going out with leannan sidhe
- June 25th, 2015
- Posted in shows . tours
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I’m going out with Leannan Sidhe this weekend, which is normally awesome good fun times. But this time, I’m actively worried. There are a bunch of different alarms and alerts up telling people to stay home and stay indoors and the forecast high during the days I’m going to be out is around 43°C, which is right around 110°F.
And laugh all you want to – I’ll destroy you first – but yes, Solarbird the Lightbringer has heat issues. And this isn’t the kind of thing you’re supposed to blog about, everyone will tell you, you’re supposed to keep it upbeat and confident in a music blog, and I’m actively kind of frightened, because 30C is a bit hot for me, and we’re shooting well past that and past “hi, I’m passing out now” territory and into “why am I doing this” zones.
Plus, we’re camping. There’re no hotel rooms around for less than $600. Well, that’s not technically true, there are, at hotels with reviews that talk about bedbugs, which is to say, there are no goddamn hotel rooms.
Normally, this is all quite fine, I’m fond of a bit of camping. But the lows are, like, 24C, which is, um, like 75F? The outdoor low in the shade is a temperature I find a uncomfortable for sleep.
I’m not kidding when I say I’m really nervous about this. Not in that isn’t-this-exciting way, but in that passing-out-on-stage-is-a-real-possibility way.
Yeah, so, that’s no fun. Here, meet Paper Jam Shatner. I found him while looking for something else completely unrelated and I have no idea why Google showed him to me. Paper Jam Shatner will only make sense at all if you watch a lot of Gravity Falls, but hopefully, that’s you.
kkkkkkgkkkgkgkgkgkkgkgkgkggkkkngnnnnnN!!
8 comments on Livejournal.
I’m playing for a contra dance that’s scheduled for what appears to be the peak temperature time on Weather Underground’s forecast (but only 88F, so not nearly as bad as 110F). It’s in a basement, which ought to help a bit, but I’m thinking maybe I should rent a huge fan for the day. And stock up on ice now, so I won’t be trying to buy it when everyone else has the same idea.
We’re playing this weekend too, and already planning our survival measures (fan, frozen water bottles, normal water bottles, sweat bands). Our forcasted temperature isn’t nearly as bad (“only” mid nineties). We know we’ll be in the shade, thank goodness, and down nearish the bay, so there may be breeze, but performing is WORK. I’d be freaking out too, in your position — especially without a room to go back and cool off in. Please bring massive quantities of ice, and something for electrolyte replenishing. Sweat bands are good for keeping the fretboard useable. And if you stop sweating, IT IS TIME FOR A BREAK.
Or maybe, if most people stay home, you can invite the three people who show up to join the band in a kiddie pool? ;P
Skellington: Since I’m playing with Leannan Sidhe, this is a costume gig. I’ve got to be wearing layers on top of everything else.
And really, one of the big problems – one of the reasons I’m so heat sensitive – is that I really don’t sweat. I mean, I do, a little, but not much, no matter how hot it gets. But we’ll have little spray misters to try to simulate that bit. And I have the water-cooling fabric neck bands, that will hopefully help some.
I’ve also got boxes of cold packs which I’ll be bringing – I special ordered a bunch at high-speed delivery, and I’ll keep those in my costume. And I built a bunch of reflectors and ordered a larger one for the campsite.
None of it will make this comfortable. But hopefully it’ll make it bearable.
Josh: Yeah, all that sounds plannish. I should set up the room AC we have for the house, so that can be just a matter of flipping it on once I get back.