefully) so it isn’t much of a problem.  And, I love those words as I don’t have to break a sweat.  Sweet!

But then.  Our sound guy came out at intermission and was looking for me.  I asked if I needed to back off further fully expecting that that was the case.   Indeed it was a new patron complaint.  Volume was fine.  The problem was my stand light was interfering with someone’s enjoyment of the skit.  Hmm.  OK.  He changed out my light and it wasn’t a problem.  For seeing the music.  Which I guess is it’s purpose.  Where it messed with my show is I couldn’t read my book unless the stage was lighted brightly.  Any of you who know me can see what a huge problem that this is.  I had to watch the play or worse yet, just sit there and do nothing some of the time.  The nerve!  I am, however, a “professional” and “rise above it.”  Spinal Tap anyone?

Off to Sugar Loaf.  In a pit this time.  Quaint little arts and crafts community.  The theater was a barn.  But a nice well appointed barn.  It felt weird to be back in my place as it were.  The pit wasn’t huge but we were hidden which is what counts.  Good show.  Had some friends come out.  It was a 4:00 matinee so we were done and at dinner by 7:00.  Which is rare and awesome.  We had a gathering of sorts in the lobby that night and much debauchery ensued.  Good times.  ’Til bus call the next morning.  Whatcha gonna do?  It happens.

On to Pittsfield Mass.  Another nice burg and beautiful theater.  The show went great and there was a VIP reception following the show.  Champaign and Chocolate flowed like bubbly wine and Hershey bars.  I dressed up for the occasion and wore my San Diego Zoo shirt featuring the intimidating visage of an angry gorilla.  Pure class.  But, hey, it was cleared by the company manager and one has to do one’s best to maintain the grimy allure that is in line with the public perception of a musician.  Nobody talked to the band.  It was nice.

We have another show here tonight.  St. Excuse for the Irish to be drunk in Public Day.  I happen to be part Irish.  Car bomb party to follow the show.  There were three rules stated in the party announcement.  1. You have to wear green to get in.  2. You are not allowed to talk about the show.  3. My wife Elizabeth is not invited.  I applauded all three!  Methinks these kids are having a bit of fun at her expense but I live with her and can see why people in the cast find it difficult to get along with her.  She’s mean and yelly.  Just kidding my love!!!

Could be a sticky tomorrow as we have an early bus call and a 400 mile bus trip.  Then a show. And on. And on.

~ by davejolley on March 17, 2009.