From lcrockett@shaw.ca Sat Aug 02 20:14:47 2008
Subject:Re:Nightmare Gigs!

Ontario in the 60's bands went wherever their booking agent
had them booked no questions asked. Hamilton Ontario at the time was
primarily a Steel Town. Rough. We were booked for two weeks in a place
called "The Jockey Club". Sounded innocent enough. First night which was
a Friday we played to a packed house. Never really noticed until the
second break. While sitting at one of the usual small round stained
tables
it slowly dawned on us the place was packed with large, gnarly
looking *guys*!
Yup sure enough we were booked for two weeks in the nastiest gay pub
in Hamilton. It was right down the street from a huge steel mill.
None of us were inclined that way so needless to say we found ourselves
avoiding drinks and winks all night long.

Second night same thing. Finished the last set and headed
upstairs to our rooms. Yes we were given rooms upstairs as part of the
deal! Who WAS this agent anyway??? Half hour after getting in our rooms
there was a commotion in the hall then lots of thumping our all our
doors.
None of us responded of course. Suddenly from the hallway there was
a loud 'smack' followed by a heavy thud. Cautiously opening the doors we
looked out and saw "Patty" the small wiry bouncer from downstairs
dragging
a huge lump of a guy down the hall and then down the stairs. Turned out
Patty (who was not gay) was a retired prize fighter. He became our
constant
companion all the time we were at "The Jockey Club".

Two weeks of "no women in the audience" and frequent offers of drinks
from
the all male steel worker audience made for a truly nightmarish stay
in Hamilton.

Not that there's anything wrong with that : )

Lou