The Clockwork Dolls - "No Guns Allowed" (high quality video & sound)

This is The Clockwork Dolls performing "No Guns Allowed," the second song during the first set of their inaugural gig at The Ottobar in Baltimore, MD. This particular song is noteworthy in that it features a guest appearance by yours truly playing the part of emcee, Harry Mandall. It marks the first time that I've performed on any kind of stage in over 16 years.

When you walk away from performing on stage around the time of high school, it's usually a good bet that you don't intend to return. And if you do return, well, it's likely because the opportunity falls into your lap and someone has enough faith in you to "throw you to the wolves" as it was put to me.

So, with a one night recording session, one quick dress rehearsal and a glancing acquaintance with my script and cues, I hit a rock club stage for the first time.

Let me tell you something: Being on the stage of a dive bar a chaotic din, no monitor, a virtually non-existent sound check and a justifiably insecure sense of the performance you are about to give with all blocking and planning going out the window when you realized just how restricted your stage movement really is...

...on top of a work day's worth of exhaustion and over caffeinated nerves,...

...well, it's a miracle if you can pull ANYTHING off, let alone hit as many cues as you can. That din shredded my already fraying, frazzled nerves and I blew my cues more often than I hit them, but what the hell?

It's not a trial by fire if it doesn't burn a little.

The Clockwork Dolls were also having their own difficulties that evening ranging from mediocre facilities to their own jittery nerves. In fact, they were having some of the exact same problems that I was except that they had a much bigger burden to shoulder and somehow, they managed to persevere and impress the hell out the audience in spite of themselves. That's because they're a damn fine band of musicians and entertainers and I'm honored that they're willing to have me back for future shows. I can assure you that we all have something to prove the next time we step in front of an audience and the missteps of this first show will only serve as the incentive we need to push ourselves harder and farther for the next gig.

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• No
• Guns
• Allowed

[Theclockworkdolls]

Thanks! The quality is much better