Well I had my annual big night out at the X Rated piano player, John Valby show and I'm left with mixed feelings this morning. Oh I'm not mad at the good Dr., he put on a great show as usual. But it probaly was the worse crowd I've ever had the misfortune of seeing a Valby show at.
First of all I can't stress enough how much I can't stand the bar the show was at. The Shamrock is simply too small of a place to be even having a Valby show at. All they have is one main bar and what they do is line up the rest of the space with rows and rows of tables. They say none are reserved. I don't know what time people get there then 'coz we got there a little after 8 and they were all filled up. God, I miss the old place he would play years ago called the Playpen. It featured a sunken dance floor in front of the stage and several bars that rose off of that. So there was plenty of space for the hardcore fans to be right down front and alot of space for the newbies and drinkers.
Anyway, We were lucky to find a bit of space at the far side of the bar. The group consisted of Me, Andy, Zinah, & Matt. We saw all 3 of the Raucous boys as soon as we got there. And Jonny joined us later using the spare ticket I had. We sat/stood for awhile before the show drinking, socializing, minding our own business. There was a group next to us filled of the jock looking guys with their buzzcuts etc. I just had a feeling this group would start some trouble later. Little did I know how right I would be.
Valby must have gotten there like around 9 and had everthing set up. I saw his writing partner/roadie/manager dude and was shooting the shit with him for a bit. Inquiring what new CD(s) awaited us. I took my customary spot right by the speakers in front of the stage. This was the 4th time I've seen Valby at this club and never had a problem. Around 10 John took the stage and the area around me filled up. Damian from Raucous was right next to me. The jock gang was in back of us and Andy was back behind them at the bar. He moved his way up after a song or 2 and positioned next to Damian.
The whole area was completely filled now with several chicks sitting right on the stage. Next thing I know the jock group is apparently bugging Andy & Damian to move. As I said I've seen several Valby shows there and that area always fills up and there was never a problem. But between the jocks and the group of old guys sitting at the bar who expected everyone to be out of their sight lines the mood was quickly getting ugly.
Damian had me warn the bouncer right on the stage to keep an eye on those jock guys. It was like they were there only to cause trouble. They kept saying shit to Andy & Damian. At one point they were flicking cigarette ashes in the back of Andy's hoodie. Andy ended up moving back to the bar to avoid a scene. Damian did too and right near the end of the first set he came back up to me and said the bouncers wanted me away from the speakers. So now I'm off the floor missing the show totally pissed off. They had Valby on all the TV's throughout the bar but the sound was horrible away from right near the stage. You could barely hear shit. I was missing all the great 1st set sing alongs. I was steaming.
After the 1st set Valby and his roadie take time to sell some CD's. So I ended up buying his latest "The Old Fart Cuts Another One", shook his hand and had him sign it. $20 for a CD! 2 for $30. The prices are way too steep but I'm willing to shell out the dough to keep having Valby come back. I made my way back to the bar vowing I would get up close to the stage again for the rest of the night.
The 2nd set started and I was right there again by the speaker. It was crowded as much this time. The jocks were no where to be found. During the break I had found out that they threatened to kick Damian's ass outside the club after the show. I'm telling you, That group was there just looking for trouble not even to enjoy the show. I overheard them all saying it was their first show too. So the set was going on next thing I know a fight breaks out between one of the old guys at the bar and one of the jocks! All the bouncers pounced upon them and the whole group of jocks got kicked out!! Maybe karma wasn't instant but it sure was served!! After that it settled down to be a great show. The 2nd set featured "Barnacle Bill" and had a stage full of hotties. These 2 really drunk cuties were right in front of me. One of them was begging me to take off my "I Beat Anorexia" shirt so she could wear it!! No fucking way I was taking off my shirt I don't care how hot the chick was!! The club wanted to see their tits not my hairy man-boobs!!! She kept on asking and asking and I kept saying no. They finally showed their true colors when Valby went into "If You're Horny And You Know It" and bolted offstage as soon as he said "show your tits"! Luckily a handful of chicks stayed and were good sports about it and showed the goods! The 2nd set finished up and I made my way back to the bar.
That's where I found out all the details about the jocks getting the boot. Better justice couldn't have been served. It was just a strange crowd and night in general. Jonny was telling us as he went up the cigarette machine a group of bikers was staring him down. Seemed a lot of people were out to cause shit. Way too many newbies too like those 2 dopey chicks. Anyway, I wound up buying a 2nd CD "Half In The Fuckin' Bag" for $10 since they already knew I bought a 1st one. Had John sign that too. It's always hard to read his writing but here's what they said...
"Frank, May your ladies lick the end of your dick slowly, John Valby" and "Frank, May your ladies love your brains and your balls!, JV"
By the 3rd set the crowd had thinned out by just a little and Chuck from Raucous was standing by me the whole set. Valby did "Wind Beneath My Wings" or "Slut Beneath My Sperm" as his version goes! He did all the races ones. And finished up with "Bang Bang Lulu". The 3rd was the best set yet and the last 2 definately made up for the how the first set turned out.
After the show I got to meet "Sheckla" from the other night. She was damn cute and I gave her the Sheckies button right off my hat. We all hung out for a little bit but my advanced age and several beers were catching up to me and I had to go. So we gathered the gang and left. Oh, And as far as I know the jocks weren't waiting around!
We ended back at Jen & Zinah's. Shane was hanging out with Jen. Looks like those 2 are an item now. We ended up watching "Napoleon Dynamite". My 3rd time and I still fell asleep!! At one point Shane tucked me in like a good den mother. Afterwards everyone got dropped off and I was in my bed by 3:30.
So I'm still left with mixed feelings about the show. I just wish he played a bigger and better venue. Or maybe we have to get there at like 6 to get a table. Either way I don't want to put up with BS like that again. Valby is still the king either way!!
Official John Valby site
First of all I can't stress enough how much I can't stand the bar the show was at. The Shamrock is simply too small of a place to be even having a Valby show at. All they have is one main bar and what they do is line up the rest of the space with rows and rows of tables. They say none are reserved. I don't know what time people get there then 'coz we got there a little after 8 and they were all filled up. God, I miss the old place he would play years ago called the Playpen. It featured a sunken dance floor in front of the stage and several bars that rose off of that. So there was plenty of space for the hardcore fans to be right down front and alot of space for the newbies and drinkers.
Anyway, We were lucky to find a bit of space at the far side of the bar. The group consisted of Me, Andy, Zinah, & Matt. We saw all 3 of the Raucous boys as soon as we got there. And Jonny joined us later using the spare ticket I had. We sat/stood for awhile before the show drinking, socializing, minding our own business. There was a group next to us filled of the jock looking guys with their buzzcuts etc. I just had a feeling this group would start some trouble later. Little did I know how right I would be.
Valby must have gotten there like around 9 and had everthing set up. I saw his writing partner/roadie/manager dude and was shooting the shit with him for a bit. Inquiring what new CD(s) awaited us. I took my customary spot right by the speakers in front of the stage. This was the 4th time I've seen Valby at this club and never had a problem. Around 10 John took the stage and the area around me filled up. Damian from Raucous was right next to me. The jock gang was in back of us and Andy was back behind them at the bar. He moved his way up after a song or 2 and positioned next to Damian.
The whole area was completely filled now with several chicks sitting right on the stage. Next thing I know the jock group is apparently bugging Andy & Damian to move. As I said I've seen several Valby shows there and that area always fills up and there was never a problem. But between the jocks and the group of old guys sitting at the bar who expected everyone to be out of their sight lines the mood was quickly getting ugly.
Damian had me warn the bouncer right on the stage to keep an eye on those jock guys. It was like they were there only to cause trouble. They kept saying shit to Andy & Damian. At one point they were flicking cigarette ashes in the back of Andy's hoodie. Andy ended up moving back to the bar to avoid a scene. Damian did too and right near the end of the first set he came back up to me and said the bouncers wanted me away from the speakers. So now I'm off the floor missing the show totally pissed off. They had Valby on all the TV's throughout the bar but the sound was horrible away from right near the stage. You could barely hear shit. I was missing all the great 1st set sing alongs. I was steaming.
After the 1st set Valby and his roadie take time to sell some CD's. So I ended up buying his latest "The Old Fart Cuts Another One", shook his hand and had him sign it. $20 for a CD! 2 for $30. The prices are way too steep but I'm willing to shell out the dough to keep having Valby come back. I made my way back to the bar vowing I would get up close to the stage again for the rest of the night.
The 2nd set started and I was right there again by the speaker. It was crowded as much this time. The jocks were no where to be found. During the break I had found out that they threatened to kick Damian's ass outside the club after the show. I'm telling you, That group was there just looking for trouble not even to enjoy the show. I overheard them all saying it was their first show too. So the set was going on next thing I know a fight breaks out between one of the old guys at the bar and one of the jocks! All the bouncers pounced upon them and the whole group of jocks got kicked out!! Maybe karma wasn't instant but it sure was served!! After that it settled down to be a great show. The 2nd set featured "Barnacle Bill" and had a stage full of hotties. These 2 really drunk cuties were right in front of me. One of them was begging me to take off my "I Beat Anorexia" shirt so she could wear it!! No fucking way I was taking off my shirt I don't care how hot the chick was!! The club wanted to see their tits not my hairy man-boobs!!! She kept on asking and asking and I kept saying no. They finally showed their true colors when Valby went into "If You're Horny And You Know It" and bolted offstage as soon as he said "show your tits"! Luckily a handful of chicks stayed and were good sports about it and showed the goods! The 2nd set finished up and I made my way back to the bar.
That's where I found out all the details about the jocks getting the boot. Better justice couldn't have been served. It was just a strange crowd and night in general. Jonny was telling us as he went up the cigarette machine a group of bikers was staring him down. Seemed a lot of people were out to cause shit. Way too many newbies too like those 2 dopey chicks. Anyway, I wound up buying a 2nd CD "Half In The Fuckin' Bag" for $10 since they already knew I bought a 1st one. Had John sign that too. It's always hard to read his writing but here's what they said...
"Frank, May your ladies lick the end of your dick slowly, John Valby" and "Frank, May your ladies love your brains and your balls!, JV"
By the 3rd set the crowd had thinned out by just a little and Chuck from Raucous was standing by me the whole set. Valby did "Wind Beneath My Wings" or "Slut Beneath My Sperm" as his version goes! He did all the races ones. And finished up with "Bang Bang Lulu". The 3rd was the best set yet and the last 2 definately made up for the how the first set turned out.
After the show I got to meet "Sheckla" from the other night. She was damn cute and I gave her the Sheckies button right off my hat. We all hung out for a little bit but my advanced age and several beers were catching up to me and I had to go. So we gathered the gang and left. Oh, And as far as I know the jocks weren't waiting around!
We ended back at Jen & Zinah's. Shane was hanging out with Jen. Looks like those 2 are an item now. We ended up watching "Napoleon Dynamite". My 3rd time and I still fell asleep!! At one point Shane tucked me in like a good den mother. Afterwards everyone got dropped off and I was in my bed by 3:30.
So I'm still left with mixed feelings about the show. I just wish he played a bigger and better venue. Or maybe we have to get there at like 6 to get a table. Either way I don't want to put up with BS like that again. Valby is still the king either way!!
Official John Valby site