Rehearsal, Repairs, and Holiday Cheer: Advocatus Diaboli Prepares for the Holidays
Yesterday’s rehearsal was productive, albeit a bit chilly at first. Our studio warmed up as the session went on, and we spent 3-4 hours refining our set. Rehearsal time varies depending on the complexity of the show—whether I’m using animatronics or relying on the “cheats” I designed as substitutes for them.
This time, we rehearsed in the warmer part of the studio. The animatronics area, housed in another container, is sealed but not insulated, and after our last shows, we hadn’t set it up again. With colder weather, staying warm took priority. However, we’re setting up the animatronics area today or tomorrow to run a full rehearsal in preparation for Saturday’s holiday show.
### Upcoming Show at Black Wall Arts and Production
This Saturday, December 21, we’ll perform at Black Wall Arts and Production in Albuquerque. The show features three 40-minute sets, including new songs and festive holiday-only pieces. Doors open at 6 p.m., and you can expect a night of bawdy, humorous holiday cheer.
### Tackling Off-Grid Challenges: Truck Repairs
After rehearsal, Brent planned to work on our pickup truck with a neighbor. The truck’s heater hasn’t been working, making late-night drives home from shows a frosty 30-degree ordeal. We purchased a small plug-in window defroster for temporary relief, but it barely works. The neighbor suspected the heater core might be clogged or broken, and they planned to investigate further.
Unfortunately, plans changed, and the neighbor canceled after we’d already left for haircuts. While Brent stayed behind, ready to tackle repairs, he ended up with some unexpected alone time—a rare treat in our busy lives.
### A Holiday Show You Don’t Want to Miss
Join us this Saturday for an unforgettable night of humor and holiday spirit. Advocatus Diaboli and the Grim Leafer Band are ready to bring some much-needed cheer with original songs and parodies that are sure to make you laugh. We hope to see you there!
### Event Details
– **Date:** Saturday, December 21
– **Location:** Black Wall Arts and Production, Albuquerque
– **Doors Open:** 6 p.m.
Support local art, embrace the humor of the season, and enjoy a night of unique entertainment!
http://www.plateauhamedecolquhoun.com
http://www.advocatusdiaboliandthegrimleaferband.com
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#OffGridLiving, #HolidayShow, #Animatronics, #DesertLife, #LiveMusic, #SustainableLiving, #SimpleLiving, #TinyHouseLiving, #MusicRehearsal, #SelfSufficient, #BandLife, #EcoFriendlyLiving, #HolidayCheer, #RuralLife, #UniqueEntertainment
Tag: animatronics
Advocatus Diaboli & The Grim Leafer Band: Live at Tractor Brewing Company!
**Advocatus Diaboli and the Grim Leafer Band: Behind the Scenes of a Rainy, Hectic Day**
As many of you know, we have a unique band: **Advocatus Diaboli and the Grim Leafer Band**. This one-of-a-kind group features Advocatus Diaboli, Shamshini, and the animatronic Grim Leafers—Blunt, Roach, and Spliff. Our performances are a blend of parodies, original songs, and covers, with a motto that captures our essence: *”Advocatus Diaboli: Touring from venue to venue, gathering the souls of musicians and music lovers alike!”*
This past Saturday, we had the pleasure of playing at **Tractor Brewing Company Westside** in Albuquerque. The venue may have been small, but the energy was big! The crowd was welcoming, and although we didn’t have the chance to taste the local food, it certainly looked and smelled delicious.
However, the day leading up to the show was anything but smooth. The heavy rain made it hectic from the start. Our sound guy’s car needed a jump-start in the downpour, and later someone asked if we could haul their belongings into town. Unfortunately, we didn’t have the space, and since we were already battling flooded roads, I wasn’t about to let Brent load things in the rain, especially right before our show!
Determined not to cancel, we decided to leave early and book a hotel room in Albuquerque. The 11-mile drive through the desert’s dirt roads, now transformed into flooded paths, took over an hour. At one point, the water was as high as the trailer doors! Thankfully, we’d wrapped all of our PA equipment and animatronics in tarps, which kept everything dry and protected.
Once we arrived in Albuquerque, we barely had time to check into the hotel before heading over to Tractor Brewing to set up. We brought more PA gear than necessary, but it’s always better to have too much than too little. We quickly realized that using the subs would have rattled the windows, so we made adjustments. After the setup, we dashed back to the hotel for quick showers and returned just in time for the performance.
Despite the whirlwind of challenges, the show went off without a hitch! If you missed it, don’t worry—**Advocatus Diaboli and the Grim Leafer Band** will be back in action on **Nov 1 at Red Gorilla Studios** for the **October 32nd Dance of the Dead**!
Stay tuned for more, and follow our journey to venue to venue, gathering Rock-n-Roll souls wherever we go!
Www.advocatusdiaboliandthegrimleaferband.com
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#AdvocatusDiaboli #GrimLeaferBand #AnimatronicBand #VarietyShow #DarkHumorMusic #LiveMusic #MusicLovers #ParodyBand #UniquePerformance #OffbeatEntertainment #TractorBrewing #RedGorillaStudios #NewMexicoEvents #KaHoonCampground #PlateauHameDeColquhoun
Off-Grid Morning: Solar Power Challenges and Life with Vibria the Pup at KaHoon Campground
This morning, we woke up to find the solar power out, which was strange since we had a full day of sun yesterday. As I lay in bed, my mind raced with possible reasons. My first thought was that maybe we’d forgotten to turn off the PA after rehearsal with the animatronics. That thing pulls about 3,000 watts, and we’ve accidentally left it on a few times before. But I distinctly remembered us shutting it down, so that couldn’t be it. The next thought, which I dreaded, was that something might be wrong with the solar system itself.
Eventually, I gave in and got up, mostly because the dogs decided it was time. Vibria was already calling from her box, ready to start the day. After letting the dogs out, I usually throw in a bit of fetch, fill up their water, and inevitably annoy them by going inside to make coffee. But not today. Today, I was on a mission to figure out what happened with the solar.
It didn’t take long to crack the case. Somehow, the fridge had switched to using both electric and gas. That means it draws power from the batteries first before automatically switching to gas when the power runs out. To make things worse, the RV charging system had switched to boost mode, which draws extra power to charge the RV batteries faster. Running both the fridge and boost mode overnight drained the system. It’s fine during the day when the solar’s up and running, but overnight? Not so much.
With a sigh of relief, I realized nothing was broken. Now, we’re just waiting for the sun to come up and recharge the solar. It’s a bit cloudy this morning, so it may take longer than usual, but it only takes about an hour or two of full sun to get the batteries back to normal.
Meanwhile, the dogs got their morning playtime, barked at a camper stopping by to say hello, and are now back to napping. Vibria’s curled up at my feet, and we’re just waiting on that coffee to percolate.
http://www.plateauhamedecolquhoun.com
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#OffGridLiving #SolarPowerLife #RVLife #AnimatronicsShow #TinyHouseAdventures #PlateauHameDeColquhoun #KaHoonCampground #KaHoonVenue #SolarPowerIssues #DogLife #VibriaThePup #MorningRoutine #LifeInTheDesert #RuralLiving #SustainableLiving
Behind the Scenes: Preparing for the Epic Advocatus Diaboli Performance!
**Embracing the Heat and the Challenge**
The days have been scorching, and we’ve been hard at work in the studio preparing for Saturday’s performance by Advocatus Diaboli and the Grim Leafer Band at Red Gorilla Studios in Albuquerque. We’re implementing many exciting changes, which has been a considerable amount of work. As someone who isn’t naturally musically inclined, learning to operate three animatronics and synchronizing parts within a song has been quite a challenge.
Despite the difficulties, I’m pleasantly surprised at how I’m picking it up. With support from those around me and a lot of practice, I’m starting to see how everything is coming together. I’ve found myself enjoying the process more than I expected.
Having never grown up around music, I never imagined myself in this role. However, I’m embracing the challenge and am committed to succeeding where I once thought I couldn’t. The effort is well worth it, and I’m excited about the progress we’re making.
Www.plateauhamedecolquhoun.com
Www.advocatusdiaboliandthegrimleaferband.com
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#PlateauHameDeColquhoun, #KaHoonCampground, #EventCenter, #AdvocatusDiaboli, #GrimLeaferBand, #RedGorillaStudios, #MusicInTheDesert, #StudioPrep, #Animatronics, #LivePerformance, #MusicJourney, #DesertHeat, #BandRehearsal, #MusicChallenge, #EventPreparation
Ka-Hoon Campground and Event Center 