Priority Market

a transcription essay by Will Johnson

Hi. I’m thrilled to have my old friend Will with us today. Levity for the road dogs, and a peek into the club before doors open for fans. It’s another of my attempts to make the mag be music. -AV

Little Engines is free, in print and here on the ‘stack, but a paid subscription helps me keep going and puts money in the hands of writers & artists 🖤

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(for Ricky Ray)

He says I’m here, I’m here.

He says lemme get situated.

He says my daughter this and my girlfriend that.

He says my other job this and the traffic that.

He says two festivals last week and five shows this.

He says his band name and he plays local.

He says alright now what do y’all got.

He says that’s a lot.

He says where y’all from

He says where’d you play last night.

He says oh yeah I played that room.

He says back in ’91.

He says y’all should have been here last night.

He says something about Trower.

He says he was up late so bear with him.

He says movin’ slow so bear with him.

He says little hungover so bear with him.

He says he’s got a bad channel so bear with him.

He says last night’s guy messed some things up so bear with him.

He says some mics got broke so bear with him.

He says we’re running late.

He says we gotta keep soundcheck short.

He says he’ll do the best he can.

He says it’s all good.

He says we’ll make it work.

He says we’ll figure it out.

He says it is what it is.

He says they need new A/C.

He says they need to give him raise.

He says they need to give him more leeway.

He says they need to give him more control.

He says they need to fix floor.

He says they need to widen stage.

He says they need to get him new monitors.

He says they need to fix bathroom.

He says what.

He says oh bathroom’s over there.

He says but no hot water.

He says might be slow tonight because weather.

He says might be slow tonight because another show across town.

He says might be slow tonight because it’s summer and people want to be out.

He says might be slow tonight because it’s winter and people want to stay in.

He says might be slow tonight because football.

He says might be slow tonight because Game Of Thrones.

He says might be slow tonight because finals week.

He says might be slow tonight because street construction.

He says might be slow tonight because street festival.

He says might be slow tonight because y’all haven’t played here in a long time.

He says might be slow tonight because y’all just played here.

He says could y’all be paid in beer and food instead tonight.

He says probably not much hospitality tonight.

He says two drink tickets a piece domestic draft only.

He says half price wells after that.

He says but y’all get as many guests as you’d like.

He says oh y’all don’t know anyone in town.

He says well y’all get as many guests as you’d like.

He says again y’all should have been here last night.

He says how long’s your set.

He says okay what do y’all got again.

He says y’all might need to share.

He says how bad do you need to use that.

He says y’all bring any of your own mics.

He says there’s no line for that.

He says I don’ t have a good DI.

He says do y’all.

He says well then we gotta figure something out.

He says well then maybe he can make a call.

He says long shot but he’ll try.

He says you have to put that over there and not here.

He says I know you moved that but you can’t put that there either.

He says space is tight.

He says again y’all might need to share.

He says headliner won’t strike drums.

He says gotta squeeze in.

He says not much room for dead cases.

He says I guess put them in the van.

He says where’s your van.

He says oh no not there.

He says y’all probably need to move.

He says but that’ll be hard now ‘cause of soundcheck.

He says but that’ll be hard now ‘cause of street festival.

He says I don’t know at this hour.

He says I don’t know in this neighborhood.

He says we gotta check, time is wasting.

He says I know you moved that twice now but you can’t put that there either.

He says fire code.

He says building code.

He says sorry man.

He says not his rules.

He says can’t move that guitar rack.

He says can’t move that keys stand.

He says again gotta squeeze in.

He says don’t block that.

He says band last week blocked that gear closet.

He says they really fucked up.

He says uh oh.

He says oh man.

He says well this is bad.

He says I don’t have one of those.

He says music store closed and other sound guy left town today.

He says again oh man.

He says give him a few minutes to troubleshoot.

He says y’all can go chill a little while.

He says there’s not really a green room.

He says there’s not really any hospitality.

He says by the ice machine near storage.

He says again y’all can go chill a little while.

He says things to himself and unplugs something.

He says things to himself and plugs something back in.

He says something to himself again.

He says again oh man.

He unplugs another something.

He says that fucker.

He says shit.

He says that fucking fucker.

He says those things to himself but loud.

He says okay y’all I think I’m ready to go now.

He says who’s ready.

He says cool.

He says gimme the kick.

He says cool gimme the snare.

He says cool gimme the sky tom.

He says the sky tom is the rack tom.

He says you didn’t know the sky tom is the rack tom.

He says well, the sky tom is the rack tom.

He says cool gimme the floor tom.

He says cool gimme the hat.

He says cool gimme the whole kit.

He says cool who else is ready.

He says sorry I can’t remember all yall’s names.

He says cool gimme the bass.

He says whoa can you come down some.

He says cool who else is ready.

He says cool gimme that first guitar.

He says not that guitar but the other guitar, the first guitar.

He says whoa can you come down some.

He says cool now gimme the second guitar.

He says whoa can you come down some.

He says that’s still pretty hot any way you can come down some more.

He says I don’t have much of that in the mains at all you can come down some more.

He says I guess I can work with that.

He says cool who else is ready.

He says who’s the lead vocal.

He says gimme some of that lead vocal.

He says how’s that level in your wedge.

He says yeah but y’all have to turn down.

He says I can’t give you more.

He says yeah but that mix is shared.

He says three across the front.

He says I can give him more but not y’all.

He says I can give them more but not you.

He says no I can’t give you more desperation in your wedge.

He says that’s not that funny.

He says that guitar’s still hot can you come down some.

He says if you could still come down with the guitar that’d help a lot.

He says if y’all could all come down that’d help a lot.

He says if y’all could play a quieter show that’d help a lot.

He says I’ll try but probably not.

He says again I’ll try but probably not.

He says doors are in three minutes.

He says we got time for about half a song.

He says cool, you guys happy.

He says I’ll try but probably not.

He says again it is what it is.

He says doors are in one minute.

He says we’re running late.

WILL JOHNSON is a musician and songwriter who has played in the bands Centro-matic, South San Gabriel, Marie/Lepanto, Overseas, New Multitudes, and Monsters of Folk. He is currently a member of Jason Isbell & The 400 Unit, and has released seven albums under his own name. His writing has appeared in American Short Fiction and his first novel, If or When I Call, was published in 2021. He lives near Austin, Texas with his family.

Website: will-johnson.com
Instagram: willjohnsontx

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