...life, it is said, is all about choices. I cannot begin to relate all of the times when I've wished I'd gone to a gig, but hadn't. The reverse is also true. Recently, I've had to miss a gig, but got to see one that I almost did not attend, and here is a brief synopsis...
Stay In?
I have seen High Cornwell, formerly of The Stranglers twice now, in very intimate, local settings. Gushed like a fan boy when chatting with this affable gentleman. Got my picture taken, book signed, etc. Tonight, Hugh plays locally, at a great new club "This Ain't Hollywood". I have nothing but admiration for the man, and will be featuring him in an upcoming installment of "Neat-o Guitarists". But, I have seen him twice, and this is a "school night" (literally), and I should be saving money...all justifications, reasonable, but excuses nonetheless. I have already seen him, I have to work tomorrow, and money is a little tight at present, but, as I type, I feel a pull, a devil on my shoulder, telling me that if I went, I would definitely enjoy myself. Of course, tomorrow would be a different story. Calling in sick, or stumbling around in a haze, moaning about money, etc. So, I won't go. I am a responsible, after all..(also, Hugh has a different bass player this time around...those in the know will know what I'm talking about...)...
Stay Out?
A few weeks ago, I had the pleasure of watching, at a very intimate venue, the fabulous Deadbolt "The World's Scariest Band", from San Diego California, again, locally, and for a reasonable price. After hearing the album "Voodoo Trucker" on my College radio show years ago, I was hooked. When I saw the listing a month or two in advance, I was overjoyed, and immediately contacted my former co-host. We agreed to go out (on a Wednesday, no less) to see the band. The night came, after a particularly nasty day, and I was secretly hoping that my friend would be the first to cry "Hold, enough!", and he almost did. When he picked me up, I was practically half asleep, almost nodding off on the couch (not very rock n' roll, i know...). Regardless, we soldiered on, discussing what time we would leave before even getting there. As it happens, we stayed until the end, had a great time, got to chat with the band, bought the newest CD "Voodoo Moonshiner" and a T-Shirt, "Truck Drivin' S.O.B.", and was in bed by one am. By sheer willpower, I took it easy on the beverages, and had a reasonably fine day following. So, it just goes to show, you never know. Had I not gone, I would probably be kicking myself right now--the drummer told me that they hadn't played in Canada for 10 years, and probably wouldn't for another 10, due to some, erm.."paperwork" issues..I shook his hand and didn't press the issue...
...the same can be said of being in a band myself. Very often, we have played well, both technically, and in terms of entertainment, to very few people, leaving me thinking to myself "I wish more people had come out...". Again, the reverse has happened. A crowded room, a good opening slot, and utter chaos and disorder, and certainly not in a classy way...virtually crawling from the stage to the bar, to get grumpier than I was previously...
...speaking of grumpy, deep down, really deep down, I don't want to hear how good Hugh Cornwell was last night, because I have already seen him, I had too much work to do, and, well, I need to save money. Some people hold things like this over others' heads, so if its any defense, I, along with perhaps thirty other people, saw San Francisco's fabled Avengers this past summer...so there!
