My band AMERICAN SKIN played a show last night at the world famous SOUL BAR in downtown Augusta,GA...........we essentially had the option of doing the show ourselves, but opted to include a band i won't name here..........their guitar player is friends with our guitar player and the hope was that we could eventually end up doing several shows together in town and out........well all that hope went right down the crapper by the end of the night........what follows is my version of the story........
We are already at the bar when the other band shows up.........though they are opening, they showed up rather late......i don't believe all the band members were present until around 9 or so.......the show was to start at 10:30........so that was the first point deducted for non-professionalism....
Then they proceed to take what must've been about an hour to set up........seriously, it was that long before they played a note........they ended up sound checking after admission was already being charged at the door....second point deducted......
This is not to mention the ridiculous set up this group had........the drummer had a large kit(7 or 8 drums) strapped to a cage which took up about 3/4 of the stage(THE SOUL BAR's stage is relatively small).......add to that 2 guitarists, a bassist and a keyboard player and their assorted and sundry gear and you've got the makings of a clusterfuck........they eventually had to set up a riser next to the stage just so the keyboard player wouldn't have to stand on the floor.......
This next bit is where things get sticky......it would seem obvious that if you are the opening band, you would want to avoid pissing off the band that gave you the oppurtunity to play that night........these boys forged boldly forward, seemingly oblivious that another band was supposed to play that night......it was set forth by Coco(the owner) that they would play from 10:30 until 11:30....which would give them ample time to get their gear off the stage and ours on in time to begin our set by midnight.........they proceeded to play right up to 11:30......at which point the vocalist announces that we're coming up next and they have THREE more songs.........THREE MORE SONGS????!!!!!......ARE YOU KIDDING ME???!?!?!......they end their set 15 minutes over their alloted time....that,my friends is a sure-fire way to piss off the band with whom you're sharing the bill........and damn it all, it's just fucking disrespectful......third point deducted for non-professionalism
That was bad, but not unforgiveable.........what happened next was...unforgiveable that is.........they triumphantly complete their set and leave the stage to chat up their scantily clad female companions(none of whom paid a cover)....leaving their gear sitting there..........at this point, the folks in AMSKIN were beginning to steam.........fourth point deducted for non-professionalism........word to the wise when playing on any multi-band bill.......GET YOUR SHIT OFF THE STAGE POST-HASTE!!!........one would imagine this would be common sense and or common courtesy......this band is apparently devoid of both........
After a few minutes, the drummer and his girlfried get up on the stage and begin breaking down his kit ON THE STAGE!!!!........that's rookie shit.....any moron knows you need to get the kit off the stage before breaking it down........fifth point deducted for non-professionalism..........
At this point i lost my shit.........i went up onstage and shouted to the drummer and his girlie(there was loud music playing over the PA) to get the drums off the stage.....they gave me a confused look and i repeated myself, this time adding that they had already went over their time and we were waiting to get on the stage.....this lit a fire under this guy's ass and he got crackin'.....apparently, he told the rest of the band about the exchange, because they got moving finally as well.........
A little bit later, we're nearly set to go.......i'm onstage behind my drumkit when the other band's tallest member(the bassist) comes up to me onstage and says "Hey man, we don't appreciate your attitude".........I am FUCKING DUMBFOUNDED!!!.....i'm sorry, was i impolite?.......did i offend you?......i tried to explain myself to this mental giant to no avail......he says "bands go over sometimes,dude. it happens"....as rude as i can be, i felt completely justified.......so i'm not really about to apologize(my sense of righteous indignation has got to be right up there in the top 5%)......then this large person(refraining from name-calling here) proceeds to say something to the effect of "enjoy using our gear"......you see, this smart guy was referring to a personal agreement between their guitarist and ours to share an amp............at this point i've had enough of this inane conversation and tell the guy to fuck off and get the fuck off the stage.....enough is enough after all and it was about time for us to play.........the silly fuck........
during our set, a few of the other band's members stood center stage down front......staring me down........silly high school crap.........my vocalist eventually called them on it......."why you wanna give my drummer the stink eye"...he eventually ended up running them off.........
so this entire band is probably still calling me an asshole today.......but if you think i care, you'd be mistaken......they finish the night minus 5 points for non-professionalism........and i choose to take the balance of their punk rock points in addition.......i get 50 punk rock points for getting shit done.........
rock it like you're trying to commit murder.....
Stak
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