The Tale of Mac & Gabe's Big Debut, and The Nights at Sycuan...

June 3, 2011

I woke up in Newport Beach; I was excited, but a little worse for wear… I had just flown in from Maui the night before. (I know, you can’t feel too bad for me since it was Maui, but a five or six hour plane ride can kind of screw up your system a bit.) I was up by the reasonable hour of 10am, and I was getting ready for the day. I took a shower, did my hair and makeup, and got my suitcase repacked. I swear, the amount of packing I do these days is obscene!

I got ready early and so I took the time and used it wisely- got a bit of work done. But by 2:30pm Dad and I were getting into the car and starting our drive to The Coach House. We got part of the way down the busy Balboa Peninsula (it was a Friday at the beach!) and dad realized he had forgotten to stop at his drugstore to pick something up. So we had to turn around and go pick up what he needed, then continue on our way.

Tim at sound check.

We were running a bit late, but we called Tim to inform him and sure enough he said that wasn’t a problem, they were running a bit behind anyway. We got there by 3:15pm and started sound check. It went somewhat smoothly. There were a few feedback problems, but we got them worked out the best we could. Once we were done with the band sound check, Gabe and I took center stage and ran our acoustic set. We were actually opening the show- just the two of us, doing five of our original songs. We were very excited! We ran all the songs- and made sure we remembered everything…

Then I jumped back in the car with dad and drove over to the hotel we were staying at- The Best Western Capistrano Inn. We got checked in and went to find our rooms. I hung out for a little bit, mostly going over my lyrics and thinking about what I wanted to say between songs that night.

Before I knew it, I had to gather my stage clothes and head to the gig. I drove to The Coach House, got parked and started to walk towards the door when I realized that I had forgotten my cell phone. (Which I never do, but that explains how crazy my head was going that night!) Normally I would just say oh well and leave it at the hotel, but since we were doing a local gig, and I had a lot of friends coming, I had to have my cell phone for the night! So I got back in the car and drove back to the hotel, then back to The Coach House. Of course I had to park a bit further away that time. (Parking is really tough there.)

The Coach House.

I walked in through some side door that someone left open, and snuck upstairs to the dressing rooms. I found Gabe and Larry sitting there with a mandolin and guitar serenading themselves. I love the funkiness of the dressing rooms at that venue. All of them have a different theme. The one we were sitting in had a kind of 50’s vibe. Turquoise walls with records on them, a vanity, and old 50’s style fridge- or shall I say icebox, as my dad always says…

I went to walk around before the show started, so I could say hello to some of my friends who were there. Luckily all my friends were pretty much in the boxes upstairs on the same level as the dressing rooms. So it was easy for me to sneak around and say hello to everyone!

At 8pm the opening band started- Assisted Living. They went until about 8:40pm. I sat in the dressing room with the fellas most of the time, and we sang a bit around the guitar. Soon it was just about time for Gabe and I to make our debut. It was the first time we were doing that. The first time we were going to be up onstage alone doing a singer/songwriter thing, and actually the first time we were ever even performing almost all of the songs! So it was a big deal!

I stood at the top of the stairs, looking down at the stage as they broke down the last band, and set up for Gabe and I. I was a bit nervous! And I never get nervous anymore! But going onstage and doing all original songs is scary. That is really putting your heart and soul out there for everyone to judge. But I was crazy excited as well! I had been looking forward to that night for a long time!

Gabe joined me at the top of the stairs, Tim and Bob gave us some words of encouragement- some of which I can’t share on this… And then it was time for Gabe and I to start heading towards the stage. Bob announced us, and then we walked to our places. Gabe was at the piano, and I was sitting to his right on a stool.

I introduced Gabe and myself and said a few words about the first song, “Fall”. (We figured that was the best song to start with because we both probably know that one the best!) Once we were done with that song, the audience’s response was overwhelming! Which put me at easy! I admitted to the crowd that I did have some lyric cheat sheets, because some of the songs we just wrote very recently. (But I don’t think I ever looked down and used them! But it made me feel better to know that they were there!)

The rest of our set went very smoothly! After “Fall”, we did “Five Words”, “I Hate Drinking Alone”, “Wonder If I’m Having a Good Time”, and “Saddest Goodbye”. I did acknowledge at one point that there was sort of a theme in the songs- drinking… But that Gabe and I are not alcoholics, I promise! Gabe played piano on all the songs except the last one. On “Saddest Goodbye” (which we just wrote two weeks ago in Nashville!) he played the guitar.

Gabe and I doing our thing!

Something most people probably didn’t notice… When we were finished, I said thank you, and acknowledged Gabe Rabben, and then I went to hop off my stool, and I got caught up in some cords, right then Gabe said, “McKenna Medley” and put his hand out gesturing towards me- and thank God he did! I reached out and grabbed his hand; if I hadn’t, I know I would have ended up falling to the ground!

We walked off the stage and up the stairs congratulating ourselves on a successful first Mac & Gabe gig! I was walking down the hall back towards the dressing rooms and I heard someone yell out my name. It was my friend Mitch who was sitting in one of the boxes on the second level. I ended up hanging out there with him and his friends, and also a mutual friend of ours from elementary school, Caitlin. (Who’s mom was actually there too, and she was my literary teacher in sixth grade, and it was actually in her class that I realized how much I love to write!) It was so much fun catching up with people!

Gabe and I got a great response from everyone about our set! We kind of turned a corner- made that first big step towards what we want to do, and it was very successful, (I can’t speak for Gabe… ) but it meant the world to me! It was a big and exciting night for me; and so encouraging for people to love our original songs. One of the better statements was from a friend of mine, “You made a lot of grown men cry.” As a chick, you have got to love it when that happens! But it was very encouraging and motivating for Gabe and I. Can’t wait to get back writing and recording some more. And get back out on stage somewhere doing that again!

During the singer/songwriter set.

I stopped for a moment and talked to my dad, and he said I killed it. My songs, my voice, my talking… All of it. And my talking can always be a bit of a question, because I never have too much of a plan of what I’m going to say, I figure that I’ll just naturally talk- which while you are on stage can feel a little unnatural. But I was very glad that my dad loved it- and approved!

After the stage was set and my Dad’s show was starting, I left my friends box and went back to my dressing room to change my clothes. I had a little bit of a wait before I needed to be onstage, so I relaxed for a second, then I was right back out on that stage! The show went great! It is always so much fun to work in Orange County because so many friends come out to the gig! The audience was just amazing the whole night!

Once we were done, we went to the dressing rooms to take off our in-ears, and then Dad and I were escorted downstairs to sign. We saw so many friends! And Gabe had a big posse of friends and family there too. (His friends and my friends were pretty much making up the under thirty crowd at that show…) I also ran into my music teacher from elementary school! Just so many people I knew! Never mind all the people that my dad knew that were there!

When we were done, I ran up to get my stuff out of the dressing room. Then Dad and I got into the car to head back to the hotel- stopping at Carl's Jr. on the way… Him and I both hadn’t eaten anything all day. And I don’t know about him, but I was starting to feel a little dizzy because of it! So food was a good call! I got back to my room by about 12am. I knew a lot of people going out that night, but they were all going to Newport Beach or Laguna Beach, and I wasn’t quite up for driving that far. I wish I had been though; it would have been a lot of fun to go out and celebrate! But instead, I went to sleep- eventually… It took a while for my body to calm down after such an exciting night!

June 4, 2011

My alarm went off at 8am. I was not feeling so hot! It is amazing how depleted your body can feel the day after a big event! But I got up and ready anyway. I met Dad in the parking lot at 9am, and we began our drive to El Cajon. It was a very simple hour and a half drive. We arrived at the Sycuan Resort at the same time as Bob (and Tim showed up a few minutes after). We got checked in and went to find our rooms. They were great rooms, and all along a golf course. It was a really nice resort!

Hotel room at the Sycuan Resort.

I got changed and decided to head down to the pool for a little while. (Since it is summer, I figure I might as well take advantage of it!) But after an hour or so of sun, I headed back to my room to get ready for the rest of the day ahead! At 3pm a car came to pick up Dad and I to take us to the casino, which was about five or ten minutes away. When we got there, they weren’t quite ready for us, so we sat in the dressing room chatting with a couple of our booking agents- swapping stories!

Finally, they were ready for us to sound check. The stage was having some issues- some feedback, and some white noise in my in-ears. But we got it set up the best we could. The theater was great looking though, perfect set up- looked like there wasn’t a bad seat in the house!

By 5pm, we all went back to the resort. I met Bob, Larry, Gabe, and Bill at the lounge for some dinner. It was great food! We were very happy about that! Dinner lasted a bit longer than we had planned though, but we all got back to our rooms with just enough time to change and get ready to go back to the theater.

Bill and Gabe showing some love on the shuttle bus.

A car was there to pick my Dad and I up at 7:15pm. We drove over to the casino, and the guys were in a shuttle bus behind us. Once we arrived, Dad had a meet and greet, and I hung out in the green room for a while. Great spread of food backstage too! I love it when they have really good fresh fruit, and really good cookies. Awesome combo!

The show started a few minutes late, but we were off and running in no time. Dad actually had a lot of people he knew in the audience that night too! And it was a great show. I even surprised Gabe and at the last minute I decided to do “Saddest Goodbye” instead of the other ballad I usually do while Dad is off stage. That was a lot of fun. It is just a very fun song to sing! …Sad as it may be, it is vocally fun! One funny thing did happen though; Dad was singing at the piano and had just finished a song when he went to clap his hands together. However, when he clapped his hands together, his hands ended up hitting his microphone, and it flew out of the clip and plummeted to the ground! It was funny! Oh, and we did have one little technical glitch at the end of the show, but we got it sorted out rather quickly. Always gets your blood moving though!

Bob got stuck in the bathroom in his hotel
room and was trying to bust out...

Afterwards, Dad and I went out to sign, and had a great time meeting all the people. Once we were done we walked backstage; dad was hanging out with some old friends of his, so I decided to jump in the shuttle bus with the boys and head back to the resort- I wanted out of my stage clothes!

When we got back, I ran to my room to change, and then Bill and I jumped into Gabe’s car with him and took a drive to the liquor store. Gabe was driving his M3, which I have to admit is a very fun sports car!

Upon our arrival back to the hotel rooms, we found everyone hanging out in Bob’s room. (He even had some friends there visiting that he was in a band with when he was in Jr. High! So there were lots of fun stories and pictures being shared!) We ended up with everyone in that room hanging out and telling some pretty funny jokes until about 1:30am. It was a great hang! But then I went back to my room and melted into my bed. I have to say, that was one of the softest beds I’ve ever had at a hotel- it was awesome!

June 5, 2011

I let myself sleep in until about 10am, but then I got up and moving. I had a kind of free morning and afternoon. So I got a little bit of work done, then I headed down to the pool for an hour or two. Spent some time reading and getting some sun, then back to my room to get ready for the show that night!

The pool at the Sycuan Resort.

I took a shower and got ready. Since it was a Sunday, it was an early show at 6pm. Luckily, we were working the same room as the previous night though, so no sound check was necessary for me. (Although the band did have to head over there by 4:30pm for a line check.)

Dad and I had a car pick us up at 5:15pm to get over to the theater. When we got there I went straight into the guys room to munch on the deli trays. I hadn’t eaten all day, and I was starving! I managed to eat all their carrots in a matter of minutes. While I was doing that, Dad had a meet and greet. Then we all got ready for the show. The video started a shade after 6pm, but we were on stage and rocking soon after. The show went great! (Both shows there were sold out!)

All of us in the gigantic elevator backstage.

After we got off stage, Dad and I went out front to sign. That went good. Then we headed back to the dressing rooms and made ourselves some sandwiches. Our car was waiting for us in the back, so when we finished up, we headed there. We got back to the hotel but only stayed long enough to change our clothes and grab our suitcases.

After throwing our bags into the car, we started on the drive back to Newport Beach around 9pm. I’d like to say it was a super easy drive, but there was a bit more congestion than I had hoped for. Not traffic though- just congestion. So it took a little bit more concentration while I was driving, but we did make it back to my parent’s house by 11pm.

I was exhausted! So I hauled my suitcase up the stairs and got ready for bed. Without too much hesitation, I was in bed and on my way to dream land. I needed to catch up on my sleep, only one day off until we hit the road again!