It’s more true than not, Forrest!
We never seem to know what’s inside until we open that door.
Saturday night, last, was just such a night.
On the drive over, Carl and I always discuss what we imagine the evening will be like, and never, ever get it right.
The reason: Our imaginations just are not equipped enough to handle what goes on there. No matter what we envision, it is usually, way off.
For example, how do you imagine a group of carefree birthday revelers arriving by water and depositing ten people all bent on celebrating someone’s special day named, Sexy Judy, until it is dancing right in front of you?
You can’t really.
Or a gaggle of Maker’s Mark Gals all dressed in black & boots, handing out free booze?
Nope, ya’ can’t.
How about, birthday after birthday after birthday being celebrated all at the same time, in a whirl-wind of celebratory confusion.
As you know by now, Carl and I were set for our usual, “quiet Bumper’s evening” by the water. Where nothing much should happen.
Maybe watch the big game.
And then, "The Bumper's Effect" kicks in. (we'll talk about that in a future post, don't you even worry.)
The “Bumper’s Effect” changes everything, all at once.
When we arrived and first walked through the door to scope out the restaurant for the evening, we noted that it was about a quarter full. It was very possible that our prediction of a sleepy little evening could still very well be realized.
By the time we had set up our gear, the place was full and threatening a huge crowd in the making.
“A Cellarful Of Noise“, is how Brian Epstein, the legendary manager of the Beatles described what he encountered at his very first hearing of those four young lads on that night in Liverpool, so long ago.
Well, if you think that was loud, spend one night at Bumper’s Landing!
The room is L O U D !!!
We do all that we can to try and keep up with the boisterous crowd of revelers, but seem to fail each night. It’s all good; they have a LOT to celebrate.
Tonight it was apparently, birthdays and beer. Or, the game and beer. Saturday and beer. What better way to say “Good-bye!” to summer. Than (with beer.)
Where was I? . . ..
Oh yes, the room was LOUD!
No problem; that is fine, since we know how loud it is. And, because the reason that it is loud is because people are so excited about so many things.
Just getting started is a chore at that volume level. Hard to tune, hard to listen, hard to hear. That being said, it sure is way better than playing to a empty house.
Our first set, that is usually a little bit slow and easy-going, was nothing like that on this particular night. We began with some Buffett, as we usually do, but then began feeding off of the huge crowd, as they unknowingly ramped up the electricity level to an unsafe volume level.
Unsafe if only you were hoping for a nice, quiet, sleepy little evening by the water. Nope, not ‘gonna happen.
We played some Tom Petty and Bob Marley. Seger and Chesney and Brooks. Even did some Creedence Clearwater Revival music during this first set. That had them all playing attention.
It was a happy, fun group and they were all very much into it. Sexy Judy was holding court, from a corner of the bar. The music was hot and the cool liquid refreshments were flowing freely.
The Bumper’s Effect was in full swing by now.
Ok, so the Bumper’s effect is this crazy, bizarre spin that Bumper’s Landing has on anything normal that comes in contact with it.
On this evening, it seemed to take a group of mild-mannered girls and whipped them into a drink fueled, music engorged dance-frenzy.
. . . The Bumper’s Effect.
So, this night was never really about Carl or me, or the music or the weather or anything else really.
It was, as it usually is, about the people.
The people that come to hear the music, or eat the food, or buy the drinks or to forget their problems for a little while.
It is about the people.
The people that come to Bumper’s Landing are some of the best people in our world. They come to have fun, and they know how to accomplish that. We try and help, but it is ultimately about them. Our music is just the soundtrack.
That’s fine, because our music is pretty much always the same. The music is a reaction to the people and how we interact with them.
I’m not trying to be philosophical on purpose.
Just saying that when we play, sometimes. (Ok, most times . . .)
We don’t know what to expect. We practice, we strategize, and plan, but we never really know what to expect.
Ok, you got me . . .
we don’t practice.
What I’m trying to say is that we never know what to expect, but always expect to never know.
THAT’S the Bumper’s Effect!
Rb
