Episode 05 - Biloela

After a long, long drive from Kin Kin (in which Steve and I watched Total Recall in the backseat) we arrived in Biloela at 4:30pm. Having a quick chat to the publican, it was established that they had no idea that we were playing that night. Another band had been booked from Rockhampton, so anxiety filtered down through the touring party. Thankfully, the mix-up was rectified and we were rescheduled to play at 8pm. Phew. To pass the time before the show, Steve, myself and our good friend Luke Constable invented a game in which you have to bounce a tennis ball through the gap between the roof and the start of a shop-front sign. Exciting stuff; inevitably the game took on several modes before it's final configuration including a goal keeper below the sign, whilst the two attackers stand either side of the sign to try and bounce it over the head of the goalie and hit the backboard to score a point.

Come showtime, we all realised that this was going to be a tough night. The Biloela people (bless their hearts) wanted to hear all the classics and needless to say we couldn't/wouldn't deliver. We stayed true to our setlist and played to the handful of people who we could see were really enjoying our songs. Turns out that even some of the folks who we thought couldn't care less, actually really enjoyed it as well.

At some point during the set, a fight broke out in the audience. They took it outside, but it was truly bizarre to be singing such heartfelt, original songs and have the total antithesis of what you're singing about happening right in front of you.

Looking in retrospect; it was a memorable evening and we had some good chats with some of the locals. I guess the most valuable thing we learned is how to deal with innocent folks who just want to hear their favourite songs. Quietly explaining that we are original singer-songwriters, then having a drink with them usually does the trick. DP

Category:

Music

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• grady
• 50
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[jimmymac30]

shitty gigs happen invariably, even to the very best artists