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This is a chronological
order of some of the memorable Dopes shows I've played between 1993
and 2003.
#1 Ripples-Big
Rapids,MI-Summer 93'
In the middle of our second set, Cliff and Roy dropped their guitars
and jumped out on to the dance floor to beat up 2 of the 4 people
that made up our entire audience.
#2
BoyneFest-HarborSprings,MI Summer 94'
Opening up for the Verve Pipe,it was our 1st really big show. Verve
Pipe keyboardist Doug Corella played percussion with us.(Doug was
the first Dopes drummer)
#3 Frat Party-
Dennison,OH Spring 95'
We brought Mac McCarthy with us to work the sound board. He managed
to create an electrical fire inside our PA mains but it didn't
matter. We collected $2700 to play for 45 minutes. As far as I know,
those speakers are still sitting in the student union.
#4 International
Rock n'Reggae Fest- Mount Pleasant,MI Summer 95'
4000 people showed up. Frank Allison and Botfly played too. Someone
was sitting on the side of the stage passing out nitrus balloons.
The Dopes played at Rubbles later that night.
#5 New Years Eve-
Boyne Mountain 96'
We shared the gig with James Wailin. Mark Camp and Kevin Gills were
our soundmen that night before anyone knew they would be members of
the Dopes. After the gig, we we rode our hotel end tables down the
mountain.(we're sorry Steve)
#6 The Elbo Room-
Chicago,IL Winter 96'
Brad Gardner was our saxophoner at that time. Former Red Wings Bob
Probert and Paul Yzerbart attended the gig. It was at the after
party that I heard the most pathetic Dopes pick up line ever-
"Well, it looks as if I have the last pillow and blanket in the
house"
#7 Big Sky
Convention Center- Big Sky MT Winter 97'
The day the Dopes were scheduled to leave for Montana, all Dopes
except for me cancelled. That morning I recruited Joe Sullivan, Rick
Evans, and future Dope Bill VanKampen to fulfill Montana dates
including an opening gig for Humble Pie. On the way out,we worked up
a 45 minute set of classic rock covers in the van. For the Humble
Pie show, we played under the name "The Dopes" and were
called back to the stage for an encore. Humble Pie played 2 songs
and then left after someone threw a full can of beer at the drummer
and hit him in the mouth.
#8 Bells Brewry-
Kalamazoo,MI Fall 98'
While Kenny Olson was playing with Kid Rock's band, he was
moonlighting on guitar with the Dopes. I remember playing Crazy
Train just as a train came rolling through the backyard of the
brewry. I also remember throwing up with Joe behind the kegs between
the 2nd and 3rd set. We both had to sleep in our own cars in the
parking lot that night. If you're not careful, the Amber Ale will
bite you in the ass.
#9 The Magic Bag-Ferndale,MI
Summer 02'
It was the Cliff Brown Memorial Show. All 3 of Cliff's bands- The
Dopes, The Fiasco and 8 Ohm Apple all performed for a max capacity
audience. It felt like Cliff was there.
#10 Cosmo's-
Huntington Beach,CA Winter 03'
Some Orange County radio station has been playing the shit out of
our song "Fireball" Who would have thought that we had the
fans in Orange county to fill up a room?
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