September 18, 1986 - Albany, NY

Show Day - Cool/Overcast

Rise at 10:30-11. We all shower up and leave at 12:30 or so. Try to eat at the "Oasis Diner" - packed - so we go to another and have to wait. We plan to take the ferry across Lake Champlain at 1:20. We argue - all tired and hungry. Rod storms off to McDonald's - we all go. Dave R. is being a royal pain in the ass - decides to go to post office to mail money home - $1700. Gets money orders but has no time to fill them out. Meets us back at the Van.

The Oasis Diner just turned 50.

Drive to ferry - all full and the next is not until 2:20. We decide to drive South and cross on a shorter ride across. Drive for 20 minutes and get ferry - great ride - wind and water are a great mix. Drive for an hour on the New York side then stop and eat OK food. Arrive at "288 Club" in Albany. Dave R. remembers directions "go down this road about 5 miles and turn right" - he was right.

Here's the Lake Champlain ferries website.

We unload and wander. I buy a green beret at a thrift store next to the club - $4. We set up and check sound - OK except for bass buzz. The neon lights downstairs don't help. The only way to fix it is to wire the bridge on Dave's bass to his body - works. I hang out with the barmaid downstairs - she puts Creme De Menthe in my coffee in an effort to "help" my wicked cold. The others go to eat and I stay to write set lists.

By wiring to his body, I probably mean a small wire was wrapped around his wrist and connected to the bass bridge?

We go on about 12:10 after a delay by the club owner. We play an OK set by my opinion but Rod and Dave think the show was very good. I was so stuffed up that I couldn't hear very well so that may have something to do with it. Crowd seemed to like it. We finished up about 1:20. Crowd requested "Like A Virgin" We don't know it but Rod said OK. Dave and I play "disco" junk and Joe joins in - Rod hams it up. Crowd loves it. Pack up and talk to a few people before leaving. Dave and Rod are going to Bennington with Jenn (Dave B's girlfriend). Joe, Dave R., Dan and I will stay here in Albany. Joe and I have wicked colds - hope rest and a day off tomorrow will help cure them. We drive to the airport area and go to 3 hotels before finding a room at the Hampton Inn. Brand new - nice room with cable TV. We also stopped at a "Shop'n Bag" and got some food and orange juice. Check in and to sleep about 3:30-4AM. I don't care if we overstay - I'm beat.

Posted by Dean at September 18, 1986 07:20 PM
Comments

This was the first DM show I ever attended. I was a sophomore in college and, to this day, it is the most fun I ever had attending any show or concert. Two things about the evening still stick out in my mind. First would be that disco set - an absolute blast - the place went crazy. The second was a conversation I had with Rodney, either before or after the show (can't remember which), outside the front of the bar. He was going on and on about how he had found Walter Cronkite's baby (or his daughter's baby) behind a dumpster. The entire conversation was a riot. I remember telling everyone about that conversation for years afterwards. It was truly an awesome time at 288 Lark that night.

Posted by: Chaz at March 22, 2004 01:50 AM