In my 20-plus years as a performer, I've seen some pretty interesting things. It's kind of funny-what really strikes me is not how much has changed, but how much has remained the same. Clubs, bands, booking agents, the crowds, etc. It's really not that much different today than it was when I was a teenager!
I recall one particular gig, back around '98 or '99. I was playing with Barry Kingston and the Screaming Souls, and we were opening for a major national artist upstairs at Pearl Street. Of course, the artist had not had a major hit in 15 years or so, but that's another story. We were a little nervous-big stage, huge sound system, roadies everywhere. We didn't want to come off like amateurs in front of a well-known artist. So anyway, we did our soundcheck, played our set and were very well received. It was a really good show for us. So the headliner gets up there, and opens with their hit song from a decade and a half ago. Well, they totally trainwrecked it! Huge screw-up in front of a packed house. We just sat there laughing our butts off! So what I learned that night was never think you're above or below anybody else when it comes to making music… we're all equal-and in this together here in the Valley.
