Good gig!

I’m always a little giddy after a good show, with all that energy left over from performing still flowing through my veins. Tonight is no exception: I still want to play guitar!!!

I just came from a good gig, and I’m holding out on calling it a great gig only because the sound system left much to be desired (more on that later). It was Carissa Gempesaw’s 18th birthday, and we performed at the party because about four months ago when she heard 220 play at Basti’s Brew during our first show there she liked us and subsequently asked her mom Maite (who happens to be the manager of Basti’s Brew) to hire us. Issa is a great gal, a singer, songwriter, and guitar player all rolled into one beautiful person, and it was a real pleasure performing for her (and her family) because she loves music so much.

The sound system was provided by SoundChaser again, but we were alarmed when we saw that it wasn’t the regular sound guy who was there. Our fears were confirmed when we had a hard time doing sound check because the guy apparently didn’t really know what he was doing: he couldn’t get the mix right for the instruments and vocals, and he couldn’t get the reverb to work at all. Finally in frustration I texted the owner of SoundChaser, who promised he would come with a proper technician to work the sound.

Fortunately they did come and were able to fix the sound before Issa and her group and then Carlos Castaño (more on this great guy in a later entry) and his group played; unfortunately the proper technician left as the bands were playing, leaving the first guy to fiddle around with the sound in his own uniquely inexperienced way. Still, it was better than during the sound checks, so the groups were still able to give good performances.

When 220 played I was afraid the same thing that happened in the Jollibee gig last night would happen again, that is, that the audience wouldn’t dig us and get bored with our music. Fortunately this was a more appreciative crowd and soon we were all having a good time. We also managed to pick the songs that many in the audience knew, so a lot of people were singing along with us as we performed. When you get into the zone like that time just whizzes by, and pretty soon it was time to call it a night and pack up.

That’s why I still have all this music energy flowing in me, and the only thing that will shake this off is playing more guitar. So excuse me for a while as I take my guitar off the case and strum a few…