May 6th, 2007.
Last night's show was at the legendary Mine Shaft Tavern. The first story we heard about this place wasn't exactly what you would call settling. More like entertaining, or even terrifying. When Ji was on tour with Ruby Dee and the Snakehandlers back in March, the lead guitarist, Jorge Herada regaled him with a memory of the Tavern.
Apparently, when Jorge played there with Dragstrip 77, the barkeep gave the band a stern pre-show warning. "Listen. If people start shooting their guns outside, you have to stop playing." This of course implied that at some point in the recent past, someone had started blazing away with rowdy gunfire, and the band had actually kept on playing. But hey, this was way back in the mid '90's, so what could possibly happen now?
As it was, just an great evening of music. We were lucky enough to play with the talented brothers Rothschild that comprise the core of Round Mountain. They were joined by John Gagen on bass, plucking away in his usual stellar fashion. As you may recall from past entries, or just by scrolling further down, we have some very similar photos of the tremendous musicianship of my dear friends. They started off the evening and played a fantastic set of their original world-folk.
When it came time for us to play, honestly I was nervous. And it didn't really get any better throughout the evening. It wasn't until we spilled into the bar after the first set and I got real feedback from some of the audience members, that I began to feel better. I don't know, it was so hard to gauge the way the listeners were taking it. Ji and I are definately used to more intimate settings. But that is what this trip is about: growth and learning. And when it came time to count out our cash onto the bar, the booker and bartender extraordinaire, Andrew, gave me some of the best verbal support of the trip. On our approach to the bar, when all was packed up, he hailed us with, "Hey, that was cool." Feebly, I began something like, "Really? I didn't know if my music would go over..." but he firmly cut me off with, "What? You think people were going to start stabbing each other?" When I smiled, half in amusement, half in acknowledgment, Andrew continued.
"Listen, I was a customer here before I was a bartender, and a bartender before I was a booker. And let me tell you, it was no great shakes having the same old, tired bar blues every night. I wanted to try to change things, to make this place different. So that's why I started booking different kinds of music. And let me tell you something else. People in Madrid have ears. They know, and they will always surprise you. No, tonight was good."
And with that, like with the best of parents, Andrew let me know that there just wasn't any room for self-doubt or assumptions. You do what you do, you give it out, and you just keep on giving. Where that gift lands or what people do with it isn't really any of your business. Your only business is to do what you love with a wide, wide open heart. Thanks for the lesson in trust, Andrew. You rock.
Last night's show was at the legendary Mine Shaft Tavern. The first story we heard about this place wasn't exactly what you would call settling. More like entertaining, or even terrifying. When Ji was on tour with Ruby Dee and the Snakehandlers back in March, the lead guitarist, Jorge Herada regaled him with a memory of the Tavern.
Apparently, when Jorge played there with Dragstrip 77, the barkeep gave the band a stern pre-show warning. "Listen. If people start shooting their guns outside, you have to stop playing." This of course implied that at some point in the recent past, someone had started blazing away with rowdy gunfire, and the band had actually kept on playing. But hey, this was way back in the mid '90's, so what could possibly happen now?
As it was, just an great evening of music. We were lucky enough to play with the talented brothers Rothschild that comprise the core of Round Mountain. They were joined by John Gagen on bass, plucking away in his usual stellar fashion. As you may recall from past entries, or just by scrolling further down, we have some very similar photos of the tremendous musicianship of my dear friends. They started off the evening and played a fantastic set of their original world-folk.
When it came time for us to play, honestly I was nervous. And it didn't really get any better throughout the evening. It wasn't until we spilled into the bar after the first set and I got real feedback from some of the audience members, that I began to feel better. I don't know, it was so hard to gauge the way the listeners were taking it. Ji and I are definately used to more intimate settings. But that is what this trip is about: growth and learning. And when it came time to count out our cash onto the bar, the booker and bartender extraordinaire, Andrew, gave me some of the best verbal support of the trip. On our approach to the bar, when all was packed up, he hailed us with, "Hey, that was cool." Feebly, I began something like, "Really? I didn't know if my music would go over..." but he firmly cut me off with, "What? You think people were going to start stabbing each other?" When I smiled, half in amusement, half in acknowledgment, Andrew continued.
"Listen, I was a customer here before I was a bartender, and a bartender before I was a booker. And let me tell you, it was no great shakes having the same old, tired bar blues every night. I wanted to try to change things, to make this place different. So that's why I started booking different kinds of music. And let me tell you something else. People in Madrid have ears. They know, and they will always surprise you. No, tonight was good."
And with that, like with the best of parents, Andrew let me know that there just wasn't any room for self-doubt or assumptions. You do what you do, you give it out, and you just keep on giving. Where that gift lands or what people do with it isn't really any of your business. Your only business is to do what you love with a wide, wide open heart. Thanks for the lesson in trust, Andrew. You rock.
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