How many of us have ....

Harold Dye · From: Cullman, Alabama, USA

Many of us have done time in the skull orchards, but how many have actually played behind chicken wire. I have not but I have been some places that needed it. I did play this lovely place about 25yrs ago that had a sign on the entrance that said "not responsible for cut feet". It was in a dry county and had a dirt floor with logs that were used as posts for the ceiling. It had a nice raised stage but the dust was unbarable when they started getting down....and believe me some of them really got down. That night their favoriate Elvis imitator was there for a guest appearence. They also had several newpaper clippings at the front door describing the numermous visits by the law. I have been with bands that requested management make patrons check all tomatoes and other veggies at the door. I assure you this is good because the steel player is a sitting duck. How bout it guys ...now is your chance to tell all. These are just a few of the things that make a weekend pickers life grand.

Larry Bell · From: Englewood, Florida

I have. It was a dive in Nashville called the 'Havana Room' in the mid 60s. Truly spooky gig. I was playing blues/rock guitar at the time. It wasn't a country bar by any means.

------------------
Larry Bell - email: larry@larrybell.org - gigs - Home Page
2003 Fessenden S/D-12 8x8, 1969 Emmons S-12 6x6, 1971 Dobro, Standel and Peavey Amps

Ken Lang · From: Simi Valley, Ca

I think we've been thru this question a time or two already. Perhaps someone can give more info on where to search for replies.

Al Marcus · From: Cedar Springs,MI USA (deceased)

I played in a bar in 1948 called, "The Bucket of BLOOD". You can imagine, nuff said....al

------------------
My Website..... www.cmedic.net/~almarcus/

Mark van Allen · From: Watkinsville, Ga. USA

Ken's right.. here's one now: http://steelguitarforum.com/Forum15/HTML/002930.html

Smiley Roberts · From: Hendersonville,Tn. 37075

Boy,you guys used to to have ALL the fun,didn't you? I,seriously,don't ever recall workin' any "chicken houses",but I do recall one night,when I was workin' w/ T.O. up in Toronto,Cn.,at the "Horseshoe Tavern".
Two brothers got into it,& before ya knew it,there was about 15 guys "just a-swingin' " away. I was playin' a D-10 at the time,& all I can say is,thank goodness for 8 pedal rods,'cause that's what I was behind!

Hell,I'm a lover,not a fighter!!

------------------

  ~ ~


  ©¿©  It don't mean a thang,   


  mm   if it ain't got that twang.


       www.ntsga.com

David L. Donald · From: Koh Samui Island, Thailand

Ah yes, chicken wire, clear raincoats (sometimes),
and the electrician who drills holes in your amps for ground wires, or you don't play.

Not cause of the produce in the air, it was half finished beers.
.
Been there done that.

Smiley, don't tell me you never played the Turtle Lounge back in the day!!

[This message was edited by David L. Donald on 30 May 2005 at 02:17 PM.]

[This message was edited by David L. Donald on 30 May 2005 at 02:18 PM.]

[This message was edited by David L. Donald on 31 May 2005 at 09:28 PM.]

Ted Solesky · From: Mineral Wells, Texas, USA

In the 80's,I played in Ft Worth at clubs that when they have a fight, the police always have an ambulance following them because they know someone always needs one. Lucky for us we played behind the bar up on a riser. The place had nice acoustics. I enjoyed my sound in between the fights. Things changed since them there good ol days.

Jim Phelps · From: Mexico City, Mexico

I never played a place with chicken wire but heard about them and played some places that should've had it.

We played a place in New Mexico that I was told the steel player from one of the previous bands was shot and killed. I remember more than one beer bottle flying around the place.

Played another country bar also in New Mexico where a mean-looking guy came up and stood in front of us and yelled, "why don't you cut out the hippy s***t and play some country?" We were playing stuff by Waylon Jennings, Willie Nelson, etc. Hippy?

Guy was shot in a bar in Texas a couple weeks after our gig ended there.

Lots of barroom brawls, but no chicken wire.

John Bechtel · From: Nashville, Tennessee, R.I.P.

I've never been to or even seen the chicken~wire act, but; way back when I lived in Pa. there was talk about such places in N.J.! I really don't think I'd like to be present in that type of situation! I'd be more concerned with the condition of my equipment than anything else and that would probably get me wiped out of existance perminently! Then l©©k at all the good~times I'd miss!

------------------
“Big John” Bechtel
’04 SD–10 Black Derby w/3 & 5 & Pad
’49-’50 Fender T–8 Custom
’65 Re-Issue Fender Twin–Reverb Custom™ 15” Eminence
web site

Les Anderson · From: The Great White North

If I am ever asked to play at a place where a protection screen is needed: there would not be a chance in hell that I'd take the gig.

Idiots have little appreciation for music so why bother trying to entertain them?

------------------
(I am not right all of the time but I sure like to think I am!)

Chris LeDrew · From: Canada

Not quite on exact topic, but I'd like to add that I recently had someone land right on top of my steel during a fast number in a real hard-ass joint in St. John's, Newfoundland. My microphone hit me square in the mouth, and the fiddle player escorted the drunken patron to the door.

[This message was edited by Chris LeDrew on 30 May 2005 at 11:31 PM.]

Billy Carr · From: Seminary, Mississippi, USA (deceased)

Oh yes! Indeed. Years ago, a small club in Citronelle, Alabama. No chicken wire but plenty of action. I packed up my equipment during a big brawl and went back to Mississippi. Still fighting when I left. Hadn't been back and have no plans to. Another one was in a little place called Sun, Louisiana. Crawfish boil. Wet t-shirt contest got ugly when the law showed up. Crowd jumped on the law and ran them off. About 30 minutes later they came back with plenty of help and cleaned out the place. I'm glad they did because the crowd wouldn't let the band pack up or leave. I don't play anywhere anymore like I used to. If a place has a reputation then I'm not going. Not of my guitars were ever damaged in any of the brawls though.

Frank Parish · From: Nashville,Tn. USA

I'm currently playing one of these kind of barrooms although no chicken wire. So far no cuttings or shootings but you never know.

Bob Blair · From: Edmonton, Alberta, Canada

Never seen chicken-wire on a stage - do you suppose it is an urban legend?

In the 70's there was a time I was playing in in Fort McLeod, Alberta when some rowdy young guys from a twon up the road (Claresholm, someone said) were coming in the door of the bar, spraying beer around the place, and running out. Some of the beer got directed at the stage, which was set up betewen the tavern and a more upscale (not very) lounge. Then they started throwing bottles. One guy ran through the lobby of the Hotel and into the lounge, where he threw a bottle that hit our guitar player's back. The only people in the lounge were an off-duty RCMP officer and his girlfriend. The bottle-thrower was quietly arrested and that was that. My favorite detail was that the beer sprayers/bottle throwers were wearing nylon stockings over their heads!

[This message was edited by Bob Blair on 31 May 2005 at 05:15 AM.]

Bryan Bradfield · From: Lethbridge, Alberta, Canada.

I'm a half hour west of Fort MacLeod. I recall listening to a band in the Alec Arms, in Lethbridge, several years ago. There was a drunken cowboy dancing in the aisle snapping quite a long bull whip (10' or so?) in time to the music, along the length of the aisle. The waitress simply ducked down another aisle when approaching the cowboy.

Larry Strawn · From: Golden Valley, Arizona, R.I.P.

Lightning Billy's Bar,

Ark.- Okl. state line in the 60's. It's NO URBAN LEGEND, it was for reall!! Chicken wire to keep beer bottles and drunks out of, and off the band stand. Didn't do sqwat for the beer though. And don't forget the "black lights", so dark in those places don't know how we ever played.

Larry

------------------
Emmons S/D-10, 3/4, Sessions 400 Ltd. Home Grown E/F Rack
"ROCKIN COUNTRY"

Forum Index > Steel Players		Next oldest topic :: Next newest topic

All times are GMT - 8 Hours	Jump to: