I had thought we were supposed to open for these two gals (appropriately called push 3).....Melanie and Kathryn. well they went on first at about 10:30!!! can you believe it, people were still up? they were fabulous, very unique approach to their instruments, song structure and lyrics. Melanie played a spacey solid body electric cello using it like a bass and plucking but also very good with a bow. Kathryn, who did most of the singing, played a 58 thunderbird turquoise stratocaster and had the largest and most complex foot pedal thingy that I have ever laid eyes on. I had foot pedal envy pretty bad. Truly she had a big one.
They produced an atmospheric shimmering sound that could then get so rich it sounded orchestral.
Melanie's husband Craig, is a guy we have all known in the Vancouver music scene for 25 years or so. He is a bloody genius when it comes to sound tech and was always employed and sought after for doing sound for various groups and tours large and small. It was so great to see his smiling face. In my estimation the sound guy is every bit as important as anyone else in a musical effort. Not only is he a smart and highly efficient professional he exudes an air of calm confidence and joy. So he was our ears in the audience. He has been doing this work so long even watching him move through the room is brilliant. Accustomed to working in all manner of crowded spaces where there are customers and waitresses piled high with heavy trays, the odd drunkard lurching about, he has developed a kind of balletic modern dance so he can move about the room away from the stage and then back to the stage to tweak a knob and back out into the crowd again smiling, giving us feedback and encouragement not unlike a trainer might give to his fighter.
And in a sense it is a bit of a battle we wage as we occasionally rise above the squeal of the cappuccino machines, the cooks fouls shouts, the bartenders,the people yelling at each other in conversation.
So.
Then it was our turn.
By that time Mz N was so out of it on pear cider (I'll just have one). Out of the corner of my eye, I saw her weaving off towards the vomitarium. We found her later in the men's washroom (it's hard to read some of those washroom symbols), hosed her down a bit and propped her on her chair in a little corner of the stage and she was good. Perked right up I must say, did some very inventive singing, playing, and dancing. I'm pretty sure it was dancing.
It was a tad tight on the stage for sure. And I still don't really think it was my fault that Martin slipped off the side. I'm pretty sure he was on something. He usually is eh. Not that I blame him.
Did you know that the robin is a protected species? Well it is. One may not interfere with the robin in any way, especially the robin's nest and young. You could face arrest if convicted of molesting a bird of this ilk. Martin phoned me this morning to let me know he got home ok after we took him to emergency services cause of his arm. But mainly he called to tell me about the protected status of Robins. I kid you not.
There is a longer story here but I will refrain from getting into it deeper at this point. Albert will probably get his stitches out in a couple of weeks. I think he looks more manly with the stitches over his eye. I don't see why that guy hit him when it was Martin who fell onto his table. Does that make sense to you? People. The cops were really nice actually and just kind of calmed things down a bit but suggested we should maybe call it a night. Charmian fortunately slept through most of that and since we had gaffer taped her to the chair she still retained a certain perky look. So apparently they want us to come back anytime. Also the waitress that pulled the insane guy off Albert is going to be ok too.

so. I think that went well.
can hardly wait to hit Victoria with this group.
cb