Super show... started with 7th house, who sounded like XTC and 70's jazz
and Red Hot Chilis all mixed together... really super swell musicians.
(The guitarist went to school with my brother.  Gave me a pack of firecrackers
as a parting gift.  And definitely had the most groupies, or at least gorgeous
women around him!)

Next was Dharma Sons, who were Pgh's equivalent of Green Day.  Young, exuberant,
and funny.  Pretty thrashy music, but the lyrics were interesting.  And the
lead singer and I met backstage, and he was really friendly too.

Then came Nixon Clocks, I think.  I know these guys well from having once
played bass with them (after my brother left their band) and we (the floors0
used to do shows together and practice in the same place.  They've really
gotten good... super thick sound, great vocals, kind of Genesis-inspired.
The only band all night with synthesizer.

(I left out the fact that seventh house had Fender Rhodes piano... that added
the 70's jazz sound)

Where are we... DOSE came on, very very Seattle sounding, very much looked
the part... first band to get people dancing (and moshing).  They seem to be
growing a devoted following, many were wearing their shirts.

(also got to meet their singer... he was very charismatic, reminded me a bit
of Dave Matthews for some reason)

(And i think these guys got their name for the obvious reason... there's a
certain bright vibe I get from people who have, ahem, dosed.)

Ok, our turn... tough act to follow (they rocked the hardest all night!)
Oh, I left out that Dose's guitarist had radio coming thru his amp the
whole set... bummed him out, but added an edge to their determination.

Back to us.  I got to play thru the Clarks' bass rig... this monstrous
speaker they call "the refrigerator"... it was actually loud enough that
I could hear myself all around stage (and it was a big'un)... so big
that i needed 2 long guitar cables end-to-end in order to navigate around.
(I was all over the place that night)  We played some great tunes... I
forget the set list.  But I know these were in it...

Lost in America
Border town (with Kelsey from Brownie Mary and Scott from the Clarks singing
           backup)
Rhapsody in blue (I went up to the edge of the stage for my 'solo' melody)
Are you an angel (our tribute to Jack Kerouac)
Love me good
Sweet thing
One way or the other (huge solos by Dave & Ray... our big jam tune)
(a tune from our CD that I forget)
Divine Intervention

An exhilarating set, and we even risked going into overtime on our allotment;
a brave move, but so worthwhile.

Brownie Mary came on next and the crowd discovered the art of...
throwing toilet paper!  The dancing was at its peak, Kelsey was very
entertaining.  Thanked everyone for being so nice and not fighting.
Of course later in their set... a fight broke out right in front of me!
Two guys going opposite directions bumped into each other, and one took
offense, and... well, you know the story.  At first I thought they were
friends and were just kidding.  But it soon became apparent how serious
they were, knocking over tons of chairs and careening across the
blacktop until finally  the instigator was subdued, the innocent victim
vindicated.  I felt as if that incident somehow turned a boy into a man
that night... the air was charged with adrenaline as the music pumped
through the system, clearly playing a vital part of the fracas.

Of course the Clarks ruled the eve, with a super long set, great lights,
their trademark perfect sound, and plenty of power crunch DVE-inspired
rock that could only have come from Pittsburgh.  Kind of makes you
forget that this is an evening of local bands, and wonder when the rest
of the country is going to catch on to the Clarks' earnest jubilance.

The evening wound up (and down) with an open stage joined by all the
night's musicians who could fit onstage with the Clarks doing Dylan's
"Like a rolling stone" and Stones' "You can't always get what you want".

Oh, man, what a gorgeous view of the city, as Scott said.  And what a long
beer line.  And what a freak show (another Blasey observation)  (Scott,
did I spell it right?)

Recovering this morning,

Eric