Word has been passed along to me that O'Brien's has changed some policies, and that this may be our last show there. After a 9 year residency.
I have to offer them thanks. If it wasn't for them, I would have never been able to field a band when Dutch, Steve and Denny of "The Vacation" would go on tour. When the great Mitch Marine would fly off with Dwight Yoakam for the weekend. When the superb Jamie Douglass had to do another friggin' wedding gig, when he still did that.
Having that bit of guaranteed money to offer some of the best musicians in the country on a Saturday night made it so that I could have a band. And opened up a world of opportunity. And introduced an amazing cavalcade of stellar musicians to the PCB.
If this is indeed our last show there, they have threatened that before, then we made it.
We made it through the economic booms and busts over the last near decade.
Through sicknesses, through the fall of the recorded music business, through the end of major label deals, through the rise of the cover band, through the rise of electronic dance music, through frat boys fighting, heart aches, love affairs, beautiful drunken girls falling on the stage, hangovers, sadness, elation, broken hearts, broken Vans, broken bands, first shows, last shows, never knows.
We made it through all that with at least some of our dignity intact.
I understand. Sometimes people need to shake things up.
The reason I still even play there is because for years the 1st hour of our O'Brien's shows has been the best artistic outlet I've been allowed. We could do anything we want. Obscure originals we haven't played in 5 years. Debut brand new songs. Work on my between song banter which has lately consisted of reviews of bad movies that I watched on cable while meditating before heading over to the show. And other existential observations.
No matter how I felt at the beginning of an O'Brien's show, by the end I always feel like I have climbed to the top of a mountain.
We sweat, we literally bled, we left our heart right there on that stage every show.
That stage next to the broom closet and by the dirty dive bar bathrooms that I have come to love, and consider my home.
If this week is indeed the last time I get to summit that particular peak, then it is with the chops, the ability to deal with hecklers, to lead a band under just about any circumstance thrown at me, to play an hour and 15 minutes without stopping for a breath, that I'll fly off and find new mountains to climb.
Once more, with feeling...
Saturday July 26th
O'Brien's Pub, 2941 Main St. Santa Monica, CA 90405
9:30-close. Free. 21+. Full Band.
Next week we're back at the Iron Door Saloon by Yosemite for our drummer Rich Berardi's birthday party!
paulchesne.com
I have to offer them thanks. If it wasn't for them, I would have never been able to field a band when Dutch, Steve and Denny of "The Vacation" would go on tour. When the great Mitch Marine would fly off with Dwight Yoakam for the weekend. When the superb Jamie Douglass had to do another friggin' wedding gig, when he still did that.
Having that bit of guaranteed money to offer some of the best musicians in the country on a Saturday night made it so that I could have a band. And opened up a world of opportunity. And introduced an amazing cavalcade of stellar musicians to the PCB.
If this is indeed our last show there, they have threatened that before, then we made it.
We made it through the economic booms and busts over the last near decade.
Through sicknesses, through the fall of the recorded music business, through the end of major label deals, through the rise of the cover band, through the rise of electronic dance music, through frat boys fighting, heart aches, love affairs, beautiful drunken girls falling on the stage, hangovers, sadness, elation, broken hearts, broken Vans, broken bands, first shows, last shows, never knows.
We made it through all that with at least some of our dignity intact.
I understand. Sometimes people need to shake things up.
The reason I still even play there is because for years the 1st hour of our O'Brien's shows has been the best artistic outlet I've been allowed. We could do anything we want. Obscure originals we haven't played in 5 years. Debut brand new songs. Work on my between song banter which has lately consisted of reviews of bad movies that I watched on cable while meditating before heading over to the show. And other existential observations.
No matter how I felt at the beginning of an O'Brien's show, by the end I always feel like I have climbed to the top of a mountain.
We sweat, we literally bled, we left our heart right there on that stage every show.
That stage next to the broom closet and by the dirty dive bar bathrooms that I have come to love, and consider my home.
If this week is indeed the last time I get to summit that particular peak, then it is with the chops, the ability to deal with hecklers, to lead a band under just about any circumstance thrown at me, to play an hour and 15 minutes without stopping for a breath, that I'll fly off and find new mountains to climb.
Once more, with feeling...
Saturday July 26th
O'Brien's Pub, 2941 Main St. Santa Monica, CA 90405
9:30-close. Free. 21+. Full Band.
paulchesne.com
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