I don't often use this as a forum to bitch, but this night had so many ludicrosities in it that I just have to get off my chest - we supply the ludicrosities for the evening, not the management!
The first bit of a fun was setting up for this gig - when we walked in the door the barman was like - no setting of anything up until 8.30 because people were eating meals. Which was great given we were due to start at 8.45!
The Bakers has essentially two parts to the seating area. However at the end of the bar with the music on there was noone sat eating - all it meant was that there was a PA plus three bands worth of equipment piled up stopping anyone getting to any tables anyway. In the end he conceded to allow the soundguy to start setting up at 8. You really think the promoters would have sorted this out with the management by now. The sound guy coped admirably in the situation, though I couldn't quite comprehend his decision to have the seven piece Pixiphones set up all their stuff (not plugging it in for a sound check), then pack it away again, which seemed to mostly be an exercise in seeing of they could all fit onto the stage, followed by an exercise in hiding my coat with wallet in pocket under a cello. This ate into our set time and I was glad noone was paying to see us. Felt like a lot of aggro to go through for what ended up as a 20 minute set, especially when you don't feel like giving the venue any money for its beer. Its not like we got paid or even a complementary beer for this.
Playing is weird as you are at the vertex of a V shaped audience area with the door directly to the left of you. This makes it difficult for the audience to watch you as they are either blocking the bar or the front door.
Audience reaction to the new stuff was favourable, once the sound was sorted out two songs in. The new one to get the biggest thumbs up was 'Facebook Makes This Bit Easy', though I need to make a follow up to this entitled 'Facebook Makes Events Management Useless'.
Even going to the toilet is weird - having reflective walls and strategically placed CCTV in the gents makes me wonder what kind of perv this manager is.
KTP did a good job - James commented on how they were a Rush covers band in that they sound like Rush and play covers! They have changed their line up with the singer having also taken over drummer duties since I'd last seen them.
Once I retrieved my coat from where it had been hidden under a cello it was a case of being fed up with the venue and heading off to Claudia/Winter Kings birthday party, which in stark comparison to the Bakers, was an abject lesson in how to have good vibes given off to good music in a good venue. There was a nice little rock'n'roll covers going on, with a really excellent cut down Winter Kings playing a set in there as well.
