Last night was by far the craziest moment in the entire history of Jay Spectre. I'm not even sure if words can describe how incredible last night but for now words will have to do. That is, until we post some pictures and video.
We were scheduled to play two sets at the Rainbow, a small blues bar in the Market area of Ottawa. We were playing with a singer/songwriter named Jason who was incredibly talented and played a smashing version of Jackson 5's "I Want You Back." Except it was on the ukulele.
The show was going alright. The turnout was less than stellar but we were still pouring our heart and soul into it. There was less than 20 people and everyone was seated off at the edges of the bar. All of a sudden a guy runs in wearing a red muscle shirt and starts dancing away. After a few songs, he leaves. I thought that it was a little strange.
It was around one and we were finishing up the last song. All of a sudden a stream of people come flying into the bar and start dancing their asses off. The bar literally filled within the span of one James Brown tune. Next thing I know the stage is just full of people dancing and screaming along. A whole chorus of voices screaming out "I GOT SOUL!" We start replaying songs that we had played earlier just to keep the party going.
It turns out one of these guys is a judge on So You Think You Can Dance Canada. We can't even move the stage is so jammed. There are about four guys wearing coloured coded muscle shirts and matching glasses. Girls are dancing all over. Things only get crazier and weirder as the show goes on. James gets down on the dancing and generally kept everyone in the party. At one point I look over and James had bent over to pick up his guitar when the aforementioned judge starts spanking him. I'm surrounded by the four guys in muscle shirts. They are pouring beer everywhere. I keep looking over at Paul and we both laugh. The bartender brings a plate full of shots. Jer keeps the beat going with one hand while simultaneously reaching out for his. Another guy near James leans over to yell something at his friend and dumps half a pint of beer directly into the monitors. Madness.
We end up playing till about 2:15 or so. Every danceable tune we could pull off. The stage is awash in beer, sweat, broken flip flops and an assortment of hats, glasses and necklaces. None of us can even believe what happened. The show went from being sub-par to a one-in-a-million experience. A Jay Spectre dance party fit for a bar named the Rainbow.
We are all currently resting up for the drive to Montreal in hopes of continuing this crazy ride. A big thanks to Heather, Jer's sister, and her boyfriend Derek for letting us stay at the their place, coming in at 5 in the morning and probably keeping them awake until nearly day break.
Pictures and videos to follow soon.....