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The Ovation Fan Club | ||
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Random quote: "Jazz... isn't that just a series of mistakes disguised as musical composition?” - David St. Hubbins of Spinal Tap |
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rick endres![]() |
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Joined: August 2005 Posts: 616 Location: cincinnati, ohio | Okay - we've been listening to all the horror stories about the WORST gigs you've ever played. Now, at the suggestion of my friend Bob (dark bar), let's start a new thread about your BEST gigs. One of mine was my first band's first real paying gig. It was February 20th, 1972, a Sunday night. Like CSN, it was our second gig ever, and we were scared s@#tless - but it turned out great. Super great. Just that Thursday, we had played our first gig ever at the Owl in front of human beings other than our family members. It was at a little hippie folk-rock club in Clifton across the street from the University of Cincinnati's main campus. Open mic night. We went over so well that the manager, Sandy Nassan, asked us to come down and play the feature set on Sunday night. Sandy was an excellent guitarist and had a fairly successful recording career for a while. He had a thick bush of curly black hair and a droopy black mustache. He lives out in Arizona now last I heard, and still has the bushy hair and mustache - except now it's snow white and he's the spitting image of Mark Twain. :) Anyway, we were pumped. The Owl was like the local Mecca for live music. Some really good people played there. John Denver stopped in whenever he came through town. There was a band that played there regularly called Melange. They had a guitar player from Covington, Ky. (right across the Ohio River) named Craig Fuller. You may have heard of him; he started a band called Pure Prairie League and wrote a little song called "Amie." There was another kid from Covington named Adrian Belew who ended up playing with David Bowie. This place had such an atmosphere. Stone walls, a great little stage with a nice sound system and a great lighting rig, too. The Owl was in the basement of another folk club/restaurant called Hoagy's. The Family Owl was reminiscent of some of the great Greenwich Village clubs - all scented with candles and incense and patchouli - and, um, other less legal substances. :D They had drinks and wine, cheese and meat trays, soups, and light fare. And beautiful hippie waitresses - one in particular, a gorgeous, green-eyed, golden-haired vixen named Sandy who I had my eye on (and she on me, as it turned out). At any rate, I got this bright idea to buy a handful of quick radio spots on WEBN, the local "underground" album rock station. They played the kind of music we liked. We just drove over, walked in, and asked to see the manager. He was a cool dude, not much older than us, with long hair and bell bottoms. We bought five 30 second spots for $150.00, and he put them in strategic time slots. Really nice of him. That couldn't happen today. WEBN is still around, but it's owned by monster superconglomerate Clear Channel; they don't even want to talk to you unless you're ready to drop half a million bucks on advertising. So the night of the show comes around and we're curious to see if our advertising had any effect. It did - to say they least. People were lined up around the bloxk to see this unknown acoustic rock band called Rosewood play its second gig ever. We got really nervous, but it didn't show, and by the second song we were really getting into it. At one point each of the three of us took a solo turn. I retuned my guitar and played CSN's classic "Guinevere." It had an electrifying effect on Sandy, who stopped dead in her tracks and just stared at me. I found out later that it was "her" song: "Guinevere had green eyes (golden hair), like yours, M'Lady, like yours." We played six sets that night (we were scheduled for three); they turned the house out to let another new crowd in and stayed open three hours later than normal. The Owl had a really good night and so did we. We got paid twice, and between that and tips, we each made around a thousand bucks that night. It was awesome. It got even more awesome for me later when Sandy took me home with her. We sat on the edge of her bed and I played "Guinevere" again, just for her. I got as far as "...green eyes, like yours..." before it got x-rated, so we'll leave it there. :) Anyway, Sandy and I lived together blissfully for two years, and the band was a regular at the Family Owl until it closed five years later. Unfortunately, all that remains now is a parking lot; the University of Cincinnati is building new dorms on the site, I believe. But it was a funky place, and those were good times... ![]() That's us at the Family Owl on that night - I'm in the middle with my (then) new Ovation guitar, mutton chop sideburns, and Elton John glasses (went to contacts shortly after this). What you can't see are our hip and with-it bell bottoms! :D | ||
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kitmann![]() |
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Joined: April 2010 Posts: 1227 Location: Connersville, Indiana | I have two: The first one was when I was playing here in Connersville at Brian's Bookstore open mic night. I had written a song called, When Skies Turn Grey, after Karen's father Walter passed away. They were very close. Their entire family is afraid of storms so I wrote the song. I had not played it in public yet. Karen was off work that night so she came to the show. I always explain what each of my songs is about, or why I wrote them before I play the song. As I started playing the song, the entire place went silent. As I was singing I looked and Karen was crying. I could not look at here until the song was done because I knew I wouldn't have been able to finish the song. Then after the song Karen came to the stage area and gave me a kiss as the crowd cheered. The second one was. A few friends of mine and I were opening at the White Water Campground. Really nice place, great stage, lights the whole campgound in the grass waiting for the show to start. Well when it was my turn, I again was playing When Skies Were Grey, and like always I explained what the song was about. After I played the song, there was a young girl in the front crying. I asked her what was wrong. She said her father had just passed away and the song reminded her of him. I could tell that she had down syndrome. And I felt like Shit!!!! So I had to think of something quick and I asked her if she liked Elvis. She stopped crying and said yes. So I played Steamroller Blues for her. After I was done with the song I came off the stage and she came up to me and gave me a big hug. So I signed a one of my cd's a gave it to her. After that, every time I performed at the campground she was always in the front row. For as long as I live I will never forget those two times. It was just like gold to me. | ||
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rick endres![]() |
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Joined: August 2005 Posts: 616 Location: cincinnati, ohio | Connersville - practically in my backyard. We usually ride the train from Connersville to Metamora around Christmas. Very nice, touching stories. That must be a great song. Any links to it so we can hear? | ||
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scott lamperd![]() |
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Joined: November 2004 Posts: 367 Location: Eaton, Indiana | Many good ones to remember. One was on the 4th of July several years ago. I was working with a Gospel group that day. We had a early morning concert in Mich and a evening concert in Ind. Both were at campgrounds. I sang a song at the Mich one entitled the Statue of Liberty and received a standing ovation which lasted for several minutes. We then went to Ind and played for a crowd of 2000-2500 people. What an blessing it was to see people stand to their feet, praise God, and honor this great country that we live in. Very thankful scott lamperd b c (before computers) | ||
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stephent28![]() |
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![]() Joined: April 2004 Posts: 13303 Location: Latitude 39.56819, Longitude -105.080066 | Don't remember many of the details because of the times.. :rolleyes: :cool: :D But we were the opening act for several shows with The Guess Who when they played a series of venues throughout the southern states of Texas, Louisiana, etc. Lia (my wife) got to run the sound board a couple of nights cause their regular sound guy was sick. I got to jam with them on a couple occasions. Good times....Good Memories! | ||
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nikon4004![]() |
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Joined: September 2008 Posts: 1281 Location: Ohio | Nothing as amazing as those, but fulfilling non the less. YEARS ago in HIghschool, a girl I know was doing volunteer work at a nursing home, asked me to come a play for a few of the residents. Word got out that therewas "LIVE"music in the main room, the place was packed. ALl night it was jut requests, and what I didn't know I fake and aked the to sing along. One of he nurses let me know that a few of the people were bed ridden and couldn't get out so we stopped in a few rooms and played for them. TO me, better than being a rock star! | ||
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CanterburyStrings![]() |
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Joined: March 2008 Posts: 2683 Location: Hot Springs, S.D. | The one that stands out in my mind is the gig I did with a couple of "my kids" at Pine Hills Retirement Community. This is beautiful place with a great view of the Seven Sisters range. They have everything from senior housing to assisted living. Anyway, my friend Jay came up to hear us with his family. He was pretty sick at this point, using a walker, but he wanted to hear us. There was a lady in the audience who requested "Rose of San Antone". I told her that I played rythum on that song but the lead player wasn't on stage at the moment. I looked at Jay and he just shook his head. So I played a couple more with the kids, and when I looked up, Jay was approaching the stage. One of the kids handed him a guitar and we played "Rose" and "Steel Guitar Rag" and several others. Jay and I finished out the show and the audience LOVED it. That was the last time Jay played on stage. It was a week later that he went into hospice. I still feel so honored that I was the one who got to play with this fantastic guitarist and wonderful human being for the last time. | ||
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FlySig![]() |
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Joined: October 2005 Posts: 4065 Location: Utah | Alison, that is a touching story. | ||
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kitmann![]() |
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Joined: April 2010 Posts: 1227 Location: Connersville, Indiana | Rick here is link to the song When Skies Turn Grey. I hope you enjoy the song. It's from my Cd A CRY FOR HELP http://soundclick.com/share.cfm?id=9428538 When Skies Turn Grey. Hey Rick next time your going to be in town let me know and we can go have coffee. kitmann32@gmail.com | ||
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alpep![]() |
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Joined: December 2001 Posts: 10583 Location: NJ | my father had just passed away and my sister was set to get married. after much soul searching she decided to go through with the wedding. It was about 1.5 months after my father's sudden passing but all involved decided it was a go. my sister asked me to sub for my dad to give her away blah blah she also wanted me to sing a the wedding song by Paul Stookey I never heard the song and scrambled to find someone to get me a copy of it. this was before you tube someone had the sheet music so I got a copy of that and someone else made me a cassette tape of the tune (remember cassettes) I was not too happy with the tune, not my style not my thing and was not sure I could pull it off. i practiced it until the big day. the priest asked me to sing it at the rehearsal so I brought out my martin d 35 and sang it in a rather low voice. he told me it was great just to stand closer to the mic I was on the altar at the pulpit trying to get guitar and vocal into one crappy church mic well got to the church early sat my martin up on the altar and went to the back of the church waiting for my sister. walked her down the aisle and stayed did a few reading etc. well now is the time for the song. I grab my guitar strap it over my tux and look over at my sister. she sitting with her soon to be husband looks at me and mouths the words "SING LOUD" I laugh and step up to the mic to give a near flawless performance of a tune I hated. we still laugh about that one | ||
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rick endres![]() |
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Joined: August 2005 Posts: 616 Location: cincinnati, ohio | Nice stories, everyone. Al. Book. | ||
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elginacres![]() |
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Joined: July 2005 Posts: 1609 Location: Colorado | I'll admit only to being one of the guitar players... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z4mTTigqTSA | ||
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rick endres![]() |
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Joined: August 2005 Posts: 616 Location: cincinnati, ohio | Originally posted by kitmann: I will indeed, Kit. With the Holidays coming, we may be heading down that way soon.Rick here is link to the song When Skies Turn Grey. I hope you enjoy the song. It's from my Cd A CRY FOR HELP http://soundclick.com/share.cfm?id=9428538 When Skies Turn Grey. Hey Rick next time your going to be in town let me know and we can go have coffee. kitmann32@gmail.com | ||
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mbedard![]() |
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Joined: December 2005 Posts: 247 Location: Seacoast NH | My best experience was not necessarily a true gig persay. My uncle, Paul Leblanc, passed away at a relatively young age in 1997. He was everyone's favorite ex-hippy uncle, and one of the nicest guys you could ever hope to meet. He was also an excellent multi-instrumentalist who really loved the Beatles and old Acadian folk songs. From the moment me and my brother could hold a guitar we wanted to be like Uncle Paul -- the life of any party who seemed to be able to play every song in the world on guitar, fiddle, mandolin, or banjo. I learned my first few songs on guitar (and the all-important 12 bar blues!) sitting in Uncle Paul's lap... Well a few years back on the tenth anniversary of his passing, my family organized a big party in celebration of his life. The call went out to the multitudes of family and friends near and far who's lives he touched in some way. On the day of the party, Holy Cow! The hall was filled! People came to Massachusetts from California, Colorado, Texas, and all over New England and Canada to help us celebrate! We were blessed to have many fine musician's in attendance, including a wonderful trio of older gentlemen from New Brunswick Uncle Paul had studied Acadian folk music with. We played music all that day, with everyone taking their turns to play a song for Uncle Paul, or just to take the microphone and tell a funny story about him. My brother and I played "I've Just Seen a Face" and "Blackbird" by the Beatles -- two of his favorite songs (we even put the sheet music for blackbird in his casket). I spent much of the day trying to keep up with the older gents (who were amazing) on Uncle Paul's old mandolin, which his wife gave to me after his passing saying that he wanted me to have it. I don't think there was a single person there that day that didn't shed a tear at some point, but the laughter and happiness far outweighed the grief and sadness, and it was a truly special day. That is one "gig" that is going to be hard to top... | ||
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moody, p.i.![]() |
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Joined: March 2002 Posts: 15674 Location: SoCal | When you've got stories like that, how can you be on the board for 6 years and only have 44 posts??? | ||
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ProfessorBB![]() |
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Joined: January 2006 Posts: 5881 Location: Colorado Rocky Mountains | Staging the show and performing with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra in Orchestra Hall in their very first Christmas Pops concert series in the 1990s. This is a class organization that paid very well and treated us like royalty, plus we picked up a private side gig along the way from a national bank. | ||
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rick endres![]() |
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Joined: August 2005 Posts: 616 Location: cincinnati, ohio | More great stories. Many of them are very touching. Nice, guys, Keep 'em coming. | ||
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Mr. Ovation![]() |
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Joined: December 2001 Posts: 7232 Location: The Great Pacific Northwest | Well this wasn't so much my best gig, but it was certainly the best night. We got ourselves booked opening for Blue Oyster Cult, Oct 20, 1995. Jaxx was an odd venue at least to me as it was a "big time" club in little town. The owners were members of the Road Ducks with ties to the Outlaws, Molly Hatchet, Blackmore and others who had homes in the area. It was a challenge to get booked because there was a waiting list of local established acts to play. Especially on a Saturday, especially opening for a national act. What made it more odd was that when I approached them I of course mentioned I was friends with the headline. He checked it out and was put in the position of putting an unknown group on, that was requested by the headline act in front of all these other bands that had "paid their dues." The bottom line was that it cost us doing 4 "free" gigs before the BOC show. They got 4 free nights of a band... so I guess everyone came out ahead. This actually worked great for us because we got to work up our act on the stage we were going to be performing, with the sound system we were going to be performing through. We were going to be rehearsing anyway, so the extra exposure was more a benefit to us. Parallel with getting ready for the gig, my friend Steve and I were arranging to have Eric (the lead singer of BOC) ride Steve's Harley onto the stage at the encore. We had a ramp and had everything set, but really didn't know if it was a go until show time. The night of the gig we did our set. Without thinking much about it we did a BOC tune that was in current rotation with BOC and I must admit it was kinda fun when they came out for their set and said "We had to change our set cause the opening act did the tune we were going to open with." they then broke into Teen Archer then Lips in the Hills which are two songs they hadn't done live in many years. It was a treat the die-hard fans in the crowd would not soon forget. At the end of their show we had the ramp up, the bike warmed up in the parking lot, and got the green light. Being tall I was positioned near the top of the ramp to grab Eric if something went wrong. Our friend Doug who was built like a small tank was ready to grab the bike and stabilize it if he could, if something went wrong. Steve's job was to run behind the bike and hope that nothing went wrong. Well true to form, Eric rode it up the 20 foot long 2 foot wide ramp, maneuvered around the backline gear out onto the stage and stopped at center stage for the beginning of Born To Be Wild. Flawless. As far as our part of the gig went, it was fun. The sound was fantastic and some of that was also due to the extra rehearsals so the sound and lighting folks knew what we were up to. There is some video from the actual night and some from the rehearsal nights on the Social Network site and Facebook. Unfortunately I can't find any photos or video of BOC or the bike getting on stage from that night. I think everyone was so in shock that they were putting a bike on that stage that no one thought to take a picture... and they didn't really have any warning either. Well... that's it. Just a well planned night that went off without a hitch. They all should be like that, but we know that's not the case. | ||
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Mr. Ovation![]() |
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Joined: December 2001 Posts: 7232 Location: The Great Pacific Northwest | Funny the things you can find on the web.. click this link and scroll to Oct 20th. http://www.hotrails.co.uk/history/1995.htm | ||
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kitmann![]() |
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Joined: April 2010 Posts: 1227 Location: Connersville, Indiana | Great find :) | ||
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mbedard![]() |
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Joined: December 2005 Posts: 247 Location: Seacoast NH | Moody, joined up years ago but never really became active til this year (stuck behind a desk these days). Plus, in my opinion, if you don't have anything wise to say, don't say anything. Shows you how little of what I have to say is wise! :D | ||
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Darkbar![]() |
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Joined: January 2009 Posts: 4535 Location: Flahdaw | Originally posted by mbedard1: Uh oh......Plus, in my opinion, if you don't have anything wise to say, don't say anything. | ||
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The Judge![]() |
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Joined: December 2010 Posts: 19 Location: Denver | Anytime I can get up on stage is the best gig ever. The older I get the more I really appreciate the opportunities when they come... | ||
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rick endres![]() |
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Joined: August 2005 Posts: 616 Location: cincinnati, ohio | Amen to that! I've been lucky in that, after forty-plus years of playing live, I still get out 8 to 10 times a month. I could play more than that if I wanted to, but I just don't have the time. I love it; I'll be going onstage with a walker or in a wheelchair if need be... | ||
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xbjllb![]() |
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Joined: October 2009 Posts: 14 | How we spent the 80's Best Gig Ever Live TV... screaming girls... Michael Jackson nowhere in sight... what's not to like? Les :) P.S. Warning: This is before Mrs. Partridge joined the band, so no ovation to be seen :( | ||
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