Big Hand Dave

Last night’s practice was the best one we have had in quite some time, at least as far as I can remember. First of all I should be calling it rehearsal instead of practice as we have now set a timeline / goal for our first real gig. I’m not going to tell you what date we are planning on as I don’t want to cause mayhem and unrest amongst our fan base as your safety and well being is, and always will be our highest priority.

We have determined that we need 3 complete sets to gig with. Last night we went through 2, and considering some of the songs we did haven’t been performed by the group in some time, I have to say that we rocked with only a few minor glitches. We have yet to make the list for set 3 but most of them are no-brainers, just a matter of figuring out which order they should be. Sets 1 & 2 probably need to be re-arranged a little bit, but other than that they are looking real good!

The night began with “Sex and Candy”, always a band favorite and last night was no exception. In my humble opinion we really nailed this song from start to finish. Next on the menu was “Green Onions” which is a perfect song for JD to introduce the drummer (and the rest of the band) and perhaps to beckon another beer from the bartender? If memory serves me correctly we pulled this song off with no problems, just good smooth rock n roll! “Good Lovin’” was next and oh how I love playing that song and something tells me that everyone else does too. “The Weight” was next. The drummer did manage to screw up the intro but once that was ironed out that song was right on. “I’m gonna be 500 miles” was next, and although the timing on that song usually screws me up I think we did a damn good job with it. Fun song!

“Help Me Make It Through the Night” was next on the agenda, man that’s a pretty song, and I really think we are doing that song justice, and it is fun to play. “Bang A Gong (Get it On)”…….. well, we rule this song! Fans, watch out, it may just make you dance a little harder than usual! “Black Betty” was next. Although I really don’t know why, I’m scared of this song, but if you listen to it on the radio the drummer’s part really is easy as long as you take out that really weird untimely mess in the middle, which we do take out. I dunno, sometimes I’m toopid! “House of the Rising Sun” is a really nice song, and although we only recently started playing this song, we do a really nice job of it.

“Can’t Find My Way Home”……. Such a beautiful song and I look forward to hearing the recording of this from last night, something tells me it’s going to sound good! “A Whiter Shade of Pale” is also a new one on our list. I’m still figuring this song out but so far so good, at least with the rest of the band.

The songs above are all but 3 of Set #1. Wes came in and for whatever reason we went on to Set #2. Not sure why we did that, not that it’s a bad thing, just one of those things that make you go hmmmmmmmm. Weird! Sometimes I think I’m the only sane one in the group. The rest of the fingers on the hand are somewhat crooked.

We kicked it into high gear with Wes joining in with his guitar on “Chevy Van”. That song is a fail safe for us and as far as I’m concerned we always nail it. Then there is “Bittersweet” OHHHHHHHHHH MYYYYYYYYYY whoop, there it is! “Here comes the Sun” is another new one, and I don’t even have charts for but I think we pulled it off. I know I need to work on that one on my own time, although it is a Beatles song, or George Harrison at least has done it, I’m going to over look that since the Beatles suck.

“Brandy” is a very very fine girl, as is that song. We did her, she sounded good, we moved on. “Baker Street” is another fail safe, good street to be on, at least when the hand is around! “Looking for Love”……. I think JD needs to replace the lyrics at least once during the song to “Wookin’ po Nub” in Eddie Murphy / Buckwheat style. We do that song so well we need to shake it up a little bit! “Wild Thing” is another fun fun song. I do my drums more like the Widespread Panic version and the rest of the band doesn’t seem to mind so there you go. “There She Goes”, well, I really can’t remember how well we did that song, seems like there is a buildup we screwed up but I don’t really know. We’ll assume we killed it! “Willie and the Hand Jive” came next and I think that was the best we have ever done it. Most of us are playing it blind without any charts and such, but I know I threw in a beat I never did before and it worked marvelously and it seems like everyone else nailed it, we’ll let you be the judge!

“Smokin’ in the Boys Room” is a song that is deceptively difficult for me, there is a build up with a 3 count and I’m almost there with getting it. The rest of the band has it down pat so I’m definitely the weak link on that one. I’ll get it within the next few rehearsals. “Sweet City Woman” is another new one, and it felt like we have been playing it for years, good song, good job by us, at least I think so, but I’m just the drummer, what do I know?

“Radioactive”…….. man, that song has this weird extra half measure in it that sneaks up on us every freakin’ time! Maybe everyone else knows about it and has not problem with it, but it gets me, I’ll figure it out. Rodney threatened to whoop my butt if I don’t. I’m scared.

“Rock Me Gently”, “CC Rider”, and “Gimme Some Lovin’” were the final three. I honestly can’t remember any details of what, if anything, went wrong, but I think we finished the night on cue.

I’m not nearly as good with these newsletters, but somebody’s gotta do it as the fans are getting restless. Don’t worry kids, we’re gigging VERY SOON and all will be good in the world!

I had a list of quotes from the night but I left them at the band shack. The only one I can remember is…….

Rodney “Man that song wears my left arm out”

David “you must (cease being master of your domain) with your right hand, try using your left it will build up stamina”

Rodney “I most definitely will, good idea”

I might come back and add the rest of the quotes as there are some good ones, but I didn’t want to wait to post the newsletter.

Big Hand Dave Himself