Sutter Creek

When you hear tales of the "gold rush" you think of wild and crazy times full of excitement and revelry.  Well that's exactly what we had this past weekend at the Sutter Creek Theatre in Sutter Creek California. From the minute we arrived in town there was a feeling of stepping back in time.  The main street is lined with antique shops, ice cream parlours, boutiques, eateries and of course the once silent movie theatre now converted into a quaint performance space. 

It rained for most of the drive there, but magically the clouds parted and the sun came out once we arrived.  We began the thankless job of unloading road cases and getting the gear into the theatre.  Byron, the house manager and sound engineer for the theatre, was there to greet us with his affable and accommodating manner.  We probably have twice the gear and technical requirements then other acts do, but Byron is always ready for the challenge.  Once the cases are unloaded and the gear is in place on the stage, it's time to do a sound check and take the theater for a test drive.   Luckily the Sutter Creek Theater has some great acoustics and Byron knows just how to dial things in quickly.  We run through some songs to make sure everyone has what they needed to ensure a great show. 

Laura's the Theatre Manager.  She's got her hands full getting things ready for the show.  Ticket sales have been fantastic and a near sell out crowd is expected!  Even with all that she's juggling, Laura makes time to put together a light dinner for all of us.  The hospitality is wonderful and it's just what we need to get our energy up for the show.

We begin our pre-show ritual of getting dressed and into performance mode.  At 7:30 pm we gather back stage to relax, bond and work out any last minute show details.  At 8:00 pm we huddle on the stage behind the main curtain ready to go on stage.  Then we step onto the stage and begin the show! 

Throughout the show the audience is responsive and excited to hear us play their favorite Pink Floyd songs.  They applaud enthusiastically, yell out encouraging comments, and watch and listen with delight.  Pat is his usual comedic self and enjoys talking to the audience and sharing a couple of fun remarks.

During the break we mingled with the audience, discovering that some have seen us before; some are regular fans; others had previously hired us for special events in their lives; and still others are seeing us for the first time.  We're thrilled to learn that everyone is having a wonderful evening, and so are we!

The second half of the night includes the "Darkside of the Moon" in its entirety.  At the end of the night the audience applauds enthusiastically, roars and stomps their feet until we return to the stage for an encore.  We're feeling so loved by the end of the night that we decided to play "Run Like Hell" and "Comfortably Numb"  (two of our favorites).  By the time we take our final bows the audience is on their feet smiling back at us.  We wished them all safe travels, thanked them for their love and support, personally talked to some and say our good nights!

The fans have deparated and the theatre is empty now.  We begin the less then desireable task of breaking down the gear and packing it away into road cases.  We're still high from the experience and sharing our thoughts but everyone's tired and wishing someone else was there to pack it all up.  Even though we're all tired, the adreneline is still running through our vains keeping us going.  Once we're all packed up and we've done a "dummy check" to make sure we haven't forgotten anything, we turn out the lights and lock up the theatre.  Back at our rooms we talk a bit longer as we wind down, going over parts of the show.  As sleep overcomes us we drift off wishing you were here...

HOFs 75th Show

It's hard to believe that we're about to do our 75th show on Saturday February 27, 2010 at the Sutter Creek Theatre in Sutter Creek, CA.  The history of HOF has been blessed over the years with many talented musicians and crew.  We've had the pleasure of being hosted by wonderful venues and welcomed by fantastic audiences throughout California.  As we look ahead to 2010 and beyond, we're excited to venture out beyond the comfort of California and into new locations in Oregon, New Mexico, and Arizona! 

Already 2010 has proven to be quite an adventure!  We started the year with our good friends at Don Quixote's.  Over the years we've developed strong friendships with everyone in Felton.  Lake and more recently Jim Johnson (JJ), do a great job of mixing the sound; Rosie always feeds us a delicious meal; Mel handles things at the door; and many of the fans have become good friends (e.g, The Mattson's). 

We also added two new venues in Janaury, the Mateel Center in Redway and 142 Throckmorton in Mill Valley.   We became friends quickly with the crew and fans at the Mateel.  Although we experienced an earthquake and other technical difficulties, they were very understanding and gracious, allowing us to return for another show.  142 Throckmorton rolled out the red carpet and quickly made us feel like we'd been friends forever!  They even steered us to the amazing Indian burrito's around the corner.  We can't wait to return!

The Bankhead Theatre in Livermore made our heads spin!  We've been wanting to play there for awhile and finally our dream came true.  We partnered with ABC Music Source and Academy to do a benefit performance to "Keep Music Alive in the Livermore Schools."  We're proud to say that the show sold out and a great time was had by all!  Special thanks to Stan and Maryann of ABC Music and Dave Dial and the crew at the Bankhead.  Everyone's a pro!

Before every show, as we stand there getting ready to hit the stage, we're filled with excitement and anticipation.  We huddle together in a circle, one arm stretched out to one another for good luck and support. Butterfly's fill our stomach and we're not sure if we're ready to step into view.  We might momentarily speculate if we remember what to do and second guess our ability to do it.  Then the lights dim in the house, the crowd cheers and we step into the light...