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he can attempt to fulfill them. I always do an equipment check at home before I come to a gig too so that last-minute problems with equipment don’t crop up. For instance, I check my batteries in my pedals and guitar at home and make sure my strings are in good shape. (Don’t change your strings right before a gig if you can help it though or you will go out of tune.)

Soundcheck Time

If you are lucky enough to get a soundcheck, make the most of it. Try to pick a song that you will not be playing in your set and that uses all vocals and all instruments. Don’t be afraid to ask for more monitor if you need it. There is nothing worse than singing in a rock band and not being able to hear your vocals. Discuss the overall sound with your bandmates and if you need more of something, ask for it before you leave the stage. Make sure the drummer can hear the lead singer, as many bands key off the vocals.

One of the best tricks I have discovered is having a good friend of the band who knows the sound you are looking for listen to you from different spots in the room during soundcheck. Then you can discuss any comments that person may have and communicate them to the soundman, who will no doubt endeavor to make your wishes come true.

Its Miller Time/Real Good,
Not Real Loud

Soundmen hear lots of bands and if you get a chance to talk to them, they will always have a great story for you and may have some great comments about the band that can be useful. If you make a point to make them feel appreciated, they will work extra hard to give you the best sound possible. I always try to learn the soundman’s name for the next gig and on occasion have been known to buy him or her a beer.

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to watch because he moves around a lot, has great vocal range and his guitar playing is fantastic — his hands float up and down the neck with apparent ease.

 His friend Chris and his father joined him for some back-up harmonies. It's always good to see families that play together.  Twenty years ago, he said, he was singing back up for his father.  Ferentino's extensive experience shined through on songs like "Alive This Time" and "Monkey in the Middle."

The evening closed with a performance by the only big band scheduled for the evening.  Based out of NYC, Cantinero has six members, including two guitar players and a keyboardist. They unfortunately experienced some technical difficulties setting up and were unable to use their computer-generated samples. It is unfortunate only because a lot of people did not stay through the set-up and missed a fantastic performance. Maybe the samples are great, but this band did not need them as far as I was concerned.  The band is a very tight group of well-trained professionals. Many of them attended Julliard. Their songs are melodic with great lyrics. "Nice Day" and "Beautiful Mistake" were among the evening's selections.  Chris, the lead singer, gives a very theatrical performance—he says that it is important to him to give a complete package, in terms of the visual and auditory experience of the audience. He uses percussive clapping and instruments to enhance the sound. I hate to make comparisons, but I couldn't help but think of The Smiths while listening to his songs, so it made perfect sense that the band ended the night with a superb rendition of "Big Mouth" from The Queen Is Dead album—wow that was good!
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