…Out like a lamb.
The Zoysia tour is over. Last two shows, last weekend. First, Phil Vickman’s guitar shop, in Northbrook, Illinois, Fat Tone Guitars, grand opening, Fun gig, with a rocky start, as Keith’s microphone was “intermittent”, to say the least. Once we got that under control, it was smooth sailin’. It’s fun to take the Trashpicker into a guitar shop, ’cause nobody knows what it is. Guitarists had many questions about the 7 knobbed, 4 pickuped, 3 switched wonder. I tried to explain, but, that’s a lot of information to take in, at a party that was serving booze. Couldn’t resist the opportunity to play the Gretsch Billy Bo for the encores. It’s modeled after Bo Diddley’s custom Gretsch, and, is the model Billy F. Gibbons currently favors. Weird guitar. I guess if you think Trashpicker’s normal, ANY guitar seems weird, in comparison, but, the Billy Bo was WAY “out there”. Pretty awkward, but, I managed to half-ass my way through “Waitin’ On The Bus”, and LaGrange, before calling it a night.
Met the main dude from St. Blues Guitars, who claimed he’d give me one, on some kinda endorsement deal. They are KILLER guitars, but, as time has passed, I feel less inclined to call him up. I can’t cheat on Trashpicker. I’m satisfied with a guitar, for the first time in my life, this is no time to confuse matters. “Thou Shalt Not Commit Adultery…”
Next, onto the Skokie Backlot Bash, in Skokie, Illinois. Outdoor gig, on a BEE-YOO-TEE-FULL evening. Perfect weather, I didn’t even sweat. Nice gig. A solid, good show, a solid, good time.
The Zoysia tour started out with a bang, in June of ’06, went around North America twice, once to Europe, and, dwindled down to a couple of easy goin’ shows in northern Illinois. No mob scenes by Northbrook and Skokie. We probably were out too long. Started to see the diminishing returns this summer, BUT, the fans who showed up for the late era shows, definitely got to see the hottest version of the band. The crowds got smaller, but, the band got bigger. Maybe we rocked so HUGE, we blew people out the doors? It’s all good, overall, a very successful touring cycle. The strategy will be different, next year. I’ll leave it at that.
Next band function? Recording a new album.
Stay tuned…
Brian