San Francisco: Chance & the Choir’s first show in Northern California
The drive up was pretty copacetic. We saw 13 cops on our way up, but none of those sightings occurred WHILE we were driving 90+.
Arrived in SF about 5 ish, and found rockstar parking just around
Inside the club, nary a soundman was to be found. This “nary” feeling lasted for oh, an hour and a half. But fortunately,upon his arrival the soundman was a pretty kick back gent and knew his stuff.
The club itself was small, but not annoying small: good small. It had two levels, the 2nd akin to a home with a large loft. It was a longer club than most, as the width was what most accounted for the place being small. Which meant that the stage was deep and would provide some problems for setting up our gear (It was much more suited to a trio than a 5 piece.) But we managed well enough during our soundcheck, with Bob being on his opposite side, my piano facing a wall (and unable to use my seat), Steve and Mike’s guitars sort of at odd angles to where they had to stand. After a half a song for soundcheck were ready for the show.
Before us was San Francisco’s Recliner. These guys were fun, very much embodying the spirit of edgy 70’s rock and roll. The guys were super nice too which, in my opinion, makes ALL the difference in the world.
After us was a Brit, 70’s style trio called The Thieves. Impressive players, and very tight to boot. You could tell these guys had been playing together for a while. I didn’t have much time to hang out with these guys, but Sam was very friendly in the email correspondence he and I had about their gear (The Thieves let us borrow their cab and bass head and cab.) Super cool of them.
Our set time was pushed back maybe a half hour or so, and we guickly got our stuff up onto the stage. Right before we hit song 1, I turned to everyone and pulled them in towards Adam’s kit so I could say a few words about our 1st show together. What I said was between me and the boys, but suffice to say it had to do with ignoring the jitters of a first show, and just enjoying yourself. There was more, but you get the point.
The set:
(All these songs available here)
The boys played very well, and I think I was not only just happy with their performance, I was very suprised and grateful for the response we got from the San Francisco audience. They were warm, and very receptive.
The club manager said, and I thankfully quote: “We want you guys back as soon as possible, on principle alone!”
Nice.
Afterward, we just hung out with the crowd and the other bands til the club closed. We also had the good fortune of fans letting us stay at their places: Adam and I stayed at the Triathlete store owner friend’s home (Andy & Jenn); Steve & Bob stayed over a new fan’s place (Roar!) and Mike stayed with his wife in a hotel because they were making a day trip of it the next morning. All of this was most fortunate because, well–San Francisco, go figure–it started raining before the night even ended. So, having to drive back home to Los Angeles (yea, we were actually considering it) in the rain would have sucked bar none.
THE NEXT DAY
The next day we woke up early… I’m talking 6 AM ish so we could beat SF morning rush and get back on the godforesaken South 5 and head back home. Since Adam and I were staying in Sausalito, the view in the morning was STUNNING, and driving over the Golden Gate with almost no one on it is just surreal!
We quickly snaked through downtown, past the club (retracing our steps) and headed back home. Our first stop: Ingram Creek…exit 441, southbound on the 5.
THE TEASE FOR THE NEXT VIDEO BLOG
We pulled over for gas and grub. It was 7:45 AM, and soon we would be sitting in a dingy coffee shop/denny’s style restaurant, where the food actually was good but the place, um, well it smelled like a urinal cake. Can’t put it any more plainspoken than that.
But just before we ate breakfast, as we were filling up with gas, I looked over at an old man filling up his 80’s style camper van. I noticed he was listening in on a crack up conversation I was having with Bob, so I said, “Good morning sir!”
And the old man, white haired, and peering over his glasses, said to me…
[TO BE CONTINUED during Video Blog #3]
