The double-header gigs were fun but glad they’re behind me. With exactly one hour to schlep from one show to the next…yeah it was rough. I’m not complaining at all; in fact, I am grateful that Bob Lamb asked me (he could have asked any guitarist) to pitch in.
I’m a road warrior now!
First gig with Rubber Duckie Riot was a lot of fun, lots of energy, good crowd, but wow it went really fast. Forty minutes felt like ten, which means it was a lot of fun. I will say this though: not to sound negative, but my guitar tone was muddy, which was weird. Turns out, it was the Morpheus Drop pedal that I borrowed that mucked up the sound. The guitar sounded lifeless, no balls but the crowd loved everything, and that’s the tale of the tape.
Second show with Spare Parts was almost cancelled on account of the singer having a fever yesterday. Not one but two singers were found and they both took turns to sing various songs, and it was very loose and low-pressure. “You know this one?” “Yeah” “Okay we’re doing it.” I didn’t need the Drop pedal and wouldn’t you know it…MY TONE CAME BACK!! Tight, focused, crisp and ME!!! Not a great turnout, but the people who were there were dancing and shouting the words back. No two gigs are going to be alike, right?
I am happier playing guitar more than ever before. Despite the crap tone at the first gig, I loved being on a big stage (that’s been a few years) and going for the throat. What I lacked in tone, I made up for in stage presence and connecting eyes with the crowd. And as an added bonus, it was great seeing Tammy Moore (from Tammy & The Others) after a couple of years. She had been battling breast cancer but thankfully knocked it out of the park!
Now I’m a small hiatus until the two October shows w/Supernova and RDR. And boy do I need it!
Holy shit, where’s the Tylenol?!
OFFICIAL WEBSITE FOR 7-STRING GUITARIST STEVE BELLO 