Lambdapolluza Gig

Time: September 28, 1996

Place: The basement of Lambda Chi at Washington and Lee University in Lexington, Va.

We played the Lambdapolluza gig as a three-piece. I played all the guitar parts and did whatever I usually do on top of that. Playing as a three-piece allows a lot more flexibility, but it is also a little scary. Things can fall apart a lot faster--especially if you improvise like we do.

The drive up to Virginia was a nightmare. It rained the whole time, and my poor car crept up the mountain. At Fancy Gap, we all had a good laugh at the FOG WARNING sign. To our collective dismay, the fog soon followed, slowing us to a 35 mph pace for about 20 minutes. I guess Mother Nature had her laugh too.

We arrived in Lexington with about 2 minutes to eat. So we did.

The Lambdapolluza festival at Washington and Lee University was affected by the weather. The Lambda Chi brothers had to move the second stage inside to avoid the rain. Luckily, we were slated for the larger stage.

Speaking of the brothers, we were pleasantly surprised to find a gang of volunteers among them to help us unload. That was majorly cool. (Especially considering how our 2 minute meal was sitting.)

We opened the show in the basement...I got a kick out of improving a sing-along to ìThereís something funky in the basement.î In fact, our show was quite a bit different than usual. I had recently seen the Mothership land from the front row at Blockbuster Pavilion in Charlotte, and was once again blown away by Dr. Funkenstein. Inspired by His Funkiness, I worked the Lambdapolluza gig like a Parliament show. We connected a bunch of grooves, mixed it with sing-alongs, added some improv. and funked Washington and Lee in their ear holes.

It felt to me like our best gig ever.

Weíd love to play there again. (Set that up, will ya' Doug?)

Favorite road moment:

Watching Rob piss off the new Subway Express employee by not ordering his Cold Cut combo on wheat. (But I already cut it!!!!!)

PS. It was great to see Trae, a friend of mine from the HOUSE days, make a guest appearance in the basement. He's a doctor now!