Mike P. Oct 8, 2007


We had a great time this weekend in Maine. An incredible whirlwind of great shows, bands and friends.....

The Trip >>>>>>>>>>>>
On the way up we left at 2pm. Jason and Ray in Jasons truck, me and Kevin in the RV and Pokey and Pete (who rumor has it once had the nickname Bubbles from a hockey coach that we both had. Sorry Bubs...HAAAAAA) in the Ho and trailer. Everything went smooth until we hit Braintree right before the split and the RV starts bogging out and bucking a little. A call to Pokey decides that it is just bad-gas (the RV not me) because it sat for a year doing nothing. So we figure screw it, lets get through Boston. The RV didn't get a chance to bog out for another hour and half as we hit bumper to bumper traffic fro m the gas tanks all the frickin way to 95 north of Boston. (note to self, never go through Boston on a Friday, especailly on a nice weekend in Oct!). We finally get into Maine and go to stop at a toll booth when my brake light comes on. Another call and it's deemed "not a big deal" (BY WHO!?!?!?!) and we continue on for another 30-40 miles all the while down shifting and avoiding using the brakes which in an RV is not the easiest task ever accomplished and probably slightly stupid and/or dangerous.............right............. both I know. The next service area we pull in and lo and behold there is a leak in the brake line by the front left tire. Herein lies the first heroic friend duty, Pokey, whom bathed himself in brake fluid (toxic, toxic, TOXIC stuff), got it in his eye, cursed a few hundred times (a few directly at me I bet !) while we all stood around and held lights and asked dumb questions (most from me I bet!) struggled mightly just to cut the bad line and crimp it as best he could to shut it off so we could just get it and us to the gig that was suddenly only 3-4 hours away. That was his first valiant effort, the second being him seeing me frazzled and taking the keys and letting me drive the Ho and not the RV that was now spewing out brake fluid if you hit the brakes despite the temp fix. So with Kevin white knuckling it next to him (friend number 2 mention, this kid did everything for us this weekend, got recordings, burned us CD's of Friday on Saturday so we could check it out, helped roadie and most of all rode shotgun in the RV of DEATH with little complaint!) Pokey drove the last 50 miles throught the backwoods of Maine riding the E-brake, downshifting, and instead of driving, willed that RV to one of the absolutely most amazing concert festival that I have ever been to and/or played..............

The Arrival at Harry Brown's Farm >>>>>
We got to meet Harry on Sunday. He introduced us onstage and was a very cool guy....more on that later... we knew the place was cool as we had played there awhile back. Then we had 2 day slots and about 700 paid through the door. So while the crowds were nice, they weren't huge. This time it's bedlam at the road as we pull in. Cars 10 deep to get in. We are talking 1000's of people. Now we had been warned of this by MY as he had gottten there early. Here is where more friends come into play. MY and He Who shall Not Be Named/LOTK spent the day holding spots for the RV and truck and trailer, against all odds they did, and it was at one of the furthest reaches of the farm back behind the stage. Which was good because we weren't gong to be driving the equipment anywhere, we ended up lugging it over from our spot. I say this because 5 minutes after I parked the truck, there was no way out. The road became overgrown with tents, hippies and pretty soon a bonfire. Now don't take this lightly because it wasnt just there, all of Harry's Farm was taken up...hence the tent pitching in the fire lanes. Which means these guys, especially MY, basically held the last known square footage of the place until our arrival at 11:10. 9 hours later and we are there and we aren't going anywhere for awhile. Beaten a little, bruised a little, smelling like only the horrible smell of brake fluid burning on a manifold can cause, we were THERE man.....and alive.

The Late Night Show >>>>>>>>>>>
so i know I was a wreck.......all of us were a little frazzled. Pino came around the corner and gave me a big hug, massaged my achin shoulders a little and I felt better. It was good just to not be driving and to see MY, Pino and He Who shall Not Be Named/LOTK. Note to you all, and I know I will get shit for this but I don't care, Pino gives great hugs, he does, some do and some don't. Pino do and it made me feel 100% better. Everything onstage was running late and we wouldn't of even played if headliners Green Lemon had not graciously let us do our thing. So we went on about 12:50AM to ....I don't know......hundreds in our direct view...more all the way up the the hill that overlooks the stage. F'in incredible, people everywhere. I keep saying this same thing and it's true. Best gig ever. I swear this band is soooo lucky. He Who shall Not Be Named/LOTK got to set up behind us on the drum riser cuz we had two drummers. A king and his court it twas. We played a really good set and would have kept playing except at 2:20 or so they cut the power to the mains and we were done. we did a quick The Weight and our crazy ass day had concluded with easily one of the top 3 gigs I have ever done. Late night we reveled a bit, took turns peeking at MY's friend Chad's camera, he who came along and took killer pictures. I will have those on the site soon. Great guy too, fit right into our little crazy scene. Now is the time to mention that category we have at every show, "He Who shall Not Be Named/LOTK friends", he always has at least one at a gig and usually a good story to go along with the occasional odd nickname. This time we had old friend Barney whom we have met and newcomer Wally Y-Bone. Both guys are real cool and good time to have around.

Saturday and no gig and a broken frickin RV >>>>>
We weren't booked for Sat so we basically just hung out. Slept very little as it was crowded and pretty noisy all night. We called my brother Scotty G. at 9am who lives a mere 3 miles away and told him of our RV predicament. In no time he was at Harry's scoping it out. 2 hours later the brake line is replaced and we are golden. Another friend bailing my ass out. I do not take that stuff lightly, I am a lucky man. We just hung out the rest of the day and took in the sights. Brought a big pasta meal for the entourage. Saw some really great acts. The Rhythm Ship, whom camped next to us were a really, really good band, tight as any I've seen. Great originals and they brought a lightshow that was mind blowing. Green Lemon put on a killer show as well, unfortunately the rain thinned the crowd out a little, still fun tho. I checked the place out a bunch this night. You had the valley or bottom of the mountain, crammed full all the way down at the bottom of the hill. Where Ray brought me to show me "Pimpin' Ave" which was a rave tent at the bottom. BIZZARO. then up the hill was backstage where we were. the main area, then a concourse of vending. And then rolling hills upwards crammed with cars, tents and people. You could see the stage from all the way at the top. killer.

Sunday Sunday >>>>>
Once again not alot of sleep was had. I swear there was some fucker blowing an air horn every half hour not far away. We got word that a band did not show up so we good get on early so we jumped at it. Played a realy solid set. Ray came along to fill in on bass and did a stand up job. PK went solo as Jason had bailed on Saturday. Some guy who was obviously Hiiiiiigh Buddy, layed flat on his back with his pants down in the middle of the grass right before we played. MY just sent me the picture, I unfortunately will post it. Someone mentioned now they had a parking spot for their bicycle. Anyway a good gig again, great crowd. I missed judging the contest. They asked me again and said they would do it right after we played but when Funkfoot started (they were funky like a monkey) I knew by the looks of my crew it was time to depart Harry's. It's ok though, the stuff makes me nervous anyway...............
so we took off, stopped at Scotts for a few minutes and then 5 1/2 hours later. HOME.

Other thoughts >>>>>>
MY, man, let me tell ya. Imagine being in a band where your part is the part of the guy who was a drug messiah for millions. You know? he's the Jerry Garcia of the band. As much as I love and respected him, speedballs do not make you cool Jer. Well MY is the Jerry, therefor the hippy kids are always waving different chemicals and mostly the green leafy stuff at him constantly. It got to be a joke that we need a security team just so he can keep his voice after saying "no thanks" about 5 million times. We took turns running interference for the guy. Some in the entourage did it quite willingly...............ha.

Don the man behind this whole Maine Vocals thing was not in attendance as he has been jailed on charges related to his case. His case being he supplied cancer patients with medical pot. Most of his case except the part I want which is what happened to this kind gentle man who last time was instantly a friend of mine is HERE . Peace Don, can't wait to see you on the outside grooving to the band from side stage.

that's it for now, maybe other things if they pop up. Gotta go watch some more football.........

Peace,

Marcus

Posted at 10:22 pm by mikepand

10-5-07 - Friday night - well, Technically Saturday at 12:30 AM

Feel Like A Stranger >>>
Franklin's Tower,
Deep Elem Blues,
Samson and Delilah,
(Harry's) Maggies Farm >>>
Cumberland Blues,
Dripping Down***,
Terrapin Station >>>
Playin in The Band >>>
Hey Pockey Way,
The Weight

Notes :
*** original

Sunday Morning10/7/09
Minglewood,
China Cat Sunflower >>>
I Know You Rider,
Brown Eyed Women,
Eyes of The World >>>
New Speedway Boogie,
They Love Each Other

Notes :
No Jason just Pete. No Pino. Ray Tuholski on bass

Here's a link to Friday night's show on archive: Harvest Fest Friday Night Audio Download