John Hancotte's Bass Desires: Running With Desire holds court at Laurel Springs Halloween Bash

I gotta hand it to these people - they stick together and really hung in there. We played for a Halloween costume party outside by the clubhouse pool of the Laurel Springs subdivision in Suwanee, you know, up there off of 141. Temps got down into the 40's - upper 30's this morning but it wasn't quite that low last night. Folks planning to go the party had to finish watching the requisite football game - I think it was Clemson. After that, and you know, the Georgia Bulldogs won, they came over to our open air rock festival and proceeded to have a wonderful time. Gas heaters were in place, and they helped a lot. The one by me didn't work and we never got another over there. It wasn't so bad, really. I had 4 layers on, under my prisoner's jumpsuit.

The load in and soundcheck were brutal. It felt like one of the biggest mistakes of my life. It was a mistake, in a way, since I missed out on a decent paying gig by taking this one. There is always the opportunity cost associated with committing ones self to a particular engagement; that commitment immediately disqualifies that person from any further activity during that particular time slot. I have, in the past, wrestled with that theory. I have subbed out a gig that I had already taken. It's really bad when you do that for purely monetary reasons, such as finding a better paying gig. Not really cool. I did have a better paying gig come up after I had committed to this one, but I didn't ever think to sub it out and cancel on these guys. Bad karma at large in that case... However, if I could be cloned, now that would allow me to double-dip!

So the soundcheck was cold! We were in this windy channel where a nice, cool breeze was wafting into our faces. How refreshing! You can see on Mark's face, below, how much he was looking forward to the proceedings. Mark had just acquired an "Alex Van Halen" worthy drum set, featuring 2 extended length kick drums! Nice looking Dude! Well, we played some Van Halen tunes, alright (Panama, Ain't talkin' 'Bout Love, You Really Got Me, Unchained)! After the U2 stuff, of course (Get on Your Boots, Vertigo, I Will Follow, Where the Streets Have No Name). Then we went straight into the "party" tunes. It was a very well attended party, considering the elements. They were a fun bunch, I must say. Lots of cross dressing, with exposed upper extremities. Plus, the entire cast from Gilligan's Island! Wish my camera hardware was up to the task of these perennial low light situations.

The music went very well. A few medleys from the old days, the country one (Friends in Low Places --> Why Don't We Get Drunk and Screw --> Family Tradition) (btw, screw is pronounced "skee - roo", although a bit rushed on the 1st syllable), the funky one (Play That Funky Music --> Hot in Herre --> The Roof is On Fire --> Rapper's Delight --> Another One Bites the Dust), the Southern Rock one (Sweet Home Alabama --> Kid Rock's All Summer Long). Other fun stuff: Bon Jovi Medley (always), Summer of 69 (not as bad as it sounds - drop D on the bass for that lowness - actually it's drop C# as we are already tuned down a half-step!), and of course, Sweet Child of Mine!!! Good ol' GnR. I think we played some good music too, but I could be wrong... does Jessie's Girl count? We were covered with a great soundman (audio engineer!), plus 2 assistants, and a kicking system. Felt like a rock star, even if I didn't get paid like one! Sometimes it's not about the money. Ah, scratch that, it's always about the money!!! Still, we had a good time and so the attendees. I think it's one that everybody will remember, if only for the weather. They should remember the concert we put on for their humble little Halloween throw-down.