Smiling Face Down

paologregorio · Post by **paologregorio** » Sun Feb 01, 2009 6:55 am

I played "Big Red" for the whole set, we were well received by the crowd, I drank two beers and two vodka tonics, we were decently paid, and invited back .

paologregorio · Post by **paologregorio** » Sun Feb 01, 2009 11:43 am

admin wrote:Why not start a separate thread for your gig. That would allow for continuity and enable others to find your information easier. I created new threads under group names that were mentioned. Please let me know about your group name if your information has not been moved to a separate thread.

Ah, good point, Peter! My group is "Smiling face down", which might accurately describe the way I woke up this morning!

paologregorio · Post by **paologregorio** » Tue Feb 10, 2009 5:12 pm

Thanks Peter!

Last weekend's gig was at a place that Smiling face down plays more or less regularly; Coconuts in Capistrano Beach, CA

We took the middle spot on a bill we shared with two other bands we've played with a few times, Blacktop Idol, and the New York Ninjas. They're both a really great bunch of people, fun bands to play with, play some really cool songs, and put on a really cool show. Both bands are featured along with us in the "Miss Hell On Wheels 2008" video trailer that I've posted before. The song in the trailer's ours:

We had the sound dialed in nicely and we were all quite familiar with the room, so we played at a decent level, with sufficient oomph, yet without blowing anyone's ear out! Our drummer Jesse is a multi-instrumentalist, and not a "beater" on the drums, so he does a great job listening as well as playing to the room. Consequently, we're all able to play at a reasonable volume. The gig went quite smoothly, the crowd was quite enthusiastic, and a few dapper gents in suits (unusual for the casual, beachy crowd) came up to me after the show and complimented us, remarking that they'd left a fancy birthday party a little early so as to make sure to catch our set (they'd seen us at the club a number of times before

). The only mishap of the entire set, and one that was of rare occurence, was my strap coming off the top strap button when I came down from a jump during our rendition of Cheap Trick's "He's a Whore"; I don't use straplocks, but I can't remember the last time this happened to me. I attribute the mishap to a new RIC strap settling on to the guitar strap. In any case, I caught the guitar and didn't miss any notes, cradling it in place whilst playing up high, 60s style, and ad libbing a vocal line "I hold my guitar like George" for the original "look at the things that I write" line... at least that's what I think Robin Zander's singing.

MB noticed what was up quickly, came over, and hitched my strap back onto the top button, and the set proceeded without further mishap.

Next up were the NY Ninjas, who play some really fun, punky music. The band's singer, Chris, is quite acrobatic, and at various times during the set he hung and swung from the ceiling beams whilst singing vocals (limber skateboarder that he is). Meatball joined him haning from the rafters and singing at one point, dared to do so by his wife Rose. Unfortunately, no one captured these moments on film. The Nijas a re a lot of fun to watch, although they are LOUD-must be the attack of the twin Les Pauls and the Marshall/Orange half stacks.

All in all it was a really fun show, and we'll be repeating that lineup at a future show.

paologregorio · Post by **paologregorio** » Tue Feb 10, 2009 5:15 pm

Some pics from the show:

Big Red makes its debut, my trusty Silver Jet ends up staying put in the stand...

Meatball and Jesse in the moment

kiramdear · Post by **kiramdear** » Tue Feb 10, 2009 5:21 pm

That's great, Paul,

Glad to see Big Red on the job. But maybe it's time to consider straplocks?

Good job!

paologregorio · Post by **paologregorio** » Tue Feb 10, 2009 5:22 pm

Jayme mid solo-really cool and unusual Gibson SG with mini humbuckers, block inlays, and small pick guard:

Band panorama shot; Paul, Jesse, Meatball, Dave, Jayme

scotty · Post by **scotty** » Tue Feb 10, 2009 5:27 pm

Wish i could have been there.Looking good Paul im soooooooooooo jealous of big red.

winston · Post by **winston** » Tue Feb 10, 2009 5:31 pm

I love that guitar.

scotty · Post by **scotty** » Tue Feb 10, 2009 5:35 pm

Actually i really really love it.

No i do,i really do

8mileshigher · Post by **8mileshigher** » Tue Feb 10, 2009 6:19 pm

Nice pictures and a good story, Paul.

Regards
Rich F.

paologregorio · Post by **paologregorio** » Tue Feb 10, 2009 6:54 pm

kiramdear wrote:That's great, Paul,

Glad to see Big Red on the job. But maybe it's time to consider straplocks?

Good job!

Nah, too fancy for me. At most I'll probably just place a black neoprene washer between the slot on the strap and the button end. Thanks for all of the compliments. I wish I had some pics of all of the gig antics.

8mileshigher · Post by **8mileshigher** » Tue Feb 10, 2009 8:11 pm

scotty wrote: .....im soooooooooooo jealous of big red.

Paul --- your collection of 360-WBs is really nice. It must be a challange to decide which of those beauties to play -- Big Red, the Turquoise one, that nice Blue one... (wasn't that one of your original Ric's?) etc. etc.

I have to say that Big Red looked really cool under some of those stage lights at the Mini Con Jam -- under certain lighting schemes it sparkled like a diamond ! They did superb work on that refinishing job !
Regards
Rich F.

paologregorio · Post by **paologregorio** » Tue Feb 10, 2009 8:53 pm

Thanks Rich.

I usually just pick whichever WB color bet matches or contrasts my stage attire for that gig.

Larry Davis did a great job on that guitar; it's hard to put down!

ajish4 · Post by **ajish4** » Tue Feb 10, 2009 10:23 pm

paologregorio wrote:Thanks Rich.

I usually just pick whichever WB color bet matches or contrasts my stage attire for that gig.

Larry Davis did a great job on that guitar; it's hard to put down!

I MUST admit, it is one cool looking guitar.

paologregorio · Post by **paologregorio** » Tue Feb 10, 2009 10:27 pm

Thanks.

Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum