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Happy 2020!!
(This pre-intro added October 2020) – to borrow a line from Dickens, “It was the best of times – it was the worst of times”… Everything was in place to make 2020 the single best year I’ve ever had as a performing musician… over 50 club and concert dates and 39 weddings booked!! But that would all sadly change as the world would get turned upside down by a global pandemic…
WOW!! 2020!!! It’s hard to believe but I’m heading into my 45th year – my 6th decade – as a professional musician!! And my ‘oldometer’ is about to trip… the gear is getting heavier and my body takes longer to recover from the moving, setting up and playing, but when I’m behind the kit and drumming away with this amazing group of people that comprise Funk Evolution, all I feel is pure joy!! I’d like to make it to my 50th year if my health and gear hold together…
There are several major audience eruptions during our performances… As much as I love them I also like that no one treats it like some sort of ‘rock star’ moment… we thank everybody and move on or, on breaks, come out and talk to everyone… I can’t remember where we were playing but we were just standing around talking to people and a guy walked up to us literally speechless… he did manage to say, “You guys… you just… you play like that… then you… you’re standing here… you’re people…” Then he shook his head, shook our hands and walked away… fun stuff.
So is this the final chapter as the name of the page implies?? Only time will tell (hence the question marks)… It’s nice to have financially and, though my body’s feeling the toll, I AM still loving it!!
What may hasten my exit is probably still the crazy load ins like Dango’s!! I thought we were escaping with only one or two nights to deal with this year but he made a stink about us being his ‘biggest draw’ (though his booking agent prefers another group) and how he couldn’t lose us so he got his booking agent to grab about all our open dates… The parking and load in is the worst of any place we play (well, up until we debuted at the Sound Bar in Saratoga in February… keep reading)… I’ve tried to save my back and such by having everything neatly packed and on wheels but that does no good when you have to navigate TWO sets of stairs (one down and one up) in both directions – in AND out…
Newberry is a full 24-foot-ceiling flight of steep stairs… and I’m getting to the Sound Bar… Jeff (Apex Sound) and I help each other a lot… I’d hire someone to help me but have learned through experience that the only person I can depend on to show up and do the job is ME. I can’t blame the other members of the group for not wanting to show up 3+ hours early or hang around for an hour after the gig while I pack everything… I used to say jokingly that the time would come when I’d be paying someone to move everything and playing for free but for the time being I’m on my own and the heavy lifting may be the gauge that let’s me know when my time is up… 🙂
January 2 – Nick is gone and Alex starts in a couple weeks… he’s been preparing for months and says he’s ready… And I had a funny feeling at midnight during our New Years Eve performance when, just before our last set, Mikey D (trumpet) walked over, hugged me and planted a kiss on my cheek… today we got word that he’ll be leaving us to join New York Players… I totally get it… Mike has a wife in another band with a lighter schedule and a young son at home… NYP has a lighter schedule… he knows a lot of the players and the repertoire is more musician friendly – less pop music… and Rocco can be a giant PITA… Best of luck Nick and Mike!! You will be missed!!
January 24 – FE is returning to JJ Rafferty’s in Latham… it’s been a while and I’m not sure what, if anything, has changed but they’re booking bands again…
Upon arrival I immediately remembered the biggest challenge to this place – a giant air return from the middle of the back wall all the way to stage right… it would pump heat while we were setting up then would blow freezing cold air up my back the rest of the night!! I always came away from this place with a head cold and stiff back!! Tonight I had to put my winter jacket on for the last set!! The whole band was commenting about how freezing cold it was so it wasn’t just me…
Alex had a great debut and was very well prepared!! Excellent job!!
Throughout the night we were joined by a couple guest vocalists… Rocco is once again considering adding a new male lead vocalist and a young candidate sang a couple songs he didn’t appear to know… Tameka joined us a couple times… and local legend Tommy Love jumped in on a couple classics… the crowd was decent and seemed to have a good time with all the shenanigans… then I remembered the other challenge – the DJ sound system!!
There are speakers right over the band which is normally the dance floor when there are no live acts… they started pounding before we started and got increasingly louder each time we took a break!! By the time we were tearing down it was unbearable and my head was starting to throb within minutes…
About half way through my packing I noticed Jeff and the PA were gone and thought ‘wow – that was quick’… I packed as quick as I could to escape the unrelenting pounding and moved everything on to the patio where it was quietER but I could at least think… that’s where I found Jeff… he had dragged everything out there to pack because it was getting to him too!! He measured it at over 142db!!! We’re back there next month and we’re bringing noise canceling construction headphones for our visit…
January 25 – FE returns to the most dreaded banquet of the year for the Fuller Road Fire Department banquet a full 13 hour + day for Jeff (sound engineer) and myself with travel…
The problems with this gig are multiple… it’s held at the Albany Marriott who always has a conference in the ballroom going on when we should be setting up in order to be stage dark at the requested time… then we have to wait while the Marriott staff flips and cleans the room which always involves making room for a stage which is usually setup as a speaker platform in another part of the room so we’re always rushing to setup… the good news is that there’s an older black gentleman who handles the stage and he knows it takes us a while to move in and setup and he always does the stage before anything else – regardless of what the various know-it-all banquet managers might tell him… we’re always thankful that HE gets it and we’re sure to let him know how much we appreciate it.
The other thing that makes no sense at all is the time frame… they hire us to play from 9:00pm – 1:00am but we have to be setup and out of the room by 5:30 which means we should be setting up by 2:30 (it’s usually closer to 4:00 before we can get in the room)… The fire department starts their cocktail hour at 5:00 then have us playing until 1:00am?!? No one sticks around for the entire night… that’s like working an 8 hour work shift!! And, for the most part, they could care less…
We were told ahead of time to start slow and keep it very quiet… fine – that always gets a party started… NOT… the room was half empty by the end of the first set… only a few people danced and no one applauded at all… you’re welcome… by the last set there might have been 20 people left in the room and maybe 10-12 were dancing… rather than take a break Rocco decided we’d play straight through to 12:30 and call it a night… no one cared…
During the week I learned that the Fuller Road Fire Department is one of the richest in the area – maybe the state… and they act like it… I’m told this is how they are at conventions and how they interact with other departments… entitled and very unfriendly… Please, hire a DJ next year!! Or let a member bring their phone and a speaker… it’s just not worth it…
February 7 – FE is thrilled to have been asked to perform at the annual Skidmore Winter Celebration at the Saratoga City Center!! Talk about an eventful day…
The area is getting clobbered with a two day one-two punch… freezing rain and ice, then 4-6 inches of snow, then back to ice and rain on Thursday the 6th (I was able to snow blow before the rain came back and the snow got heavy) then another 4-8 inches of snow the 7th…
The snow on the 7th didn’t start until around noon… Julie had another early appointment which we got in and out of and back home but the roads still weren’t great from the previous day (school was closed and our road wouldn’t see a plow until late that night)… the band had a private gig in Saratoga and planned to arrive about 2:30 because the load-in up a 45 degree ramp might be a challenge with all this snow…
The 20 minute trip took about an hour!! There were cars and SUV’s and tractor trailers off the road everywhere (at right is exit 18 southbound with a tractor trailer spun around facing north and the nose of car under the trailer)…
There were several spots on I-87 with trees across the highway – some blocking all 3 lanes!! The worst one looked like something big (like a tractor trailer) had blown through and broke off the smaller limbs making the 3rd lane / shoulder passable… I have a feeling I was lucky I got through before the State Police arrived and shut down the road…
I made it to the City Center but the roads in Saratoga were really bad… I pulled up to the ramp and tested it out with my wardrobe bags in hand… it felt almost dry to my hiking sneakers… they’d shoveled and salted and, other than running out of physical gas pushing my gear up the severe incline, I made it in without incident and even managed to park in the un-plowed lot across the street without getting stuck.
I moved everything onto the stage and started setting up when Rocco texted everyone to standby… our sound guy and keys player were coming from the west (Mayfield and Broadalbin) and all of the roads were closed with accidents!! Then came word that Skidmore had cancelled the event!! Saratoga police had issued the warning seen to the left… I packed as much as I had already setup and prepared to head home…
In the hour since I had arrived the snow had intensified and the ramp was now a ski trail!! My two biggest cases (stacked) load first so I edged them closer to the ridge and started inching my way down the ramp… I didn’t know I could ski but in a manner of seconds I learned as the cases built momentum with me hanging on behind them and I ‘snowplowed’ (I believe that’s the correct ski term) my way to the bottom of the ramp, then proceeded to drag them through the snow to the van and started loading. I’m proud to announce that I made all 4 trips top-to-bottom without ever falling on my ass!! I settled into the van, took a deep breath and set out for home but not before getting stuck – once in the loading area and three times trying to turn onto Route 50 by the Old Bryan Inn… the roads were even worse than when I arrived…
The Northway (I-87) was no better… still barely plowed and I encountered several more areas with trees blocking the road – the worst of which was just north of exit 17 (seen at left)… I made it to exit 18 and got off to detour around the back roads to test the route I planned to send Selena home from work on since it was flat at the intersections and it turned out to be better than many roads I’d been on so I knew she’d be fine… now to try to snow blow this heavy wet snow to ensure she could get in the driveway…
As I neared home, the tops of the mountains turned gold… the sun was starting to come out just before it would set!! I changed into my snow gear and by then the outdoors had a beautiful bright pinkish hue…I made my way to our shed, shoveled out the entrance and tried to open the doors but the shed’s doors were frozen shut… perfect… I threw down some snow melt and went to shovel the decks… then it was back to fighting the shed… the doors were starting to loosen up and after about 20 minutes of pushing and pulling and leaning and kicking I got one door open enough that I could get inside and push open the other…
I dragged the snowblower out hoping I could pull start it since the power was still out so I really needed to get as much done as I could because darkness was coming on fast… it turned over on the first pull… at least that’s working… but this snow would be a challenge… if I don’t wrestle the nose down it rides up the top of the wet crap… and the discharge auger isn’t working again… I thought it might be plugged with packed wet snow already but it was clear… it had done this before and after another 10-15 minutes of poking and cleaning I got it to move snow…
My legs were already screaming from dealing with the City Center ramp TWICE and fighting the wet snow was doing a number on my back… I got the driveway and turnaround clear and was about to make my usual dog path around the house when it stopped throwing snow… this time the combination of packed wet snow and whatever it was battling internally got the better of me… I was done in from the day’s activities and maneuvered it back into the shed in the dark with plans to call Green Management for service in the morning… then I proceeded to damage the bottom of one of the shed doors when I closed it… it must have hung up on the ice that I thought I had cleared in the light of the big snow moon… great… what usually takes about an hour had taken over 2 hours. The good news was that, just as I was trashing the shed door the power came back on, our motion lights brilliantly illuminating the damage I had caused… Now all that was left to do was pound down some soup and wait for Selena to get home…
As for the event… Skidmore initially tried to reschedule it for the next day but we were already booked so they bagged it for this year and will try again in 2021… quite the day.
February 7 – as the temperatures began to plummet to something more normal for February (we’ve been in the 40’s for several days) FE makes is first appearance in several years at the Rustic Barn in Speigletown…
I couldn’t remember why I didn’t like this place other than it was very small… then, as I started rolling in gear it came back to me – little step into a small foyer, then a big door to swing open in order to climb a big step to get in…
Nick was back filling in on keys and a potential trumpet replacement was going to sit in for a few songs… I got to break out another Neil Peart tribute shirt – a 3-d printed overhead shot of his tour kit which I thought was appropriate since one of the owners is a drummer and Sabrina’s boyfriend was coming who’s also a drummer… and they’re both Rush fans so we should play ‘Limelight’ again right?? Nope – Rocco forgot to call it…
I can’t tell you why but, after warming up in the back, I felt great from start to finish… I’m loving the new Danny Carey Vic Firth sticks – I think they’re my go-to stick now… I felt like I’d played very well – not out of control or too loud… a good night…
At the end of the night, the drummer from Soul Provider stopped me as I went to retrieve my cases from the back room… he and some of his bandmates were blown away by FE’s performance… we chatted for about 15 minutes while I waited for the stage to clear to where I’d have room to pack… very nice guy and I look forward to hearing his group someday… I finished packing, started the van and began loading out… the big step has a big lip in front of it and the only way to get things out was to go backwards and pull and slide… what a pain in the ass… I wrestled everything out and was down to my last run – all my drums stacked on a dolly and bungee corded together… I was sliding the bottom plate down the big step when something caught and I dumped them all… Perfect!! I untangled the bungees and reloaded in the phone booth of a foyer and eventually got them out the door… 🙂 Once a year is about all I can handle of this place but I have a feeling the upcoming debut at the Soundbar on Caroline street is going to make me long to come back here… or Dango’s… stay tuned…
February 14 – Happy Valentines Day!! FE returns to Rivers Casino for the first time since New Years Eve and for our first visit back?? What else – more new rules…
Now bands are no longer allowed to have cases on, around or under the stage – cases need to be loaded on a cart and whisked away by security and returned at the end of the night… and they turned an early night into a late night… and sometimes I can make their house kit comfortable and other nights I’m somehow contorted and in pain as was the case tonight… maybe I’m coming down with something… maybe I was looking past Rivers to our debut at SoundBar in Saratoga the next night knowing the hurdles of Caroline Street and the venue that I’d face there… no parking, no loading zone, a full flight of stairs to negotiate AND they expect the stage to be clear in 40 minutes because that is their VIP section when it turns into a dance club as soon as the bands stop… 🙂
February 15 – FE’s debut at the new Soundbar on Caroline Street in Saratoga… no Justin – he blacked out the date and no sub was hired… nice…
Well, I was surprised… before I get into that, let me say this right up front… this should be a dance club with DJ’s AND NOTHING ELSE!! Making this a band venue given these conditions is ABSURD!!! Allow me to elucidate…
Caroline Street, just off Broadway, is a one way hill and barely two lanes… if you’re fortunate enough to find a parking spot somewhere on the street in the same block as the venue, be warned that the Saratoga PD comes through every 10 minutes, writes down license plates and issues tickets if you’re there more than 15-20 minutes…
There are two entrances to the club – BOTH involve long flights of stairs with 90 degree turns half way AND they prefer that you use the narrow stairs as they’re out of site – especially when loading out!! Luckily Jeff was there when I arrived and I was able to get a spot down the hill near the end of the block… I helped him with some of his larger gear then he went to find a place to park while I loaded my smaller stuff – then he helped me get my heaviest cases down to the club – essentially in the basement…
The ‘stage’ was still occupied with several couches and tables as this is the VIP section most of the time… AND there’s a huge obstruction just left of center which must be some sort of support for the building otherwise I imagine they would have removed it… After surveying the situation I chose to setup in the back corner so that the rest of the band could setup where they could be seen by any patrons and I would have room behind me for the majority of my empty cases to power-pack when we were done… oh – did I mention that the stage needs to be clear 40 minutes after the band stops?? That’s so they can turn it back into a VIP section…
We were told there would be a number of bouncers there to help us load out… well there were 5 or 6 guys there… and they DID help move equipment… as soon as I packed a case and set it down it was whisked away… somewhere… someone said a ‘side room’… 20 minutes into my tear down I had managed to get the electronics and drums in cases but here comes all the furniture while the other guys hovered over me… I could sense that they wanted me out of the way and in my haste to pack missed a cymbal but that case was long gone… then they took my racks away (so much for a 40 minute window) so I gave them the empty cases that usually hold them and took my last case and lose hardware and made my way through the dancers to find this ‘side room’ which turned out to be the bottom of the stairwell where we had come in… there was everything in a giant pile!! My stuff… Jeff’s… Mike’s… Rocco’s…
I had to go out the other exit to come in from the top to try to help move gear outside because they had crammed so much gear into the bottom they couldn’t close the downstairs door to ‘keep the heat in’… you couldn’t breath down there as it was… this was their idea of ‘helping with load out’ – shoving everything into the stairwell – out of sight – as if we’d never been there… my plan now was to just get everything up on the street and I’d pack it there because the single dim light bulb in the stairwell wasn’t much help… I was totally spent by the time I got the last of my stuff up and out on the sidewalk where I spent another 20 minutes packing the racks and trying to make sure I had everything. THEN I had to trek to the van and hope i could get down the street to load it…
Jeff was almost done and with any luck I could get the van and get around to the street, pull in behind him while he rolled down 15-20 feet so I didn’t have to load over an icy snow bank… nope… I start to turn down Caroline and here’s 6 cars backed up behind two police cars… after another 5 minutes I was able to get behind him as planned… I carted everything up the hill and tossed it in the back but not before another police contingent showed up and blocked the road… I eventually got out and headed home but this gig is the poster gig for shit shows!! As I said at the start, they should have DJ’s, bouncers and police but NO BANDS!! I don’t know why any band would put their members through this… there certainly isn’t a big upside… no one was chomping at the bit to get in… it’s a dump and the owner himself said he has ‘no interest in it as long as no one gets killed’… and it shows… about the only positive that I came away with was a new appreciation for Dango’s load in (and you know how much I love that)… we have another date here but I’m hoping that goes away… I certainly have no desire to deal with all this again… but I will of course… unless the rumors are true and they’re out of business sooner than anticipated…
February 21 – FE was scheduled to play at Frog Alley Brewing but a couple weeks prior we got word that they had double booked us and Skeeter Creek… we know this drill so we agreed to take the night off… later that day we got word that they want us to play the early slot – essentially opening for them… now we’re back in – the return of ‘Funk ‘N’ Country’ – playing 6:00-8:30 with 30 minutes to clear out (sound familiar?) from in FRONT of the stage (an opening act never shares the same stage with the headliner) but I had a plan and just had to execute it… but I would have a rough night…
I arrived around 3:00 with a parking plan in mind to avoid more icy snow banks like the previous week… to my surprise the hill next to the venue was clear of any snow BUT WAIT… my favorite spot across the street from the venue is open so I quickly snagged it and moved my gear.
I got light-headed a couple time while setting up which I attributed to the combination of a head cold I was battling and standing up too fast from whatever I was putting together and some new medication doc had put me on… with the kit in place I strategically placed my empties within close proximity (part of my expedited exit strategy I learned from Sound Bar) and I was ready for the night.
About an hour before showtime I headed back to the van for my usual pre-gig light supper then returned to start warming up…
I was feeling pretty good as we began our set for a room full of disinterested ‘Creek’ fans but about half way through my calf on my kick leg started cramping… DAMN!! How could I be dehydrated?!? It had to be the new medication… I noticed during the week that I was always thirsty and my mouth was dry but this was my first gig with them in my system…
I got through the first set and Justin was good enough to grab me a couple Cokes… I was feeling better as the break went on and knew the last set would be a short one so I settled back in but it wasn’t long before the cramps in my calf were back… by the end of the set I had done something to my left wrist and was struggling to play in control – maybe it was related to the dehydration… now I had to finish the set AND pack everything up in a heartbeat…
I drank throughout the abbreviated set and was able to finish and immediately started filling cases… the whole thing was a blur… I remember Sabrina giving me time updates… 16 minutes… 13 minutes… 9 minutes… at that point I was already down to just my kick and the racks… I GOT THIS!!! I had already loaded my hand carts with toms and electronics so they were ready to go… kick in its quilted bag and hard case… trap done, kick on top… 3 out of 4 trips ready to go out the door… I broke down the rack, packed each piece into it’s quilted bag and into the long case, rolled up my rug and I was out of there!! Sabrina, Mike, Justin and Jeff were fantastic – rolling things out the side door – yes – the venue also had a plan… letting us exit with equipment out a side door onto the patio rather than try to roll everything through the huge crowd… perfect!! That had to be a record!! By the time I rolled my 2nd trip across the street there was Justin, Mike and Jeff right behind me with everything else!! I wasn’t sure of the time but I had to go back to the Mac Factory food truck to get some take home for the girls and, even with that, I was in the van and headed home at 9:05!!! We must have stopped early but we were clear for SK’s 9:00 start though I wouldn’t like to make a habit of these kinds of ‘fire drills’… now I just need to get the med situation under control…
February 28 – FE returns to JJ Rafferty’s… I arrive to find a retirement party going on and have to wait 30 minutes to setup… not a big deal… 30 minutes later I return to find the DJ is running Karaoke!! I’m told that we can go ahead… Jeff arrives and we start setting up and these wannabe singers refuse to give up the stage… some are so drunk they’re falling into our equipment… one girl almost fell ass first on to Alex’s keyboard while it was on the floor in a bag… I’m sure she would have busted that all to hell…
No Mikey D and his sub never materialized either… apparently he didn’t get the set list until the day before and didn’t have time to prepare…
We eventually setup, played a great show for a decent crowd that included the Albany Emeralds – the Albany Patroons basketball team cheerleaders!!
I broke out my new construction grade noise cancelling headphones to tear down which made a huge difference while the DJ over blew the speakers to no one… but I was able to keep my head from throbbing – mission accomplished!!
February 29 – FE’s debut at Molly O’Bryan’s for a leap year party and a Booze and Bacon Crawl… I was disappointed to discover there was no bacon… probably for the best as I would have eaten myself sick… 🙂
Molly’s is the former Stout and, other than the earlier gig time, not much else has changed… I still can’t get waited on at the bar (4 people looked at me with money in hand and walked away) and the bathrooms would be condemned by most gas stations…
March 6 – FE returns to Frog Alley… odd night… I was able to park down then street then move up right near the door before I finished unloading – right behind Jeff (sound) who was right at the end of the block…
No one around until we were ready to start and we feared for a slow night but the place packed before it was over and we had a great time (other than Justin who was battling a cold… or maybe worse… Coronavirus talk is everywhere)…
Somehow (thankfully) I managed not to pick up any screws in my tires from the construction… a light snow had fallen while we played but all-in-all an excellent night…
Now to get home and grab a few hours sleep before the challenge ahead…
March 7 – up at 6:00am after 4+ hours of on and off sleep… heading for FE’s debut at Mount Snow in Dover, VT… after several days in the 50’s and 60’s (and even 70’s the days right after) FE is set to perform OUTSIDE in the low to mid 20’s!! Long underwear under my jeans, thermal socks with sweat socks over them, a neoprene back wrap for the cold that always finds its way under my hoodie and thermal jacket (and tucked in sweatshirt)… wish me luck…
I followed their instructions and made my way to the preferred parking lot, stopped at the attendant booth and gave the attendant the code word (Funk Evolution) and he had no idea what I was talking about… I showed him our instruction (glad I printed them) and he let me in… I called the number given to me and Alex and Matt came to help me load in… I was only able to drive to about 150 feet from the stage but, for whatever reason, that first trip up the hill with gear wiped me right out… then I muscled the rest on to the stage (up several steps) and began to setup in the shade and frigid cold made worse by the unrelenting winds which negated any affect the two heaters might have had on the stage temp…
The shot at left is after I finished setting up and right before sound check… after this, I went back to the van for some lunch, some rest, some heat and to swap hats for the more heavy duty Carhart one the wife got me for snowblowing with a full face mask which I wore the rest of the day… by the time I was done the only thing exposed to the arctic cold was my hands which I had to warm along with my sticks every 3 or 4 songs… easily the most miserable day I’ve ever spent as a performer.
The horns were freezing up the entire day… Alex on keys wore gloves the entire day and his hands were still frozen… Jay and Jarod (guitar and bass) would take turns warming their hands at the heaters as their knuckles started bleeding before the day was over…
I managed to wrangle one of the heater hoses a few feet from me and, when the wind would let up for a couple minutes, it was almost bearable on stage… but still damn cold!! But that and all my layers got me through the day…
I managed to pack and, thankfully, Alex and Matt from Mt. Snow remained and helped get everything back down the stairs where I arranged them on their wheels and set off for the van – never so happy to be loaded and back on the road for the 2 hour ride home!! A few people stopped to say how much they really enjoyed the band which is why we do these…
And then it happened…
March 14 – it was only a matter of time before the Coronavirus madness started affecting gigs… NBA, NHL, NCAA and now Broadway – all shut down?!? It was inevitable…
Tonight was supposed to be the huge Saratoga Winery St. Patrick’s Day Party but the venue was feeling increasing pressure from community members to cancel…
I haven’t got a good feel for how serious the situation is or isn’t between reading the numbers that one group with certain interests uses to point out how overblown it is versus other groups with different interests with different numbers showing that we’re all doomed… I’m just going with the flow for now – masked and washing my hands all the time… bottom line is tonight’s gig is cancelled along with a corporate gig at Rivers Casino next week (they’ve cancelled everything) and Hunter Mountain’s Last Day Party the first week of April – also cancelled… We’ve also heard from one bride (one of our 39 weddings this year) who has had 26 guests cancel on her already…
During the week that followed we got word that Rocco (our band leader) was headed to Albany Med with all the COVID 19 symptoms… that night he let us all know that the doctor came in with a smile and said he was never so happy to tell someone it was just PNEUMONIA!!! Whew… 🙂
April 1 – it feels absolutely surreal now with schools closed (and just about everything else) and not having gigged in weeks which feels like months… I’m just hoping at this point that the 4th of July will be an independence day for us all but I’m also fearful of how high the death toll will be by then…
April 16 – more gigs canceled… more weddings cancelled or rescheduled… what started out to be the single most lucrative year of our musical careers is now gone…
May 1 – and just like that all the May gigs are gone… there’s talk that we could start playing again in mid-June but that seems extremely optimistic – especially since large groups are still forbidden and, if they are allowed to open, clubs can’t exceed 50% capacity… sit and wait…
Also today my Mom found out the she tested positive for the COVID-19 virus over 3 weeks again in the Pines assisted living facility in Glens Falls where she ended up living thanks to GF Hospital and her insurance company… a positive test, she wasn’t told and no one in the family was notified… AND the caseworker has told everyone that she told my Mom and she forgot!! Also said she had notified my brother and I too… nope… her roommate (who doesn’t know if it’s day or night or where she even is) regularly leaves the room with no mask which is probably where the virus came from because she also tested positive… her family hasn’t been notified either…
A Week Later (May 7) – now it looks like June is gone too… our Governor (who sent COVID patients from hospitals to nursing homes where their patients are now dying and is releasing felons from jails to prevent the spread but putting citizens in jail for not social distancing) has devised a 4 phase reopening plan and restaurants and entertainment are in the very last phase and even then venues are only allowed 50% capacity which means weddings are still forbidden… we’re already starting to see small businesses close their doors… for sale signs are everywhere…
May 22 – the Governor (who has finally admitted that sending hospital patients to assisted living facilities and subsequently killing off a bunch of old people wasn’t a good idea… ya think?!?) has come up with a 4 phase plan to reopen the state… entertainment?? That’s not until Phase 4 so, sadly, my initial prediction of a September return to performing may be accurate… it may even get pushed back further…
The Second Week of June – no gigs on the horizon… the Governor has put the state in Phase II but entertainment isn’t until Phase IV… a couple places tried to do some distanced concerts in cars or have a single entertainer on their decks and patios because the restaurants were allowed to begin serving but only outside… ‘friends’ of these places turned them into the state liquor authority who threatened to take their licenses – then did a quick about-face and OK’d single acts… meanwhile protesters and looters are elbow to elbow and nothing is said… I’m confused…
I’m depending on school income more than ever and managing to get by… I set the kit up at school, cleaned everything and started doing some playing again only to discover that I’ve lost a ton of muscle and stamina in 2 short months that I’m struggling to regain… hopefully I can bounce back in time for the first gig but who knows when that might happen…
To make practice a little more interesting, I’ve setup my mics, 8 track recorder and GoPro and started tracking my progress in videos of cover tunes I’m putting them online – calling them…
1. China Grove – The Doobie Brothers
4. More Today Than Yesterday – Spiral Staircase
6. Spinning Wheel – Blood, Sweat & Tears
8. Ballet For A Girl In Buchanan – Chicago
9. Frankernstein – Edgar Winter Group
June 19 – my first gig since that frigid day outside at Mt. Snow back in early March… yes – a band gig!! NOT Funk Evolution but a fill-in gig… I can’t divulge much because NY is still only just beginning Phase III so this venue is in violation and our Governor has asked anyone who sees something like this to turn them in and they’ll lose their liquor license and, subsequently, most likely, their business… BUT this is a private family run resort atop a mountain – far removed from any traffic… not frequented by locals… they don’t advertise as their business relies strictly on their guests – many of which have been going there for several GENERATIONS and return the same weekends each year… the band didn’t expect to be working this soon because of the state restrictions so the call caught them off guard as well and their drummer was only a couple weeks removed from successful shoulder surgery… so I’m gigging!! Tonight and next Friday as well if they don’t get turned in and shutdown…
The gig itself is an easy load-in… no mics or electronics so it’s an easy setup and quick tear down… very relaxed… I’ve filled in with them before… and I’m scared shitless!! If I learned anything from my attempts at the Quarantine Covers it was that taking a couple months off did a number on my muscles, stamina, timing and skills in general… licks I’m sure I would have breezed through had I attempted them immediately after our last gig where a struggle and required several attempts over the course of a few weeks to get back in any kind of playing shape which was frustrating and scary… then I couldn’t remember how everything went back in the cases, struggled to lift them back into the van (and paid for that when I went to bed that night)… I quickly went through their song list during the week and crossed my fingers…
I got in and setup… the guys started to arrive and we chatted while were were getting everything in place… the staff and guests were all masked… we had ours and were told we didn’t need to wear them while we were playing – only when we left the stage and were around the guests… I can deal with that… we launched into our first set and I hoped for the best… it was a light gig volume wise and I used sticks I haven’t used in 5 or 6 years but it felt totally comfortable and I eventually stopped shaking after about the 7th song… I made it through the night, packed and was home before I knew it… in the end it felt great to be playing with live people again… I’m going back next Friday and two days later FE has their first rehearsal – a marathon refresher with a big dinner in between… I’m getting some confidence back… I’m ready!!
July 1 – well we had a glimmer of hope as NYS entered Phase III of reopening with Phase IV on the horizon and the Governor approving live entertainment at outdoor venues in Saratoga… BUT I’m hearing the Saratoga City Council has decided that THEY will not allow it – limiting groups to singles and duos and capacities to the point where there is no point… for example, Dango’s was told that the maximum number of people they can have on their deck is 65… we asked him what’s the average crowd when we play there and the owner replies that it’s 600-650… they’ve also told wedding venues that their capacity is also limited and that guests must remain seated at their tables at all times other than to go to the bathroom… and NO DANCING…
Broadway itself – the great white way – has decided to remain shutdown until January if that’s any indication…
Other than a couple of weddings at private residences in August, we may not see a gig until next year… MAYBE… schools and business models may have changed forever and could possibly signal the end of live entertainment as we know it… a couple of communities have announced their reduced summer concert schedules but have met heavy resistance from their respective communities and have cancelled some dates already… Vermont has announced that they are following the standards set by Massachusetts and New Hampshire and their public schools will have no gym, no art or band!! I must say that if it weren’t for band, I’m sure I never would have stayed in school… sad times are these…
July 11 – tonight I filled in with Aged In the Hills at the LG Escape campgrounds outside Warrensburg… they had originally planned to have us in a large tent in the middle of a field – well away from everyone but decided (because of severe weather rolling through the area) to move us inside to the pavilion where we usually play but well inside (not on the corner stage) in case the storms blew hard… then they roped off the area 20 feet all around us so no one could get near us as we played… I don’t think any of the 10 or 12 people we saw had any intention of approaching us but they seemed to enjoy the music…
July 17 – well so much for ‘living the dream’… COVID is making a nightmare out of 2020… just about all FE’s gigs have been cancelled through the end of October… the virus counts are spiking again which I personally attribute to the number of visitors from places with huge numbers and who refuse to follow any protocols set forth… I expect the state to shut everything down again before the end of the summer – maybe even before August!! I went shopping very early yesterday morning and passed no less than 6 cars with Florida, Georgia and Alabama plates… but I’m sure they have been taking every precaution… 🙁
The Governor now says people aren’t allowed to go to bars and just drink – they have to order food… in response, several places started selling ‘Cuomo Chips’ for $1 / bowl (they were later contacted by the state liquor authority)… then he followed up by saying it has to be a MEAL… a few days after that he was on TV insisting that ‘chicken wings are NOT a meal’… sorry – some people can’t even afford chicken wings currently…
It’s a bad situation – getting worse by the day with more and more places saying that, if the state shuts everything down again, they’re closing their businesses for good… many people aren’t masking or distancing…
Next Saturday FE has it’s first gig since quarantine began back in March on the patio at Frog Alley Brewing… I have my mask and am bringing spares for bandmates… we’ll see how that all goes…
July 25 – my first FE gig since the first week of MARCH!! I believe this was Scott Halliday’s debut on trumpet too!! And NO PICTURES (sorry)!! I know I was struggling to play when I started putting together my ‘Quarantine Covers’ but did feel a little better towards the end and at FE’s first practice of the year a couple weeks ago but I was definitely anxious in the days leading up to this one… masks, distancing, no dancing allowed, weather, city violence… what would this night be like and would this be a glimpse at the future of live music??
Frog Alley Brewing continues to add to what was already an incredible venue – especially given their location in Schenectady… the owner is single-handedly rebuilding an entire block and it looks amazing!!
FE has played there numerous times – inside and out – but, under the new state guidelines, the bands have been moved to what I have to think is a temporary patio and staging area BEHIND the building itself (though they do have indoor restrooms and what appears to be a permanent bar)… decent stage with a big tent over it though it sits on a bit of an incline which I’ll come back to… the load in was a challenge because we had to drag or just carry everything across loose stone but if this style of performance becomes a thing (judging by the construction fence it’s all very much still under construction) I could see everything being blacktop and concrete down the road… unlike the original patio on the other side of the building which gets shade from the building itself, I was in direct sunlight the entire time I setup and up until about 45 minutes before we started… this took a toll on me right from the beginning but I felt much better after I finished setting up, sound checked and melted into the van’s AC to eat a light supper and lots of liquid…
I warmed up for a good 20 minutes and my hands felt pretty good the whole night but the warmup did nothing for my legs… more in a bit… it wasn’t a great playing night for me as I forgot parts of songs and some arrangements which I’ll chalk up to a 4 month layoff but all-in-all it felt great to be playing live again!!
The venue was doing it’s part (though the online reservation system I hear leaves a lot to be desired)… all the staff was masked and they were on-the-spot to remind anyone who left their table that they needed a mask… my wife made some masks with musical designs on them for me and anyone who wanted one in the band… 🙂 I saw a steady stream of hot dogs and pizza going to tables so the Governor’s food directive is being followed – at least until he determines hots dogs or pizza aren’t meals…
The audience seemed happy to comply – probably just happy to be out and hear a live band… I could see several people fighting the urge to dance but the night went off without a hitch… very attentive and appreciative crowd making for a double encore night… not bad under the circumstances… and Scott on trumpet was ready for it for sure – fantastic job!!!
Oh yeah – the incline of the stage… any time a drummer sets up and plays on an unlevel surface it changes all the angles that he / she performs at… for me this causes back pain (which I usually don’t have) and various calf and hamstring issues because (on this night) the incline caused my core to lean forward and my foot angles on all pedals was off… by the end of the night I was cramping and had some muscle spasms in my right calf (definitely NOT dehydrated) but I played through it but, as I said, it wasn’t one of my better nights…
I said at the beginning of the year I’d like to make it to my 50th year… now I’d just like to get through this one…
August 8 – FE’s first and probably ONLY wedding out of 39 that were booked for this year… this couple / family booked a private farm and have said right along that they were going to have a reception and, despite having a number of guests cancel and having fired their original caterer only a couple weeks prior (because they would not allow their staff to serve the food and would only drop everything off that morning), they partied like everything was normal!!
Rocco had told them that he and the band would be social distancing and not mingling or eating with the guests… he rented those straps and bases like they use in the banks to create isles and placed them 6 feet in front of the stage… the dance floor wasn’t as far back as requested but it worked out…
When I arrived it was hot and the sun was beating down and would be on me until it went down… the new caterers were setting tables – some masked but most without… same with the flower people… the food contingent looked to be masked during the preparation but they did a buffet line and only a small percentage of guests were masked… about the only place we could have picked up anything would have been the bathroom trailer but we were all sure to wash before leaving of course…
Two FE members had opted out of the wedding which was understandable… earlier in the day Frog Alley Brewing made the news because the week after we played someone from Saratoga went their who was COVID positive… these are the people that will ruin it for everyone else… fortunately on this night Steve Atwood jumped in on guitar again and Nick returned on keys – both doing a fabulous job…
The party felt like a pre-COVID FE party… the crowd was into anything and everything we played from the first note of the mini-set before the bridal party had even appeared!! And it was even hotter for the 3 song mini-set since the band was instructed to wear black jackets… we got through the quick set and went off to hang out with each other for a couple hours and eat before the party started… as they lined up the bridal party for introductions we noticed that the groom and groomsmen were ALL in dress shirts and suspenders – their jackets were long gone… then so was mine…
It was totally dark by the time we played and we all were amazed at the number of stars that were visible with no lights in any direction to obscure their view and a few shooting stars and even satellites… the weather was almost perfect… it was warm but comfortable and the fan even gave me a chill at the start and by the end, everything was just damp from the night air… but we came, we played, we distanced, we took our chances but gave ourselves the best chance at remaining healthy and put on a kick-ass FE party!!
As it stands now FE has one more booking on a Thursday night in a couple weeks back at Frog Alley if the news of the COVID exposure doesn’t shut them down… there are a few more weddings remaining on the calendar but Rocco fully expects them to cancel soon…
August 27 – FE returns to Frog Alley Brewing for a rare Thursday night appearance… the socially distanced (sparse) crowd came early and many were still there for the final note… I have to think the crowd may have been better had their online reservation system not listed the event as ‘sold out’ when it wasn’t even close… band wise it was great to have all the regular members on stage and to break out the new tunes we added at the last rehearsal… sadly, unless something drastically changes, this will probably be our last show of the year as we fully expect the remaining weddings and private parties to be cancelled…
Yep – the September weddings just cancelled…
WAIT!!! Frog Alley has booked us once a month for the rest of the year!! It’s not a typical FE schedule but we really appreciate the work – thank you!!!
September 18 – FE returns to the only place having regular live entertainment – Frog Alley Brewing!!
In compliance with the latest NYS guidelines which stated that live music was NEVER approved as part of Phase IV – only ‘music that’s incidental to dinner’ and cannot be advertised or have pre-event ticket sales… so with that in mind we couldn’t tell anyone we were playing and they couldn’t advertise so we all just show up and hope for the best…. and the place was packed!! This time it really was SOLD OUT and mostly to large groups of people who were masked and remained at their tables for the evening. An energetic and very appreciative crowd (that included former FE trumpeter and front man Mikey D and his wife Sam in the front row)..
October 1 – boy do I miss playing full time!! Yes – I miss the income but I really miss my bandmates and the magic of performing with them before a screaming, crazy audience. And I think my body is breaking down even further at 60 rather than healing from various ailments which has me starting to wonder if, by the time we ever get to play regularly again, my body will be able to take it… of course it doesn’t help that I took a bad fall about a week ago…
Meanwhile on he music front… A group of promoters, venue owners and musicians filed a class action lawsuit against the state of New York over all the restrictions still in affect regarding live entertainment… a few days ago the NYS Supreme Court ruled the the NYS Liquor Authority’s rules banning promotion of events and pre-ticket sales or cover charges were UNCONTITUTIONAL!! That amounts to a moral victory I guess because venues and restaurants are closing their doors for good… Broadway is still shutdown indefinitely and Cirque-De-Solei has filed bankruptcy!! Last week the Metropolitan Opera House in NYC announced their plans to reopen… in SEPTEMBER of 2021!! At this point even that feels highly optimistic BUT I also learned a couple days ago that our Governor’s emergency powers expire… in APRIL… that gives us some hope for next summer…
October 10 – a coworker at school has tested positive for COVID!! It took 3 days for the county to contact trace me (yesterday – October 9th) but I am now in quarantine until the 20th along with the entire Tech department!! I can do some things remote but nothing that’s going to help keep Chromebooks repaired and in stock as we’re running low and can’t keep up with the number of devices being returned… some have hardware issues, some have been damaged – even intentionally – and some just want a newer, bigger, nicer one… I had plenty of inventory to cover grades 1 – 12 then the elementary Principal decided iPads wouldn’t work and needed Chromebooks for Kindergarten AND PRE-K!! What’s a 4 year old going to do with a Chromebook?!? Oh well… mine not to question why…
I’ve been feeling fine other than my usual change-of-season runny nose and post-nasal drip that makes me cough… now the county is calling multiple times a day to make sure I’m here and quarantined as instructed and I have to check my temp twice a day for them… our thermometer said I was 98 last night and 98.5 this morning but after getting out in the beautiful day and cleaning the inside of my van I was running 99.5 which later hit 99.9 but came back down to 99.5, 99.1 and is now back to normal after a couple cool beverages (hey – it was hot out there today)… fingers crossed…
Band wise we’re down to ‘meeting’ once a month at Frog Alley ‘for food and drinks’ until the end of the year… everything else up to and including New Year’s Eve has been cancelled!!
I read this online and it sums it up for most of us…
I know everyone’s industry is affected, but here are some not-so-fun facts on the live entertainment industry:
* Legendary New York Metropolitan Opera has just announced its closure until September 2021. Their musicians, choirs, stage techs, etc., along with the rest of the industry have been without pay since last April.
* Broadway is closed until mid-2021
* 6 West End venues THINK they can open right now.
* Cirque du Soleil went bankrupt and cut over 3500 jobs.
* Feld Entertainment (family tours – Disney on Ice, Monster Jam, circus, etc.) has permanently fired 90% of their workforce.
* Live Nation and other concert promoters have laid off a majority of their employees.
* Talent agencies who plan & book concerts, appearances, festivals, etc. have laid off over half their employees.
* Cruise boat artists are unemployed and amusement park productions have no idea when they will be rehired.
* There are no concerts, festivals, or tours scheduled until 2021 and if they don’t perform next year they are likely to go bankrupt & may never happen again. No Jazz Festival, no Coachella, no Bonnaroo, no EDC, no Glastonbury, no tours, no ballet, no opera…. it’s all gone.
* It is predicted that 90% of independent music rooms could close if this continues.
* Artistic and musical organizations of all kinds – choirs, theaters, orchestras, dance companies, festivals, music rooms, not to mention all technical and independent suppliers – all are trying to find alternatives to succeed in working.
* Over 12,000,000 people work in entertainment production, we are not insignificant and this industry can’t reopen until mass gatherings are allowed. This doesn’t include the additional dismissal of techs and openers, maintenance staff for bar rooms and staff, safety and thousands of vendors.
I’ve heard / read where several local venues have said that, if there’s another full shutdown, they will have to close permanently.
So when you see your entertainment friends begging you to wear masks and stay home, understand that we are watching, helplessly, our industry collapse before our eyes because not enough people care about taking the necessary means to reduce the spread. This is personal to us… a good chunk of my own but some people’s entire livelihood depends on social solidarity and we will not accept to be labeled ‘non-essentials’.
Broadway announcement that it will remain closed until May of 2021 may coincide with the Governor’s emergency powers expiring in April… I don’t see it improving anytime soon and personally know of several musicians who have sadly totally retired…
My latest personal brush with COVID has me even less optimistic and has me wondering if any of us will ever play full time again…
October 23 – well I was released from quarantine without developing any symptoms and returned to work a few days ago… just in time to load all the gear back in the van for FE’s monthly visit to Frog Alley…
It’s still very weird with no dancing allowed and limited capacity but it’s sold out each time and the crowds have been very enthusiastic and cooperative!! It’s great to be playing but the lack of frequency is showing as my body sadly continues to break down… even a prolonged warmup and plenty of fluids well in advance and during the performance couldn’t keep my bass leg from severely cramping – once to the point where I had to stop playing the bass for several seconds (which probably drove our sound guy nuts)… it got better for a while as I found a comfortable position then got worse later on as the calf grabbed again followed by my inner thigh and once more late in the night when I had a brief bought of muscular atrophy (I think that’s the term) – where the calf cramped again and my ankle felt like it was locked and I couldn’t bend it in any direction… it eventually wore off but I need to do some research… this can’t continue…
A huge ‘thank you’ to Frog Alley and their staff and all the people who continue to come out under these unusual circumstances – we all really appreciate it!!
November 11 – and the Governor of NY just put the final nail in the coffin of our only (once a month) gig by going after gyms, restaurants and bars – the latter now having to close at 10:00pm!! We’re holding out hope for some summer 2021 gigs but that’s not looking good either at this point… there are 3 potential vaccines which will surely get tangled up in politics and the early indications are – even after they’re administered – everyone will still need to mask and distance so there’s no immediate progress but hope for down the road… 6 months?? A year?? TWO years?!?
So that’s how 2020 is going to end for just about ALL musicians – at least in NY state… FE has canceled all rehearsals since there’s really no point in breaking in our new singer and refreshing material that we’ll only need to do all over again when it finally looks like we might play again…
I can feel my body breaking down from the lack of regular equipment moving and drumming… I’ll be 61 in March and wonder if I’ll be able to fully come back from this prolonged downtime or not… I’m hoping to setup my gear back at school and make some tweaks to the setup and see how that all feels… and do some playing… maybe even some more ‘Quarantine Covers’… time will tell… guess I’ll just enjoy the holidays as best I can…
November 28 – my optimism regarding my school’s ability to continue in-person learning has been shaken… originally I thought if we could get through Thanksgiving then Christmas and still be in good shape come mid-January we could finish the year without going remote… now I’m not so sure…
The Elementary Assistant Principal took an informal poll while wishing students and staff a happy Thanksgiving – asking how many were staying home… most were NOT!! The numbers continue to climb because a large number of people don’t want to follow directions… while in school, the kids are fine but when left on their own or with guardians who are indifferent there’s nothing the school can do…
My family made it through Thanksgiving but it was strange not having everyone together at Mom’s with her now in assisted living… Julie’s sister has been staying with us since June… my brother Larry and sister-in-law Terri usually hit Mom’s then go to Terri’s sister for late dinner but this year they took a complete premade dinner to my Aunt Claire’s… and my wife Julie has missed all the family gatherings for the past 3 years – maybe more – because of her pain and heavy doses of medication… this year she had a good day and was able to be up and enjoy the meal prepared by our new cook… 🙂
Selena is completing her Associates Degree currently and will be pursuing Culinary Arts starting in January so she naturally stepped up to make Thanksgiving dinner!! She created the following menu:
- Turkey and gravy of course… last year Mom discovered an easy alternative to a full bird and everyone loved it so we returned to that again this year… all we do is get some premium carved turkey breast and some turkey gravy, put it in a small roasting pan and bring up to temp… and it’s delicious!!
- And she said we had to have Corn, Yams and Cranberry Sauce in the pink glass dish in the last picture below which was handed down from my Gram – a wedding present to her in 1928, then to my Mom who wanted Selena to have it because ever since she was 7 or so and started helping ‘Nana’ with special dinners that glass had to be used)…
- Stuffing until it came out their ears (that’s not what it was called)
- String Bean Casserole Bake
- Brown Rice Risotto with Mushrooms and Oregano
- Creamy Roasted Brussels Sprouts and Quinoa Gratin
- Honey Mustard Brussels Sprout Slaw
- Dinner Rolls
- Apple Pis
- Pumpkin Pie
- Chocolate Cream Pie
She did a fabulous job and suffice it to say that no one was ready for pie right away… 🙂
Taking a break while the first phase cooks…
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The finished products…
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Next up what may be the hardest Christmas yet… no baking and delivering 1200 cookies… no family gatherings and Mom’s in assisted living with no visitors… and limited gift funds from lack of band work…
December 17 – last night into today we were expecting a snow storm… the total amounts started at 3-6 inches then jumped to 8-12 but settled at 6-10 when I went to bed… when it was finally letting up about midday we had 37 inches!!! The weather people weren’t even close on this one… I did hear one explanation that made sense… apparently the National Weather Service relies heavily on data collected throughout the year from passenger flights of which some 30,000-40,000 have been cancelled worldwide… Whatever the reason, had I known it would be this bad I would have cleaned us out at least once during the night… Selena and I spent 5+ hours shoveling, snowblowing and raking roofs!! What a storm!!
Band wise, nothing’s changed… COVID cases continue to climb and even with TWO vaccines starting to be administered, there is still no sign of any hope for spring performances… many April weddings are already rescheduling or canceling and more and more businesses are sadly closing for good…
Next up – only my 2nd or 3rd New Year’s Eve at home in 43 years… 🙁