February 18, 2004

Long Nights, Impossible Odds

We had a couple of good nights Monday and Tuesday.

Monday was Minneapolis. A great city, if also a frozen, virtually uninhabitable wasteland. We stepped out of the van. Then we stepped right back in, thinking that wasn't such a swell idea. Eventually, the locals were able to coax us out. They said, as people in extreme climates always say to people who are unsure whether they should have stepped out their vans: "oh, this is nice. You should have been here yesterday."

Still, we managed to make it into the Triple Rock Social Club eventually, and from that point forward it was pure, if slightly out of control, fun. In nearly twenty years of playing shows in various cities here and there, I've never come across a club that is so well-designed, so well-run and so thoroughly oriented to the needs of touring bands. (It's run by some Dillinger 4 guys, and they obviously have applied their experience-- they really know what they're doing.)

Despite the fact that it was a 21+ show on a Monday night, there was a big crowd of extremely enthusiastic punters. I think it may have been the drunkest audience we have ever tried to entertain (and I'm even including Oslo 2001 in that assessment.) People were falling down and remaining on the floor, smiling and continuing their conversations, clearly not having realized that they were no longer upright. It was one of those nights. Luckily, the Minneapolis drunk is not a belligerent drunk. Or they put their belligerence aside temporarily for the occasion. Either way, there was a lot of warmth and goodwill radiating from floor to stage. It sounds corny, but after a lifetime of being received more often than not with stony indifference, you really notice stuff like that. Your lower lip starts to tremble. You start slapping people on the back and saying stuff like "I love you, man." ("Woman." "Sorry, woman.") Life feels ever so slightly less unbearable.

As with all of the most intense MTX shows, we played till we disintegrated. The last couple of encores may have been ill-advised. I had lost the ability to tune my guitar properly, or it had lost the capacity to be tuned, and I'm sure the resulting noise was bloody awful. But I'm also fairly certain that very few of the Minneapolitans were in any kind of condition to notice.

I finally got to meet frequent commenter and blogger Lynn after only knowing her in text form. She took a ten hour bus ride from Winnipeg, bless her heart. I think she may have been right that she was the only correctional officer in attendance. If there are any other correctional officers among the short legion of MTX fans, I've never heard from 'em, I can tell you that.

I came out of Minneapolis thinking that they had cornered the market on warmth and goodwill, but I must have been wrong, because there was a great deal of w. and g. the next night in Chicago. The camaraderie was so thick on the ground that you practically had to kick it out of the way to get to the bar. Partly that was because a lot of our friends were there. I hadn't had the chance to talk to Ben, Vapid, John, Mass, Randy, Ethan, Phillip, Rachel, et al. in quite some time. It's times like that I almost imagine I might like to try having a social life of my own back home. I'm not sure I'll ever go that far, but it's nice to step into one from time to time.

Allyson, a regular commenter here, was also in attendance. Also: Jackie, a girl who seven years ago at one of those Reel Big Fish shows had made a big impression by weeping continually for several hours, from doors to close; she's older now, and has that composure thing down. In fact, I don't think she wept at all. They grow up so fast.

As some of you may have heard, Screeching Weasel played a short, unannounced set using Even in Blackouts's gear. It was a really great set, and it was clear everyone was having a great time playing, which was nice to see. My buddy Ben, too. I mean it. The crowd went nuts, and just kept on going nuts till it was all over.

Really, it's shows like that can make you feel like reassessing your previously-reached conclusion that you have totally wasted your life on this rock and roll thing. After the show, I told Ben I had to drop the customary cynicism for just a moment to say: "man, this was a great, great night." I can't tell you how many times I have had the occasion to utter those words sarcastically over these long years, but this time it really and truly was.

Posted by Dr. Frank at February 18, 2004 03:45 PM | TrackBack
Comments

Hey, weird. I got email notification of some comments here, but they seem to have disappeared from the site. I've been deleting some spam comments, so maybe it was my error, though I don't think so. Anyhow, thanks for them anyway, and I'm glad you all enjoyed the show.

Posted by: Dr. Frank at February 19, 2004 06:52 AM

Did you get to read the comments? Or was that a 'thanks' in general? Either way, the thanks is all ours.

Posted by: m i k e at February 19, 2004 04:34 PM

Thats me thats me in #7 paragraph! hahahaa O0ohh the show was everything i've ever hoped for & more - it was simply one of the greatest nites ever and I mean it. Anddd you played Deep Deep Down, because everybody knows thats one of my favourite songs by those MTX guys! ha haa I'm still trying to figure out which made me smile more that or the Screeching Weasel rocking us to the MAX - thats was SUCH a lovely surprise!! ^.^

O yes and if you could tell Bobby that he is, hands down, one of the nicest people i've ever had the pleasure of meeting i'de be most obliged=D Thanks Dr. Frank for being the most stupendous Doc ever!! I was definatly over-due for that appointment. Chicago <3's MTX

Posted by: *Allyson* at February 20, 2004 02:22 AM

florida is jealous of the midwest. i am green with envy!

hello dr. frank. it's been years! last i saw you was halloween '99 in ft. lauderdale. i can't wait for the rock and roll action once again!

Posted by: nancymae at February 20, 2004 05:35 AM

Dude, bitter fate. Missed it. Legitimate reasons. But still. Blast! I read this post and I almost cry real tears ... The sound you hear is me banging my head against the countertop. Blonk, blonk ...

Posted by: Lexington Green at February 20, 2004 05:40 AM

I'm not a correctional officer, but I am a prosecutor. Probably just as rare, and basically in the same business.

Posted by: Karen at February 20, 2004 05:35 PM

Yeah, the whole 21 up thing was pretty lame, but hey, i got in (ten months too young)! But it was more than worth it! I liked that little comment during your set, "are you sure you're all over 21?" HAHA, that was for me right? Out of all the shows n concerts i've been to, this was my best, not joshin!! still can't get over it. ONly regrets is that i didn't go to chicago the next day, and detroit, and cleveland (where my freind shari saw you guys at). glad ya liked minnesota! you guys are the coolest

Posted by: erin/jo at February 21, 2004 04:09 PM

Thanks to the guys for a great show in Pittsburgh last night - we had a blast! It seemed fitting that the last show I attend at Club Laga be my favorite band (as those of you in Pittsburgh know, Laga will be closing it's doors for good in April). It's a shame - so many great memories there...

Thanks in particular to Bobby for being so sweet, and to Dr. Frank for...uh, well being Frank. Would have loved to have talked to you more, but I think I nervously stuttered something like, "I've been listening to you for over ten years, and this is my first MTX show..." and then got stupid. Heh. Aw well - It was a great set. Thanks for a fun, if not surreal, time. ; )

Posted by: Stacie at February 21, 2004 07:29 PM
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