Lava Lords July 2005 gig Schedule

Here is what we got going for the month of July !
Hope to see you there. We are really excited
and just "happy to BE HERE" !!

Friday July 15th, 2005
the Short Stop - Coon Rapids, MN
8:30 - 12:30 pm
NW corner of Foley & Northdale

Friday July 22nd, 2005
American Legion Hall - Fairmont, MN
8:00 - 12:00 pm

Expectations minus Reality equals Frustration !

We kind of stole that quote from Corporate America. It is so true. As a band and as individual members of a band we all have high Expectations for our ourselves and our music. We Expect to be able to pick any song we like from the seventies Rock era and if we like it be able to play it as a band. We Expect to be able to show up to a show and not suck. We Expect our gear will perform as it is supposed to. We have been finding out that the Reality of it is that there are some songs we just cannot perform at a high level.......yet. We Expect to be able to sing and play like Geddy Lee on any given RUSH tune. We Expect to be able to play any of the guitar leads, bass lines, vocal harmonies or drum solo's. As a band we have pretty much been on an even keel or perhaps even flying high for the last 5 years but the last two Wednesday night practices before our July 15 Short Stop and July 22 American Legion gigs were FRUSTRATING !!! Maybe it was knowledge that the gigs were upon us and we were "out of time" as far as polishing any of the songs further. Maybe it was the fact we have been going at it pretty hard for the last 6 months. Maybe being in a band is a lot like being MARRIED!!! Somedays are better than others. We were having hardware issues. Channel #1 on the P.A went out. The CUZ's main vocal mic was losing it's punch. The CUZ was having tube problems in his amp. Kinger wasn't happy with the skins on a couple of his drums. The CUZ had recently spend thousand's on a beautiful GIBSON but dropped it TWICE in practice due to the strap not cooperating with the layout of the new guitar. (some minor damage by the way) We were all having issues in our "real life" with stress in our careers. After playing together for 5 years we finally have gotten to the point where we have MORE SONGS on our list than we can play in a single night. (when did THAT happen ????) We have been struggling to finalize which songs make the cut and which ones get the axe. Lonzo finally came to the realization that HE CAN'T SING "RADAR LOVE" worth a damn!! As a band during these two WED practices we lacked energy, disagreed on various things, got moody, got pissed at our gear, never got in any sort of groove, had NO FUN ! and generally just sucked all the way around. Maybe this is EXACTLY what we needed !!!!!!

July 15 Shortstop pics

Here are a couple pics from our most recent Shortstop gig! You should be able to click on the image to get a larger view of the pic! Feel free to add "comments" or "flame us" in the comments button at the end of each blog entry! Kinger, no good shots of you at this gig. What is up with drummers getting no respect !!!

Fairmont Legion July 22 Pics

Here are some pics from the recent Amercian Legion gig in Fairmont. The gig itself was AWESOME. This was the largest crowd we have ever played for!! The biggest dance crowd we have ever had also. There were many 1975 Fairmont High grads in attendence. Thanks Bruce Simmons for the B & W pics and Todd Miles for the color pics.

a Tale of Two Gigs

We played our two July gigs and had a great time at BOTH !
If you have been reading this blog you probably realize that sometimes after a gig the "recap" is quite lengthy. Sometimes late at night after a gig there is the notion to "blog right now" "strike while the iron is hot". This type of blogging could potentially capture the passion of the night.
This type of blogging could also get bogged down in detailed minutia or beer induced blathering embarassing idiocy which would have to be redone in the morning anyway. (maybe that is what this is anyway ????) After all who really wants a song by song analysis of whose vocals were pitchy and who came in at the wrong time during any given song. BORING ! (unless the masses YOU out there want this) We played the Shortstop in Coon Rapids and also the Amercian Legion in Fairmont. Here is the "Tale of Two Gigs"...

Shortstop = we have played there a dozen times
Fairmont Legion = first time ever playing there

Shortstop = drive one block from Kinger's and unload gear
Fairmont Legion = drive 3 HOURS and unload gear !!

Shortstop = no stage, bar patrons using tables where band is to set up
Fairmont Legion = has stage with plenty of room

Shortstop = plenty of waitresses, but DON"T MOVE OUR TABLES !!!
Fairmont Legion = Is there a waitress in the house ???

Shortstop = no dance floor
Fairmont Legion = huge dance floor

If there is a point to this it would be that each gig you get to do is different. Each venue has its perks and "issues".

"a LIVE GIG is worth 3 practices"

"a LIVE GIG is worth 3 practices"
We are giving credit for this quote to Mark "Bedford " Nelson banjo player Jameson Drovers. Not sure if this is a Bedford original or if he got it from somone else but this quote ROCKS !!
You can practice as much as you want but once the gig starts their is no turning back.
If someone forgets a part or comes in at the wrong time you can't just start the song over. You can learn way more during a single live gig. lighting, sound, hardware, reading the crowd, appeasing hecklers, tuning on the fly, getting the set list to flow, playing the songs at the right time of the night, getting dancers, keeping dancers, trying to honor requests, remembering all the songs and lyrics, don't get "down" if you botch something, fighting off muscle cramps and dehydration during the live show, not DRINKING TOO MUCH beer!! also DRINKING ENOUGH BEER !!!!! hmmmmm........the list goes on and on.