Memorial Day Weekend - this year, another BBQ at Del Sur down near San Diego. I love this community. Close to a thousand were enjoying family activities, bbq and great music on the Saturday
before the holiday. It was a pleasure to go out and throw down again. Of course, when you're traveling down to the land of perfect weather on a holiday weekend, you're going to face traffic. I began receiving texts from different members of the band about 90 minutes before we were slated to play. Everyone but the drummer was running late - drummers… I guess they just have good timing. We lost one member to a blown tire. Another was caught in the backup of a wreck…it was gonna be close.
I was the second man to arrive, followed by two guitarists… but the Bass was not there yet. Three minutes to downbeat, and I get a text that he's in the neighborhood, looking for parking. Two minutes to downbeat, and he's hustling to the stage. I ask where his amp is, and the sound engineer says, "Just go DI, man. We'll dial it in." He plugged in, and we started the show. No line check. No warm ups. Nothing. Just plug and play, and it was awesome.
The crowd there grew steadily over the course of our sixty minutes. It was great. Folks were singing along with the Covers we played, and dancing through our originals. After the show ended, folks came over to the merch table. A young fan was disappointed when he only had $5 instead of the $8 cost of our CD. I took the loss. If a kid wants to walk away with my CD, I'm gonna make that happen. A couple koozies, a t-shirt… a few sales, and then conversations with new fans. Definitely rewarding.
And then… Nancarrow.
If you don't know Nancarrow, look them up. Graham Nancarrow is a fabulous entertainer and a stand-up guy. He treated the crowd with respect, tossed a couple shout-outs my way, and really just did things the way they should be done. We swapped discs as we both climbed into our black F-150s after the show. I've met a number of other acts over the years, few that I am suddenly a fan of. But, Nancarrow is one. I'm a fan.
I encourage you to check them out…and if you're throwing a huge party, want a country band, and want to pay top dollar….. book us. But if we're busy, book Nancarrow.
Yeahcomeon!
- Dukes
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