ReTrio at Home Guard Club Bury St Edmunds

We had been booked to play here again just over a year since our band debut.  With the closure of a couple of pubs in the immediate area,  the club was doing well apparently - and it was cup final day.   I met up with Chris bass en route and followed him to the club.  Lovely sunny warm day as we drew up.  Chris the drum already had the fire door open and was just completing load in (assisted by his son-in-law).   Chris the bass parked on the pavement and started his load in and I waited briefly for Chris drum to finish before reversing into his place.  It's an easy load in straight onto the playing area and we soon had everything up and running.  We didn't bother with a sound check 'cos we were still confident after the previous night and I was soon enjoying a lager watching extra time between Hull and Arsenal. 

 

 

There was a bit of a changeover of people as the football finished and those that came in seemed motivated to be there to see the live band.  Chris the drum advised white tees and black waistcoats and an 8:45 start.  We were following the same set list as the previous night and we were relaxed about the gig.  There were about 30 in the room as we opened up with "FBI".  From the off we got a good reception and the improvised bantering worked as well as the night before.  I think the on stage sound here was even better and we were a tad slicker through the set.  A few more people arrived as we approached the end of the set and,  as we had a good repartee going and my voice was still not 100%,  I went for "Green Grass" to finish.  A lot joined in so we finished well pleased with the set.  Trudy, who hadn't seen the re-vamped set 1 before came over and said how improved it all was. It being quite warm Chris the drum had soaked his tee shirt and needed a change!  They adopted red tees but I only had blue so we weren't quite matching for our return. Wow a few more had arrived and the place looked busy!
 
We opened with "Apache and got a great reception for the walk.  The sound was spot on when I was out front.  And the rest of the night went much the same pattern - we had a very good gig with lots of audience interaction,  bits of dancing, general good atmosphere and a very sweaty drummer. One mistake I must note was my loss of a brain cell at the start of "Sweet Caroline" - I just couldn't remember the starting note was A in the key of C.  We had to stop and re-start but the audience, all lined up for a dance, took it in good heart.  We encored with "Born to be Wild" which was even wilder than the previous night, but well received despite that.  As we were packing up the club chairman came over and thanked each of us for a very entertaining night.  Then it was a 10 minute drive home, cocoa toast and bed!  Voice was a bit shot the next day but I was in good heart.  We have a few weeks off now for hols and will resume in early June!