With Intent at the Metaphor - Post Gig Thoughts

Well, we had our big debut as a foursome at the Metaphor on Saturday night (July 10). As previously written, we just added Dan Stuart (Lead Guitar/Vocals) and Mark Schlaefli (Drums) just a few weeks ago, and as of Friday night (July 9) we had a grand total of four practices together as a foursome. In fact, Friday night will be a good place to start this blog.

I was dog tired on Friday. I had planned to take a quick cat nap during lunch in my car, but it never materialized. I got so bogged down in work that before I knew it I was looking at my watch and it was 1:30 pm. My lunch was about 1/3 eaten at that point too. Now, I don't miss too many meals, so for me to lag on my lunch meant I was pretty busy.

So work ended, I went home, packed my gear, and took the long trek to Ed's house in Valley Center. It's about a 35 mile drive from my door to his, and I have to take the always-jam-packed-at-rush-hour Interstate 15 North. That's half of the journey. The other half is the trip from the Via Rancho Parkway exit on I-15N to Valley Center through Bear Valley Parkway and the mostly 2-lane road through the mountains.

It took me about an hour and 15 minutes to get there, and I was already dog tired to begin with. I setup, we got going, and I lost my steam real quick. I resolved not to stretch my vocals, so I did the bare minimum. About halfway through practice, I was too tired to stand, so I sat on my Carvin 600W amp. I never had to sit down before that I can recall, usually I have pretty good stamina when it comes to music. I was struggling to keep my eyes open.

Speaking of the Carvin, for some reason I was not satisfied with the tone I was getting. It seemed a little hollow compared to my little Ampeg B-100R (100 watt combo) and it was a bit frustrating. Fortunately it proved to be too loud for us, so I resolved that night to go back to the Ampeg for the gig.

Anyway, we practiced until 11pm, so we got a good 4 1/2 hours of practice in. But we did not finish our setlist. We spent a good portion going over the songs we were shaky on: "Carry On Wayward Son" (Kansas), "Wonderwall" (Oasis), "Kryptonite" (3 Doors Down), "Hollywood Nights" (Bob Seger) were just a few we had to go over a few times. We seemed a little shaky. I'm sure we were all tired. I found myself losing my concentration and making mistakes, and I feel I know all of the parts pretty well.

So gig day comes and I happened to wake up early - comes with the territory if you have three beautiful children who want to get Daddy up and out of bed. So I got up at 6:30 and turned on the cartoons for the kids. Then my brother-in-law comes over with free Padres tickets, and although I just wanted to relax, the temptation to go and take my two-year old son Adam was too great. So off I went to spend the afternoon at Petco Park. It actually rejuvinated me, it was really cool to go (for the first time I might add) and check out the new park with my son. We had great seats at Field Level, and we were in the shade too.

We left in the third inning (two-year olds can't sit still very long), and I came home, got ready, and off to the gig with my wife Arlain and our daughter Mackenzie. We dropped the other two (Adam and Jessica) off at Grandma's.

I wasn't too sure how we'd do at the gig, given that we seemed to be pressing and cramming the night before. Ed, as always, was relaxed and just wanted to treat this as another practice. I resolved to look at it in this fashion too. I felt ok going in.

We setup and did a sound check. We cranked up a couple of our "shaky" numbers that we weren't confident with (hey, it was another opportunity to practice them), which were "I Want to Be With You" (an original) and the Kansas tune "Carry on Wayward Son". They sounded fabulous. We nailed both of those troublesome tunes, and after the soundcheck we felt really good about our prospects.

The gig started, and I was really relaxed. I was situated on the stage with Mark, and it was cool just to be able to have little side conversations with him about anything during the gig. Ed and Dan were on the floor up front. The gig went great. We stumbled a few times, but nothing really noticeable. After the gig I felt we did great. I was proud. I knew we had a good nucleus, and this performance confirmed it in my mind.

We got a lot of kudos from our family and friends, but there was one patron there playing pool who I spotted during our rendition of REO Speedwagon's "Take it on the Run". This person stopped shooting pool to check out Dan's blistering, note-for-note lead solo. Dan played great and this guy noticed. After the gig, this person came up to me and congratulated us and said we sounded great.

I feel Mark and I make a great rhythm section, we seem to be able to compliment each other very well. In time, I think we'll really be a kick-ass rhythm section. I really enjoy playing with him.

Ed recorded the gig, and tomorrow I get to listen to my copy for the first time. Ed has already told me it sounds great. I can't wait to hear it. And it looks like we may be able to play again this Saturday the 17th. Jim Nemish, the owner of the Metaphor, had a band cancel on Saturday so he offered us the slot. We already have a confirmed date on the 24th, so that will be three straight Saturdays at the Metaphor. Woohoo!

And in closing, I want to reiterate that my 1982 Fiesta Red '57 Reissue Fender P-Bass is The Best Bass In The World. She sounded great throught the Ampeg B-100R, the tone just sat really well in the mix, and it was beefy and it was great. No need for the Carvin. I was in bass heaven. Can't wait to hear it on the mp3. Heck, I can't wait to hear all of us. I feel blessed, what a great situation I find myself playing in With Intent.