We had beat 37 other bands for a spot in the top eight
finalists for the big prize. We practiced out in the
Hotspringlodge jam room several times a
day. We had achieved a big, powerful sound, and were tighter
than ever. We practiced in the heat, and we even practiced with the shop
doors open to let the mosquitoes in, expecting the possibility of them
at the event, we wanted the advantage to be able to keep on playing even
when your getting chewed on, thats dedication. We had the songs, and we
had the sound. Experienced men know when they are at the top of their
game, and we just knew the day belonged to us. It was forecast to be the hottest day of the year, over 100 degrees in Pemberton.
I stopped on the drive out at the end of the lake for a picture as I often do. I had that confident, focused, in control feeling you get when everything is organised. One thing struck me funny though, my truck felt lighter than it usually does when heading to a gig with all my gear. Oh well, probably just my imagination, its sure a great day, and I was glad I had my act together and didn't have anything to worry about. The site of the event was another hour down the rocky road, so I got on my way.
You know when you see people bobbing around in ice cold Lillooett Lake, it's dang hot out.
The Meadows golf course hosted the event.
They were right about it being 100 plus degrees today, and it hit me when I got out of the pickup. Maybe today wasn't the best day to be too far ahead of schedule and I knew I was going to have to get out of the sun if I was going to survive the day. Rockstars go first class I've noted, whether they can afford it or not, so I decided to splurge on one of the supposedly limited VIP passes, which gave you access to a covered area were the media hung out being served appies and drinks from the bar. Most importantly to me at the moment, it gave you access to the interior of the generously air-conditioned club house.
Sitting back in one of the leather couches the golfers had just vacated, I surveyed the scene below as crew and people began arriving to set up. Blackwater MC would go on to own the day, and get our first big break playing the Pemberton Music Festival, in front of thousands on the big stage and being checked out by agents and business managers out looking for a rockin' band on the move, or otherwise for some reason in the market for a band with an old guy in it. Either way, its all good.
I've been stuck out here at the hot springs for a few decades, so I haven't been exposed to much of the new music, and I'm not really up on these new fangled bands out these days. But its going to be great hanging out backstage with the big names, making the rounds of the VIP yurts and trying to figure out who I'm talking to without having to ask. But I can see it all now, chatting with our new buds Doug and Paul of the Black Keys, who will probably want to take us on tour to open for them I'm sure. For the hell of it, I may go over and introduce myself to Kendra Lamar at her celebrity yurt, she should probably have a pretty good table full of catered sandwiches on I would think. The Flatbread Zombies sound like they could be entertaining to go drink some apple juice with too. I suppose I might even stroll over and rub elbows with the comics, maybe ending out back of the yurt in a huddle with Cheech and Chong. Success was within reach, what the hell could possibly go wrong now.
I relaxed back into the soft leather VIP couch, the first of many more I'm sure, sipping my drink, smiling, and reminiscing over the events that have brought me this far, to the brink of stardom.
I didn't have to reminisce too far back down the rocky road this morning before realizing I had forgotten to bring my drum-kit, and suddenly went from a cool and relaxed future rockstar, to looking like I just seen a ghost. I began to sweat even more, and dragged over a large potted-plant to keep handy as I felt a case of what I hoped were just the dry heaves coming on.
In all fairness to my dumb old self, I had only forgotten about half of my drum kit.
Unknown to me at the time, after I left the Hotspringlodge jam room, all loaded up and focused or so I thought, Nate and Josh lingered back while the dust on the road settled. As they were about to pull away, they took one last moment and discussed how focused and together I was when I drove off. They thought it a good idea to go in and see what the old bugger left behind this time. Their suspicions were confirmed when they see his drums of all things piled up there. The kit went on top of an already large load of guitars and amps, and they hit the bumpy road towards the bright lights of stardom.
I was leaning off the sofa, hovering over the planter and alarming the waitress again, and considering taking some of the drum hardware I had along then going out and jumping off the dock into the river, or maybe just go and hide-out in the woods until this whole thing was over, when the door from the clubhouse opens wide and in stroll Josh and Nate, like they share some private joke.
"Missing something there young fella?" Josh asks.
Now I was back in full future old rockstar mode once again.
Before the start of the days battle of the bands, a random draw was held for what order they went up. We drew the number 6 slot, which is right where we wanted to be. It was all falling into place.
Followed by Lovecoast.
Number three was the Will Ross Band.
Number four was Marble Canyon.
Five up was the Railtown Prophets.
Sixth draw was the notorious Blackwater MC.,
The sound guy clipped the drum mics on in a hurry and says, "Your all set."
"How about a sound-check?" says Nate.
"Just play!" says the soundman, then retreats to the cover of his shaded control board.
"And next...," a radio station personality announced into the pa, "Our only Pemberton finalist, it says here they came all the way from the hot spring today,...so lets hear it for Blackwater MC!"
Josh strummed into the opening bars of the popular 10 Minutes, and the girls began to dance.
Well, the ones that knew how the song was supposed to sound like did anyways.
We ended the song to a muted crowd response, and some scattered polite clapping. The show came to a stop as the soundman came walking over and grunted as he climbed up on the stage for about 100th time that day.
"Hmmm", he says to himself while he studies the scene, "You might want this over a little closer to your snare." he says, bringing a short mic stand over to the kit, and bangs it around sticking it into position.
Our entire fan-club waited patiently while the technical difficulties were sorted out.
He wanders over and looks at Josh's gear, then drags an amplifier mic over that was supposed to go in front of his amp, "Maybe that sound a tad better." he says, then climbs down and retreats to his seat in the shade. We all stared at him as he walked away, shooting arrows from our eyes into his backside.
Unknown to us at the time, the 3 judges had a discussion whether we should be given another song, and too bad we didn't get another shot, we had a real dandy lined up just in case.
"Just play!" indicated the sound-man.
The second song was 4x4, the one we recorded to get picked for the top 8.
We saved the driving Feel The Love for last.
We took a moment before we started. There is a subtle language among musicians, a slight gesture, brief eye contact, and often just a vibe, and today it spoke loud and clear,
"Lets blow this tent right off of here!"
Nate's Stratocaster echoed off Mount.Currie for two rotations, then we came in like a freight train.
Feel The Love.
This fast rolling, hard rocker is always fun to sit there in the middle of, pounding out a steady 2/4 beat. On cue we dropped it down a notch. Josh stops playing and stood at the mic, he thanked Mountain FM, the bands, and everyone for coming out to the battle and feeling the love.
The rest of us roll on behind and listen for the in.
About when some might have expected us to end the song and they could sit down, Josh takes hold of his guitar and shouts into the mic, "All right boys, ONE MORE TIME!", and we amped it up and charged off again even harder. The mayhem ended with the two guitarists up at the drum-kit for two rotations, in close and facing me, accenting the hard driving bass drum and rim-shot beat with two chord riffs, then chop the final note into the last spectacular crash.
Lozen was brave enough to get up there after us, and she really got the crowd out of the shade and hip-hopping around.
Red Chair went on last.
The world is our oyster.
Stage 1 at Pemberton Fest, here we come, we killed the set, and were over the moon, and it felt good to have made this first big leap into probable fame on our own turf. Even though I have a few more miles on me than the rest of the guys, I think I'm going to enjoy this being a rich rock star.
A waitress arrived at the growing Blackwater MC tail-gate party with a congratulatory tray of tequila shooters. Probably sent over by the judges I figured, or maybe an entertainment mogul is sitting up there in the VIP area and wanted to show his approval before he whisked us off to some management deal.
I was hoping to wander around all evening nursing the shooter, but the waitress kept standing there tapping her foot waiting for the glass back.
Our first big taste of success, so bottoms up and down the hatch.
I'm not much on the old firewater, and it burned the old hatch hard all the way down.
I'll have to brush up on this when I'm more famous.
Jared, Nate, and Josh, discussing our probable gold record studded future. Lynne Christie, our club cheerleader for the day, made sure we all got fed and watered, looks on.
All the bands and their supporters waited anxiously while the judges took their sweet time to announce the obvious winner of the $3000 cheque, and a spot on the big stage at Pemberton Festival.
Like anyone didn't already know, lol.
Time finally came to announce the winners.
"Third place", someone from the radio station says,...."Goes to The Will Ross Band!"
Second place, and a spot at a smaller festival in Whistler, went to Marble Canyon.
For the past weeks I had considered those bands to be the heavy hitters, with them in 2nd and 3rd, it was pretty much in the bag, and began to smirk to myself.
I stole a glance over at Josh, and we exchanged a knowing look.
"And the winner of the top prize is..." he said, fumbling with an envelope while we savored the moment, and after an excruciating silence he finally blurts out, "And the winner is...Lovecoast!"
I had started out already for the stage to help collect the cheque and mumble out my prepared acceptance speech, then needed to sheepishly backup to where I was.
Well good on ya there Lovecoast, you guys sounded great. That big cheque will replace your van that blew up getting to this event, good luck at the Pemberton Festival, and say hi to Cheech And Chong for me.
