The Day the Music Died

Monday was the premiere of the show here in Toulouse (technically, Blagnac) and also the first set of shows after a month and a half long break. As you can imagine, we were a little bit rusty and a little bit nervous. But that is to be expected. What is not, however, is sudden instrument failure.

And let me tell you, nothing sets the mood better than a false note played on an accordion.

Well, almost nothing. Several, false notes in succession does a pretty good job as well. It wasn't M's fault. Her instrument just up and died. On stage. After a couple of failed attempts at starting the melody, she just gave up and started signing it. Oddly enough, the accordion seemed to allow a later part of the music to be played on it. But not that first section. Weird.

But the accordion has been problematic in the past. This day wouldn't be of any particular note if it weren't for the double bass.

Oh the double bass...

Of all the instruments in our circus, the double bass is the most prone to catastrophe. Things fall on it, bump into it, and knock it over (it is kind of tippy). It is constantly under threat of being damaged or knocked out of tune. The saddest thing about that, is that the musician who plays the bass takes such good care of his material and is exceptionally careful around his equipment and the equipment of others.

So it was no surprise that when a loud bang occurred off stage, the first thing that popped into most people's minds was a variation of "Something just happened to the double bass."

Sure enough, upon entering the wings, there was the double bass, strings slack and askew, bridge no where to be found.

While the first thought was that it had fallen over, initial reports suggested that something had actually fallen on it. However, a lack of any such thing in the vicinity of the accident quickly ruled out that possibility. After no other explanation could be found, the best kind of explanation was settled on: spontaneous combustion.

Okay, not the really awesome fiery kind, but the kind where it burst apart for no other reason than it damn well felt like it. This has happened before, but at the time the neck was loose, resulting in the sudden collapse. But that was fixed months ago.

L brought his double bass in to be looked at, but nothing seems to be wrong with it.

Except that it went and exploded again a couple of days ago.

Oh, I should probably mention what happened after the double bass flipped off that night's show. L, being made entirely out of awesome, quickly adapted all the remaining double bass material for a five string electric bass. He had only one number to do this and had to do it in total darkness.

That, ladies and gentleman, is an artist.