Currently passing through the suburbs of Kansas City heading towards downtown. With the first half of the tour behind us, all hands are eager for a real bed. Personally speaking, the pipes could use a night off, as five show nights in a row is about all these out-of-practice vocal chords could handle.
We had a grand Paddy’s night in St. Paul. The sold out night at the O’Shaunessy marks one of GBS’s biggest paid audiences in the US. No late night hi-jinks however, as I wanted to save some juice for the crowd in Ames, Iowa.
Ames is a little city with one main street lined with shops and businesses, and I guess surrounded by farms. The main street comes to an abrupt halt at the gates of a fairly big factory. I convinced myself that it has something to do with processing corn… but I really have no idea.
When we pulled into the venue, an old high-school auditorium, I made my usual bolt from the bus and into the gig. I always like to check out the empty hall or club before all our stuff rolls in there. I suppose I get some romantic satisfaction in seeing the ‘before’ picture. So I dash into one of the theatre doors expecting to see the usual empty seats and the proscenium, but what awaits me is something quite different. I walk straight into the middle of an ongoing church service.
I’m not sure of the exact number, but I’d estimate that six hundred thousand pairs of eyes stopped praying and bible reading and turned to look at me. I, trying to look cool, (which never works, by the way) slipped casually into a seat and joined in the prayer or hymn or whatever was happening. I remained there for a few readings and songs expecting to be asked to leave at any moment. Then a large farmer looking gent stood up, brushed off his coat, took a long hard look at me and began his approach.
Convinced that I was about to be tossed for rudely interrupting the local service, I braced myself for an encounter with a much larger man. He drew ever closer and extended his right hand, saying;
-Haven’t seen you around here before, Son. Just wanted to make you feel welcome.
I gulped.
-Thanks.
Nice man. I stayed till just about the end and managed to make a discrete exit during the breaking of the bread.
Turns out there’s a lot of nice people in Ames, Iowa. Spoke to a few of them at the Grove Café before the gig. Had a few Sociables after the show with some more kind folks at a pub manned by a grand helmsman named Henry. Cheryl and her friend Lindy who hosts the morning radio show in Ft. Dodge on Mix 94.5 were grand company for me and the rest of the GBS cast and crew. Thanks to them all.
Just pulling in to the hotel in Kansas City. Spring seems to be well underway here. Yellow grass giving way to eager green.
Lovely.
Cheers,
Alan