The Evens Get Even in Blacksburg

This past saturday night, might have just been one of the most defining moments of my show-booking career; I had the opportunity to host Amy Farina of The Warmers and Ian MacKaye of Fugazi at the Blacksburg YMCA.

This duo wins the "most self-sufficient band" award in my book. They had their own PA, they setup their own equipment, ran their own merch table, packed their own things and it only took them a few minutes. It was simply amazing to see them at work. When they were done setting up, they put two tall lamps on each end, making it look like a living room.

I was still outside and still collecting money at the door when the show started, so I sadly missed a couple of songs. But I guess that sometimes there's a price to pay when you're the person putting the show up. A few members of my staff and some close friends I used to book shows with in the past also showed up, so it was somewhat of a nice little reunion.

I guess my favorite parts of the show were when the 3 and 6 year olds kept on running up and down the hall and when the band asked the audience to sing along when they performed "You Won't Feel a Thing."

I think the interactive portion of the show, in addition the the intimate living room-like setting just made the show for me

I don't mean to toot my own horn when I say this, because having personally put up the show or not, I still think that it was a show that Blacksburg will not forget for a while. It was my first show at the YMCA and will hopefully be followed by many more to come!

I just wish I hadn't forgotten my own camera...