Hey, I put this show together – I can review it if I want.
So yeah, full disclaimer I suppose. I’m in a cover band called Liquifaction. Up until now, I refrained from mentioning the actual band name because I felt that was a bit tacky. Like most traditions, however, this one’s going to have at least a momentary lapse because I’ve got to talk about this show.
So my band was supposed to play a gig at this place in Canton on the 13th of April. We were booked roughly a month in advance and we were on track to have a stellar turnout. Two days before the show, the owner says we’ve got to use this toy drum kit because the place has a problem with noise violations. I tell him than he probably shouldn’t be booking rock bands, then. Anyway, that show wound up not happening and we found another gig at this place called Surf City in Perry Hall.
This show was unusual for a few reasons. To begin with, we had two weeks to promote it – usually we book about a month out, but we were doing the owner a favor because he didn’t have anything on the books for this night. In addition, we needed at least one additional band because this was going to be a pro show – not simply some random four-hour gig at a local bar. The most interesting thing about this one, however, is that we’d have a professional sound and light guy making us look like a million bucks, on an actual stage.
Typically when we run shows, we do sound and lights ourselves. Having that burden off our shoulders really allowed us to concentrate on what mattered the most – the music. This is where the fun begins.
I’ve only ever seen rioLinda and Ahab’s Revenge perform in dimly lit dive-venues, with people packed tight and greasy like sardines. I wanted to see them on a stage, with proper sound and lights. This was a damn fine opportunity, and one that I certainly wasn’t going to waste.
Turns out, my suspicions were correct and a big stage, with a ridiculous sound system made two enjoyable bands all the more so. rioLinda and Ahab’s rocked the place hard with their original take on the grunge-rock style. It was a nice contrast to my group’s sets of top-40 covers. This was a show that really had something for everyone, and a great send-off for me as I take my month’s leave to fight lions on the African plains.
