Hickoids had a couple of shows in Bryan TX last Friday night. Usually
when people say Bryan they also say (or at least think) College Station.
I'm not sure we ever made it in to College Station, I figured we were
close, but I never saw a sign, so I guess I've never been there. Once we
go to town we made our way through a few busy blocks of one lane
traffic. It's First Friday so the streets are packed! Well... small town
packed.
The Beaumonts were also along for the ride, they went on before us at both shows. The first was at a vintage clothing store/art gallery. Cool place with some interesting art for your funeral home or for fans of the movie "Dinner for Schmucks". Mouse and duckling taxidermy is really cool, sad and adorable. I think I want some.
I was outside for most of the Beaumonts first set. Lots of people would stop and gawk at the "country" band in the store. They would either hang out for a minute and leave happy or they'd stay till they heard a lyric they deemed offensive and moved on. During "If you don't love the Lord..." I saw a family go from "Alright!" to "move along" after hearing only one line in that God Dammed song.
We went up and it was a decent set. Sweaty and packed into a tiny space the Hickoids can sound pretty great. We all tried to make it out to the sidewalk at one point, but we got stuck in the door. So mature. We finished up and loaded out to the next place.
It was only a couple of blocks away and when we got there the opening band was on stage. A couple of the fellas worked their way up to the bar and were told the opener used all of the bar tab for the night... All of it.
What a horrible decision on managements part. Here is a good idea if you own a club. Let the band have a couple of free drinks for each member. Sure, it cuts into your bottom line, but not as much as a band that's pissed because they get no free drinks! Without proper beverage "accommodations" a band's attitude will quickly become "Oh, you want US to entertain you?" I even made friends with a bartender who said "I'll take care of you!" I thought this meant free beer (or at least A free beer) but when I asked for one he said "$3.50". What a bunch of crap.
The worst part was we were borrowing the openers PA so we couldn't say anything to them about our lack of drinks...
Anyway, Beaumonts played, we played. There was a bunch of going out in the audience and taking a "break" at a table in the middle of a song People love that stuff. A couple of them loved it enough to buy us a couple of rounds! So we didn't spend all of our money on beer, just a decent chunk.
Eventually we finished, loaded out and headed back to Austin. I was home a little after 6AM and up for work at 8:45 the next morning... That was a rough day.
The Beaumonts were also along for the ride, they went on before us at both shows. The first was at a vintage clothing store/art gallery. Cool place with some interesting art for your funeral home or for fans of the movie "Dinner for Schmucks". Mouse and duckling taxidermy is really cool, sad and adorable. I think I want some.
I was outside for most of the Beaumonts first set. Lots of people would stop and gawk at the "country" band in the store. They would either hang out for a minute and leave happy or they'd stay till they heard a lyric they deemed offensive and moved on. During "If you don't love the Lord..." I saw a family go from "Alright!" to "move along" after hearing only one line in that God Dammed song.
We went up and it was a decent set. Sweaty and packed into a tiny space the Hickoids can sound pretty great. We all tried to make it out to the sidewalk at one point, but we got stuck in the door. So mature. We finished up and loaded out to the next place.
It was only a couple of blocks away and when we got there the opening band was on stage. A couple of the fellas worked their way up to the bar and were told the opener used all of the bar tab for the night... All of it.
What a horrible decision on managements part. Here is a good idea if you own a club. Let the band have a couple of free drinks for each member. Sure, it cuts into your bottom line, but not as much as a band that's pissed because they get no free drinks! Without proper beverage "accommodations" a band's attitude will quickly become "Oh, you want US to entertain you?" I even made friends with a bartender who said "I'll take care of you!" I thought this meant free beer (or at least A free beer) but when I asked for one he said "$3.50". What a bunch of crap.
The worst part was we were borrowing the openers PA so we couldn't say anything to them about our lack of drinks...
Anyway, Beaumonts played, we played. There was a bunch of going out in the audience and taking a "break" at a table in the middle of a song People love that stuff. A couple of them loved it enough to buy us a couple of rounds! So we didn't spend all of our money on beer, just a decent chunk.
Eventually we finished, loaded out and headed back to Austin. I was home a little after 6AM and up for work at 8:45 the next morning... That was a rough day.
Hmm... Who could have written that?!
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