Take the cannoli
When the phone rings and it’s Joe Carducci, you know you’re about to enter a whole world of awesome.
My phone range about 3:00 Friday. Joe was about to get to the hotel and wanted to know if I wanted meet up. Um, yeah.
Lirm35, KCMatt and S.Rock were already there. After a quick tour of the venue, we headed back out to the airport to pick up TV Jones and Tauna (his +1), then rushed back to an nice Italian dinner at Cascone’s. While the food was excellent, the company was even more so. By this point we were already up around 15 people, and the conversation was brilliant.
And I learned the world’s toughest Gretsch-related trivia question, which I will not share. Yet.
With such good company, dinner carried on pretty late and everyone called it a night. Big day coming up and all.
Bright and early the next morning, the lovely Miss Mimi (Angel) made sure we were fed and appropriate cow-themed decorations were in place while amps were set up, guitars were tuned, and greetings were exchanged.
By lunchtime we had about 25 people enjoying the roundup. The VFW hall proved to be a good venue, with an amazingly helpful staff, and the air was thick with enjoyment and that great Gretsch Sound.
Kim Falcon arrived in mid-afternoon, so Joe kicked the party up another notch, starting with a bit of a bombshell: the 5120 and 5122 — two of Gretsch’s most popular models — are going away. “But wait’ll you see what we’ve got now,” he said as he unveiled the all-new 5422.
And by all-new, I mean really all-new. The 5422s Joe brought had gone straight from the factory to the marketing department to be used for the promo materials, then straight to the Roundup. No one outside of FMIC had seen them.
And what a bunch of winners. The new 5422 features blacktop Filters, a slightly thinner body and a host of other improvements all of us were too busy staring slack-jawed to really ask about. And it wasn’t just six-strings. There’s a new 5422 bass that will be available in both short and long-scale versions. The short-scale Joe brought was simply fantastic. And there’s a new 5422-12, offering double the strings for your inner McGuinn.
Joe gave a red 5422 a strong workout on a few numbers, just to show us what it can do (a lot), then did what he does best: share the joy. With Kim capably providing the traditional guitar-shaking duties, the first big winner was Tubwompus, who snagged the bass and is probably giving it a good workout already.
Somewhere in there we had to take a break for dinner. But since it was Oklahoma Joe’s — some of Kansas City’s very best barbecue — brought in courtesy of Lirm35, nobody was complaining too much.
A bit after dinner, TV Jones gave a fascinating look into both his work and the more general art and science of making pickups sound their best. And pitched in with some practical tips and tweaking for anyone who asked. In addition to being a mad genius of guitar tone, he’s also a helluva nice guy.
And Lirm35 was rewarded by karma for his culinary good deed later in the evening, when his pick was shaken out for the red 5422. Mimi won the 12-string (and says she’ll let me play it), and J(ust an old cowboy) D was picked for the final prize of the night, the gorgeous white-on-white/gold hardware version. Unfortunately, I neglected to get a pic. Damn you, Corona.
Of course, the party didn’t stop when the giveaways ended. In fact, it went on long after we had to shut down in the main hall with acoustics ringing out in the night on the patio. By that point all the VFW regulars had joined in, singing every song we knew (and some we didn’t yet), including Jim, the post commander, who commanded respect with Rapper’s Delight, as did the folks laying down a funky groove on the spot behind him. I think Rapper’s Delight may be a Roundup first.
As was the Rounding up of every woman in the place to sing “These boots are made for walking.”
The next morning brought the bittersweet epilogue that follows every Roundup.. the still-giddy, exhausted loading out and having to say goodbyes. The VFW made it slightly easier, filling everyone up with an all-you-can-eat breakfast, but expect a few new faces in Nashville this year.
And with that…
Happy trails to you, until we meet again.
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I’m really looking forward to this Roundup. I hope we can get enough interest to make it a two day event.
Me too. For me, if I’m making the drive, I’d rather stick around a little while.
Especially since lodging it coming together nicely. More details on that soon.
I’m planning on being there!
I’ve got my calendar marked, and hopefully “nothing” will screw that up :)
Ya’ll add yourself to “Who’s going”
We’re psyched!
So here’s a question I’ve been asked: How do ya’ll feel about promoting it to the general public and having an audience?
The venue has more than one room, so the thinking is the big hall would be strictly us, while the clubhouse could be an area where people could come listen.
Thoughts?
That sort of depends. Will there be give aways? ( not a factor as to whether I’ll come just a Gretsch thing) and will there be a set list of songs to entertain with?
Just curious, not even sure I can come yet.
Any idea on cost right now?
As usual, set lists are pretty much up to the participants. There is the “playlist suggestions” thing, where you can make your own suggestions, and vote up others you like.
I don’t know if there will be giveaways. Knowing Joe, probably, but that’s really up to him. No pressure from me. It’ll be a great time either way.
Cost should be pretty reasonable. I’m certainly trying to make it so. If you missed it, check out the “lodging” sidebar up there… the nearest hotel (a Holiday Inn) has set aside a block of rooms for us for a very nice $79 rate. The venue itself isn’t very much, and I’m still trying to work out food.
Hey guys…how are we set for P.A., Bass player, Drummer?
Sorry, I know…I’m a pest.
These are good questions!
Tim, does the VFW have some type of PA system ? maybe we could use their’s if they do.
This is great you guys are doing this and I was looking forward to it BUT there’s something even more cool going on that weekend, my daughter graduates from college!
Curt, we’ll miss you, but yeah, that’s huge. Tell her congrats from all of us.
That’s great , Curt. Congrats.
my room reservations have been made. so, I’ll be getting in by Friday afternoon.
If the VFW hass a PA system, you wouldn’t really want to use it. The PA is generally piped throughout the building. I wouldn’t have any problems with outsiders coming in. You never know who might end up buying a Gretsch ..just from being there.
I’m not sure I can pull off bringing a P.A. and my gear. Maybe I can do a faux load this weekend to see how the Escape will handle it and leave room for Wifey and I.
Hope you folks have a great time— I’d love to be there, but I have paying gigs booked that weekend.
Wait…You get paid? ( hey no emoticons) where did they go?
Will Angel be there? Karolyn wanted to know.
I can likely arrange for a PA. I’ll know this weekend.
Oh yeah, Angel will be there. How could she not? It’s practically in our back yard.
I have a PA for the event.
Awesome. Bass…Drums? Any one?
I asked a friend of mine this afternoon if he’d like to come with me to KC and play bass for us. he said that he was busy and didn’t have time. he would have been very qualified. his name is Larry Graham. ;o))
KCK oh hell yeah…my old stompin’ grounds.
Plans just went south…I can’t make it. Sorry. Ya’ll have fun.
Aw. That sucks.
Sure does. Well, There’s always Nashville.
Just a thought, but are there going to be any “accessories” for sale at the event?
Would be kinda nice to have some Tru-Arcs available to “test” and BUY :)
Anyone else interested????
Who is interested in a Cowtown Roundup t-shirt? Please PM me with numbers and sizes; once I have an idea how many we’ll need, I can post the cost.
J(ust an old Cowboy)D, I have several guitars with SS or Brass Tru-arcs, and I’ll be bringing them along. Anyone who wants to is welcome to try them out. We might arrange to swap them around if folks are really interested.
LiRM35, that’s cool.
I’ve had an Aluminum and SS Tru-Arc in the past, but they “went” with the instruments.
I’m thinking about changing out the bridge on my latest addition, a 6122-58, but not sure what material yet.
so, who’s gonna do the singing ? I might be able to do a couple. and “jukebox” is good for a few. so, who else ?
Mrs. Fieldhdj will belt out a couple.
Not a singer here. Shoot, I can barely pick, but I’ll have that Gretsch grin :)
Doug, what songs does the Mrs do ? are you her “backup vocalist” ?
I’m not much of a vocalist - I occasionally chime in on harmonies. Deb is a great singer and likes blues and classic rock.
A few we are playing with: When Love Comes To Town, Because The Night, and various Susan Tedeschi, Bonnie Raitt, etc. More to come on that one.
cool ! I’ll follow you. ;o))
Make sure to add ‘em to “Playlist suggestions”
So, is anyone else interested in a t-shirt to commemorate this historic event? I need a sizes and numbers to place an order.
I listed a few songs on the “suggestion list”. are there any others that y’all would like to add ?
brent
A little bird told me that we’ll have a drummer. Anybody play bass?
Doug, glad to see you put “the Weight” on the songlist. I’ve been doing that one for many years. we should have fun playing it. ;o))
It’s become our closer. In this case though, Kansas City may be a better choice.
ok, so who’s ready for this Roundup to get started ?
I certainly am!
Will anyone have keyboards?
not sure Tim. we may be all guitar players, so far. you’re welcome to bring your’s if you have one.
brent
just 2 more weeks !!! ;o))
two weeks?!
Friday(5-4-12) Saturday(5-5-12)
yep, just add 14 days to today’s date and we’ll be there.
this is going to be a “getaway” for me. it’s been crazy/busy for me at work. and I need the rest and relaxation. ;o))
so, where are we all going to meet next Friday ? at the hotel ?
I’ll be showing up Saturday morning.
We should be in by 3:30 or so. I think we will want to unload first, so we’ll head right for the VFW. Brent, if your mobile hasn’t changed, I give you a call when we get close.
ok, Doug. yep, it’s still the same number. I hope to be pretty close to there myself by 3:30. will we be able to lock the “gear” away at the VFW ?
I’m also planning to be there around 3:30 ish, and would appreciate a hand unloading the PA. Yes, there is a lockable space where we can put the stuff for the night.
I tested the PA last night, and all is well. I found a bad mic cord in the process, which gave me a bit of a scare!
thanks, Darren. I’ll help as much as I can.
Looks like you guys had a blast, congrats to you all, wished I could have made it!
Mike, you would’ve had a great time. it’ll probably be held again next year.
brent