Gig report: Fred's House @ Creative Cabaret, Cambridge (2 night run)

Band: Fred's House
Venue: Creative Cabaret @ Cambridge Union, Cambridge
Dates: 26/09/13 - 27/09/13
Audience: Sell out show - the first night very nice, the second night incredible
Set: Can't remember - the setlist changed/got lost throughout both gigs to suit the feel
Notes: The whole '2 night run' thing appeals to me very much, I like the idea of shows rather than gigs - and that's exactly what Creative Cabaret is; a proper show. With a mime artist, solo acoustic artist, comedian, magician and us. Two night run because the first night had sold so quickly, these are the kind of gigs that I both enjoy and get slightly wary of just before the show because it's a sit-down audience, watching you...nearly fall off a small stage. A couple things were against us for the first show; Vicky had just recovered from tonsillitis, we were without our lead guitarist Lachy for both shows as he was off filming, the stage was so incredibly small even for a four-piece band, and there was a noise restrictor...meaning that as soon as we got too loud, the power cut. My bass drum, a 22" beast instantly caused problems, and the first performance was a real test of our restraint - the lighter material was chosen, I was more of a percussionist than drummer, we got away with it - the audience responded incredibly well, but it was a bit of a challenge. Going into the second show though it was easier (see? The joy of two night runs) as we knew what we were dealing with - and we arrived to see the stage had actually been moved so the noise restrictor wouldn't be an issue for us (instead, if we went too loud half the audience were plunged into darkness - I think this happened three times during the 30 minute set). The second show really was a cracker, maybe it was a Friday night thing but there was a real vibrancy in the air, the audience were so spirited. As a band, whilst obviously missing Lachy, we really were on good form - by the end of the show chairs from the somewhat civilised cabaret show were abandoned as the audience danced, the whole thing turned into madness - in the best possible way. 2 encores later, we finally left the stage, to a host of gig offers. Great gig that one, really, really great.