Wings & Rings & TGL Mongo
July 11th, 2009Thursday night, we be at new venue with a menu. Buffalo Wings & Rings on E. Broad just east of Mount Carmel East. If that not enough east for you Pataskala is east of that.
They have much construction going on in parking lot. Mongo go in back an back up to yellow caution tape.
Mongo have Lone Wolf Truck and trailer and arrive early. Mongo walk inside with the lovely Mrs. Mongo. Ask bartender who he should talk to about setting up? She say “What do you want to drink?” Mongo ask if should set up on stage and face toward bar. She said yep. Then again “What do you want to drink?” Mongo see service is going to be fast. Mongo no want to upset waitress so he orders 2 Cokes. One is for Mrs. Mongo, but no worry, Mongo drink his share of Coke that night.
As Mongo unloading, bar guy ask if Mongo want to back under tape. He say he hold tape up after he move his car. Mongo carries another load while he move car. Then head bar dude, Ron, introduces self to Mongo. Says he’ll move cones. Mongo swears there be tape there earlier, but it no be there. Mongo close trailer and swings around to cone area. Guy be moving car at same time. Mongo say to Ron, “Two cone moves for the price of one. That’s what we like.” Ron smile and say, “Yeah.”
Ron show Mongo where to get power. Jimmy had warned Mongo it be near front of bar when stage in back. Mongo drag big cord to plug in. Mongo finally get back there. Went to plug in as Mongo turning plugs upside down to fit. Plug explodes into pieces. Mongo no know what to do. Then pull out his trusty Swiss Army knife and fix plug.
Mongo start setting up when he hear familiar voice. It be Lone Wolf Joe. He had stopped by to give something to Jimmy. He help Mongo set up. Why? Not because Mongo need help. Well, not that kind of help. Just because it be in his blood. Mongo remember going to show that not be Lone Wolf and it took everything he had not to get up and help soundman.
Jimmy show up and Joe go talk to him. Mongo walk back and kick Jimmy in ass. Is Mongo trying to get fired? No. Mongo say that for letting tags on trailer expire.
Mongo continue set up. Then Mongo see reddish Expedition. It look like Doc. But he park way in back. That not like Doc. Mongo wave him up and say will let in. Expedition pull up. Oops. No Doc. Mongo apoligizes that he thought was someone with band. Man laugh and say it be OK. Mongo glad he good guy. Why some people get mad when others make mistake? We all make mistakes. If you just smile at person when they do, it make both of you feel better. Good guy has to park way in back. When Good Guy come back, Mongo say Mongo told eye doctor last week he need glasses, but doctor say only need for reading.
Mongo bring up wireless receivers to Front of House (Where Jimmy stands with all his toys). Mrs. Mongo be sitting at table behind the front. Waitress brings refills. She say “Jimmy & Mongo. Right?” Mongo say, “Yep. In case you forget the names be right here. Jimmy put there so Mongo no forget what name was.” Mrs. Mongo say, “I’ll bet that’ll be in your blog.” Yep.
Doc and Tracy show up. She carry white bag. Mongo open. See TGL ask Mongo what dey could do to show appreciation. Mongo say TGL shirt with Mongo on it. That way people know who Mongo be, whose shirt it be (as if a 3X shirt be anybosdy else) and so Mongo no forget name. Bag not have a TGL shirt, but Mongo happy. Bag have 2 TGL shirts. Seems shirt maker make black on white shirt instead of white on black. Obviously, shirt maker never meet Mongo. First, many people say they no know Mongo without black shirt. Second, how long you think a white shirt stay white on Mongo. Mongo probably get dirty just putting shirt on. Mongo put on black shirt. Besides wanting to wear it, Lone Wolf shirt need backup because it be soaked in sweat.
Mrs. Mongo and Mongo order food. Mrs. Mongo order wings and nachos. Mongo take hint from name and order wings and rings. Food be good. But Mongo no can eat. Mongo head hurt. Mongo rent chipper-shredder that day. Mongo and friend turn many limbs into little wood chips. Make a big pile at Mongo’s and fill up pickup truck at friends. Between that and set up sun beat up on Mongo. Sun should pick on someone his own size. I guess Mongo is a close as it gets.
Mrs. Mongo come to rescue. She have Excederin. Between that and the great wait staff keeping Coke and then water glasses full, Mongo get feeling better.
TGL put on their normal great show. During NA-NA-NA part Doc go over to little girl. She may be little, but she got great voice. Many people clap for job she do.
Police come and say it be too loud. We turn down. Police say still too loud. Turn down. But Mongo notice something. Police stand and listen. Mongo got it figgered out. If they stay there to “monitor” loudness and say turn down occasionally, they get to hear great show. Then once so quiet the no can hear, they got no choice but to leave.
Later, someone come and say we need to turn up Doc’s voice. Mongo say wish we could cause police say turn down. Mongo know helpful “suggestions” from people come with territory, but one of these times Mongo gonna say. “The vocals suck. We were told to turn them down or we no get paid.” or “Could you speak up? I be near deaf, but run sound just to annoy people like you.” However, that would be un-Mongo like. Maybe get away with “We’re givin’ her all we got, Captain. The dilithium crystals are barely stable as it is.”
Near end Ron come up and say he happy how busy it be. Mongo no surprised. TGL is getting quite a following. Waitress offer to get everyone in band drink. She ask Mongo and Mongo say “Jack & Coke”.
Another successful TGL gig in the bag. But Mongo looking forward to the next one. Sunday 7/19. TGL be playing at Papa Boo’s. It gonna be off the hook.