It was just a little over a month ago since Ross William Perry was last at the Snout Saloon.  It is unusual for us to have Ross playing at the Snout twice in one year, let alone two shows just a month apart.  Talking to him I found he is having a tough time finding work in the Twin Cities.  The bar business there is down, and many of the venues that hosted live music -either don't have the budget for it at all this year, or if they do they want a band for little or no money.  I feel for him.  I really do.  But I also have a happy sense of "their loss is our gain" as I settled into my regular spot for the second set.

A bit of an oddity for us this weekend, is child care two nights in a row.   Usually we get about one night a week to be out on the town.  But this week the stars aligned for us Friday night as well so we were able to catch both nights of music.  Friday night Ross was frantic.  There was some unknown problem with his sound setup.  Between songs he was rapidly rewiring and trying different amplifiers, speakers and setups.  Initially the changes were large and made quite a difference.  After the first few though it seemed like splitting hairs.  Ross, being the sound perfectionist he is, was all for splitting those hairs, though he might have been the only one who could discern a difference.

By Saturday night  he seemed to have all the problems worked out.  The sound was again perfect.  But, I can't say that Ross was totally on top form even then.   Don't get me wrong, Ross sits in that league of guitarists who, even if we saw them at their worst, they are still fantastic.  He simply suffers from comparison.  The show was great except compared to himself.  I just happened to be at last months show where he was outstanding!

View Ross William Perry Friday night play an original, Another Deal Gone Bad.

One thing I have noticed over the past several years, I like where Ross's voice is heading.   As he ages his voice is picking up more depth and in so, more strength as well.  I like it.  Now at home when I am listening to one of his CDs, he sounds so young.  On stage Saturday night was not the same Ross as four years ago when I first heard him, his voice tended to get buried in the guitar sound.  Now the vocals are clear, much stronger, and stand out just fine on their own.

The bar was many times fairly busy.  The Snout was also hosting a fiftieth birthday party for one of the regulars.  I didn't recognize him.  The music fan regulars, don't cross over to the belly-up-to-the-bar regulars much.   The music is just noise to them, they have to talk louder.  We fans, don't mind them being there at the bar, but we just wish they would shut-up.   At one point the birthday boy himself was up dancing on top of  the bar, threatening to take off clothing I don't think anyone wanted him to take off.  Thankfully the song ended before he decided to just go for it.

Saturday night I blocked the view of a couple of older ladies, at a table, when I landed myself a seat on the pool table.  We had gotten there a little late so our usual spots were filled.  The ladies objected and we had to shove over a little.  We ended up off-and-on standing so we could take up less space and give them a clearer view.  The things you have to do to appease your fellow bar-mates.

Its funny though, how you come to claim ownership over that which really isn't yours.  When I first moved to town a few years back, and as previously described, I found myself at the Snout Saloon.   At the end of the bar, just off the dance floor, parked not more than five yards in front of,  what is many times amazing talent, is a covered pool table.  The prime spot, is second-in from the south end.  Its right in front of the band.  You have a body on your left to block the occasional really high decibels from the speaker stack.  Perfect.  That first visit, I got to the bar early to scope things out.  I found that spot.  I landed in it.  It was mine.  But shortly after midnight an attractive blonde in a power suit arrived.  She stood just in front of me.  Looked me dead in the eye, and said, "You're in my f*cking spot".  I gained a friend that day I budged over.   And, we were regulars there together for a while.  But, she's gone from the bar now.  I've only seen her in there once last year.  She is busy being a full time mom.  She will be back someday though.  She is a fan.

Ross William Perry's web site is available at: http://www.rosswilliamperry.com/index.htm

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