On Tuesday I did my 14 hour work-day, and by the end of it I knew something was wrong. I was just starting to feel the beginning part of a cold/sore throat coming on and I cursed the timing of it. The Pittsfield (Lenox) Econolodge show was Friday, and unlike the unfortunate and untimely zit that formed on my face two days before the HAC show, this time I was facing an untimely problem that was not merely cosmetic.
All day Wednesday I took Vitamin C, and after a practice, I rested for the remainder of the day. Thursday I took the drastic step of not practicing, to save my body. As some long-time readers may know, I made it a New Year’s Resolution to always put in two weeks worth of practice before every show. I was still fresh from the HAC show on November 10th, so it didn’t feel as urgent, but still, I only got in about 3 practices, and the sore throat was an unfortunate occurrence. But, I tell myself that I am a pro, I should be able to get through this. We drove up Thursday night, and by the time Friday rolled around, I hoped to be in the best possible shape for a show that was billed as Davey G’s Return to the Homeland!
Flavours at the Econolodge is set up in the manner of a three ring circus, with multiple rooms having different events. Karaoke was happening in the main bar, while this show was in the ballroom (used for weddings and such). As this was an all ages show, we had to drink in the bar and not inside, (and as I was catching up with many old friends, I didn’t make it inside for Millions Dead, though I heard Pittsfield’s newest punk rock sensation pretty clearly) It’s good to see that the energy is still there, that kids are making the music in the unlikely places.
The Poncherellos have been in existence as long as Andy Poncherello has kept the faith, and even after some death and then resurrection, still they stand before you like it’s 1977 (or in their case, 1992). The last time I saw them was at the Lampstand reunion show in 2000, when Robbie Poncherello was still on guitar. The Flavours show featured the original line-up, with the Beat Machine on guitar and Arnoldo Poncherello on drums. They played a few new songs, blasted through the old ones, and though a little rough at times, it was great to see them back together. I hope to hear more new stuff soon.
My set wound up being a truncated version of what I played just a few weeks earlier, but it still was about 17 songs long. I looked at my set-list, still taped to the keyboard from the last show, and I decided to discard “You Triumph When You Quit,” for the reason that I just did not trust my voice to hold out during the “Ahhhhhhh, it’s so satisfying” part. There was dancing, a good crowd of appreciative kids, who were certainly a lot younger than I am used to. As it got later and I pushed the throat with my screaming (“Kill You,” “Be My Friend” are killers). I drank water and made it through to an encore, “Pittsfield’s From Hell.”
And I’ve learned one thing from my last two shows: I have got to learn “Guilty of Being White.” As in, how to play it live (it appears on the Chairman of the Keyboard CD). I learned it on the keyboard, then I recorded it with the vocals separately, but I’ve never put them together. And in the last two shows, that’s what the crowd has screamed for, and me, like a putz, haven’t been able to do what they wanted. I do promise that by the next time anyone sees me, I will have incorporated this song into my set, or into my encore. Let’s call it a resolution for 2008.
Thanks to everyone who came out! As always, if anyone has pictures or video or a recording, I’d love to get a copy!
www.daveygandthekeyboard.com
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