What is it like to PERFORM LIVE?

[matthoggard]

Craziest gig ever was at The Diamond Ballroom. OKC's local hard rock/ metal venue. It was one of those 12 band festivals and we were about # 9 (i think, 1992). Our arrogant egotistical drummer decided the drum riser was too far back on stage so he sets up right in front, center stage so the rest of us kind of crowded to each side. Well this was one of those moshpit/stagediving headbanger shows and the crowd was insane. People all over the stage 2 and 3 at a time jumping into the crowd and crowd surfing. Just like one of those old Nirvana videos. Since our Drummer was now the FRONT MAN, kids kept jumping up on his bass drum and diving into the crowd. He was getting pissed but serves him right. Well this one poor guy jumps up on the bass drum to do a stagedive and when he goes into the crowd, they spread like Moses parting the red sea and the guy smacked the concrete floor right on his head!!!He laid there for a minute or 2 before anyone even went to check on him. He ended up leaving on a stretcher. (serious headbanging)Got to play a show with Rick Derringer one time. Was a fun show and afterwords my band went back to our reahersal studio and some of our regular girls (groupies I guess) show up with Rick AND his band! We jammed until 4 or 5 oclock on the morning. He had a killer band and it was an extended blues/rock marathon. Rick didtn play much though he was busy with the girls "powdering his nose" if you know what I mean!That was a fun night.I have a few others but my memory is a little blurred right now.M~

[davekershaw]

May 1, 2009, 10:19am, ggalen wrote:If possible, play somewhere where the emphasis is on music, not on drinking or socializing.I'd agree with that Glenn.I suppose that would go for the audience too!

[Casey H]

May 1, 2009, 10:14am, sgs4u wrote:Performing live [...] On par with the best sex I've ever enjoyed... Hmmmmm.... I'm not sure which of the compared items in your life this is a commentary on!!! **joke**

[deantaylor]

Steve .. that's how I imagine it!Glenn .. long appreciative applause sounds sweet.Mojo ... cool story ... happy ending for the guit ... summed up by 'when it rains it pours' I guess. Tell us another one.Billy .. nice!Matt .. I was hoping for a stagediving story. lolCasey .. you stole my joke.Thanks guys. This is fun.

[sgs4u]

May 1, 2009, 11:39am, hurowitz wrote:May 1, 2009, 10:14am, sgs4u wrote:Performing live [...] On par with the best sex I've ever enjoyed... Hmmmmm.... I'm not sure which of the compared items in your life this is a commentary on!!! **joke** If all you have is your own sex life to imagine this comparison ... then I could see how making a joke might occur to you.

[t4mh]

Good thread! Interesting stories!I would say that apart from the memorable times people would jump on stage and I'd be thinking "where is security?"and other numerous shows that incidents occurred in, the most memorable time was standing on stage and the realization came to me that several thousand people were dancing to what I was playing! A very singular high point for me!Keith

[Casey H]

May 1, 2009, 12:01pm, sgs4u wrote:May 1, 2009, 11:39am, hurowitz wrote:Hmmmmm.... I'm not sure which of the compared items in your life this is a commentary on!!! **joke** If all you have is your own sex life to imagine this comparison ... then I could see how making a joke might occur to you. Ah, I C Well to quote Woody Allen... "One thing about [doing it yourself] is at least it's sex with someone you love"... All in fun...

[llama]

From all the gigs I've played two or three come to mind....First one I call "death by water". We were playing an outdoor festival gig...don't remember exactly where but somewhere near Oxford in the UK. It had rained off and on most of the day and it was now evening time and the darkness closed in. We were really on form everything gelled. We fed off each others energy, the lights were great, the audience loved us..........Meanwhile the back of the stage area had a huge tarp covering that had accumalated the water runoff from the main stage covering. Some bright stage hand decided to prod it with a huge stick to get the water off it. So down rained hundreds of gallons of rain water narrowly missing the guitarists double Marshall stack, the bass players rig, the drummers kit. The splash still drenched the backline equipment, the drummer and narrowly missed my keyboard rig.......Did we stop playing?? HELL NO!!!!. Second one I call "death by fire"....Our lighting guy just got a new roadie to help him out with the pyrotechnics........ We went on....come the big finale the pyros went off covering us in burning sparks that put holes in our clothing and left burn marks on skin....The lead singer got the brunt of it....It took a while for his eyebrows to grow back....Did we stop playing....HELL NO!!!!......Pyro guy was last heard off heading into the sunset muttering something about black is up...white is down.......or something that effect.....Nowadays I just have to worry about my kids stuffing Doritos into my keyboard controller.....Derek

[billg]

"Nowadays I just have to worry about my kids stuffing Doritos into my keyboard controller....."And so #3 would be death by chemicals and compressed corn?

[feaker]

wowYou folks are much too refined.We played mostly for wedding receptions.I would get thrown out if I told all the stories.One gig was a young couple that ended up taking pictures of beer and pouring on everyone's heads including their own. Then they announced that couples bowling would be starting.they poured more beer on the floor. You guessed it, they would take a run and belly flop and slide for the greatest distance. You should have seen the bride's dress. Never did see any pins? Did I mention this was in a church hall? Good thing we were on an elevated stage. We were also forced to chug pictures as well.On another occasion when we were playing "taking care of business" they started doing the crocodile. That is where you lay on the floor and do all sorts of contortions including opening your legs. Some bride's maids were so lit they forgot they were in dresses. One husband was heard to keep saying "oh my god, no, oh my god" Of course all the band members turned their heads.I beter stop, but I have many more:)Paul