Showing posts with label 80s Party Band. Show all posts
Showing posts with label 80s Party Band. Show all posts

Saturday, June 16, 2012

JC Cove 6/16/12 Freeport, Long Island


Photobucket

One of the most appreciative audiences we have played for this summer made this a memorable show for the band and the staff at JC Cove loved us up as well. Rob made quite a few tactical maneuvers in the Zipcar to get us to Freeport promptly and safely but there was lots of traffic (in Brooklyn !!!) to contend with. Upon arrival we set up quickly and started the show a little early as per managements request and tripled the crowd size by shows end, the seventh member of the band Ed (see below) provided shaker and tambourine throughout the evening and while not every song calls for additional percussion Ed was having a good time and is a very nice fellow.

Photobucket

80s Factoid - Prince provided Stevie Nicks with Synthesizer on "Stand Back" (1983).

Photobucket

"There goes a Snapperhead, Nope Really, Look Over There !!!"

Photobucket

Eric and Diana rocking the crowd with an enigmatic nautical structure in the left foreground.

Photobucket

(L to R) - Ed (tambourine and shaker), His Purpleness (being him), Dave (Bass Guitar, cell phone), Diana (being Stevie Nicks), J.C. (Keys, backing vox)

Photobucket

Early in our set and Bono had the crowd on our side with Truth, Justice and the can of Guinness way.

Photobucket

Perhaps in reverence and respect to their recently departed and eaten brethren just a few feet away in the JC Cove restaurant not one Lobster hat flew off even in these windy conditions.



Set One - Edge of Seventeen/Stand Back



Last song, Third Set prior to encore was SUGAR sweet.
Dave finally got to read his texts once we were through as well.
Dave endorses the Samsung Fascinate.

FLICKR

This Is Show # 174

- Spike

Thursday, June 14, 2012

Hudson & McCoy 6/14/12 Freeport, Long Island


Photobucket

It must be summer because we are in Freeport, Long Island for a weekend of two (almost) back to back shows on the nautical mile under the sky and out in the breeze. White Wedding began their show to an almost empty bar but the crowd grew to about 50 or more people that the music drew in who stayed for our entire performance.

Dave continues to find things to leap off of during song finale and this time it was a bench again but we love it and it was nice to see our sometimes lighting & sound techs Sean and Ginger come support us.

Incidentally,.... This is also "Rock Of Ages - The Motion Picture" opening weekend so we made the most of that in our third set as well (see below).

Premiered tonight was Madonna's "Open Your Heart" and Poison's "Nothin' But A Good Time"

At this stage of the game about 95% of the shows I play are live rooms with acoustic drums which are not mic'ed up nor amplified so the room plays every part in the sound aside from ring and dampening preferences and my drums (Ludwig) sounded really good tonight and this at an outdoor performance. I had concrete walls on three sides of me so that just might do it. Lets just say I could really hear the Bass Drum.

Photobucket

The view from my vantage point approaching 9 p.m. just as it was getting dusky darky.

Photobucket

Eric exudes confidence, quality and a never ending thirst for cosmic consciousness as long as the coleslaw is fresh and the riffs be tasty.

Photobucket

The drummer brings the Cheetos and is also taking a picture of himself without a viewfinder.

Photobucket

Sean may look like Jack the Ripper in this photo but he's really a capable engineer and drummer, You can find him here at Boardwalk Entertainment.

Photobucket

ROCK OF AGES !!!

The Stacee Jaxx costume which we are currently testing & finalizing.

Photobucket

Hudson & McCoys online event calendar.

Photobucket

uhh,........ Yeah !!!!

(6:30-10 p.m.)

This Is Show # 173

- Spike

Friday, April 6, 2012

The Saloon 4/6/12 New York City

Photobucket

Our first show at the Saloon on the upper east side of Manhattan turned out to be one of the shortest in recent memory not to any fault of the band or venue might I add. There was a raffle of ten thousand dollars that we knew was happening and promoted, after setting up we were asked to share the evening with the calling of the ticket numbers so it went kind of like this, White Wedding play 5 or 6 songs/Raffle for 20 minutes, this was repeated twice and then we played our last and third set consisting of 9 songs and finishing up the evening by 11:30 p.m. which was an early night and quite different than our planned 47 song set list, not that any of us are complaining.

And where did Diana get that Cool Belt ? (see above)

Steve was not happy due to the brevity of our sets so we tried paying him off with Money, Texas Chili, a couple of bottles of Cointreau and erasing some gambling debts. Unshakable he turned down all offers but did get a Texas Chili medium size to go.

Playing in little pockets or short displays (much like at the wedding 2 weeks ago) was pretty liberating to me as I played with more relaxed conviction and concentration during my windows onstage and did not find myself thinking ahead 10 songs on our set list.

The Saloon room offered a nice fat drum sound without the aid of miked amplification.

Photobucket

PULL THE STRINGS !!! (announced excitedly in a Martin Landau portraying Bela Lugosi voice)

Photobucket

(L to R) - Dave, Dave's Brother, Dave's Brother.

Photobucket

23h:08m:37s:12ms 04m06d2012y pre-tambourine attack (P.T.A.)

Photobucket

One of our fans decided to have some fun with Cyndi onstage and then became super animated during the Prince segment culminating in her and a friend hitting my cymbals with tambourines which I would usually welcome however the hand cue to end "Purple Rain" was coming up. Thankfully Rob escorted them offstage in a friendly and princely manner just in time for the end of the tune.

So much for being Ching-A-Linged by Hotties.

Photobucket

Keep It Dark.

Photobucket

The Suspender Brothers Are Ready To Rock You.

Photobucket

Prior to the show Jamie, Diana, Dave and myself ordered some Indian food at the bar in Mumtaz which was located right next door to The Saloon and I can Never pass up a Mulligatawny Soup (seen in this photograph as a "to go" item) which while very tasty was loaded with a bit too much pulverized Potato or something that was akin to pulverized Potato. Diana and Dave ordered the Chana Baji (Chick Peas cooked with Onions, Green Pepper & Spices served with Puffed Bread (Poori Bread) and Jamie got an order of Aloo Paratha (Bread stuffed with mildly spiced Potatoes) which was on the contrary "plenty fricckkin' spicy".

Photobucket

Poster and Online flyer for tonight's performance.



Our encore, the newest crowd pleaser Def Leppard's "Pour Some Sugar On Me".

This Is Show # 164

FLICKR

- Spike

Friday, February 17, 2012

Zeppelin Hall 2/17/12 Jersey City,New Jersey

Photobucket

This was the first show from my vantage point at the back where I realized we might be building a little following at the Zeppelin hall (Giseli, Hector etc.) and the crowd was definitely into it. At one point the man spotted to the right in the photo above was holding Rob's microphone stand over him as he lie on the stage floor singing in his Bono guise and I was in fear for his safety but the guy was truly having a good time and not to worry as Zeppelin hall has an attentive and professional security staff (one of which complimented my drumming) of which we can count on.

Premiered at tonight's performance was "The Safety Dance" by Men Without Hats.

Photobucket

Rocking Out with Dave on the 5 string bass.

Photobucket

Partying on a Friday Night with us.

Photobucket

Bono in mid leap.

Photobucket

Eric, Michael & Dave.

Photobucket

During our first set I glanced at the floor tom to see it mysteriously garnished with French Fries (I didn't spot the sandwich till later) and wondered if someone was throwing food at me, they were a bad aim if they were because I certainly wasn't hit with any but I remained perplexed for the rest of the set. If I was being heckled it should not be happening at this stage of the game should it ?, was it my looks ? dark visions of being bullied through my formative years at school returned. After the set I ran to Jamie and asked if she was "throwing food at me" ? Turns out she wasn't throwing it at me but was feeding me the Philly Cheese Steak I had ordered and for the second time in a row was not able to appreciate due to my lateness arriving at the hall. Thanks for trying Jamie, I will make sure I get there earlier next time to indulge properly.

This was also the night that Robert Smith spilled Schweppes Raspberry Ginger Ale on my down pillow.

This Is Show # 155

FLICKR

- Spike

Monday, January 23, 2012

Brooklyn Bowl 1/23/12 Brooklyn, New York

Photobucket

Tonight was our third return performance/engagement at the spacious and lovely Brooklyn Bowl at 61 Wythe Avenue and always a pleasure to appear at.

THE PROS - Full Backline (sans guitars,keys and cymbals), We are performing at the Brooklyn Bowl which is probably Brooklyn's finest room, aside from a certain bartender (dare I call him anything else) the Brooklyn Bowl has an accommodating and pleasant staff from top to bottom, Proper stage, Proper Green Room, Excellent on-stage monitors/mixes, complimentary hot water for my Theraflu.

THE CONS - I forgot Nancy's wigs which were newly transferred to my living room inside my bass drum/no bass drum/no wigs. This is being remedied tomorrow and we are keeping all the costumes together, Our Drummer (me) is weak and sick with a coldflucough, when ordering a drink a hipster member of the wait staff reminded me that "Gratuities arent included with the drink ticket" the nerve of him as I am working too (to keep people from leaving!!! hence less tips), I would have set his beard on fire but I quit smoking so my Zippo was back home in the drawer.

Photobucket

We perform our newest rendition of Barry Manilow's "Copacabana", OK I Joke, Really. J.C. is our underrated singer, This man can sing.

Photobucket

BONO: A Space Oddysey.

Rob does a great job (and many fan photos are taken as well, usually mid-performance).

Photobucket

One of the finest singers I have worked with, Nancy - signed spike.

Photobucket

Nancy points Dave in the direction of the nearest Indian restaurant but we needed him at the moment.

Photobucket

Dave hands off the 99th Red Balloon, a first for the band.

Photobucket

I had to hoof it (via car service) to the Bowl with gig bag, cymbal bag and bad cold (a common health deficit) so lazily decided to utilize the in house snare drum as opposed to bringing my beloved maple DW snare and I was not disappointed. a wee bit high pitched but then again I didn't attempt to retune it. The Tama Starclassic is my second favorite snare drum on the market (I still haven't tried a Gretsch however) so it was fun all around and lighter to carry as well since I couldn't leave with it and bringing it into the venue would certainly be defying the laws of physics as are currently known.

Photobucket

Nachos - I nursed these in the green room throughout the evening and as far as I can tell the toppings were Refried Beans, Beef (Ground ?), Monterey Jack Cheese AND Corn (sending it over the top). ooo, I see some red peppers I think as well. Either way no explanation needed and no time to decipher, this is Nosh Food.



Soundcheck (HD)



Photobucket

in house schedule poster.

Photobucket

facebook promotion.

Photobucket

online promotion. brooklyn bowl website

This Is Show # 151

FLICKR

- Spike

Friday, January 6, 2012

Good Times magazine article

Photobucket

The Latest Good Times magazine (January 3-16, 2012) is running an article on White Wedding, pick up a copy and watch this spot for the transcript after this issue goes out of print, off the stands and into the aether.

Thanks Sara(h) for the glowing write up.

Good Times magazine has been in circulation in the tri-state area for over 40 years.

Photobucket

Photobucket

my view "down the block" towards Guitar Center.

Good Times Magazine

- Spike

Saturday, October 15, 2011

La Pomme - 10/15/11 Manhattan, New York

Photobucket

La Pomme features a very nice room and our clients who threw an 80s anniversary party had a stage built for us while Sean and Ginger provided the sound and lighting. I did not get to to see the crowd during our performance but marveled at some of the 80s fashion sense afterwards as is often the case at these parties. We played a good two sets and due to time constraints were packed up by 11 p.m., Unique to this performance was "Limelight" by Rush which was a special request (see below)

Photobucket

Photobucket

possibly my coolest space yet, I had my own little makeshift drum riser.

Photobucket

Photobucket

Photobucket

After passing White Castle on the way to rehearsal every week it was nice to finally have some pre-rendezvous at the Callbox. Two Jalapeno Double Cheeseburgers, One Double Cheeseburger and a sack of Fries ($7.68). Two Cheeseburgers are plenty the third came home with me.

Photobucket

I forgot the band were dining together and wasted my appetite on the murder burgers. pictured above are BLT Poppers ($6) from the very cool Hog Pit NYC bar located right next to La Pomme, this bar offered a Quart Bottle of Colt 45 for $10.00



Limelight is one of the most difficult songs we have had to learn to date and gave us a run for our money as far as ensemble playing, Dave is reading the sheet music during the 3/4 guitar solo section.

- Spike