Open Wide and Say "Aaaahhhhh." Endodontics is a specialist sub-field of dentistry that deals with the tooth pulp and tissues surrounding the root of a tooth. If you've ever been fortunate enough to have a root canal, you've been to an endodontist. Even though Lee and George profess to be good teeth brushers, that have had their share of painful trips to the dentist. So both pleased that they will be working tonight instead of being 'worked on.' In a strange co-opt/marketing maneuver by Beverly, the band's agent, she has paired them up with a group called La Dee Da Catering. As the trio arrive, they meet their surrogate employers for the evening, Ray and Jan. They're both nice enough, but the dental staff mistake the trio for members of the catering company's band. No bother to George though, "Let them think whatever they will; as long as no one gets food poisoning and that prevents us from playing future functions, I'm okay with it." Matthew is just grateful to be playing in doors. Tomorrow's gig at an apartment complex is outside, so he is breathing in all the air conditioning he can force down his lungs in preparation.
The facility's surroundings are very serene,
The three return to setting up as the good doctor
prepares for visitors. Tonight's venue is to be
instrumental music only - no vocals through the
sound system. In fact, the sound system
(affectionately known as the GP5000) has been
brought upstairs, but has not even been plugged in. Due to not
having to check vocal and equipment mic levels, the
trio has finished setup earlier than usual and have
some time on their hands - And this is never a good
thing. The three are not destructive or anything,
but given enough time, all of their conversations
end up in some sort of juvenile dare (usually
instigated by George). Today is no different
- George convinces Matthew, then Lee to check out
Dr. Berteaux's new equipment in the back rooms. By
'check out' he means demonstrate how to perform root
canals on each other.
After a few minutes, the guys return to the front
lobby. Understanding that they will be the
first thing that guests will see as they enter
the facility, they do some 'housekeeping'
straightening up stray chords and tucking away cases.
They want to make a good first impression for the practice.
It's 5:00 PM and time to start. George has brought
jazz arrangements of many of the 'regular' songs the
band plays. He and Matthew find it invigorating to
play these tunes without singing the lyrics. The
songs have a freshness, and these two are forced
to listen to what the other is doing more intently
since the words are often used as guideposts in each
piece. Lee could care less - words or not, he's happy
to be pounding out the pulse on the bass drum and
conga.
After 30 minutes or
so of exuberant playing, the guys notice a an
interesting pattern:
So the guys find themselves performing for four or
five people at a time, and for a very short
duration. It's much like speed-dating...except it's
between an audience and a band. After a while the
trio realizes they've essentially been playing for
an empty room. They can hear the crowd down the
hallway, smell the food, but the view they have of a
lonely reception counter.
With the audience in another part of the building, Matthew seizes an opportunity. By now he has become bored with no vocals through the system. He begins singing on-the-spot parodies of each song played. Only George is within earshot to hear Matthew's lyrical quips about gum disease, flossing, crowns, fillings, gingivitis, etc. George loses it when Matthew sings "She's Got Decay" to Billy Joel's SHE'S GOT A WAY. He's smiling from ear to ear as more guests arrive through the front door. They think he's either really friendly, or there's a nitrous leak in the office and he's inhaled too much laughing gas. The visitors follow protocols 2 -5 listed above and quickly disappear from sight. George encourages Matthew to sing the 'real' words to AS TIME GOES BY even though there are no mics. "But you said Ray and Jan don't want singing." " They just didn't want the sound to be too loud with vocal amplification - But we should be okay to sing a few without mics." Matthew agrees and delivers a passionate performance of the song. It's as if not singing for a few hours has built up some magical performance power in him. George asks him to sing another, in which Matthew complies with Patsy Klein's CRAZY. A peculiar thing about the human voice is that it entices listening. And tonight is no different: Like a pied piper, Matthew's singing has brought a few curious listeners back into the lobby where the band is playing. They eagerly sit in the waiting room chairs, and even make a few song requests of the trio. This encourages the band to continue down this path for the remainder of the night. George begins the only song he will sing vocals to this evening, COUNT YOUR BLESSINGS INSTEAD OF SHEEP (one of his favorites). More people re-enter the lobby.
A few tunes later and the guys finish up with
LOVE CATS, a spunky song
from The Cure that the trio has recently added to
the repertoire. It features Matthew's bass playing
and singing, and Lee and George gleefully accompany
by singing out the backup vocals "...Da de da
de-de de doo De da da dit-dee doo da!"
As the guys pack up, many of the guests
compliment the band as they head back through the
lobby to leave. George and Matthew make two
interesting observations: This is the first time
that the band has played that people didn't dance.
And secondly, no tips were awarded tonight (unless
they were given to the catering company by mistake).
Neither of these indicate the success of an evening,
but it is a little peculiar. Even so, it's been a
good gig, the guys are pleased to have helped out.
Dr. Berteaux returns to the lobby and repeatedly
thanks the trio (the guys welcome his hypnotic
voice) .
Editor's Note: At the time of this blog posting, the band has made a return trip to the Katy area to play for another office grand opening. You guessed it - Another dental office!
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