Motel Almost-Modest, Somewhere On A Freeway In California.
We arrived at Motel Almost-Modest somewhere around 02.30. The accommodation is only marginally better than that enjoyed by KC between 1969-74 (this has a better quality tv & tea-making facitilies) although the location is no better: in the middle of nowhere with nothing to do & nowhere to go. That was not / this is not accommodation where management would be seen; nor were they.
The motel is clean & has served its purpose, but only just: a vacuum with a bed in it & boulder masquerading as a pillow.
That Life Could Be This Good All The Time…
But There Was A View…
The establishment boasted breakfast as inclusive in the room charge. The breakfast provided was not such as I understand by the word, nor a meal to attract attention to, whatever word might be used to describe it; probably better not to mention an eating-word at all, for fear of raising expectations that food might be available. The few pitiful ingredients provided had mostly disappeared by 08.30 when I arrived.
We leave in 5 minutes for Ventura. Dribble dribble.
23.45 Hotel Modest, Ventura.
With a pit stop along the way. Motorway food in the US is much worse than in the UK (astonishing factoid). Some US services now have Starbucks. Presumably, the cities have been conquered & motorway services are the next to fall. Actually, Starbucks is/are a significant improvement in the bottom-line provision of coffee facilities to the Travelling Gigster.
Arrived at the hotel c .14.15.
View From A Room…
Life Is This Good…
Walked to gig just after 17.00. The hotel receptionist provided me with a cross on a map - they lied: the cross was on the wrong building & the wrong street.
The Ventura Theatre…
ProjeKct Two played here in 1998 & the acoustics are as bad now as they were then. A surprise when we arrived: a rock trio had got itself onto the bill, unbeknownst to us. This was a good local trio of 17-year olds and one of the best young drummers I have seen in years. He has the ability to go far, should he wish. The unannounced additional act is one of the actualities of a Happy Gigster's working life: the promoter adds an act without letting the other parties know. In principle, I support performance opportunities for young players (even old players); but the musical pairings that result often do no favours to anyone.
Pick Of The Week…
The house was light with about 100 people, so the promoter lost money: the likely reason for the additional act & backstage food on a par with this morning's available breakfast at Motel Almost-Modest.
The set: Soundscapes were followed by a Q&A; a Soundscape from the WFC on November 29th. 2000 (named by Jeff Fayman Notes From Ground Zero); and a closing-settling-earthing-hoping live Soundscape leading from there.
Two Four Quarter Maintainers, Ralph & Scott, were in attendance with several pals in the patient, supportive audience including Jeff & Bill.
"Expectation is the prediction that history will repeat itself, exactly, precisely."
