April 25th, 2003
Well, it was Bumstock. I personally expected more, but then again, I've never been to a Bumstock. I guess it isn't as huge as I'd expected. But I shouldn't complain. After all, a few hundred people isn't a bad audience.
I got into town in the early afternoon in time for a quick practice with the band before packing up and heading over to Bumstock field to load in for our set. Factoring in a whole bunch of delays and mixups, we actually managed to get there relatively on time and with most of our equipment. However, it was way too hectic for my taste. We didn't have time (or manpower! thanks a lot groupies - way to "rather watch than work") to set up merch or get cameras straightened around to get quick photos and stuff.
Another big sore thumb is that we didn't even have time to watch any of the other bands play. It's a funny thing; playing with the most bands ever (this being Bumstock) and we didn't get to watch any sets. Although there wasn't too much decent settage to be seen, I would have liked to watch Big D & The Kids Table just for old times sake. I actually told this funny story before we started playing, but nobody heard it (due to my mic being off), so here goes take 2: Big D was the headliner at the first club show I ever went to a few years back. It was a weird feeling performing after them, let alone in the same venue/show as them. I suppose that should be every musician's dream to have the first band you ever saw open for your band, but then again, I'd seen bands in non-club shows before them. And this was Bumstock, so it wasn't like they were opening "for us".
But onto our set: we did get a little bit of a soundcheck, and we could hear ourselves pretty well. This was also a new experience for us, being the first outdoor show Lowfive has played (except for way way way back in the early years at the Houlton Ampitheater, but I'm not going to count that!). It was a totally different aural perspective; the sound was clear and didn't build up the way it does in a cramped hall. I didn't wear earplugs, and I didn't notice until after the set.
Peformancewise, at least it was better than last week. We were pretty solid as a group, and I personally played decently. It wasn't the greatest show we've had, but it wasn't something to be embarrassed about. From feedback I've been hearing, it was a great show from the audience perspective, and I suppose that's all that counts. I won't lie when I say it doesn't feel as good as when I know we're having fun playing and then we all know what each other is thinking without saying a word after the show.
I guess I haven't been very happy with the shows lately, only feeling good about 2 since the winter. Unless I'm totally happy with how the show goes, I feel like we have unfinished business, and I just want to play again as soon as possible to replace the taste with a good show. That's how I've felt for months now. Maybe I'm just suffering from a lack of band activity, being stuck down in Boston. As it is, I only see the band for a day or two at a time, practicing once (which I haven't felt good about yet), playing a short public set the next (or the same) day, and then busing 4 hours back home. Hopefully, this is just a sign that I'm ready to get busy this summer, and nothing more. I just finished up school for the year, so things will start opening up a little more. After all, we've got a good old-fashioned double-lutz of a schedule for May 9-10 that I'm burning for! (sorry for babbling, but this IS my diary...)
/caleb
SETLIST
Lie Down With Dogs
Action, Reaction
1913
Element of Subtlety
Calico
Boys Will Be Boys
