Hey everyone -
My band Stonetrout (think Grateful Dead meets Bonnie Raitt) will be playing at the Saturday night party - April 2nd - on the last night of the annual NORML National Conference. NORML is the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws. The conference is at the Cathedral Hill Hotel in San Francisco on Van Ness at Geary, across from Tommy's Joynt. Info can be found at the NORML web site: www.norml.org (http://www.norml.org).
The Saturday night party is a benefit ($50 for 2 drinks, food and 2 bands). It will be in the Grand Ballroom of the hotel (not really that grand, just a big hotel hall room) and will feature us and the Danny Brant Band (great blues rock) a top notch P.A. and even a light show! The 60's lives! Come on down and check it out if you are in the area. Big Fun!
Bill, tgo
So how many people are they expecting?
Probably around 300-500. (But there's room for more).
Bill,tgo
Sounds like fun. Hopefully the crowd won't be too straight-laced!
Dave:
I don't think that will be a problem. (LOL)
Bill, tgo
So I guess the crowd'll be all fired up and the band'll be smokin'?
Rich
They'll be rolling in the aisles!
Bill, tgo
If the media are there they might even put something in the papers.
Rich
Rich:
If you make it there, be sure to come over and say high.
Bill, tgo
Will do, B tgo,
Sounds like there will be a big crowd. Hope the singer has a good set of pipes.
Rich
I hope they're supplying munchies, too.
So you have any band memebers that play the water pipe?
Brad
Food & drinks supplied. No one in the band plays water pipe onstage, but the drummer can make a big bong sound!
Bill, tgo
For dinner are they serving corned beef hash, or pot roast maybe?
Do you guys play any Doobie Brothers songs?
Rich
Hah!! I didn't think of that; songs appropriate to the occasion. Is Don't Bogart Me on the set list?!!
If you forget to bring matches you can just ask your neighbor for a Bud Light.
Rich
These puns are absolutely smokin'!
Gotta love a joint like the Alembic Club.
Brad
*Cough, cough*
I'm sorry guys, I choked on that last one
Mike
So Bill, tgo
How did the gig go? Did you guys do Illegal Smile or other appropriate tuneage? Do you remember Saturday night? Enquiring minds want to know...
Mike
While I have performed John Prine's wonderful Illegal Smile as a solo for more than 25 years, we don't do it as a band. We did, however, open with Comin' into Los Angeleeeeeze, bringin' in a couple of keys, don't touch my bags if you please, Mr. customs man, mannnnnn
The party was fantastic. Great sound, a great psychedelic light show, dare I say ... FAR OUT!!!!
I'll try to get a picture or two up in the next few days.
There was, unfortunately, one downer. As some may remember, a few months back I bought an SF-2 off of e-bay. The first time I brought it to reheasal, my bass player tried it, fell in love, and wouldn't give it back. So I bought another off of e-bay (the broken Nicki Sixx SF-2), brought it up to Santa Rosa, had it fixed, traded it to my bass player for a check, and got mine back. I was looking forward to this gig as my first time playing out with the SF-2 in the effects loop of my Boogie. I brought my gear over to the hotel Friday morning as my wife and I stayed at the hotel through the weekend attending the conference (I moderated a couple of panels). The rest of the band showed up Saturday night.
Upon arrival, my bass player asked the ancient philosophical question: If an SF-2 falls off a pile of stuff on a loading dock and hits the cement floor 10 feet below, will it still make noise? We plugged it in and found that the answer is no. The result?
My bass player sounded great at the gig,
I am still waiting to play out with my SF-2 in my system, and
I will be getting off the Hearn Ave. exit on 101 the next time I drive through Santa Rosa to once again bring the Nicki Sixx SF-2 to Alembic for repairs.
Oh well, one of these days I'll actually get to use my SF-2. Maybe it's the gods ensuring that my SF-2 has its public debut along with my in vitro custom Further.
Bill, tgo