 |
| The Wind Takes New Hampshire 12/8-9/1978 Second Wind was blowing pretty well by late 1978 having honed its 3-piece improvisational skills in front of so many appreciative audiences. The Second Wind family had grown considerably by then so it was a small troupe of band and friends that headed up to Franklin Pierce College for a 2-nighter weekend in Rindge, New Hampshire. Somewhere along the way Mother Nature decided to augment the fun by dumping a bit of the ol' white stuff on us (I mean the ORGANIC kind from the sky, Silly!). Well, we had all our equipment packed in my 1976 Econoline van (named Little Beau Blue by an old girlfriend of mine, Pam) and I was skidding all over the place. So we stopped, got out from our various cars and started to put chains on my tires! Now, none of us were well-versed in the engineering technology of installing tire chains, but after 3 pretend masters took a shot at it, we finally got the chains on and kept on rolling to the gig (after almost shooting the chains off the tires at Michael's head!). And what a gig it was, pre-show party in somebody's dorm room not withstanding! After the gig I remember Buzz and Mike were asking me what I thought of those gorgeous girls dancing in front of me. As usual, I was so entranced in taking in the driving guitar and drum work around me and throwing in as energetic and ecclectic bass patterns as I could create that I honestly did not see a soul the entire show! So one more party at some frat house or someplace where we apparently were invited to bunk down for the night. So there was our little family, ready to bunk down on the floor and whatever chairs and couches. We were all partied out and I decided we needed a little "come down" music. So I picked out one of my cassettes (I believe it was a mixture of diverse songs including Beethoven's 9th Symphony, 2nd Movement!). I think it must have hit the spot because I remember Deirdre commented the next morning about how perfect it was for the moment. And of course we were fast asleep in Second Wind Heaven in no time. Second Wind was always more than just a band. It really was a family of (initally) Oyster Bay-area people who enjoyed each others' company and shared in the music. Over time friends of friends of friends would come by to a gig or a practice and many "stayed on", digging the vibe (I have to say that for me, Jim Martling was a key spirit in the Second Wind vibe - Jim always had a smile for you and his vibrant, positive energy was infectious). A Second Wind gig was always a place where friends knew they would find other friends. We did have some overly rowdy nights (a bloodied nose and a broken toilet bowl at Sullivan's one night that got us all kicked out comes to mind), but 99% of the time, we were a peaceful gathering looking to feed off each others' energies and be in a place where we could be ourselves. Let The Wind blow! Thorne Ventura 1 September 2005 |
| October 15, 1977
My mother worked in the office at Oyster Bay High and somehow talked Buzz into playing my Sweet Sixteen in Bayville. I'm sure they thought it was totally lame but they couldn't have been nicer to my friends and family. They're just good people. Second Wind and Thorne's later bands laid the soundtrack to alot of good times with friends and memories of Long Island that I hold dear. Beth Kovac 9/30/2005 |
| Second Wind Stories |
| A Piece of Second Wind History from a Unique Point of View Things are still a bit fuzzy. I guess they will always be a bit dusty with time. A lot of time. It seems like I always knew Dave S. Met him in college. The dude could really play, even though at the time he had a studio model Les Paul that didn�t sound very good. Our mutual admiration for Jorma and Jack made us fast friends. I will always remember him screwing around with an Electro-Harmonix phase shifter and Surphase Tension. Very cool. I was still learning to play bass guitar (learning never ends) and had a 1972 (73?) Fender Precision that needed a little work but sounded good. Being on a collegiate budget I always needed to borrow crappy amplifiers. Anyway, we had a lot of fun. Now, here is where my chronology gets a bit muddy. Dave went off to school in Colorado, but then returned. We started checking out a Band that was playing our kind of music in Hempstead, but I don�t know how that started. Maybe Fatman or the Wanderer. But Dave kind of hooked up with them. You see, Dave had spent time in his youth with a gentleman named Roy Bookbinder, creating a direct legacy to the fabled Reverend Gary Davis. This is a key connection, and explains the sound. The Second Winders recognized the sound immediately, and Dave became a guest performer. Up to now he had been playing solo acoustic shows, mostly at Horsefeathers in Huntington. As I often tagged along to the shows, I kind of got sucked in. The Band had an extended family thing going. Very unique, often creative, and always absurd. But truly irresistible. It was the summer of �79 and I graduated from college, but not ready to actually have a, how should I put it, �job�. My interest and modest knowledge of sound reinforcement landed me alongside High Master Jimmy Martling. Thorne bowed out of the Band to get on with his life, and Dave filled the void with a better Les Paul (from Thorne) and a screaming Firebird. Neil and Lani came in. Many microphones. God, we mic�ed EVERYTHING! Feedback was unavoidable�.and always followed by the chorus: �MARTLING!!!!� Considering the absence of actual money, we had a surprising amount of equipment and power running. Everything was kept together right on the edge. And it sounded�.good. The Band�s bass guitar belonged to the exiting Thorne, so I let Mike use my Fender. All in the family. A special note: Mike Adams played the damn thing (and all those damn things) upside down and backwards! But his sound was, and is, stupendous! This absolutely must be witnessed. I moved in with Dave and friends into a house in scenic and historic Levittown. Dave and I were still messing about with Hot Tuna stuff and I accompanied him as a bass playing guest at a few shows (Horsefeathers, and US Blues in Rosalyn). I think we sounded OK. Dave certainly did. Anyway, we always had a great response. I also briefly had a �jam band� with Hubba. The party rolled on. Sleep all day and Rock all night. I remember one incredible August night when we played a monster party. Swimming pool, the works. Indoor-outdoor, with the band outside, of course, to the dismay of any neighbors. This was one awesome gathering. I recall one instant when the sound was running somewhat amuck (the engineers experiencing a mild lack of attention) and Jimmy and I came running towards each other across the lawn in the dark. WHAM! The next thing I new I was on my back looking up at the stars. Jimmy was also down. I think my nose is still a little crooked from the impact. This party rocked. Thorne was in the lineup for this one, and it was downright transcendental. But very late. Inevitably, the police showed up, but even they thought it was just too good to shut down right away. Thorne finished the set with a superb mastery of digital delay and it was over. The cops were mesmerized, complimented the talent, and left. Just unreal. Things started to wind down, as they always do. I followed my path to Connecticut and went corporate (ouch!). But the spirit doesn�t die. I still have the Fender in the stables, and it sounds wonderful; true, it has since been worked up a bit. Dave visited me a couple of years ago, and out on the back deck we played a nice acoustic set for old times. I believe we sounded better than ever. He was, of course, simply great and I improved considerably after more than twenty years. And, oh yes, from what I hear from the recordings, Second Wind has too. You guys sound absolutely fabulous! Carry On!!! And KEEP KICKING BUTT!! By the way, I still have the original recording of �Puss on Your Mirror�, written and performed by the late, great, James Martling. Larry Diamond Sound Engineer and Road Crew (1979-1980) |
| Thunder Thighs Circa 1979: During 1978 and 1979, we were playing a place called Chester�s in Setauket. I think it�s Paula Jean�s now, but, anyway, we used to pack this place with people and really rocked the house on quite a few occasions. Anyway, there was this big Amazon babe that used to work there; setting up and breaking down the bar and cleaning up. She used to always give us the bum�s rush after every show; trying to get us out of there, so she could clean up and go home. Anyway, this big, broom-pushing, bum�s-rushing Amazon girl did this to us a few times, and getting a little pushy. Buzz ended up nicknaming her �Thunder Thighs�, which I�m sure she didn�t like. So, after we start calling her �Thunder Thighs�, of course, the broom-pushing, bum�s-rushing stuff gets considerably fucking worse. This girl was big, and a little scary. She was also, however at least semi-hot, if memory serves. Another big night at this club, the place is going absolutely nuts, we�re having a great time playing out the end of an enjoyable show and I happen to glance over and see old �Thunder Thighs� with a big shit-eating smile on her face, leaning on her broom and undulating ever so slightly. I mean, SHE WAS HAVING A GOOD OLD TIME! After the show during breakdown, she�s laughing with us and joking around. Buzz, by this time, had shortened her new handle to �TT� and she didn�t seem to mind. So I inquire to my mates as to the reason for the happy thaw-out of this girl�s attitude, and learned that she had sampled a large quantity of blotter, and SHE WAS HAVING A GOOD OLD TIME! The next we play there, to my surprise, this big-foot TT babe goes right back to the old the broom-pushing, bum�s-rushing stuff. So, of course, we go back to calling her �Thunder Thighs�, which I�m sure she didn�t like. - Mike |
| November 5th, 1977 Sandpiper's in Bayville,NY How about that time at Sandpiper's in Bayville when you played during the week around Thanksgiving. The management thought 'How many people are going to show up during the week?' Only it was like the Tuesday or Wednesday before Thanksgiving and everyone was home from college. The night of the show, they had only one bartender running the whole place and then hundreds of people showed up! He called his boss for reinforcements and I helped him out by getting someone to cover the front door. So we had Lisa O. 'checking proof' and collecting the door money. Which was fine, she was totally capable of doing that - except at that point I don't even know if she had turned 16!!! That was also the night we had this hand stamp at the door that said "I Am S. SNOID". It was fine on everyone's hands but someone got hold of it and covered the entire bathroom wall with the stamp! There were a bunch of chuckles that night. Some of the "under-agers" that couldn't get in broke into the under-floor store room and got themselves beers to sit on the beach outside and listen ... but then Lisa let them in anyway! Or am I combining multiple nights episodes here? -BB |
| Tombstone Circa 1979: ..."It started out a normal night at Buzzard' s Bay (LOL), or as normal as a liquid night could be. I was grooving to the music and the voices in my head; just happy to be around a group of people I loved. I had a habit of peaking and disappearing, and ending up in a familiarly strange place; this night was no exception to my norm. There was just a little twist to this night. The next morning, when I woke (what ever time of day I awoke was morning) in the room of someone who always kept the door open and who lived on the hill. I was asked the question: "where did that come from", and I said "what?", they pointed to the foot of the bed and there was a 100lb tombstone lying there. I could not remember where it had come from, but I felt better when I turned it over and there was no name attached. That tombstone made it to the basement and stayed there for a while in constant use by a chosen few who could not see the irony of the situation..." - Tom J. |
| Circa 1978: ..."Just one word; Peaches!" - Victor D. |
|
| (Updated 8.29.08) |
 |
|