Show 14 Lake Shore Farm Inn Northwood, NH

Drove out of  New York to the next stop, New Hampshire.  Very scenic.  Mountains, trees, streams,  all that crap.  Really nice ride.  Played at the Lake Shore Farm Inn.  It's right on Jeness Pond (looks like a lake, but they call it a pond to make it more cozey..That's what I was told).  The pond is still frozen over and it's a bit cold.  The place reminds me of that place from "Dirty Dancing" you know "Kellerman's".  It has that kind of vibe.  I was almost waiting for a PA announcement that said "Bunny hop lessons will be held on the south lawn..Don't be late!!!"  I arrived around 3 with my show not starting til 7 so I had some time to kill.  Met Harry, "the inn-keeper", hell of a nice guy.  Showed me where to set up, big barn like space, great venue.  Also, showed me around the inn a bit.  Asked if he had a place where I could crash hang out, and he take me to the inn sitting area.  Big fluffy couches, fireplace, old school video games (Pole Position, table top Ms. Pacman, juke box that still played 45's.  Sweet!!  He left me there, and said he had to make the dinner for everybody. FREE FOOD!!!!  He must have been gone about 2 minutes and I was out.  Snoring my ass off.  Told me he'd wake me when the sound person showed up.  I love this place!!! 

I opened for a band called, Bejammin.  They are called Benjammin, because the 3 lead singers have kids named Ben.  Nice ladies, good harmony's, a little different then my sad song rants.  It's getting close to showtime, and Harry "the innkeeper" announces that suppers on.  I'm freakin starving at this point, so I was like..Yeah, we'll sound check later!!  Big spread, three entrees, veggies, rice, fresh bread, and 3 different kind of pies.  A fat guys dream!!  The cool thing about it is that you eat with the people who came to the show.  Just sit anywhere.  I'm into the community seating.  Like when you eat at Banzai or something.  Just talking to random people who you would otherwise not talk to.  Unless, you get the one guy at the table who doesn't want to catch the vegetables when the chef throws them to him.  He ruins it for everyone.  Just catch it dude.  It's not the other people are going to be saying "can you believe it took him 3 try's to catch the vegetables?!?!?  What a total loser…I never would want him on my vegetable catching team!!"  I'm rambling now, but you get my point.  Anyway, met some nice folks during the dinner hour.  "Upside-Down Pumpkin Pie"…Again..UPSIDE DOWN PUMPKIN PIE!!!!  This was fantastic.  I had two pieces of it..A big pig right??!?!  I don't care it was great.  So great that I went into the kitchen and talked to the chef.  It was Harry!!!  Harry is the man!!  His own creation.  Tried to get the recipe out of him, but he wouldn't budge.  Phenomenal!!

Okay, I'm totally fat now and ready to perform.  Did about 40 minutes.  B.B. WORLD, Indiana Jones, Out of our hands, the Set up, Josephine, The New Normal and Fork in the Road.  Good response, sold some CD's, room sounded great.  Next up was Benjammin.  Five piece band.  Did a bunch of covers and I think a couple of originals.  All 3 sang solo/ and together.  Harmonies were real tight.  Crowd was good and I believe everyone had a good time. The whole thing wrapped up at about 9:15.  Pretty early night. 

After I helped them break down the PA, Harry asked me "where are you staying?"  "Umm, I don't know where do you recommend?  "Well, you can stay here at the inn??"  (FREE ROOM!!!)  "I'm in, where's my room!?!?!?"  So, let's review, free meal, free room, and even got paid!!  Harry, shows me my room.  It's about 9:30PM.

Harry – "So here it is!!"

Me – "this is great!  ( it was better than any hotel I'd been in the whole trip)

Harry – "Just as long as you'll be out by 10AM"

Me – "Sure…I'm an early riser" (total lie)

Harry – "Yeah, I've got the quilters coming tomorrow"

Keith – "Getting new bed spreads huh"

Harry – "The Quilters are people who sew quilts."

Keith – "Oh right…they do it the whole weekend"

Harry – "Yup, 5AM until well past midnight".

Keith – "Wow..that's a lot of sewing..Sounds like a wild bunch" (kidding Harry a bit)

Harry – "Well they can be a handful!"

Keith – I'm sure.. with all that fabric around who knows what will happen?  I have no idea what that means Harry.."  (both laugh)

Harry – "So, out by 10AM"

Keith – "no problem..Harry..um..is there a TV"

Harry –(laughing at me) "not a single one on the premises"

Keith – "right..who needs a TV..Read a book right!!!!" 

Harry – "Alright..see ya in the morning"

Keith – "Goodnight"

At this point it's about 9:30.  I'm wide awake, no TV, it's so quiet I can hear my own heartbeat, I'm the only one in the entire inn..This is when I start to think about the movie "The Shining"!!!  It was eerily similar.  I'm waiting for Jack Nicholson to come running through the hallway with an ax. "Wendy do you hear me TYPING?!?!?!"  All kinds of shit.  Decide to phone my brothers and let them know where I am just in case they never hear from me again..  Bad idea..My oldest brother Ed, he immediately goes into his "REDRUM…REDRUM" chant.  Thanks big brother!!  Call Rich, and he gives me some really scary scenes that I forgot about from the movie. Note to self - when in the middle of nowhere, staying at the "the Shining" hotel, don't call older brothers. 

Anyway, decided that I should just enjoy the peace and quiet and get some sleep.  Chances are the next night I'll be staying at some dive, where you need to leave the TV on so as not to hear the two people in the next room cooking crystal meth.  Slept like a baby, best night of sleep on the whole tour.  Woke up at 9, was on the road by 9:30.  Big thanks to Harry for being the most hospitable club owner that I've ever encountered!!!