Every now and then a band comes along that just blows my mind. It's an exciting experience when I hear them for the first time, even more so when I happen to be in the same room as them when it's happening. So it is an absolute treat to actually be supporting such a band for two gigs this very weekend: The David Goo Variety Band.
Now, before you read any further, go look them up. They're on Facebook, they're on Youtube, they're on Google... very easy to find. Check 'em out and listen to some songs. It's okay, I don't mind waiting. I'll continue when you're finished. I assure you, if you like a good dose of humour, quirk and clever musicianship in your music you won't be disappointed.
Back? You know what I'm talking about then, yeah? Well, this weekend Moonlet and the Love Monks has the job of warming up the audience in preperation for them. This task is especially difficult on Friday since there's an undeniable air of ill feeling in the air. It's a vibe I can't explain, but it's palpable. This isn't helped by the fact that at least two of our number are 'ill feeling' in the very literal sense of the word. Dan and I are both coming down with stinking colds, but it's not just that. I think maybe it's just because I'm in a funny, overly-sensitive kind of mood... the kind of mood an artsy fartsy singer hiding sentimental messages behind pond life metaphors and penis euphamisms gets in sometimes.
Plus I'm hungry. No one likes me when I'm hungry.
We arrive at The Eden Project Cafe and meet David Goo and his merry band. Sound check gets under way without too much trouble and we go and sit down. Awash in my own, grey, monotone world I observe my surroundings. To my right, Roger is wrestling with a dilemma. He's caught between his two selves, locked in an internal conflict... you see, on one hand he would very much like one of the delicious looking flapjacks on sale at the desk as well as a delicious drink to wash it down... he's already verbally admitted that it would make him happier. However, on the other hand he's embarked on a healthy living kick and he's wondering if this particular indulgance would set him down a slippery slope.
To my left, Harry is slowly slipping down his portion of the sofa towards the floor. I'm not entirely sure why. In an attempt to amuse ourselves, Dan and I pull a table over the newly unseated Harry and adorn him with pepper pots, salt shakers and all manner of other table dressing. It seems to do the trick for a few minutes. Pictures are taken and laughter is shared. The two situations then quickly resolve themselves: Roger compromises with a glass of fresh lemonade and Harry gets back up onto the sofa. Ahead, Goo and co. are enjoying large bowls of hot stew.
I can't get that stew off of my mind. I really want a bowl. To my delight, it comes free to members of the band. In my sheer happiness, I lose myself in the bowl of deliciousness and forget to tell anyone else that it's free. Later on Dan finds out and he's none too happy about it. I guess it would have helped with his cold a bit but I just plumb forgot.
Our set goes by pretty uneventfully. There's some sort of problem with the lights and we spend the majority of our set playing in the dark. OK for us, but it isn't exactly setting a very entertaining or friendly tone and I think we probably fall a little flat in our aim to get the crowd sufficiently roused (actually, we do a better job than I initially thought but I'll get to that a little later on.) Personally, for me, the set tonight is a bit of a blur. I'm way too self conscious about the conspicious stew stains down the front of my shirt and a noticeable lack of lead guitar distortion makes everything feel a little bare. The band, under these circumstances do an admirable job, however. Each and every member around me play their parts efficiently and there's some good improv set in place to fill the gaps. Tonight I'm the weak link.
So when David Goo and his Variety Band hit the stage I have a complete breakdown in confidence. He is one of the best frontmen I've ever witnessed in the flesh. He has a way with the crowd that I've seen no local act match and one can immediately see what the big deal about this group is. Channelling the spirit of 70's Frank Zappa he commands the stage like it's his very own front living room. And for the first time since playing with my band I feel like I have no business being a frontman at all. For about 10 minutes I have serious reservations about being a live singer in any capacity.
Then the set gets really good and I forget where I am. Totally entranced I look on with a shit eating grin across my hairy mug. Somewhere in the haze I'm engaged by a girl I've idly been making eye contact with throughout the night. She makes a motion to invite me to dance but my confidence has been completely shaken tonight and I can't even begin to build myself back up... so I pretend I haven't seen her.
On the way back to the cars, however... a slight lift in spirits. A couple of slightly intoxicated ladies approach us. The slightly worse for wear of the two approaches me exclaiming:
"Oh my God, you're that band, aren't you?"
"Yeah, that's us."
"You're the singer aren't you? You're the short one, right?"
"The short one?"
"Yeah, you're like- Tom Cruise, aren't you?"
Hm. Not the best series of things I've been called, but then again, not the worst.
"You were better than that crazy man..." she slurs. In my mind I take that with a colossal pinch of salt, but it's very nice of her to say so. We converse a little more... mostly about peoples' heights for some reason... and then she and her friend stagger off home.
Saturday night's gig in Miss Peapods is a much brighter affair. Everyone seems to be in a much better mood and although my illness has gotten worse overnight, Dan seems to be on the upswing. Plus an old friend is in town who is seeing The Love Monks play for the first time, so I'm fairly excited to be playing tonight. Some of you who know us know that we've played Peapod's before and know that we always have a good time there, so tonight should be a complete turnaround.
Much less people in attendance at first and people only really begin showing up toward the back end of our set so I can't really say too much about that. We all play really well, I think, as I put on one of my better vocal performances. I wouldn't usually make such a deal of it, but considering the stinking cold slowly developing, this is somewhat of an anomoly.
Once again, David Goo reminds me how a good frontman is supposed to act, but tonight it doesn't bother me nearly as much as it did the night prior. A few of the Monks even get up for a quick dance during the latter portion of the gig. Harry's contribution to the nightly dance contest is certainly hilarious, although for some reason the quick one minute burst leaves him so knackered he immediately resolves to get back to the gym.
All in all, playing with DGVB has inspired the band, I think. We all want to get into writing more complex arrangements for future songs and some of Goo's vocal delivery has certainly gotten some ideas cooking in my head, so we'll see where it goes.
Setlist for 2/3/12:
Dayglow
Inspector Katz
Herb the Taxi Driver
Too Late to Mate
A Miskito Called James
Quickstep
David Bryant Tried to Section and Kill Me
D.U.I.
Chad
Lillipad Lover
Bonkers (cov)
The Rules
Setlist for 3/3/12:
Dayglow
Inspector Katz
Herb the Taxi Driver
Too Late to Mate
A Miskito Called James
Quickstep
D.U.I.
Chad
Lillipad Lover
Bonkers (cov)
The Rules
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