This weekend, my band Old Beans played two gigs. The first was Friday night as part of a variety show at a Downtown theater playhouse. Because of the intimate environment and sensitive souls within, we played a rare acoustic set. On Saturday, we were back to our old tricks at a Downtown rock & roll bar, fully electrified. It was an experiment of sorts, and here are a few things I learned:During acoustic sets, people either sit quietly and listen intently or mingle with others and don't listen at all.

During electric sets, people either stand or stare in awe or migrate away to the bar and get drunk.

The lyrics are presented casually and sung smoothly in an acoustic set.

The lyrics are presented with blistering intent and sung boisterously when everything is electrified.

The majority of people like the same song whether played acoustic or electric.

The majority of people remember your cover songs more than your originals.

The band has to sit or stand still at acoustic gigs.

The band can thrash about with reckless abandon at electric gigs.

The theater charged 8 dollars to attend its not-so-funny variety show, and the band received no money.

The rock n' roll club charged nothing for admission, and the band received $72 as a cut from the bar.

Acoustic sets take two guitars, some bongos, a bass and tiny amp to set up.

Rock sets take large heavy amps, heads, cords, pedals, guitars, bass and a drum kit to set up.

The sound guy at any place usually wishes he was somewhere else.

Theater people say "Hey, good set" after we finish playing.

Rock people say "Hey, good set" after we finish playing.

After playing seven acoustic songs, I felt like I could sing and play for another half hour.

After playing nine electrified songs, I felt whooped and dizzy.

A savvy theater guy said our influences were Primus, Sonic Youth & Nirvana.

A not-so-savvy rock girl said we were like The Pixies & The Cure.

No matter which band people say Old Beans sounds like, I take it as a compliment. All those bands are better than us, and it's nice that people say anything at all.

People clap politely at acoustic shows.

People clap, howl & harass at electric shows.

People look at me strangely and say nothing at acoustic gigs.

People look at me strangely and say nothing at electric shows.

Water cost a dollar for the band at the acoustic gig.

Everyone in the band gets two free drinks at the electric gig.

At the acoustic gig, we followed stand up comedians, skits & raffles.

At the electric gig, we followed a Sabbath-style rock band & a dirty punk band.

Theater people don't go to rock n' roll bars.

Rock n' roll people don't go to the theater.

I am a theater & rock n' roll person, and that's why I subjected my band to both of these back-to-back gigs.

The musical experiment will continue, and I wager that we will play both plugged & unplugged for some time to come.

Chris Jungle is an amateur mad scientist.