Thoughts On The 11/18 1 Uppers Gig
On Friday 11/18 the 1 Uppers performed at Slim’s Last Chance Chili Shack in Seattle. This venue is one of my favorite places on our regular circuit. It’s a cozy room that gives off the perfect vibe of great music, cold beer and yummy chili.
I’ve been playing a lot of shows with the Dudley Manlove Quartet lately, and my bandmates in the 1 Uppers are gracious in allowing me to balance my time between the bands. So it has been over a month since we had the band in full force, and at this gig we worked with substitute drummer Andy Roth. At our rehearsal Thursday evening it was evident that we were ready to attack this show with a lot of energy, and I had a feeling it was going to be a good one. Andy (drums) was perfectly prepared for this set, the mark of a pro player!
At rehearsal on Thursday the songs were perfectly arranged (not by me) to group the songs where I play baritone guitar all together. This meant only one switch between baritone and regular guitar during the rehearsal set. Naturally, at the gig we move a few songs around which meant switching four times! Good thing I can move fast. The set was great. You can tell when it’s going well onstage, and there was a fun relaxed vibe as tore through the songs. The set concluded with the audience demanding an encore, which we’re happy to do… just unusual to have such energetic reception. Another fun night with great friends. I look forward to the next one!