Today we returned to one our favorite places to play, The Crossroads in Woodland, CA with are friends in Oil Kan. When we arrived, we found ourselve in for a surprise. Since our last gig there, back in February - they had built a stage. Not a large one mind you... but a stage none-the-less. In fact, the contruction on it had just finished earlier that afternoon. But don't worry - the sawdust that maintains the "Roadhouse" feel of the place is still in tact.

This show simply had two bands, us and Oil Kan so we had a chance to extend our set a bit and play far more songs. Plus we actually starting to build a draw already after only three shows in Woodland. Several people who came, specifically came to see us.

And they brought FRIENDS too. :)

Now that's really what we like to see. I over heard several comments go back and forth such as - "This better be worth it".

The Response: "Don't worry, it is"

I think we put on basically a good show, but there were some rough spots. The area where the new stage is built has a very low ceiling. It actually acts like a cave and traps the sound - then focuses it out like a megaphone. As a result, all you could hear on the stage, was drums. In order to try and hear our instruments, Darryl, Ron and I brought up our volume - which was magnified by the cone effect in the back of the club. None of this we knew about at the time, we didn't find out until later. Plus Darryls guitar's were having a LOT of tuning problems as he doesn't have a "quiet" tuner - he has to do it by ear...out loud. That was annoying (and exactly the kind of thing my old band "Soul Machine" used to go through, only we had Two guitar players doing this. Bottom line: it was just too loud for some people, and although they liked us - we sold a couple CD's that show - many of them chose to listen from outside, then came back in after we we're done when Oil Kan began to play.

Ironically Oil Kan had learned from our mistake and instead of being massively loud - which they usually are - they brought their instrument volume way down and let the new amplifying effect of the room handle it.

Oh well, you live and you learn. We'll know better next time.

And there will be a next time.

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