Remember how I said I still love the outdoor gigs the best? Man, I was starting to seriously reconsider that last night.
A private gig, backyard party for which we were each paid $100. Six piece band, do the math; these people have a little money. 97 degrees out, no breeze, and threat of storms coming later. We get there and yeah, it's big backyard. A bunch of 8x4 plywood sheets laid on the ground is our "stage", covered by a big tent, roomy enough, but with the back and sides down, no air. Step 1, before setting anything up, get those back and side curtains up. Ah, a little bit of air at least, though there was still virtually no breeze.
Deck on the back of the house has steps coming down into the yard and also connects over to the deck surrounding the pool off to the right. Really one big deck, actually. Little kids' play area with some climbers past that. Tables and chairs, most under tents, some out in the open, more or less in front of us and to the left.
These folks throw a big backyard party every summer and invite all the neighbors, so there were maybe 30 or 40 people when we got there, with more arriving as time went on. Probably 100 or so total, with people coming and going. This year's party is extra special, because their daughter graduated from high school, so it's also a graduation party for her. This is good to know because there are half a dozen very pretty young ladies in tiny little dresses and other things you wear when it's 97 degrees out, and since they're the grad and her friends, they're all 18 (or close enough) so it's okay to look. (It would have been impossible not to, but it's good to know it's okay.)
Three sets, 70-75 minutes each, so four hours with breaks. Somehow we survived the first set, during which it was hot as fuck. That's the only way to describe it. I survived by doing the same thing I do at every gig, which is stand in my corner with my 20-inch fan leaning on an amp up at me while I play and watch the babes. You know how 18-year-olds sometimes look like they're still in junior high, but sometimes like they could pass for 25? This one brunette was absolutely stunning, the "looks much older" type not just in looks but in the way she carried herself, clearly the leader of this little group. Of course, it turns out that she's the guest of honor. Also a 4.0 honor student and a very nice young lady overall.
Her favorite band is Twenty One Pilots, so we learned and played "House of Gold" just for her, and opened the second set with it. It was also the birthday of Joe, one of the neighbors, and another neighbor also named Joe had his birthday this week, so we played "Birthday" by The Beatles next, continuing the "hey let's celebrate things" theme, which seemed to raise spirits a bit. People seemed to like us, but it was hot as fuck, so not much dancing or anything. Mostly people sitting under tents drinking and trying to have a good time. By the end of the second set, the sun was down and it was starting to cool off a little, so that helped.
Second break, we're all checking the radar on our phones and stuff, and the storms which were forecast are definitely on their way, though it looks like they
might veer north. Clouds roll in, and suddenly the air temperature drops and the wind comes up, both
very noticeably. The storm front is here. We're either going to suddenly get wet, or we're just going to enjoy the breeze and the fact that it's now only about 80 degrees out, which is still kinda warm but feels heavenly compared to five minutes ago.
It did not rain. The third set was amazing. Cooler now and with a breeze, people were up and dancing. People were eating, and all that drinking they were doing earlier to try and stay cool was hitting them pretty good. The place completely came to life. In a far corner, some guys were doing bong hits. And at some point, the graduate and her friends decided it was time to hit the pool. Remember how the deck to the pool is just off to my right, maybe 20 feet away? These are times when you know that there is a God. I have seen proof! I mean, go ahead and use your imagination, but it will not exceed what passed before my eyes, many times in fact.
So another rough start, but by the end, again, I'm thinking yeah, I still love outdoor gigs the best.