Two sets and three songs and its over . . .

By Jack May

Swami and the Festoons are basking in the light of another great performance, and this time, the band is feeling the love. Mothers holding their children up for approval, single women speaking to us, Single men giving us beer. Does it get any better?

Two weeks before the show there was no love. There was no high-fiving. There were a bunch of windsurfers rehearsing for the Wind Ceremony.

"Hey can someone show me how to play a G7.",
"Why did the band stop playing?",
"Why are you playing through the break?".

To add to this the band decided to take more control of its sound and hired the renowned sound reinforcement consultants Finney and Knerr; Known for their scintillating Foley recordings of grease cracking, Katydids mating and also tribal sounds from the Endless Summer.
Immediately it was decided, we cannot have control of our music, if we do not have control of our sound; we must Mic everything. If it makes a sound, Mic it. I immediately spoke up, "I don't need no stinking Mic, I have a 160 watt amp, and I sublet this amp to the airport to drive off migratory birds....". Tsk, tsk, announced Rick, "We have a new way of producing sound you will be part of a family, you will no longer be an island in the stream, you will now be part of a collective." I am now confused and go back to playing power chords and making aggressive sounds with my guitar. Dave the guy I count on, the guy I look to when I can't figure out what key we are playing in, the guy that I blame when I make a mistake. Dave has very broad shoulders. "Help me out Dave, they want me to turn my amp to face me and to turn it down and let someone else control the sound. If we both object, they will have to listen". Dave avoiding eye contact; "Ah comrade Jack, you are such the individualist, it is time to give up your strange and peculiar ways and rejoin the band". I have lost. Such is life in Swami's band.

The day of the show, I roll up to Shell Point, late as usual, having rehearsed my excuses all the way from Highway 98. Wright and Co. are staring at some large and heavy stage pallets that needed to be moved. I quickly run over and volunteer several other windsurfers to handle the task of moving the pallets. Due to me, miscalculating the weight, I am asked to join in helping them find their new resting places. As always, the usual construction company is there Rick, Stan, Dan Birch (apprentice), Wright, there were others too! I just can't remember their names.

Lizzy and Ann show up and ask where they need to set up, I reply, “where do you want to set up”, Lizzy not in the mood for my laissez-faire attitude turns around and begins working with Ann to get the shirt sales going my hands-off management style has served me well. I am truly the master of D&D (Delegate & Disappear). A few Windsurfers who don’t read the website, come to the meetings and only show up to complain, are questioning me why the registration is late. I gently escort them out of the pavilion with a barrage of salty, sailor talk. They wait inline with a few visibly distraught locals who are not sure if I was serious or not.

The Dinner was awesome; I believe that everyone was satiated. A special thanks to Leah Chapin, Andy Reich and Janice Finney for preparing their award winning pasta dishes, I am sure they will wear their aprons with honor, when they get their first chance on FoodTV.

Finally it was time to play. Looking out into the crowd reminded me of a poster I had in my room growing up. The picture shows the view from the stage of a crowd at a rock concert. I do not believe that I have had the pleasure of “playing” in front of so many people. During the show we are treated to the best seats in the house. The dancing, limboing, mamboing, dirty dancing, you name it we can see it. Needless to say I only had a couple moments were I either stopped playing or began playing in the wrong key because I was distracted by what was happening on the dance floor, and that’s all I’m going to say about that. The concert goes well and some songs that I had side bets on the band finishing together end up being the best songs of the evening. Everyone had their “A” game going. I can feel the Love building….

A special thanks to all who helped get this show going and to those that worked quietly in the background to make everything go as smoothly and successfully as it did. One thing SPSC members can do is put on a good event. I hear some even still sail….. Jack May

,,, And thanks to you and the band for a great wind ceremony!
WHO FEELS IT KNOWS IT IT HAS ALWAYS BEEN THUS

The Band in no particular order:

Chuck Colhagen Swami, Singing, Cowbell, Spreading the aura…
Don Franklin Djembi, Background Vocals
Sharman Franklin Djembi, Background Vocals, Dance consultant
Perry Morris Keyboard, vocals
Dave Denmark Lead guitar, Slide aficionado, Vocals
Tina Mazanek Bass, Vocals
Adam Bennett Brass, Bass, Vocals
Bradley Didgeridoo, Shakuhachi, Gesundheiht

Bob Graves, Keyboards and Technical consultant
Sandy Graves, Vocals
Richard Hill, Drums and Vocals
Jack May, Guitar Legend

Friends of the Band, again in no particular order:

Rick Knerr, Sound Engineer
Wright Finney, Location Manager and Gaffer
Stan Derzypolsk,i Best Boy
Liz Denmark, Property Master
Ann Getman, Production assistant
Jonathan Goodman, Homeland Security
Dave Piazza, Flatfoot
Robert Nelson, Assistant Pyro-technician