Band Goes on with Snare Drum Taped to Beer Keg

"When the going gets tough, the tough get going."

Racer from The Ripple Effect hit the nail on the head with this one. Anyone who is in band, has at one time in their life played a show that was, ahem, ill fated.

Here is a just sample of Racer's recap from the Grand Atlantic show at Jose's Underground Lounge in Monterrey.
And I paraphrase:
*Snare Drum duct taped to beer keg
*Absence of anything resembling a high hat
*bass amp to be something recently found on the freeway after falling off a semi
*Unable to plug in electric amp, borrowed the acoustic guitar from the night's opener.

"Any band can pull off a decent show when everything is meticulously managed, produced, and every moment is scripted by the "how-to-put-on-a-gig-and-be-a-rock-star" book.  But what if it ain't going by the book?  What if the book's been barfed on, covered in lighter fluid, set aflame and tossed out the fricking window?  If you really want to see what a band is made of, what character the guys bring to the stage, the true power of their craft, then check them out when things are stacked against them.  And when I mean things against them . . . I mean everything, every damn thing you can think of.  Under those circumstance, how many bands could stand up to the challenges?  How many could bust through a year's worth of unexpected crap all dumped on you at one time and still take the stage?  And of those few who dared, how many would thrive?"

If you are in a band, I urge you to read this story because chances are something similar has probably happened to you along the way. If it has, post a comment, would love to hear it.

Even if you just like a good story, read this. Racer is a damn fine story teller, and one thing's for certain, he's the kind of guy I'd like to be sitting next to at a campfire.

And be sure to check out Grand Atlantic at SXSW this week!