Showcase

We played and we played a lot. We did a few showcases as the backup bands for Nashville singers working to enhance their careers. A showcase is where singers and groups all perform in one venue vying for jobs at county fairs. They would perform for State and County board member for a certain area. Ours was Wyoming, Montana and Idaho. If the board member liked them they would hire them to perform at State and County Fairs.

Most of the singers were either at the beginning of their careers or at the end. They could not afford to bring a band with them, hence, the need for us. We would play for them during the showcase and if they were hired we would play for them in the state and county fairs they went to. It was not always a lot of fun but the money was good. One of the most memorable was when we backed up the Hager Twins. They were a lot of fun to be with. Most singers would ignore the band members. We were just the hired help. Not the Hager Twins, they spent every minute they were not performing or promoting themselves, with us, the band.

About this time Glen, the drummer, decided he needed to mike his drums. I think playing for up and coming Nashville stars, was going to his head. Me, all I ever wanted was to play bass well, have fun, and make money (and play with a good drummer). He, Glen, bought himself acoustic triggers for his snare and toms and a big ass bass drum microphone. Then he put three open microphones on his cymbals. All of that was run through some kind of a controller and then to the PA (which by the way, was way to big for the venues we played in). Not only was he way to loud but he lost any touch or feel he had. His drumming got worse.

More on this later, my ears hurt just writing about it.

The Keyboard Player