John Hendow

On Saturday 2/13 the 1 Uppers performed at Slim’s Last Chance Chili Shack in Seattle. It’s a cozy bar with a great vibe, and we were definitely in our element with great chili, tasty beer (served in jelly jars) and a cozy stage. We were the final act on a three-band bill, so we spent time  listening to the other bands play and chatting with friends. Our set was pretty tight and felt great. My fellow electric guitarist Kris Geren wasn’t here for the gig, which left me with some BIG boots to stumble around in. First off, I couldn’t figure out how to set up my amp… I like to have it on the floor because it benefits from the bass coupling effect when sitting directly on stage. But it would have been firing right into my ankles, which isn’t any good for being able to hear it. I wound up pulling a chair up on stage and perching the amp on top. This worked pretty well and I could hear myself at a moderate volume.

The set consisted of the usual mix of originals and covers. I felt that it went well. Jon Hyde and I spent the evening flipping solos back and forth, sometimes sharing sections and trading ideas. On the Lloyd Green tune “3 Picks” I had a double solo, covering a section that usually goes to Kris. This was one of those moments when I did my best to sound like two guitarists, rather than attempting to simply run a solo throughout the entire section. It’s always interesting to have this kind of challenge. We played an original “Fall Back” at a slow pace, which brought out a new level of melancholy. As we started that song it seemed like we were struggling with whether to pick it up or play it slower. Within 16 bars we had settled into the tempo and it became a great rendition.

All in all, a good night with the band and fun one. The 1 Uppers rhythm section is very solid, and it’s a gas to set up those great country grooves with Caben and Eric.  Jon Hyde rocked the steel as always. David was in good form, and played a fine show despite battling a cold. I look forward to the next gig, and to having Kris return to the fold. If you haven’t visited the 1 Uppers web site lately, I’ve made a few updates. Stop on by and click around.