Our first ever outdoor gig!

melibreits · Post by **melibreits** » Sun Aug 15, 2004 4:04 am

Last weekend our worship team had the thrill of performing outdoors in a public park setting for the first time ever....what a great time that was! We played both Sunday morning and Sunday evening, and although it rained during the morning, nothing could have dampened our joy or our excitement, and we enjoyed a surprisingly large turnout! Our instruments and gear stayed reasonably dry, thanks to an overhead canopy and a tarp wrapped around the back of the stage.... the only intense moment was when I stepped on my VC4 foot pedal after some rain had splashed on it, and I breifly wondered if that was the last thing I would do in this life--but everything worked just fine! Here are some pics taken at the evening concert by my biggest fan: my dear husband Marc!

Our bass man, Billy D. on his V63

That's me!

The mark of quality!
Group shot....

basshawk · Post by **basshawk** » Sun Aug 15, 2004 5:25 am

Good shots, Melissa, I like that V63. Outdoor gigs are a blast, just did one last night and have a couple more next month. Last night the mosquitoes took advantage of the fact that both my hands were busy.

jps · Post by **jps** » Sun Aug 15, 2004 8:57 am

Great photos! We should start a thread for outdoor gig shots with our Ricks. Rare Blend just did an outdoor gig yesterday. So far the weather has been very cooperative in all the outdoor gigs this summer. The only one that had any possible threat of rain was the Columbus Jazz and Rib Fest this past July.

apollo11 · Post by **apollo11** » Sun Aug 15, 2004 3:56 pm

Awesome guitar, Melissa. Love that 325! Great shots, all around.

rictified · Post by **rictified** » Sun Aug 15, 2004 4:25 pm

I always like to play outside because you get to hear what your rig sounds like without room acoustics interfering.

melibreits · Post by **melibreits** » Mon Aug 16, 2004 5:22 am

Thanks, guys.... I had to use my 325--its jangle really cuts through the mix well, and besides it is just so fun to play!

The lack of room acoustics is what seemed really interesting to me.... Normally the sound kind of bounces back to us when we play indoors, but in playing outdoors it just felt like our sound just kept on rolling out forever....this feeling was enhanced by the fact that the stage was facing the beautiful harbor and lighthouse on Lake Superior--an absolutely gorgeous backdrop to play to, I might add!

bbobb24 · Post by **bbobb24** » Mon Aug 16, 2004 7:42 am

Very nice pictures, and nice guitars.

rictified · Post by **rictified** » Mon Aug 16, 2004 12:05 pm

I think the 325 is one of the most beautiful guitars made especially in turquoise.

shamustwin · Post by **shamustwin** » Mon Aug 16, 2004 1:27 pm

A-freakin-men, Bob. (pardon my language, Melissa!) And is that some sort of Vox amp behind you???

eatswodo · Post by **eatswodo** » Mon Aug 16, 2004 3:26 pm

I think so - the reference to the VC4 controller is a bit of a giveaway to the gear anoraks out here...

And is that your Rick acoustic in the group shot?

melibreits · Post by **melibreits** » Mon Aug 16, 2004 3:27 pm

My amp is a Valvetronix AD60VT....a wonderful, versatile thing it is!

The guitar isn't really turquoise, although it tends to look that way in some kinds of light.... It is really quite green, and from what I understand it is one of only 10 made in what is called "Cloverfield Green" that were sold through Dave's Guitars in LaCrosse, Wisconsin (at least that is what the eBay seller told us last December.... does the story ring true? Kenny? JH?) Whatever the color really is called, I find it irresistible! There are more photos of this guitar that I posted last January or February; I believe one of the thread titles was "Cold weather and Rics in transit."

melibreits · Post by **melibreits** » Mon Aug 16, 2004 3:32 pm

Sorry Dave, looks like we posted just a minute apart; no, the acoustic in the group shot is a 12-string Alvarez, and it belongs to the "real" guitarist in our group!

However, in the photo of me, you can see the headstock of my 1997, which was on standby as a backup....

eatswodo · Post by **eatswodo** » Mon Aug 16, 2004 3:36 pm

Yes, I did see the 1997 sitting there - I was fooled by what looked like the dark coloured wood 'wings' on the headstock of the acoustic!

spencer · Post by **spencer** » Tue Aug 17, 2004 3:12 am

Awesome Rics Melissa - Must have been a fun show.

mr_gravy · Post by **mr_gravy** » Tue Aug 17, 2004 9:53 am

I have an AD60VT that I liked so much I picked up an AD60VTH head and the matching NeoDog Vox cabinet. Tremendous amps. My tubes amps have been sitting in the corner.
The first time I played outdoors with the Vox I noticed that the VC-4 pedal was useless. The sunlight washed out all the LEDs. I had to use the amp controls during the show. Not a big deal but a bit of a pain. Did you have the same problem?