Geezers Who Give It Up!

Last night, Tommy Dunbar played a special gig with the Dick Bright Orchesta -a 50th birthday bash that our friend Jack Gallagher threw for his wife Jean.
Jack is a nationally known comedian (Tonight Show, Conan, etc.) who does a lot of work with Tommy and I with our radio production company, Basemental.
It was the best party I've been to in years. Dick and Tommy gave a masterclass on their "entertain or else" approach to playing a party.
Tommy is married to my wife's sister, as readers of the Geezer Rock Blog will recall. He was the kind of kid who got sent to the hall for "acting up" and "being silly." ("There's a difference between acting up and being silly, mister Dunbar!")
The sight of a camera often brings out this tendencyin "Uncle Tom." This first photo was taken during the tuning up and sound check portion of the evening. The band wasn't even playing yet.
Tommy's rules for giving a good performance are simple:
• Remember, it's called "show" business.
• Don't fake it. Be yourself. But exaggerate yourself. If you're the sensitive singer songer writer type, really go for it. Weep constantly and finish your show by overdosing right there on stage, then invite the audience to the emergency room while you have your stomach pumped. Tommy exaggerates himself by giving full reign to his "acting up" tendencies.

The next photo shows Tommy "giving it up" during an extended solo on the Electric Prunes' "I Had Too Much to Dream Last Night," a song requested by the birthday girl.
When the guest of honor requests a song, you can't phone it in or act bored, even if you've played it a million times and the sound the the melody is like a dental drill boring into your eardrums.
I got there with the camera a few seconds too late. Tommy had been laying on his back and kicking his legs in the air while riffing wildly.
Which brings up another rule:
• Be willing to lose control. Tommy called this the "giving it up" priniciple. When your band plays are you giving it up?
Remember, Tommy is a 50 year old man who now qualifies for the senior discount at all-you-can eat casino buffets nationwide.
Dick Bright, the bandleader, has a few years on Tommy. Between sets, he grumps about being old and needing to sit down. But when it's time to "surf dance," he ignores any phsycial limitations and show the audience how to "shoot the tube" right there on the dance floor.

Of course, being a solid gold ham, I had to get in on the act. I am not worthy to play guitar with the Dick Bright Orchestra, but when the cry went up for "more cowbell," I was up to the job.
This was my second gig as what Dick Bright calls "The Cowbell Svengali." The first took place at the San Francisco Bark and Whine ball, a annual SPCA fund raiser where rich people dance with their dogs. This mind-bendingly fun event rates a Geezer Rock Blog post of its own.

Later, during a percussion breakdown, I was doing a showy bit where I play the cowbell between my own legs. I manage to smash my index finger and nail myself in the testicles. Fortunately, the wild cheers of the audience numbed the shooting pains.
All these antics are not an example of covering up for lame musicianship. (Except in my case.) The guys in Dick's band are outstanding, in-demand players. It's a matter of realizing that it's a party. It's supposed to be fun. The band has to lead the charge.
If you're too cool to put on a show, you're wrong for the gig.
Watching Dick and the band, I recalled an interview with Louie Prima's trombone player. Prima invented the Vegal Lounge Act and his hyper-charged showmanship made him a favorite of both tourists and big-shot entertainers like Sinatra. (Brian Setzer had a hit covering Prima's "Jump, Jive and Wail." David Lee Roth did Prima's "Just A Gigilo." Prima rocked!)
"Quality music - he (Prima) demanded that," trombonist Lou Sima said. "But as far as trying to prove you're an artist - forget it."
©2007 Edward Dean Chance. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED