Pt 22
Let me step back again for a sec. So they show had just ended and it was still milling about in the pit. I decided to go over to Pluto and get his assessment of the show. I always like getting Pluto's take on shows because of his well thought out approach at analysing shows. So I asked Pluto what he thought of the show and he simply and matter of factly, "It was good. It was good." It really kind of took me aback as how casually he seemed to be taking the show given the fact that I felt like my soul had just been melted.
Now, part of me thinks that this reaction was due in part to the fact that Dan had gone to both Jones Beach shows earlier that week. I have talked to a number of people who went to the last three shows in NY, and the general consensus seems to be that Jones Beach 2 was the best show of the tour. Initialy upon hearing this, I found it hard to believe that The Boys could have possibly played better than they did on 8-7-08. But thinking about it further, it sort of makes sense. I'm sure they didn't have the pressure at Jones Beach 2 like they did at MSG, which allowed them to play looser and thus better. (I'm still curious as to what Pluto's real feelings were right after the show).
Anyway, back to where I was. So I head over to Fat Annie's. My immediate priority was to find my friend, Vermontfan. My cellphone's battery was quickly fading, and I wanted to make sure I didn't lose him. I called him, and he was up in our hotel room having a quick post-show beer and changing his contacts. Vermontfan is a beer connissiuer (yep, can't spell that word) and had brought some awesome beers with him. Anyway, PDXRacer had stored his backpack in our room, so I had Vermontfan bring his bag down. I was not sure when PDXRacer's flight was, but I didn't want to risk him not being able to get ahold of us when it was time for him to go because either my cell was dead at that point or because I was drunk and passed out in a NY alley.
So I waited for Vermontfan outside of Fat Annie's. There, I spoke with Agroovie1, who mentioned that he too thought Jones Beach 2 was better than the show he had just seen. Shortly thereafter, I ran into Stevel, who made it a point to say that he owed me a beer. I just kind of nodded my head, cuz I alway feel a bit weird when someone says they owe me a beer. So I remained outside chatting to the likes of Skaman, Tamadude, and Bongo Boy when Stevel actually came outside with my beer. The beer was much appreciated given my earlier refraining from drinking of anything as to avoid having to take a leak during the show.
A few moment later, Dietmar came walking down the street. To my surprise, he was WEARING Stewart's shirt.
I would have never thought to do this and not just because it had been soaking wet not long before. Luckily, Dietmar was wearing a shirt underneath Stewart's. I talk to him briefly, and get the impression that he was not planning on staying at Fat Annie's for long.
It is a little while, but Vermontfan finally appears. We chat outside with Skaman and Tamadude, with whom Vermontfan had gotten to know before the show. We eventually head inside for some drinks, but I find that the table are mostly full at this point. I do, however, get to FINALLY meet E. I LOVE meeting people as enthusiastic as her. I also got to see njperry again, whom I was only able to speak to briefly at MSG.
Since the tables inside were full, Vermontfan and I headed back outside. There were plenty of people out there to talk to, like Bongo Boy, Tamadude, and Skaman, and people seemed to occassionally be stepping outside to talk, like PoliceRule, so outside was not that bad of a place to be. It seemed like some of the people were kind of hungry, including me and Vermontfan given that we were really too excited to eat much before the show. Skaman got some interesting chicken from who knows where. I asked Vermontfan what he felt like, and he said he felt like something Middle Eastern. So I went inside and asked Empty to call me if the group headed somewhere else and then Vermontfan and I went exploring the streets of NY for something to eat.
TO BE CONTINUED . . .
There is no bigger gong.