I had the honor to be invited to play a second time with the Smoking Seciton duo (Cade Bailey and Tristan Goodson, both on guitars and vocals). The gig was originally to be at an outdoor stage at Liberty Hill Studio and Farms, but it was moved a few weeks before the event date to the Johnson Center in Hardy for the main reason of noise disturbance calls from neighbors. Outdoors is ideal for bands and event like this, but indoors can serve as a back-up.
We had a short window of prep time. Practices were held in three places with the last place: the Renegade on Tristan's acreage being the best and most spacious and relaxing. There was no time to prep with a drummer before hand and there were many new ideas tried out.
The set list changed as the time grew short, but we were able to get through everything twice and then work down half the set list in the last practice.
I was also blessed to have a co-worker, Tyler Casey, playing keyboards with another band on the bill, the Cosmic Criminals, whose drummer, Matthew Olsen, would be jamming with us the upcoming gig--in fact, Matt owns Liberty Hill Studios and Farms and would be hosting the gig.
As it turned out, September 28th was also the Homesteader's Day, or homecoming, for Hardy and I volunteered to pass out water and tracts for Spring River Baptist Church where I attend that morning. Then I came home, spent some time with the grandkids who had come back over after the double birthday party we had hosted for both my daughters-in-law.
I left the Homesteaders which was being held down in Griffin Park and was widely attended. With the old crafts, outfits, and bluegrass music, it reminded me of Silver Dollar City without the kettle corn. I grabbed some pretzels from Auntie Anne's for the grand kids and got to spend a little time with them before I had to go back to downtown Hardy for the jam.
The Johnson Center is up on the hill overlooking the candy shop and the vistior center. It was a good alternative for a location and a good date to have it as there was a ton of traffic and visitors to Hardy.
I caught most of the Cosmic Criminals set and saw that the magic came from Tyler Casey's keyboards. Interesting mixture. The place was small and more of a center: two long rows of tables with the pa equipment set along the side windows.
Food was soda cans/bottles, hotdogs and chips.
People walked in and out in order to smoke.
I had changed my strings that afternoon before arriving which is a no-no because new strings need to stretch and sit and stretch some more. I slapped at my strings while we waited to start.
Matt gave me a hug and I asked his wife Lisa, who plays bass for the Cosmic Criminals, if I could borrow her Ampeg bass amp.
It was a shorter set overall, about 45-50 minutes as there had been 22 songs planned. We got through 11-12.
Matt just dove in and "guessed" as he said later.
We played well. Only one song was a little rough as I couldn't lock in well. And I couldn't hear Cade on "Mission" which is one of my fave tunes we do, so I got a little off.
But some things really cooked. Or in the parlance/slang of the 21st century 20's, we were "locked in." The melodic things were very good and we ended on "Viriditas" which is a pleaser. Also, our reggae version of "Knockin' on Heaven's Door" which we call "Knockin' on Jerry's Door" was a lot of fun.
Afterwards, I thanked Lisa for letting me use her amp. I want to get one for myself now! And Matt gave me another hug.
Also, Cade and Tristan say it was their best show!
Very fun and fulfilling and the people who came out to hear us were generous in their enthusiams to letting us entertain them!