Gig report - The National Anthem at the OCDP

[mark wein]

This was one of the stranger gigs I've ever played. One of my best friends is an active member of the Orange County Democratic Party and occasionally our band will play an event but a few months ago he asked if I would be interested in playing the National Anthem at their annual "Truman Awards Dinner". In the style of Jimi Hendrix at Woodstock. Sounded like fun, so I said yes and then promptly forgot about it since they didn't have a date set. a few weeks ago Gary asks me at a rehearsal if I was still available since they had set the date and I said yes....

The thing that I didn't realize going in was that the guest speaker was Nancy Pelosi, one of the most controversial people in politics and that there would be protesters and secret service and much hubub....here is the story about the event in the loal paper: http://www.ocregister.com/news/healt...losi-care.html


about 4pm I arrived to find a few protesters already lined up. This was 3 hours before the event. By downbeat the street was literally full of people.



As always, I arrived in style



My rig was the 1966 Bassman, 1x12 cab and my pedalboard, of which I used a Throbak stonebender Fuzz, an MXR Carbon Copy Delay and an an Xotic RC Booster which I used to make the amp sound like it was louder than it possibly could have been in this situation. I was surprised that I was able to put the (50 watt tube) amp on 3 since hotel ballrooms tend to be a bit too lively for electric guitar and I figured the "volume tolerance level" was going to be pretty low at such an event.

Two guitars, because I'm pro like that.



the stage from where I was sitting after I played. Nancy Pelosi is the lightest dot at the center of the picture.



After I set up and had my gear gone through by Secret Service and explosives sniffing dogs (cute dogs that I'm sure could rip my throat out, btw) I did a sound check and then waited around for a few hours. Apparently the choice to have the Hendrix version was very controversial because everyone I was introduced to made a big deal about it and how they hoped it would go well . When I was introduced to one guy and he was told I would be playing it on guitar and not singing it he actually sang the first couple of lines and simply said "Well, I can sing it".

Anyhow, here is the performance shot by Gary on my $150 Canon still camera:


SSB :: OCDPTrumanAwards12-4-09013.flv video by markwein - Photobucket

I decided to play it pretty straight after I realized the amount of hassle it would cost my buddy if I "Let my freak flag fly" and do the full frontal Hendrix. It was also one of the more intimidating 60 seconds or so of music I've ever had to play since it was 600 non-musicians who were waiting to see what kind of a spectacle I was going to be and if I was going to desecrate something that was very meaningful to them at a political even with national press and a really bigwig 15 feet from me.

As I was walking off the stage what is not on the video is the gentleman at the podium (who mispronounced my name) announces "Jimi Hendrix must be rolling over in his grave" to the crowd. I think he meant well

Here is the soundcheck...I actually played a little better...

SSB :: OCDPTrumanAwards12-4-09011.flv video by markwein - Photobucket

During dinner one of the top singers in the Persian music world Farshid Amin sang some fairly patriotic songs...I hung out with his keyboard player a bit while we were waiting...





The food was terrible, I got to experience something that I've never seen before (I'm not a very political person so this was my firsst event like this) and I got to see protesters walking around the hotel with pictures of Nancy Peloisi dressed like Chairman Mao taped to their shirt. Definitely an event to remember......

[Algonquin]

Pretty cool gig Mark, and great story

You must have been wearing one heck of a belt buckle because the photographer was pretty interested in snapping a shot of it at the end of your performance.

[mark wein]

Pretty cool gig Mark, and great story

Thanks!

You must have been wearing one heck of a belt buckle because the photographer was pretty interested in snapping a shot of it at the end of your performance.

tbh I thought maybe my fly was down

[evenkeel]

Very cool gig and a terrific story.

[mark wein]

Very cool gig and a terrific story.

Thanks!

Most of them aren't this noteworthy

[bigG]

Very cool, mark! Great documentation and narrative! Those are some heavy hitters you were playing for!

Nice version. Good thing you didn't go over the top with full-on Hendrix, 'cause I think I detected a few sphincters tightening as it was!

[luvmyshiner]

Very cool Mark! Must of been a little "loud" for the old folks because at one point I saw the guy who introduced you sticking his finger in his ear.

[mark wein]

Very cool, mark! Great documentation and narrative! Those are some heavy hitters you were playing for!

Nice version. Good thing you didn't go over the top with full-on Hendrix, 'cause I think I detected a few sphincters tightening as it was!

Very cool Mark! Must of been a little "loud" for the old folks because at one point I saw the guy who introduced you sticking his finger in his ear.

hehehe.....it definitely was a mixed crowd.....

[sunvalleylaw]

Very cool! And very brave to get up in front of that crowd and just solo that. Wow!