I had planned to try to do this in some sort of chronological order, but the memories fade so I'll just start throwing things out there.
These are some of my favorite quotes from the TSOT days.
Lethbridge, Alberta was the scene of a rather dismal week as I recall. We didn't go over all that well, except with a small crowd of alternative freaks. One night a girl says to Tom, "I'd like to see you naked." Tom's response, "You're not missing anything."
Edmonton, Alberta. We didn't have much to do there except wander up and down Whyte Ave. There were a few buskers and a number of kids just pan handling. One guys asks us for some change and Brian said, "Come on, do something! Sing, dance, pee your pants!"
location unknown(help me Tom): Tom and I went in to do a radio interview. There was also a reggae guy there from Jamaica. Tom told a story about sneaking into the hot springs in Banff and the police showing up. Reggae guy says, (insert accent here)"Beware of the police in truth, mon."
Tuesday, June 1, 2010
Thursday, March 4, 2010
memory jogger
I'm trying to find my old calendar books that I logged all the gigs in to keep track of my pay. I figure that will help jog my memory.
More stories soon.
More stories soon.
Tuesday, February 16, 2010
First gig
So I worked on the material that week and Monday came around for the first gig in Toronto, a showcase for Attic Records at the Siboney.
I got my first taste of how I would be traveling for the next several years. The band owned a Ford cube van which has two seats in the cab and a large fiberglass box with an entrance from the cab as well as the large door in back. Since the band carried a full PA and lighting rig, 3/4 of the box was devoted to gear. It was the last 1/4 that was interesting. When you came in from the cab, the front of the box was split into two tiers. This was where the people who weren't riding in the cab rode and slept. Very close quarters.
In Sarnia we picked up Brian, our light man, and on the way to Toronto we stopped in Woodstock and picked up Ron, our sound man. The truck was full and we headed on into Toronto. We arrived in the later afternoon and parked in front of the club. A quick check inside to make sure we were all set to load in and back down to open up the truck. I grabbed something and hauled it into the club. I may have made a couple trips when Tom asked me what I was doing. I said I was helping load in. Tom told me, "That's what Ron and Brian are paid for". Wow! A real crew who did all the work!!! Woo Hoo!!! I hit the big time!
So I decided to hang out, then got ready for the gig. The guys all had long hair, past their shoulders and wore jeans, paisley and generally looked more alternative/hippy than I did. I had the more traditional 80's thing going on, had been a big user of hairspray in those days. I ended up with a sort of neo Robert Smith kind of look that first night and knew I had to do something about it fast to fit in.
Gig time came around and I was pretty nervous. I was still very unsure of the material. The set progressed pretty well, with me watching Tom's guitar neck and asking Vail between songs "How does this one go?" Bil shared his hernia scar with the audience about midway through the set, much to our amusement. We finally got to the last song, Dead Drunk Johnny. I had been told that Bil extended the middle of this, adding in a bit of the Doors "The End". Bil really worked it up, the next thing I knew he was on the floor, flopping around like a fish. I was a little shocked, but since no one else in the band seemed concerned I guessed it was alright. I survived the first show.
There was at least once more show that first week, a large club in Mississauga called Entex. Before the show they decided we needed another song and taught me "It's the end of the world as we know it" by R.E.M. My brain was really stretched that week.
I got my first taste of how I would be traveling for the next several years. The band owned a Ford cube van which has two seats in the cab and a large fiberglass box with an entrance from the cab as well as the large door in back. Since the band carried a full PA and lighting rig, 3/4 of the box was devoted to gear. It was the last 1/4 that was interesting. When you came in from the cab, the front of the box was split into two tiers. This was where the people who weren't riding in the cab rode and slept. Very close quarters.
In Sarnia we picked up Brian, our light man, and on the way to Toronto we stopped in Woodstock and picked up Ron, our sound man. The truck was full and we headed on into Toronto. We arrived in the later afternoon and parked in front of the club. A quick check inside to make sure we were all set to load in and back down to open up the truck. I grabbed something and hauled it into the club. I may have made a couple trips when Tom asked me what I was doing. I said I was helping load in. Tom told me, "That's what Ron and Brian are paid for". Wow! A real crew who did all the work!!! Woo Hoo!!! I hit the big time!
So I decided to hang out, then got ready for the gig. The guys all had long hair, past their shoulders and wore jeans, paisley and generally looked more alternative/hippy than I did. I had the more traditional 80's thing going on, had been a big user of hairspray in those days. I ended up with a sort of neo Robert Smith kind of look that first night and knew I had to do something about it fast to fit in.
Gig time came around and I was pretty nervous. I was still very unsure of the material. The set progressed pretty well, with me watching Tom's guitar neck and asking Vail between songs "How does this one go?" Bil shared his hernia scar with the audience about midway through the set, much to our amusement. We finally got to the last song, Dead Drunk Johnny. I had been told that Bil extended the middle of this, adding in a bit of the Doors "The End". Bil really worked it up, the next thing I knew he was on the floor, flopping around like a fish. I was a little shocked, but since no one else in the band seemed concerned I guessed it was alright. I survived the first show.
There was at least once more show that first week, a large club in Mississauga called Entex. Before the show they decided we needed another song and taught me "It's the end of the world as we know it" by R.E.M. My brain was really stretched that week.
Sunday, February 14, 2010
The Audition
In September of 1989 I was not in a band and working in a body shop. I got a call at work one day from Todd Fowler, WRIF DJ and friend for many years. He said one of his co-workers was asking if he knew any bass players. He said he knew lots of them, what band is it for? When she told him it was for Ten Seconds Over Tokyo he told her he knew THE bass player for the band, me. Todd told me that I HAD to audition for this band and gave me a number to call.
That night I called and spoke to Bil Eldridge, singer for TSOT. He told me about the band, got my address and had a tape overnighted to me. I'm pretty sure this was a Tuesday. I had an audition set for Saturday morning. Over the next couple days I busted my butt learning a few of their originals and going over a few covers he said they did.
Saturday morning I drove over to Sarnia Ontario. We set up in Bil's parents' living room and had at it. We played through the originals, then some covers. I even ended up singing a few lines when Bil forgot the words to one they hadn't done in awhile. Then Vail, the drummer, stands up and says "I've heard enough" and walks out, the other guys follow. The way he said it made me think I had not passed the audition. I started packing up my gear and they came back in the room and said "Right, you're in. We've got a showcase in Toronto next week for Attic Records."
Well, I went in to work on Monday, told them I was quitting and got back to learning songs for a full set the following week. Let the ride begin!!
That night I called and spoke to Bil Eldridge, singer for TSOT. He told me about the band, got my address and had a tape overnighted to me. I'm pretty sure this was a Tuesday. I had an audition set for Saturday morning. Over the next couple days I busted my butt learning a few of their originals and going over a few covers he said they did.
Saturday morning I drove over to Sarnia Ontario. We set up in Bil's parents' living room and had at it. We played through the originals, then some covers. I even ended up singing a few lines when Bil forgot the words to one they hadn't done in awhile. Then Vail, the drummer, stands up and says "I've heard enough" and walks out, the other guys follow. The way he said it made me think I had not passed the audition. I started packing up my gear and they came back in the room and said "Right, you're in. We've got a showcase in Toronto next week for Attic Records."
Well, I went in to work on Monday, told them I was quitting and got back to learning songs for a full set the following week. Let the ride begin!!
Saturday, February 13, 2010
Why? because I feel like it
I joined TSOT in September of 1989 and rode the wild ride until early 1994 when it came to an end. I had a lot of fun, made some good friends, saw some beautiful country and played a lot of music. I wish I had kept a journal then of all the fun, all I have now is memories that are 20+ years old. So I figured it was time to write some of it down before it's all gone.
This will likely be a disjointed, randomly updated hodgepodge of posts, but it's my blog and that's how it will evolve.
Stay tuned
This will likely be a disjointed, randomly updated hodgepodge of posts, but it's my blog and that's how it will evolve.
Stay tuned
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