Audience explained for those who weren't there:
The song opens with some applause as the drummer segues from the last song. Soon the band walks on stage. The singer yells into the mic while bandmates strap on their axes, and the audience recognizes them. If you were there, you would've noticed conga set up toward the back, stage left. The cheers swell when many recognize the song that starts.
Just before the Bridge, the lights come on the conga and out walks a local lad named Cyril. The crowd erupts when they recognize him. They also show their appreciation as he waves goodbye at the end of the Bridge. It's also then that Dave Bell is strapping on his guitar, and the audience swells. We can hear the crowd give love to Dave when he finishes his soaring solo.
We can also hear a few shouting "Grove Dat" during the weird part, and you may hear a fan storm the stage and sing a bit while security struggles to remove him. He gets in a loud "Grooove dat" in the mic as they yank him away.
The crowd also gives an understanding hoot when the singer uses a mallet to hit a gong setup just for that note after he mentions the rich guy's bills.
The "in-time" handclapping was somewhat spontaneous, although it's clear that many in attendance were highly experienced with the song, like audiences for a viewing of Spinal Tap. Because it was the band's last gig of a long roadtrip, the drummer yells an invitation to meet him on Bourbon. We were never sure if he meant the street. The Neville Brothers were up next.
...oh, and the band rose in popularity when "grove dat pie" became a PTO-approved euphemism for sex.
Ai version: (in many importatnt ways this one is better, but take it from someone who was there, it doesn't have the memory.
The song kicks off with applause as the drummer transitions seamlessly from the previous track. The band strides onto the stage, greeted by the singer’s energetic yell into the mic. Bandmates grab their instruments, and the audience buzzes with recognition. If you were there, you might’ve noticed a conga set tucked toward the back, stage left. The cheers swell as the opening notes reveal a familiar favorite.
As the Bridge approaches, the lights spotlight the conga, and out steps a local favorite, Cyril. The crowd erupts in recognition, showering him with applause as he waves goodbye at the end of his part. Meanwhile, Dave Bell straps on his guitar, and the audience roars in anticipation. Their enthusiasm peaks as Dave delivers a soaring solo, earning a wave of love from the crowd.
During the song’s quirky section, a few fans shout “Grove Dat,” and one particularly bold fan storms the stage, grabbing the mic to belt out a loud “Grooove dat” before security hauls him away. The crowd’s energy doesn’t waver, especially when the singer theatrically strikes a gong with a mallet after referencing the rich guy’s bills, earning an amused cheer.
The spontaneous handclapping during the song’s rhythm felt almost rehearsed, a testament to the audience’s familiarity with the track—akin to a Spinal Tap screening crowd. As the band wrapped up their final gig of a long road trip, the drummer shouted an invitation to meet him on Bourbon, leaving everyone guessing whether he meant the street. The Neville Brothers were set to follow.
Oh, and let’s not forget—the band’s rise to fame was fueled in part by the phrase “grove dat pie,” which somehow became a PTO-approved euphemism for sex.
