The Gig that Wasn't

I was asked to sub with ETA for a gig at the VFW in Hyde Park.  I met Kyle at his house and we rode down together.  At this point I'd quit Soul Kingdom so we were able to discuss that at length.  However, when we arrived the bartender told us there was no party there.  Kyle tried calling people, but no word.  Travis and Adam arrived and they both tried calling people too.  It appears like there was a party but it was at the VFW in Morrisville, and they had a DJ.  Not good! I was surprised to learn that this was the 1st time this had ever happened to ETA.

Travis headed home, but Kyle, Adam and I stopped in at Lost Nation for food & beer.  Still a good night.

BWSC at the Elk's Club

Big Whiskey Social Club's gig at the Elk's Club on 6/12/15 was interesting.  Setup was easy, since we went in through a loading door.  Andre was raised up behind us.  I didn't get a monitor - it was on the other side of Stu.  The gig happened after a long day of grading exams.  I was so tired by the end of this gig.  Only like thirty people were there.  We won't get another gig there.  I only have three gigs left with BWSC.

SET ONE
Drink in my hand - Stu
Watermelon Crawl - Stu	Something weird happened at the end.
Little less talk - Stu
Cocaine Blues - Stu
I hold on - John
Sweet Home Alabama - Andre
Born on a Bayou - Stu
Sunshine and Whiskey - Andre	We didn't get the right order of words, but it didn't matter.   Just follow Andre!
Big Green Tractor - Stu
Friday night - Andre
God bless Texas - Stu
Six days on the road - Stu

SET TWO
Neon light - Andre
Cruise - John
achy breaky heart - Stu
Something about a truck - Stu
Country Girl - John
Folsom Prison - Roger
Can't You See? - Stu
How I got to be this way- Bill
Take a little ride - Stu
Wagon Wheel - Stu	too slow
My kind of night - Andre
Booze Cruise - Stu

SET THREE
Parking Lot Party - Andre
Save a horse - John
Homegrown Honey - Stu
Aw naw - Bill	Started on the wrong pitch.  Couldn't hear well.
Sweet Caroline - Stu
5-1-5-0 - Stu
In the AM - John
Turn the Page - Stu
Boys 'round here - Stu
Red Solo Cup - Andre	skipped
Family tradition - Stu
Honky Tonk Be-donk-e-donk - Stu

SET FOUR
Copperhead Road - Stu
Ain't Worth the Whiskey
Chicken Fried
Coming to your City - John
Gimme Three Steps - Stu (FILL)
Good hearted woman	skipped
Move it on over (G) - Stu	skipped
That's alright momma - John	skipped
Call me the Breeze - John	skipped
Who do you love - John (FILL)	skipped
REPEAT
REPEAT

Pops Concert

I was blown away at the students' enthusiasm for dressing up in costumes!  Anyhow, here's my post regarding the concert: http://pruemusic.weebly.com/mr-prues-band-blog/pops-concert-recap.

It says this:

I was definitely surprised and impressed with all of the movie costumes!

STAR WARS
We started out of tune, especially the intro and every time we jumped up in the melody.  A bit messy at the coda.  I didn't think we'd be able to hear the trumpets when they got the melody alone, but they got there.  Dynamics are definitely present.  We can do even more though!

ROCKY
I surprised our recorder - I meant to tell him that we strung the songs together!  I love hearing applause at the beginning of the piece.  That surprised me!  Trumpets were quite loud, although I think it was mostly due to one trumpet holding up his bell.  Love the dialogue between brass & woodwind.  We started slowing down a bit in the end section, but fixed it.  We must have been loud, as I could not hear the fire alarm going off.

LOTR - the Two Towers
Nice dynamics.  Good following on the dynamic changes.  The oboe solo comes through nice and clearly.  Trumpets played triplets instead of 16th notes (we're the only ones who would know that!)  It builds up nicely to the gong.  I wish the gong was bigger and a bit lower-sounding.  Nice sax melody on the slow, quiet part.  French horns & flutes did well with Gollum's tune.  I conducted it pretty freely, and the group followed well.  The ending worked out nicely, especially in the timp & trumpets.

SHAFT
Good rhythm in the beginning from the tenors & clarinets.  We may have been a bit fast - flutes/clarinets had a hard time with the quick rhythm.  Nice bongos.  Good entrances from everyone.  Nice roll & fill.  Trumpet echos a bit weak.  Great trombones.  Nice staccato melody.  Awesome trombone countermelody!  Good dynamics in Soulsville.  Good bass solo.  Good balance throughout.  Nice 16th note rhythm in the trumpets, and I love it when the flutes & 1st clarinets come in!  Trumpets, we needed to work on those hits more - you seem hesitant.

DRY YOUR TEARS, AFRICA
I was surprised at how well-balanced this was.  We missed a lot of the rhythms, but the chorus covered for us!  Well-done watching on this.  Great ending.