Petes Saloon 4/13/12 Elmsford, New York

Our first show with Collette on vocals and she rose to the 80s occasion LIKE TOTALLY. Singing, talking to the crowd and performing with a finely honed finesse that comes with practice, perseverance and professionalism (The 3 P's) it was fun for me to see the "stage" Collette as the musician's in the band only play Loud, Soft, Slow or Fast at rehearsal whereas you don't get to see a front person really performing without a stage and a crowd.

Singing? Yes.
Performing? No.
Not even Marc Bolan or Bowie would,..... o.k. those are very special cases.

it builds a better beast.



With trepidation did I return to Pete's Saloon as they feature a stage perfect for a duo but NOT a Full band (6 of us there are). My previous experience onstage was so cramped that I broke a glass trying to get behind my own drum kit, Tonight went much much better after deciding that removing my Hi-Hat Cymbals from their spindle and stepping over the Hi-Hat and Cymbal stand was preferable to climbing behind my floor tom just to get the F**K in & out from behind the drum kit!!!

We received lots of compliments from the crowd which is always very nice and there were a few Hotties* dancing on the chairs protesting shows end.

After packing our gear up Collette handed me a mysterious weighty backpack that I thought might be J.C.'s but J.C. had left by the time I seeked out his vehicle so I checked the backpack's content's to find various camera's, cable's, boxes' and camera equipment,... not any of our's after which I returned it to the bar.

Then Collette double checked for her left behind Apple Laptop power cord which she found but also returned with a wayward guitar strap that belonged to the club we surmised and returned it to the bar.

Rob was waiting for the Printer/Scanner to come out the back on her return so we decided that Collette is the official innocent "Clepto" of the band, we will be visiting Guitar Center very soon en masse and in disguise.



"Who would cross the bridge of death must answer me these questions three, ere' the other side be seen"



Rob took a sharp turn on the highway and I unwittingly caught this scene in my camera's viewfinder.

This Is Show # 165

- Spike

Napper Tandy's - 6/3/11 - Miller Place, Long Island

It was an odd and pleasurable summer experience getting to the Napper Tandys venue at dusk with the sun setting in the sky opposed to complete night as we all rolled out of the car and into the bar. I proceeded to set up my kit (Ludwig Black) and in a fit of pique changed my cymbal setup (see below) but more importantly it was a return show for the band and our first with McFly helming the guitar.

Accolades to THE DJ Pac Man Pookie spinning tunes (hearing that he likes my Foodie pics on Facebook also makes me happy as well), Case Logic Lives, I gave a dollar to a Roll Up Q-Base Guy and didnt take my Roll Up (candy) since he said he was a musician so I "felt for him" I will Never Do This Again, he gains a buck/I gain one less buck, Caught the 5:41 (earlier) as opposed to the 5:53 (later) train (to RONKONKOMA) and couldn't get a seat so I stood while I read MODERN DRUMMER Magazine (JUNE 2011) and did NOT have my (Cheesy Melt Burrito) food until I sat down at "A" Round forty past six, Dropped my stick during the Drum intro to "Call Me" but no one noticed,... WELL... The BAND DID..., McFly singlehandedly wrestled the crowd up onto the dancefloor during our second set and This fits right in with the behavior I have come to expect from my bandmates of late. The Wonton soup was Really Good also.



FACT - this man has learned less than 200 songs in the six weeks since he joined.

O.K. he learned almost a Hundred in that time which is QUITE THE FEAT including Medleys and unique cues!!!
.... plus he likes Twin Peaks.

AND he's a fluid guitar player.







To accomodate Napper Tandys smallish stage which was crowded with mic stands, microphones, XLR cables, amplifiers, pint glasses, tambourines, set lists, effects pedals, cowboy hats, keyboard stand, cymbal bag, gig bag, guitar stands, drum case, back pack, power strip, replacement drum head and a soup container I used a different cymbal configuration which can only be described as garish and unmanageable. (on the left) Hi-Hats, Both Crash Cymbals. (on the right) Ride, China (Zildjian) (All Sabian AAX unless it says its Zildjian)

DOH. switch out the 20" Crash with the China, PROBLEM SOLVED.



Before and Between sets I almost delighted in some Wonton Soup from the Ho Ming Chinese Take Out Restaurant just a few doors down and the favorite of east coast pigeons everywhere.

- Animal