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September 11, 2005
Weekend Upstate
Hope everybody had a good weekend... I did. I went a couple of hours up the Hudson River to visit my old grad school buddy, Damian (he of the infamous lost week in California last year for our other buddy Dave's wedding). As usual whenever I have the chance to get together with any of my Boston U crowd, hilarity ensued. Maybe it's because we don't get the chance to get together often, but I swear to you every time Damian and I manage to hang out, some adventure follows. Some of the details of this particular adventure will never see the light of this blog... but here's the parts I'm willing to share.
The most exciting event of the weekend was scoring a "roadie" gig at a live band's show in Albany. Turns out, Damian's neighbor Pete is the lead guitarist in a band called "Ten Year Vamp," which is based in Albany but plays throughout the northeast. Pete's a great guy - you get a read off of people pretty fast sometimes, even as a first impression -- and I have to say is one whale of a guitar player. As it turns out, they had a gig Saturday night at the club that is sort of their home base -- the Bayou Cafe in downtown Albany. They'd asked Damian if he'd show up and shoot some video footage for them at the show (keep your eyes on their site, in another week or so the stuff Damian shot might well be up there), and knowing that I will never turn down a chance to see live music, he said that he'd be there if he could bring me. And since I had my still camera with me anyway (just in case), we decided to double cover the gig -- Damian shooting video and me on the other side of the stage taking still shots.
We got in before the show to get set up, and I had the chance to meet the band. They were all really nice, and gracious "hosts" for us. And I have to tell you, after watching them rip through three roaring cover sets last night, I think I'm going to be working some girl someday by bragging that I knew 10YV back in the day. I've been digging on live music since I was in college, and I have rarely seen a local band just own a crowd the way Ten Year Vamp owned the crowd at Bayou Cafe on Saturday night. They had a couple hundred people just eating out of their hands all night long. Seriously - I dug the music, but it was their showmanship and how much the crowd obviously was having a great time that really made the experience for me.
Like I said, Pete is a really talented guitar player -- he's a graduate of the Berkelee School of Music -- and can lay down blistering solos. (They way he handles the guitar on the fiddle parts on "The Devil Went Down To Georgia," you'd think it was his work to begin with, written for gutiar, not fiddle.) The whole band are really talented musicians -- it gives them a flexibility to do a number of different styles and genres. And Debbie, the singer, has an energy and bounce that to me recall Gwen Stefani. As a former singer myself, I find myself really awestruck whenever I see a performer who has mastered the art of working a crowd -- and Debbie can transfer her own energy to 200 people and then amp them all up to 11. So much of rock is about more than the music -- it's all in the presentation... and I'm telling you, these guys have "it". This was as impressive an "undiscovered"/local band as I've seen in a very long time.
When they're out at the clubs, they play cover sets - give the people what they're familiar with and are going to dance to, keep everybody happy (check out their promo video). And as great as their show was last night, what I am really looking forward to hearing is their original material; their first CD is going to come out in November... and if I enjoyed them that much when they're playing other people's songs, I can't wait to hear them playing their own stuff.
So the evening ended up being a total blast. Since we were shooting them, we stayed for all three sets. And I have to admit, I learned a lesson in between the first set break and the second set break. When women come up to you in a club because they've seen you shooting the band and talking to them between sets, and ask, "Are you with the band?".... your answer should never be, "Not really, I'm just shooting them tonight." The only correct answer to this question is, "Yes. Yes, I am." Such an answer will get you much more attention than you would receive without it. While I messed this basic answer up during the first set break, I recovered from said mistake by the second break. Let that be a lesson to any of you who are planning on showing up at a new band's gig to take pictures of them. Anyway, the energy was fantastic, the music was oustanding, and I have a new favorite local band to go see. Best of all, they're genuinely nice people who it's easy to want success for. (Special thanks to Pete for not only giving me a ride back home, but providing me with an emergency impromptu post-show place to hang out and crash. Really appreciate it, brother.)
Some photos of the evening below:
Ten Year Vamp @ The Bayou Cafe, 9/10/05
Pete and Debbie rocking the Bayou crowd
Mark (rhythm gtr) and Chad (bass)
Debbie of Ten Year Vamp @ Bayou Cafe 9/10/05
A newly svelter Mudge (26 pounds lost so far, 34 more to go!) says, "Why yes, I am with the band."
Comments
oh you boys! ;-)
Posted by: jillian at September 12, 2005 01:41 AM
nice shirt
Posted by: Jenn at September 12, 2005 02:16 PM
Mudge, u look great in a black tube top!
Posted by: Marquette Hoops at September 12, 2005 02:59 PM
Anyone else catch the painful mug on the guy in the background? What did you do 'mudge? Step on his toe?
Posted by: The SpinMD at September 12, 2005 03:02 PM
'mudge, why is it that her eyes seem to be saying "I'm drunk, take me home big fella," and yours seem to be saying "How am I going to hide the body?"
Posted by: The SpinMD at September 12, 2005 03:46 PM
Tell Damian I said hello.
Posted by: Brent at September 12, 2005 08:22 PM
dude, way to go on the weight loss! now let's go get some burgers and beer at the Old Towne ;-)
-eth
Posted by: Ethan McCarty at September 13, 2005 11:23 AM
Mudge, what's that? On her finger... A wedding ring! Oy.
Posted by: JewsForDamon at September 13, 2005 05:26 PM
Um, sorry dude... it was just a regular ring, bro.
Posted by: Curmudgeon at September 13, 2005 05:32 PM
Looks like a wedding ring to me :)
Posted by: Corey at September 13, 2005 05:43 PM
You know, looking at your pic, you kind of remind me of Patrick Swayze.
Posted by: M at September 14, 2005 09:24 PM
M, I knew that was you! Or wait... is this Jet Li?
Run into Wormser over at "Gerogetwon" lately?
Posted by: Curmudgeon at September 14, 2005 11:03 PM
Patrick Swayze? Yeah, I think you're right:
http://rosye.blogspot.com/2002_01_01_rosye_archive.html
'mudge is the Swayze lookalike on the right :-)
Posted by: The SpinMD at September 15, 2005 09:36 AM
Ahh the brings back my own memories of crewing for bands back at uni..getting drunk with the likes of Captain Sensible ( The Damned), The Happy Mondays,James, Goodbye Mr McKenzie ( who a very young Ms Shirley Manson sang for..and I am not telling what she did to a very young Mcrob either....) and many more I care to forget...Never pulled any birds though lol....gaun yersel Mudge man!
Posted by: McRob at September 15, 2005 02:54 PM
Mudge,
FYI, less Jet Li, more Long Duk Dong (Sixteen Candles). Wormser has refused to return my voicemail messages.
Send me an email -
M, Gerogetwon '92
Posted by: M at September 15, 2005 07:47 PM
We just came across your blog. Thanks for the kind words! The CD is sounding great - keep in touch and we'll get you one when it's finished.
See you soon...
ps... you have a cameo appearance in the upcoming 10YV Episode 11! :)
Posted by: Ten Year Vamp at October 3, 2005 02:25 PM
