Weekend review

Merry Moon’s Day dear reader! Are you all … erm … both … well, YOU (yes, you) fair of face today? Only 186 days left before we say goodbye to 2010 AD. Interesting note about June 28, it is the only date in the year where both the month (6) and the day (28) are different ‘perfect numbers’. (OK, so perhaps ‘interesting’ is a bit of a stretch)

I do hope you enjoyed the silky smooth vocal stylings of the lovely Ms. Melody Gardot from my last post. Ain’t she just the bee’s knees?

So, I’m sure you’re dying to hear about the show and my weekend. Who am I to deprive you of such information? Surely, I shan’t be keeping secrets from YOU, shall I?

Friday evening was my last chance to get in a bit of practice (read: hunker down and learn) the songs for the show on Saturday. After my work day, when I arrived back at Chez Moi, I grabbed the list of tunes and went down the line alphabetically, jotting notes (get it, ‘notes’?) regarding the key, any significant and/or unexpected changes in the song structure and what note the song starts on (for my part).

About half-way through the list, I started getting bored (I know, terrible, isn’t it?). I started again from the bottom of the list this time, to give those X, Y, and Z titled tunes their fair shake at being at the head of the line. Again, the method grew tedious and I MAY have slacked off a bit again as I approached the mid-point of the list.

Somewhat satisfied with my knowledge of the greater portion of the list, and resigned to ‘faking’ my way through the few numbers that I didn’t have under my fingers, I called it an evening and moved on to other matters.

Saturday morning was devoted to things non-musical; namely, picking up my new dining room table and chairs. I had enlisted the help of the lovely Ms. D (she who has an SUV). We went to ‘breakfast’ (it was about 10:30 AM) at the renowned International House of Pancakes and then to Value City Furniture to get the aforementioned dining room set.

I was a bit surprised that the table and all four chairs were packaged in one box! Luckilly, the thing slid perfectly into her vehicle and off we went.

Now I just have to put it all together (presumably a much simpler project than the entertainment armoire).

Back to Saturday: I had hoped to have a couple of spare hours to work on the bits of the songs that were stymieing me, but ended up running behind schedule. I only had time to shower, pack my gear and head over to the guitar player’s house to help him load up and get going to the venue.

We managed to make it to Gurnee, IL by about 5:30 PM and began setting up on what turned out to be an oppressively hot and humid day. The band started the first set at around 7:30.

Private parties have their plusses (the band is in no way obliged to be responsible for the number of people in attendance or promote the event) and minuses (the audience usually includes a good portion of OAPs and young children, both groups never pleased with the volume or song selection). But that contingent typically leaves early and the dedicated revelers are all that is usually left by the second set, and those folks are generally well into their cups by then, making for a more receptive and interactive group.

Our last number ended around 11:30 I’d guess, leaving what I thought was only the breaking down of the equipment, packing it all back into the vehicles and calling it a night. However, the guest of honor wanted to continue the party at his residence so, after the hour needed to load-out, we headed over and played a short acoustic set.

It was about 3:00 AM when we finally called it a night and started back to the guitarists. Four o’clock found me lying on his couch, my phone’s alarm set for 7:30 so I could get up and get back to civilization in time to watch the Germany/England World Cup match.

What did YOU do this weekend, dear reader?