The Stash Dauber: Fort Worth, 11.1.2025

Sunday, November 02, 2025

Fort Worth, 11.1.2025

Played my first band show in six years last night at McFly's Pub out by the Joint Reserve Base -- I must have driven by this place a million times when I was stationed at what was then Carswell AFB, but never set foot in there until Indivisible TX-12 had a happy hour thing a couple of months ago. Been sweating it out in Tony Medio's jam room up in Haltom City the past six months, and we finally decided to road test the set in public, at Cameron Long's home bar. My wife shot photos and Taylor Collins shot video, which we'll see when they're ready. I just wanted to record a few observations, although I am not Mike Watt, who writes a little Finnegan's Wake in the van after every gig.

Originally thought we were playing indoors, but Cam called while I was enroute to inform me that there was a huge swamp cooler in front of the stage, which the house said would be necessary if there were a lot of people there. I told the bartender when I arrived that they had probably overestimated our draw, but that we could play outside if we could move their PA. This they agreed to, and we were situated on the outside stage in short order. A quick soundcheck and we were ready to go, although I had turned one of the mics up so Tony and I would have vocal parity. We would pay for this later on when Tony's mic produced blasts of feedback that my buddy Joe Gosch helped get under control.

At first it seemed we might not have a minyan of civilians, but as downbeat time of 8pm approached, folks started filtering in. I never counted heads, but it was probably in the 30-40 range. Not bad for a first gig by a band of washed-up has-beens. It was good to see friends Riley Shaw, Rick Benedict, Gregg Prickett, Andrew May, Kavin Allenson, and Sir Marlin Von Bungy there, as well as folks from the Arlington Heights Bridge Brigade.

Sound was about equivalent to what we hear in Tony's jam room. My Hughes & Kettner has slightly less punch and definition than Tony's Fender that I use at practice, but made up for it in extra crunch. I still use the same three (types of) pedals I have since I was 16: Catalinbread Jennings Fuzz, Vox wah, and MXR Phase 90 (poor musician's Univibe). My John Kobetich custom, with silver dogear P-90s courtesy of Harvey Gold (Tin Huey, Golems of the Red Planet) is my varsity axe now; I brought Brother Nick Girgenti's Lone Star Strat as backup, which proved unnecessary. As a recovering lead guitarist, I play six solos in a 15-song set (three of which are medleys/segues); three are structured, three are chaotic.

I used to vibe up for gigs, back when I was still drankin', but this time I spent the day trying to clear my head and settle my body. I am happy to report that I feel great today, unlike days gone by, when I used to feel as if I had been thrown down the stairs. (My wife points out that besides having a hangover, I used to be a lot more physically active onstage than I am now, when I have to stand in front of a mic stand.)

Playing solo acoustic gigs made me realize that I have no fear of singing in public, but it didn't take me long to realize that it's a lot more interesting listening to Tony and Cam play than it is to hear myself singing and strumming. Tony is a bassist with great melodic imagination, and Cam is the most musical of drummers. He listens to everything, and even knows song lyrics. At different times last night he played material originated by Ginger Baker, Mitch Mitchell, Keith Moon, and Jim Gordon, and didn't disgrace himself. He also has the rare quality (in a rock drummer) of swing; his Charlie Watts groove caused us to change the way we play Randy Newman's "Have You Seen My Baby" from the Flamin' Groovies' full-on assault to a Rolling Stones lope. Makes my hand hurt less.

Audience response was favorable. I was especially pleased when the teenage child of one of Cam's coworkers came up and asked if I was the guitar player, then said that they play electric guitar and dug what we were doing. Now it can be told: This wasn't actually our "only US appearance this year." We'll be at the Grackle Art Gallery on Saturday, December 20, at the bottom of a bill including our pals in Hijazz Ensemble. Can't hardly wait.