Return to gigging for me last night after a medical "holiday". The Rebbels played a new venue, Bluebird Social Club, Longham (just north of Poole and Bournemouth). My partner said it was "a dump" last time she went there, although that was decades ago.
There was a vintage carpet on the floor, but it was tidy and the tables and chairs were new and pristine. At 7pm it was empty. I took both my Fender Aerodyne and my Kala U Bass Solid Body as I am recovering slowly from a rotator cuff/shoulder injury and could not even pick the Fender until last Wednesday. However, a good practice session at home was encouraging, and I started playing the Fender. After about 5 songs, it was clear that I would have to switch to the Kala.
By this time, the audience had swelled to around 40, although the place still looked empty they were enthusiastic, clapping more than was just polite applause and some line dancers were on the huge dance floor from the start. The audience reaction seemed to energise the singer, who was not only on the top of his game vocally but great in between songs.
Despite the audience size, we were paid £25 extra and immediately booked again for the new year. I returned home happy 🤩, but knackered.