Toby Hanson -
Neither does Brave Combo (it's how I knew (for a fact) that (the fake) Andrew wasn't Combo's roadie when he claimed that (to me)), never has.
Stan, http://stansqncrs.8m.com/ +- +- +- +- Subject: IRC "Gang" Invades Brave Combo Concert! To: alt.music.weird-al Date: 03/07/1999 Author: StanSqncrs
"Say", I just got back from seeing the Combo at the Fabulous Satellite Lounge here in Houston, Texas! Blown away as usual.
AND(y), guess what! I MET CATRA! [BIG GRIN!]
Boy, did WE have fun diggin' on the Combo TOGETHER with a few of his fellow "gang" members!
Here's how I met this *GREAT* bunch of guys. There was this REAL dorky lookin' one of 'em, who started yelling "BC, BC, BC". So I walked up to him and mentioned that the real short name for the Brave Combo is "the Combo".
I tell you, "BC" fans are *REAL* interesting, 'cause when I told him that he gave me this real STRANGE (evil/expected) look. :-) One of his "GANG" members asked him what I said, "Andrew" (as I discovered his name to be later on) basicly (tried to) tell him I was some kind've flake, and to be ignored. So I tried to start a conversation with Andy. About all I got out of that was that he told me he was the Combo's roadie. Goonie yes, roadie no. Seems I asked him if he knew Catra, the response was positive.
Anyhow, we got along *GREAT*! His wife got into it and showed me her wedding ring. I told her that I'm not interested in another man's wife. She said "thank you". So they were dancing REAL close, so I couldn't resist singing (why, young love is SO cool!), so I started singing "Fishheads, ~heads, roly poly ~heads, ~heads, ~heads, eat them up, yum!" over and over again to my new friend. :-)
I tell you, "BC" fans are *REAL* interesting, 'cause when I was singing that, his wife had to hold him back from smashing my face in. [BIGGEST GRIN POSSIBLE!]. After leaving the dance floor for awhile, he returned with his "gang", and I started introducing myself to them, saying things like "my name is STAN AND THE SEQUENCERS, REMEMBER THAT!" and things like - "FREEDOM OF SPEECH, ISN'T IT GREAT" very loudly (and into their ears), and I'd ask them which buckethead they were. They refused to say that they were bucketheads, and claimed that they didn't know what I was talking about! How do ya like that? ;-)
Eventually, I met the "last" of 'em, and he said his name was "Greg", and I took a closer look at him and asked - "Catra, right?", he said like "yea".
I trust you enjoyed "Volare" as much as I (and the Combo) did last night, Andrew! :-) You know, you're a good singer. Now, if we can just do something about your clapping! :-)
The representatives from the IRC Gang and I even helped to bring the Combo back for an encore! They were yelling "BC, BC, BC" and I was yelling "the Combo, the Combo, the Combo" with perfect timing! Guess who was loudest. ;-)
BTW: The opening act was - "Mingo Fishtrap", and they were great. :-)
Stan
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Subject: Re: IRC "Gang" Invades Brave Combo Concert! To: alt.music.weird-al Date: 03/07/1999 Author: StanSqncrs
A little more detail -
that,
But she REALLY had to hold him back, when I was singing "just another Buckethead" and "prime cut of David's butt". And I had alot of fun talking with the "gang" members about the opening act - 'Isn't their name great? FISHTRAP'? Get it?' :-)
And a personal moment for Bermuda. About the funniest event of the evening, I think. Whilst the "gang" interactions were going on, every once and awhile, Andrew would look for someone to hold his tail. He seemed to think he was gonna get it from Joe Cripps, percussion (I guess the Combo still has the Bucketheads convinced that Joe isn't part of MY gang), and was trying to get his attention. So I asked him (very loudly) - "Do you know Joe Cripps? THE Joe Cripps?" and he'd say 'yea'. So I responded (very loudly) - "I know Joe Cripps. *EVERYBODY* knows Joe Cripps!!!!". Whilst this is goin' on, the player from Mingo Fishtrap is sitting in on Timbales, and Joe and he were visibly "comparing notes" (as you would say) about the happenings on the "dance" floor. :-) Of course another time I responded - 'Ya see Joe up there? He's laughing his head off at you!' (could've been a standard response I could've used at just about any point) :-)
BTW for Catra (since they (including the Combo's roadie ;-) ) left before the finale): Danny O'Brien stayed out of the whole mess (but after the gig I made sure to shake his hand and he thanked me).
And a correction -
That should read - "BTW: The opening act was - "Mingo Fishtrap", and they were great (and effective!). :-)
Stan
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Subject: Brave Combo 20 Years Date: 09/06/1999 Author: The
safe for any "IRC Gang" members to show! ;-) <<
Don't ya'll idiots know that when I wink I'm joking? Jesus Christ, these people are so stupid!
I arrived at the Westfest, the first set had just begun (I think), and worked my way up to the front. Hard to estimate how many people were at the Combo's show, at least 1000 for sure, probably no more than 3000.
But sure enough, about 5 minutes after I settled in my funny location, there to my immediate left was my *GOOD BUDDY* Andrew! Seemed that he had his *GANG* of good buddies with him. But at that time, one of his friends was saying something like "should we kill him now", I think. I let him think I was scared and took off for a couple of minutes, headed back to their area, and they had disappeared. So I searched a little, and found Andrew back towards an entry area to the backstage talking to someone, and I walked up to him and asked him - "Say, aren't you the Brave Combo's roadie?"
He looked and answered at the same time. He answered - "ye..no." So of course I asked him if he was Andrew, and I reminded him of the *GREAT* time we had singing 'Volare' together (with my arm around his shoulder) back in Houston, and let him know that his clapping is improving, and he did say he was Andrew. :-) It seems I asked him if Catra was present, and the answer was positive. And it seems that Catra was indeed present, walking through the crowd with his evil face bumping into people. The man never smiles (at least when I'm around. :-) ).
They were there to cause trouble (with the thought that people would actually believe that they were Combo fans.) Basicly, they would hold a beer in each hand, and dance/harrass Combo fans by holding their beers over the heads of the Combo fans whilst they did their thing. Mostly though, they were good about not actually spilling any of it. Until of course, Carl announced that they were filming a music video and requested everybody to move as close to the stage as possible (there were cameras constantly being pointed at the audience throughout the night. And the 2 cops on stage looking directly at the audience, well, let's just say, they weren't gonna kill me then. :-) ), and the IRC/Bucketheads started to get on each others sholders to make sure to get the prominent spots for the video. And they were acting like they were reproducing in the sewers. They spilled beer on a family of 3, getting beer in one of the kids eyes. One of 'em was falling backwards off of the back of another ('Monkey's on his back' (Flash and the Pan)), and I might've saved him from having a cracked skull by catching him by the arms so his head would never hit the ground. Of course, a useless thing to do, no brains to damage with these people.
Anyhow, much of the night I was making the Buckethand Warning (tm) to let folk know what they were up to. That means, I was forming a bucket with my fingers and holding that upside down over the heads of the IRC/Buckethead gang. A Brave Combo fan next to me even joined in with me. My "Close, Personal Friend", Andrew noticed that. :-)
But another IRC/Buckethead did attract the attention of one of those evil (as ya'll claim) security guards, and he promplty started to take him away (of course, it had to be by force), he did his job. I made sure to inform the security guard (because Andrew and Catra were attempting to bullshit the cops to get his *GANG* member out of trouble) that they are a gang, and not to believe his fellow gang-members. At last look, he was being escorted away by the police.
At some point I aproached the (continuously) sulking Catra and said hi and asked how his anti-Stan webpage was doing. He didn't respond. :-)
Anyhow, the details - first set, normal Combo personel with Matt Dillon sitting in on bongos, congas and timbales. BUT, Tim (the Combo's first clarinetist) brought a light-show with him (he left the Brave Combo to run the light-show at the planetarium here in SynchroniCity), lazers and smoke, and was doing that during that set. Most common theme was lines from opposite ends of the stage forming crosses. And another noticable great effect was the waves. Looked like this on the perimeter - ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ (well, a sine-wave would be a more accurate description.)
2nd set - the original lineup (with Jeffrey and Danny sitting in). They still got it. Lyle Atkinson (bass) was especially amazing me with his playing (as Bubba always does). They played Real Thing. :-) And Jilada (tame version)!
And the 3rd set was back to the normal line-up. Encore inspired by chants of "Combo, Combo, Combo" by at least 1000 fans (and I did point out to my "Close, Personal Friend", Andrew, that they were saying "Combo" (and NOT "BC"). I left the event feeling very satisfied (and with a copy of the new cd! PurPle Haze Polka! :-) )
Lots of fun!
Stan,