I owe a big thank you to this community. Last night was a blast, and they want me back next week!
We did mostly classic rock covers like Handle with care, Brown eyed girl, Crossroads, Authority song, etc. I kept it very simple and moved the kick around for different songs. It was really fun working out with the band to figure out how to count everybody in and things like that.
And, as you all said, being relaxed was the key. First few song, I was so stiff, and was unsure of my tempo. Then a few songs in, I felt more comfortable, and maybe even felt that elusive "pocket" for a moment or two.
The house kit was an import Mapex 1 up 1 down. I felt super comfortable with it pretty quickly. They mic'd the kick and nothing else. Kick drum sounded thunderous. It allowed me to kick with less effort to be heard than otherwise. I liked that.
And this helped me tremendously! Just knowing the changes and anticipating it with a crash was so satisfying. I felt like I was directing the band.
Overall, it was a fun experience. I can't wait to do it again next week. Now, how do I prep for next week? What can I do to prepare myself better?