Wednesday morning, just getting it together to blog about the double-shot of Alan Parsons Live Project in Reno last weekend.
It was exhilarating, both in its simplicity and complexity. Simple because we’ve played at John Ascuaga’s Nugget almost every year since 2003; 2 consecutive nites in the same venue, which is housed in the same structure as the hotel, and the airport pickups and drop-offs are usually in a limo, and there’s a great jacuzzi by the pool, and you get your meals comped and the staff is great so no problem there. Complex because half the band was missing!
That’s right: with Godfrey, Manny and Steve previously engaged on the HippieFest all summer and unable to get out for the pair of Reno dates, some subs were called in. Alastair “418″ Greene had already performed guitar duties with us in LA, San Diego and Vegas last week, so no worries there. Then Mr. Parsons made two more calls: one to keyboardist Tom Brooks, who learned an impossible load of keyboard stuff in record time, and one to legendary drummer Chester Thompson.
Yes, THAT Chester Thompson. Zappa, Weather Report, Genesis, drum duets with Phil Collins, Chester Thompson.
Anyway. One four-hour rehearsal/soundcheck later, we were ready to hit it and quit it. Any loose musical ends were unnoticed by the audience, who gave us a tremendous response. Perhaps it was the slight edge that any band gets when there are several new players who are still getting comfortable with the material; in any case, we raised the Goblet Of Rock on high for two consecutive nites, and I GOT TO PLAY WITH CHESTER THOMPSON! (There, I finally said it. Very cool.)
Another discovery this weekend? The merch table; it’s the new after-party! Hanging out at the merch table, fresh off the stage with the Glow of Rock still on me, I sold more CD’s than ever before. Many thanx to all of you in Reno who purchased “Senza,” and special thanx to Alastair “418″ Greene for reminding me how to truly work it.
Home until September, busying with some local action. Keep on checking in for new stuff all the time!
Be well
JM
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