This was the most challenging show I’ve ever taped at. I taped The Death Set at the Lo Fi Social Club earlier this year, and while I was completely run over at one point, I really only had to endure 22 minutes of that chaos.

For this show, the chaos began with the first note played by the band and didn’t end until two and one-half hours later when they finished. In those 2 1/2 hours, I had my mic stand run over three times, seven different people decided to use my case as a foot stool, I had one guy put his hand out for balance and proceed to envelope my entire face in the palm of his hand. The entire night was spent sitting next to my stand, one hand to steady it and the other to fend off people walking/stumbling by.

On the positive side, several people I knew (and a bunch I didn’t) passed by me during the night offering words of encouragement. They knew it was a tough situation, a hostile environment. Before the show started, I wondered what I had gotten myself into. While everyone else enjoyed the first song, I spent the time contemplating whether I should cut my losses and leave. I probably would have left had that actually been an option, but it was so packed with bodies that breaking down my gear would have been impossible. Not because I wanted to, but because I had to, I stayed. And how thankful I am to have done so. The recording is a bit heavy on audience chattiness, but if you can get past the audience (I’ve learned to ignore it), you can hear one of the best shows I’ve ever seen at Floristree. Since the Baltimore Afrobeat Society plays but one show a year, I’m very thankful and happy to be able to share this with you.

Another positive that I noticed at this show: there are more and more people in our music scene that recognize who I am and what I’m doing at shows. For me, that’s gold: the more people at shows who are aware of what I’m doing helps make taping easier. I noticed on several occasions that people made a point of moving away from the microphones when talking loudly, and in one instance a woman pointed me out to some people who were talking loudly and they moved. Every little bit helps and it’s comforting to know that I have people in the audience watching my back.

Baltimore Afrobeat Society
Floristree
Baltimore, MD
October 18, 2008

Band:
Tom Boram -Vocals/Keys
Kristen Toedtman -Vocals
Katie Pumphrey - Vocals
Shawna Potter - Vocals
Abby Mott - Vocals
Rose Hammer - Berri Sax
Calvin Tullos - Tenor Sax
John Dierker - Tenor Sax
Ben Forstenser - Tenor Sax
John Berndt - Alto Sax
Chris Pumphrey - Alto Sax/Band Leader
Mike Cerri - Trumpet/Pocket Trumpet
Chris Manthorne - Trumpet
Geof Manthorne - Trumpet
Mike Wright - Conga
Zak Fusciello - Conga
Steve Windows - Shaker
Bob Wagner - Cowbell/Woodblock
Curtis Gorham- Drum Kit
Dan Breen - Bass
Chris Donoghue - Guitar
Matt Dickinson - Guitar
Erich von Marko - Guitar

Source: Peluso CEMC6/ck4(card)>PS-2>AD-20>NJB3
Transfer: NJB3>PC>SF-7>Wav>FLAC
Taper: Jeff Mewbourn (jm292@yahoo.com)

CD1:

1. Kalakuta Show
2. Everything Scatter

Notes:
Fifth Anniversary show of BAS
All songs are covers of Fela Anikulapo Kuti
Levels don’t set until 3 min of CD1T01
Occasional/minor distortion during audience
Audience was very chatty
Microphones knocked around alot
Soundman: Brian Daniloski
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