The First Sign of Trouble

 After our debut gig, the three months that had followed had been a non-stop period of great gigs, great press, and unstoppable momentum. One of the first clubs we had played during that first month was a huge biker bar in East Hartford, with a capacity of over a thousand people. I was very happy when they called me back, asking us to play there again. The small rooms were really impractical for us, and playing them felt like we were taking three steps backwards, and we were all feeling a bit frustrated when we played in them. On the afternoon of the second East Hartford gig, the band showed up at two in the afternoon for load-in and sound check. Charles, who was probably the most frustrated of all the band members, didn't waste a minute getting to the bar as the roadies set up the gear, to enjoy a few drinks. Setting up the Avalanche stage was a two hour process, and by the time we were ready to sound check..Charles was feeling pretty good. We went into the bathroom at the club, and I gave him a few good lines, to clear his head for the sound check, which went very well. We all agreed to meet back at the club at 8:30PM...an hour before showtime. When I got back that evening, I found the place packed...another sold out show, and was feeling very good about the band and the upcoming sets...until it was 9:00PM and Charles had not shown up yet. We all knew that Charles could have a tendency to keep drinking, once he got started. I think everybody had some fears about what might have happened to him. Our first concern was that he might have had an accident. But we all just kept watching the door...expecting him at any moment. By 10:00PM, the owners of the club were really upset, they had a full house, and the band was already 30 mins. late...and I didn't know what to tell them, but there was no going on without Charles...so I stalled them as best I could. But I was really getting worried...and pissed. This was not OK. At 10:15PM Charles stumbled through the door. He was very drunk. I immediately pulled him into the dressing room and starting pumping cocaine into him to straighten him out. He was in a nasty mood, but after ten minutes, and a lot of lines, he was able to get to the stage. We hit the stage nearly an hour late, and played one very long set. Charles made a lot of mistakes that night, and for the first time..we got something we didn't need...an angry club owner...and for the first time...I saw real trouble on the horizon.