Friday night Caribbean Blues played at Harvey’s downtown. We played “I’m a Believer” by the Monkees because it went so well at the last gig when we faked it by request. At the end of our show, 1:05 am, a couple who had just arrived tipped us $40 if we would play “that song where she winds up her bottom and goes like a rocket”. Drunk as they were, they were also amiable and generous so we put our heads together and managed a passable rendition of Jump In the Line by Harry Belafonte. Why that isn’t in our regular repertoire was a mystery to every one. It is now. On the well rehearsed side, we finally got a good video of Collin playing Freebird on the pan! See it at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h8eCmZaTaxE
Saturday night at The Waterfront, I’m nursing what’s left of my voice as Caribbean Blues pulls off requests of Sunspot Baby, Everybody Loves to Cha Cha Cha and Some Kind of Wonderful, none of which we played before that evening. That last one took some vocal technique; which I was watching all night because I didn’t Friday night (more about that later).
It’s great to play with skilled musicians who are capable of trying a song they might have last heard years ago. Sure we don’t play them perfectly, but a solid drum beat, sincere vocals (on the chorus and half verse that I know) and good cooperative playing by all band members can sell a song and keep the crowd happy. Playing well rehearsed music is always satisfying, but there’s something special about taking a chance and pulling a crowd pleaser out of thin air.
