Well hello there everyone! We’ve had several wonderful summer concerts in various small communities in the surrounding and outlying areas of Chicago. Big Fun!! I have a great job! I know my work is done when everyone is dancing. And it never fails to delight me when it happens. I leave these shows flying high because of all of the love from the audience.
We played a concert in Frankfort (picturesque, clean – I’m a big stah in Frankfort) There was hot humid weather that night -EU! But hey! You just get through it! There were familiar faces and new ones in the audience that night and they were all sitting back and diggin us. And of course they were all up on their feet by the end of the show and dancing. I had my first Cicada sighting.
We played in Rockford at the Sinnissipi Bandshell – a kind of amphitheatre nestled in a wooded park – wonderful setting…great audience…totally mixed – racially and age range – no Isiah – which was not a disaster as mama just took care of business! I was cordless that night and so I was running up and down the amphitheatre sitting on various men (during “Sell It”) and messing with folks. Lovely crowd–massive dancing. No bugs.
We did another lovely show in Geneva: Swedish Days. Swedish Days is a community festival set in the heart of downtown Geneva which is another typical picturesque town outside of the Chicago. Our stage is set across the street from the Old Courthouse. The audience sits on the grassy hill and lawn in front of the court house. Great audience..loads of dancing in the street. We have been asked back several times. It’s nice.
We did an afternoon concert at NBC Towers the day before the Geneva show and the event company had all this stuff that was being given away to the lunch time audience. The chick who hired us told me that it was mostly junk – but “folks just love it!”
Methinks: “Hm…okay…whatever”
But actually it was fun stuff: mardi gras beads, sunglasses, those cheezy metallic wigs, maracas and feather boas. And those of you who know me from my Possibilities’ days know how that kind of junk appeals to me!! We handed out a lot of the “stuff” at the NBC concert but there were tons left, so Little Ray (Keyboardist Ray Glower’s son) dragged it to Geneva. Towards the end of the show, he hauled it out and started throwing it from the stage and the audience went Bonkers!! They stampeded towards the stage begging for shit to be thrown in their direction. You woulda thought I was throwing out fifty dollar bills! Well, that brought everyone to the stage and onto the street and so once again: big ole dance party – all ages, races, families – it was gorgeous!
And tonight’s show was no exception. We played a summer concert in Evanston (my former home while at Northwestern) and though the crowd was small – it was mighty and energetic. The park sits along Ridge Ave – a very busy street – and cars were stopping as drivers watched in amusement at the dozens of adults dancing in the park! I LOVE MY JOB!!! No bugs.
The weather has blessed us with moderate temperatures and low humidity. There is nothing worse than trying to perform in heat and humidity! OY! You feel completely drained and covered in grit – moreso than normal – because of all of the sweat! And the bugs are usually awful but there has been a surprising lack of bugs this summer…
Let me take this opportunity to expose the great fear of insects that exists in my band by the male members (which is all of them) I don’t know if it is an actual fear of insects that motivates them to run and jump and freak out if there are bugs (gnats, mosquitoes, cicadas etc) flying around them. It is quite hysterical to see these big grown men swatting away at gnats with towels and jumping around at the same time. I recall one night when we were playing outside and the stage lights had attracted a huge swarm of gnats and moths. After about 30 minutes, half of the rhythmn section was performing with towels covering their heads!!! It was a hysterical sight.
I’m sure someone is probably thinking “why are you doing these little shows?” and “How small time!” … Well, perhaps that’s one way to look at it. I prefer to be happy that we are working and that I can pay my boys and continue building a reputation for fine work and bringing a bit of magic to someone’s life just by making them dance. The glass is half full over here!
Tomorrow: I must share my impressions of SEAL who I saw perform at the Ndigo Foundation event at Civic Opera House (I was the guest of my dear old friend Avis) Seal is magical!!!
