Huh, I can’t quite figure out how to interpret shows up here. We walk into what we think is going to be a very interactive and profitable show, and end up playing to a room of wooden couldn’t care less folks and no sales at all. Not even a glance towards the merch table. Then the next night, we pull into a tiny little pub that has another band opening, and hey Grant, they were okay! We had no idea what to expect. But once we got on stage, a fire took over and we stomped and raged and blew the house apart! Great show, lovely happy shining faces, lotsa sales. Expect one from the one, yet get it from the other. Go figure.
At our first show today, there was a dancing troupe of 13-17 yr old girls and boys sashaying around the square in front of the stage area. I hoped they would stick around for our show. We played to a nice enough audience- a DJ taking notes and set lists- as well as Jorge’s bevy of children following that pied piper- a whole troupe of kids stood in awe in front of Jorge’s side of the stage to emulate him with their plasstic guitars and maraccas and kazoos. Then the church bell started pealing in time to one of our tunes, so we stopped and included the bells in the solo section for a bit- that was FUN! But sadly after we were done, only one person ventured forward to buy a CD. That won’t pay for plane tickets home kiddies! I just keep hoping and praying for better on the next show.
And there it was! Our second show of the day was in a tiny pub in northern Holland, with an opening band In Violet Light and not a lot of audience. But by the time we got up there, something took over, we lit it up, including Harada solos on the pool table, then me doing calisthenics in lieu of my typical splits at the end of ‘walkin’ lie’, and the audience really loved it. They loved us so much they bought oodles of merch and wanted us to stick around and play more. The opening band folks were awfully sweet and very cool, and the audience was one of the warmest receptions we’ve had here yet.
But we had to get back to the akkerhuisje for an early pickup tomorrow- off nearly to France and hopefully another fun show. We like those the best! More from us soon enough, donchya know! Until then, keep on rockin’,
Ruby
