February 19th, 2003 - The Pump, Regina, SK:

Seems like not very long ago we were just here... we played Regina for New Year's this year and the event was put on by the same people who run The Pump... so we just saw Mark and the rest of the gang a month and a half ago... this was a gig booked at the very last possible moment before we left BC, so there was very little time for advertising - those little plastic stand-up advertising things on the tables in bars? well, they were advertising our opening act, but not us, because the club didn't know yet, at time of printing, that we were coming; so that gives you an idea of the time frame we're dealing with - as a result, there's hardly anyone in the club for our show tonight... it's a Wednesday night, so probably not a big night to go out in Saskatoon, especially with the weather like it is... let me just interject here to say that I've played in many different bands and had many nights like this... BUT!... this is where the genius of Doug Bennett makes this band succeed where so many others have failed...

There's a spot in the band's first song - Terminal City - where Doug normally gets offstage and strolls through the audience, picking on people, hurling insults, and just generally being obnoxious... if you've seen the show, you'll know what I'm talking about... tonight of course, is going to have to be different... there's maybe 30 people in the club... so he gets offstage and grabs a table, dragging it onto the dance floor... then a chair, then another chair, and so on while encouraging members of our small audience to do the same... well, before you know it, we've got three tables full of about 5 or 6 people each on the dance floor... and voila!... it's a private party with Doug Bennett... he, of course, sits at the table with the most beautiful women seated at it... and he does the entire show from there! We're still onstage of course, but Elio takes turns sitting with them and returning to the stage... and that's all it takes... what can potentially be a very uncomfortable night is turned upside down... and it's one of the best shows on this swing as a result... very intimate and relaxed, but at the same time very entertaining... I'd love to do more shows like this!

Tonight also saw the introduction of a new addition to the show... spawned because of the unique setting, Doug debuts the 'Doh!prah' show... equal parts Oprah Winfrey and Homer Simpson... first he interviews the men at his and surrounding tables, asking them about the women in town... and receiving mostly 'whipped' answers, which is very interesting to Doug as he notes the lack of testosterone in Regina... then it's the women's turn... the women are much more forthcoming and a recurrent theme of inadequacy beneath the sheets is noted... one particular woman is quick to point out that 'not all' the men in town are bad in bed, and local residents seem to know who she's talking about - wow, I guess that means there's only one and everyone knows who he is - but this same woman is the one who later says that her favourite toy and a wall attachment is the way to go... uhh, yeah... okay... see what you missed?!

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The sound onstage is really good tonight and the band has a great night playing together... 'Walk Away' seems to have found a permanent spot in the setlist now... and the bum solo is now a classic as well; two 'volunteers' (men), are selected from the tables on the dance floor and they are asked to each pick a woman from the tables... these women then get to slap the ass of the man who picked them, in time to Chris' drum solo... hence the 'bum solo' is named...

There's a combination of inventiveness, circumstance, and enthusiasm that just makes this night work... not to mention the most incredible food afterwards, provided by Mark and the rest of the staff at The Pump! Looking forward to the next time, Regina! Bye for now. Marc.