Last week, a 50's/60's tribute band called Flashback, called and asked me to play with them at a music festival in downtown Shreveport. This is a really good band with all very experienced players and three lady singers, two of whom used to work with Percy Sledge.
I told them I would help them out and they said just bring a keyboard, so that's all I took. It was on a large covered bandstand at the Festival Plaza.
The sound man at the venue took my two leads from the Korg into a direct box and had great house mix and monitor mix.
I used only Piano, Organ, and Strings. They had no idea what kind of keyboard I was using, other than it said Korg. They were very pleased with the sound and I was as well.
I knew all the songs, At The Hop, Blue Suede Shoes, The Wanderer, Boppin' the Blues, Rockin' Robin, Runaway, The Wayward Wind, Teenager in Love, a few more... then Pretty Woman/Mean Woman Blues/Crying Roy Orbison medley to close the show. I had a list of the keys they did them in.
My vocals were not needed as they had six singers already.
Fantastic sound and performance. Everyone was close to my age!
I really enjoyed just sitting there playing keyboard. No chords, no singing... They were very well rehearsed and they just treated me like I was too. When it was time for a ride, the leader just nodded and assumed I knew how to do the appropriate thing. I did!
The hardest part was the organ/synth solo in Runaway, but I pulled it off to their satisfaction.
I used the transpose button once, because they did a song in B and I didn't want to think that hard, so I played it in C.
The point is, besides relaying what a great time I had, was that the arranger works perfectly well in a band situation. In fact none of them knew what an arranger even is.
They asked if I wanted to play with them "full time" which is about once a week or so. I had to decline since I already have the best music job in town, but I told them I'd work with them if it didn't conflict with my regular "gig". They only play big shows, concerts, festivals, etc., so it may be that I do it again.
I borrowed Korg PA4X from my friend DickieT, so I didn't have to move any of my gear.
Now for a nap and then the regular job.