Posted by There have been times when the pursuit of gainful employment has taken m’lady away from me, sometimes for weeks on end, as she donned her inspector hat and ensured that the grass was indeed greener on the other side of the corporate grant. During these excursions m’lady tended to rack up a lot of hotel privilege points, and I tend to have the distinct pleasure of helping her use them.
Case in point: May 31st, 2024, when m’lady booked us a free night at the not-as-swank-as-it-sounds-but-they-sure-are-trying Hilton in St. John’s, within easy staggering distance of the city’s small-but-mighty George Street, where Big Space was playing with Funkmaster’s Circle at The Black Sheep.
Not only had m’lady accumulated sufficient points to grant us several free stays, she had Hilton’ed enough to achieve Gold status or some such thing, and the perks were pretty impressive. First of all we got free parking which saved us $15, plus they had a free charging station so we topped up the car while we were there. Secondly there was a small gift basket packed with Newfoundland-made treats and chocolates waiting in the room for us. And finally, m’lady’s Gold level came with a free breakfast in the morning, we’re talking anything from their regular menu. I ordered steak and eggs for like the third time in my life. Our breakfast would’ve cost around $70.
Ah, but that’s not what I’m here to type to you about. Nay, I am here to tell you about Big Space and to a lesser extent Funkmaster’s Circle. As you must know by now, Big Space is our favourite instrumental jazz fusion trio in the whole of Newfoundland – yes, they are very likely the only instrumental jazz fusion trio in Newfoundland – and we go see them, well, I suppose we go see them every time they play. Which is regrettably not very often, but at least their infrequency saves us some money (and Hilton Rewards points).
Anyway, Big Space were great, as usual. Like, really great. We were at what has become our usual front table and by the halfway point of the band’s set we had become surrounded by other likewise-amazed music fans. The guys behind me were absolutely marvelling at guitarist Grant King as the adroit fretboard acrobat ricocheted up and down the neck with mind-bending speed and equally-impressive accuracy. I could hear their jaws hitting the floor behind me, clunk clunk clunk.
“Wow…”
“Dear lord…”
“How in the hell…”
I get it. I’ve seen the dude play bunches of times and I still swell with amazement every single time. Especially because the other two guys in the band are also fantastic. I mean jeebus…Big Space is just so great.
It had been a while since I saw them play with another band and we gave Funkmaster’s Circle a fair enough shot. What was it, maybe a five-piece band? I recall them playing fun dancy upbeat funk that was unquestionably engaging, but with our ears already filled to the brim with flat-five intricacies m’lady and I soon bailed and booked it back to the semi-swank of our hotel room.
My steak and eggs breakfast was notably good. Good thing I ordered it too, as I have not seen the dish on their breakfast menu since. Sorry if I ruined things for everyone else. Again.
Todd Man Out 