It's a total cliche to start anything meaningful with "where to start", but given the events, feelings, experiences of the last 7 days, it's really "where the hell to start?"
So, I'll start where I started: at my first DBT gig, only two short (?) years ago, Cooley Girl and Uncle Rickey pulled me to the rail--gave me, a total stranger, that prime real estate for the Rock Show that makes Heathens line up hours and hours early. They made sure I could have the
full experience, from an unparalleled perspective. Since that time, as I've said before, they've been my "Virgils" in the DBT/3DD community, and I don't forget for a second that their
imprimatur carries weight, and has allowed me access to places and experiences, and approval from people I otherwise likely would not have had. And this year, sharing the house at 840 College (along with Dogstar), made me feel like I had an even more critical role in making sure that anyone--anyone--who I came across felt welcomed, wanted, and loved. Their friendship, beyond the shows, means so much to me.
Rather than a show-by-show narrative (Beantown Bubba can hardly be topped when it comes to show notes; game recognizes game!), moments. I know I will forget someone who showed me kindness and care, but...
The easy joy of the first night, with Jay Gonzalez and Adam's House Cat. Low stakes, high-quality. I know from what they've said and written how important this show was to PH and Cooley, and to have been able to do it with Chuck increased the joy. Patterson's embrace of Cooley at the end of the evening was heart-melting. (Even if Cooley, true-to-form, couldn't help but be a bit of a goof as well).
During the DBT shows, having multiple people text me when "A Ghost to Most" started. I could think of worse things than being known, even by just a few, as "The Ghost to Most Guy". A lump in the throat, heart-pounding, just...everything. And special thanks and much gratitude to Lester for giving up his place on the rail for that song, despite having to tape all night #1. It was so appreciated. (And unsurprising, given how amazing a guy Lester is). I can hardly explain beyond hunches what the song is about, exactly, but it bypasses my logic and rationality, and just...crushed me, every time.
Noticing again just how critical Brad is to the whole thing. The new (?) swing to "My Sweet Annette", the light, controlled touch for "The Opening Act", the sludgy, yet never sluggish beat he keeps for "Babies in Cages"...again and again, he proves how great a drummer he is; the perfect drummer for this band.
Standing alongside long-time veterans on Night #1 as they got wide-eyed at the "rarities" PH was pulling out of the hat, and hearing how they sounded like they've been in the set list all along.
Hearing the one new Cooley song, "Slow Ride Argument", which, since I first heard it nearly a year ago, has grown into one of my favorites.
Friday night was, for me, the best of the three. (I mean, I'm talking iotas here: Would you like $1M in gold, or $1M in diamonds? Well, since I HAVE to choose...). Playing 11 "Southern Rock Opera" songs is a HELL of a hook to hang a night on. Even the "interruption" of all the SRO songs at the start was f**king "One of These Days", a song that has wormed its way deep into my heart and psyche. (Losing your Dad, I suppose). Add to that a ripping "Adam Raised a Cain", an appropriately dark and bruising "Babies in Cages", the most soulful "When the Pin Hits The Shell" I've ever heard, the unrivaled ache and defiance of "A World of Hurt", and then a massive "Angels and Fuselage"...It's hard to top the 2/11/17 Webster Hall show for me--I ascended to the heavens on that one, and only came back 'cause my MetroCard expired--but, damn if 2/15/19 didn't give it a run for its money. (Even
Thunderhands couldn't spoil it...)
I've created a tradition now of listening to Night #3 over at the Tiki Bar. Kevin, Rebecca, eventually BB, Dogstar, Jane, Kevin, and so many others were there. And with hardly a repeat from PH, just a killer, killer set (including a 2nd "Ghost..." and more texts). "Living Bubba", "Love Like This", "Where the Devil...", "Sinkhole", "Uncle Frank", "Company I Keep", "I'm Eighteen" into "Zip City", a "What it Means" that even with the repeated Patti Smith story (which has now become as much a part of the song as the long spoken intro to "18 Wheels of Love", which we also got) still cuts right to the heart of things, a crushing "Hell No...", and finally a "Rockin' in the Free World." Shit, I'm leaving out over a dozen songs, many of which were as good a version as I've ever heard.
On all three nights, everything good about the band was present: humor, darkness with redemptive elements within, passion, incredible ensemble and solo playing, and a clutch of great songs that one day will force people to consider their catalog one of the greatest in rock history.
Then, the end. I think I lost count of hugs at 17,421, but I could've missed one. Did not want to leave the 40 Watt. (And while I'm there, so grateful to the staff there, who were uniformly terrific: helpful, with a really light touch. Jim W's handling of the belligerent, inebriated woman Night #1 was a master class in conflict de-escalation, as he "caboosed" her out the door. As a former theater manager, hats off).
Greeting the Smittys when they arrived, along with One Belt Loop and Beantown, them approaching from the top of the long hill between The Daze and The Courtyard, coming into view like the opening scene of "Lawrence of Arabia".
Watching Beth Cohn-Mintz break into a giant grin when she arrived in line, and not seeing it go away, probably not yet.
Having Tequila Cowboy almost accept my Cardinals' fan-dom, or at least only put me on probation for it. Getting to spend some QT with TC and Lurleen. Lovely people, totally lovely.
My long, unexpected conversation with Cody M. from Alabama at Flicker. Being able to get right into it, and have a heart-to-heart with a stranger.
Our tragic losing effort at Rock Trivia at Little Kings. 5th place!
Getting to spend some time with Emily and Joe at the house before the backyard shindig. The many dozens of people who came to it; the photo we took featured as many people as in previous HC end-of-show photos.
Keeping my self-directed word to have a Michter's ready for Clams as soon as I saw him. He gets a lot of blame; he should get at least one beverage.
Headhunter, Insainz, Jonicont, Matt P....the second best band in town this week, all such remarkably generous people.
Finally getting some time to hang with Flea. What a genuinely good and generous, and f**king funny man.
Ramonz. I don't know, despite the intense competition, of a more instantly, obviously decent human I've met, in a long, long time. Then, kinda blowing Ramonz' mind a bit by calling a couple of segues at Night #2. ("When the Pin Hits the Shell"/"A World of Hurt", "Shut Your Mouth and Get Your Ass on the Plane"/"Angels..." Not daring guesses, but...correct ones!
The wonderful gatherings: the backyard, Max's (where Cooley Girl asked me to use my considerable lung power to make "stage" announcements. I knew it'd come in handy somewhere other than in a crowded movie theater lobby), and finally Nuci's, where Cooley Girl's simple explication of what we'd achieved as a community for this so worthy cause brought tears to my eyes.
Lorna. Does a heart good to just see her.
Katie85, Esq.
Allisonindc, whose wrestling tourney I'll but tickets for. She kills.
All the deserved love Gary W. got.
Having Kevin Q around, just in general. A special human.
Getting to actually talk with Tim, and my new favorite Canadians. What a beautiful family.
Having an "interloper" bang up against Ricky C. and me, and after I told him "You're gonna need to back off", having RC whisper something to him, which I'll refer to as "The Full Alabama", which made him not just back up a bit, but vanish. Magic. (And the whole Curti Contingent, Missy, Ashley, Michelle...wonderful, kind, welcoming, funny-as-hell folks).
Hoping that after Phungi designated me "rookie of the year" in '18, that he determined I avoided the dreaded "sophomore slump". I'll wait for the full report.
(Anyone who shared a moment with me I've neglected to mention, mea maxima culpa, and the first drink is on me next year)
I have to say that one of the miracles of the Homecoming week is that anyone can just...be. Be the person they actually are, respect the group, and be totally accepted. I had a couple of people say to me something like "you're
such a nice person", but really, surrounded by the community, how could one not be that way? I came back to NYC, and walking around, I kept LOOKING for all of you, even though rationally, I knew where I was. But all day, here in the "City Where You Don't Make Eye Contact", I had interaction after interaction with people, and stoked as much joy from them as I could. I don't want the feeling to end.
I hope all of you are home safe. Miss you all already. Till the next show...