Guitars, musicians, contracts and agents – the post pandemic entertainment business is booming like everything else. It’s all fast and unfolding and I want to stay nimble to navigate the tempest. I let venues and talent know to prepare for the onslaught months ago and mostly everyone was ready. Since I eat and drink music anyway it was no hardship to stay sharp. It seems like I came out of the chute ready to shred it to pieces. I had played throughout the plague, just mostly in seclusion.
The POTLIKKERS are my old time and bluegrass jug band. We have been on quite a run lately and I think it’s because people are ready to blow off some steam. This is the perfect storm for a party band so we keep busy. I also like to do a gag or two in the theatrical tradition for our shows. Our next concert we plan to take the pig’s head from the BBQ and mount it on a scarecrow with a fiddle and straw hat. That should get the crowd fired up! I enjoy the chance to sing the old school Americana styles and it’s easy to add players and singers to the troupe since we all know the songs. When you use fiddles and a washboard people are drawn to it. Add a gut bucket and you have yourself a hoedown. This repertoire is also a great alternative to classic rock and country, which can get a little tired.
Sadly my originals band has been on the back burner for a minute. I have been writing new tunes but with so much work available for a songbird it can be hard to find the time. The Coyotes and Towndogs still have room to run though, so I look forward to getting with my mates and working out some of our own songs. Really it’s time to get to the recording studio for album number five. We have most of the material but I like to compose one or two during the recording process to keep it fresh.
Pick up gigs are plentiful so I blend reggae and pop songs while also mixing and matching musicians. If you know lots of good players, why not? I have my favorites but injecting new blood is good too. True, it is better to keep a regular crew for the more complicated shows. However, for smaller shows and weekday restaurant gigs I keep a roster of names and numbers, especially for rhythm section players. Frontline has been Farley Palmer, a savant on the harmonica and Doc Hibbard, my utility man on guitar, mando, fiddle and pedal steel. They both play across styles too so it’s an easy switch to blues or pop.
I will play out the summer on my current gear but for the upcoming season I need to upgrade and replace some stuff. My p.a. still sounds great but it’s getting so old I may replace it on general suspicion. Of course new cables but my mic screen has rusted over which means it needs to be replaced too. My fiddle is on a spare bridge so I guess I need to send it off for a fix up. Since everything is exciting and new, maybe I should grab a couple new guitars?
By Adam Floyd
