This was the first of two shows we would play at "Real" up in Tempe
"Fun Is Against The Law", Arizona. The venue layout was
excellent with a nice, raised stage and the very first house soundman that ever
actually cared whether or not we sounded like hell. This was a remarkable
sounding gig and gave us a chance to premiere two new songs we were working on,
those being "Rise" and "Deadlights". It also became
our first chance to play "The Beach" as a duo. We hadn't played
that since...a long time ago.
Even more exciting was the chance to open for Audra and the headliners were
Attrition. They were nothing short of stunning. Both bands,
especially Attrition, blew me out of the water.
At this time, Tempe was the only locality in the Phoenix area that had banned
smoking. To make matters worse, the bar area was heavily segregated so we
found ourselves playing to four underage kids in front of the stage, about 50
people in the bar, and another 40 outside.
I think Ian said it best when he said: "Wow. This is
really.....fucking....LAME."
We're not criticizing the attendees, no. They were making the best out of a
rotten situation.
We're criticizing the religious zealots who have made it their mission in life
to make going out to the club the most boring, restrained, and utterly lousy
experience imaginable. Those who sacrifice liberty for safety deserve
neither.
We thought this was restricted to Tempe and Mesa. Wrong.
Then Proposition 201 passed a few months later, extending that ban on smoking'
in bars to the whole stupid state. Anyone who tells you that it 'hasn't
impacted business and has actually been good for it' is living in
fantasyland. Go out and see for yourself.
Ashengrace - Live at the "Real" Bar
Tempe AZ 11-30-2006
THE BEACH
RISE
STARSONG
DEADLIGHTS
AFTERMATH
AMBER
FAITHLESS