I've been so busy lately...

How busy? Well, my internet connection got turned off because I forgot to pay the bill for about a month. Horrible. I had to read a book last night until they turned it back on. I almost lost my mind.

I'm so busy I never blogged about Mr. Big in Singapore.

So I better start there.

Sunday, Oct. 18

I left the hotel early, carrying the Less Paul. I walked to Fort Canning Park, which is a pretty dumb thing to do that close to the equator.

By the time I got where I needed to be, I was sweating like a prostitute on "2-for" Tuesday.

But as I was approaching the venue, I could hear Mr. Big soundchecking. It was really loud.

It was also f@#$ing great.

Say what you want about their hair or their acoustic ballad, but they were always a ferocious live band, and I knew right then that I had made the right choice in coming to see them. I could tell that the time and $ were worth it just from the soundcheck.

I actually watched them soundcheck, since there was no security there yet.

In fact, after soundcheck, Paul Gilbert walked by me on his way back to the dressing room. I didn't want to bother him, as I knew I'd get to meet him later.

I collected my VIP pass and then waited very unceremoniously outside. Apparently VIP don't get air-conditioning or water.

I met lots of the other VIPs, and in many ways, this was the best part of the experience. We were all standing around in the heat, most of us holding guitars to be signed. I felt better when locals said it was hot, because that obviously meant it was really hot.

The security guards, two Dutch or German guys (who were both smaller than me) took an inordinate interest in the Less Paul, and after I showed it to them it got everyone else's attention too.

I ended up posing for pictures with it. It was weird. I tried to get people to hold it, but no one wanted to. Strange...

But as I said, I met a lot of great people and we all talked about guitars to pass the time before the meet and greet.

Which, it turns out, was not really a meet and greet but more like a shoot and scoot.

The road manager informed the promoter, who informed us, that there would be no autographs, no meeting the band and chatting with them. You walked in, met them, took a photo, and got out.

I will say that the band were all very nice, and they seemed genuinely grateful at the fan support. I didn't mind that part, and I've worked in that setting enough to know that sometimes you just don't have it to give, so to speak.

But I'd spent SG$350 for what turned out to be something I could easily have done for free if I'd shown a little initiative at soundcheck. I'm sure there was some sort of excuse clause buried in the fine print, but it was still a rather suckful episode.

Especially when I realized that I didn't even ask Paul to hold the Less Paul in the picture! You can see me holding it: