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It was sort of a typical Summer gig. The venue was a huge horseback riding facility...a huge covered pavilion with no sides. The management had done a fair job of clearing out the horse manure and putting up chairs and a stage. For two weeks we had been hearing about getting to use the huge mega PA system belonging to a rock band that was using the stage later in the evening. We might add that this is one of the well known, touring rock bands that has lots of gear and a big crew to run it all. They even generate their own power rather than depend on "unreliable" utility power.
The band was on the stand on time, all set up and ready to go with time to spare and plugged in to the big sound system. It was time for a sound check 30 minutes prior to showtime. The band played a number that ranged from quiet to loud in order to see how the venue sounded. Suddenly, the big generator that was powering the monster gave forth with a large explosion and a puff of black and then white smoke. Since the band was a real band and not an electric one, the unperturbed musicians finished the number and then turned to look at the disaster. It was obvious that the generator had had it.
Immediately the Bone section was called to attention and began playing Chopin's Death March. The drummer caught on right away and added a tasteful, muffled french four. The rest of the band joined in quickly and we played the march out. As we stopped, the machine, by this time burning its crankcase oil, belched a plume of white smoke and someone enthusiastically yelled, "Habemus Papam!" ..."We have a Pope!". Even the Catholics fell out laughing.
The sound crew for our nationally known rock band were somewhat less than amused by all this, especially when we told them we could have our gear out of the truck and running in 20 minutes if the behemoth could not be restored. Somehow they managed to find an electrical feed to the "mains" from somewhere nearby and got it all working again. We started the show only 15 minutes behind schedule.
The audience loved the whole thing and was very supportive. It was one of the more amusing technical delays we have ever experienced. If this sounds like one of "those stories," we can assure you it happened...Saturday, June 28, 2003...to us!
Show business is our life!
Henry Mason
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