July 31, 2008.                 * The Lost Keys *

        Arrived at 10:30 during the 1st setbreak. Word was that GS did NOT bring his PA and/or microphone. To this moment we still have no clarification as to why there was no PA head or microphone. Nonetheless it was a solid "summer" show. Lots of heads in attendance including Laz who Glenn was VERY happy to see and showed it by slamming his hands on Laz's shoulders, then making a choking motion around Laz's neck and finally scruffing up Laz's hair. As my wife put it, Glenn meant: "Where've you been",  "I could kill you for being away so long", "Happy you're back!"

  The 1st set was OK, but things were hampered by a drunk woman. 2nd set was average. I think GS was severely hampered by not having a microphone because he played a lot of quiet tunes and did a lot of noodling. By the time set 3 rolled around, most women were gone and Glenn was finally at ease. We were treated to a monstrous blues jam followed by a sweet "Stepping Into the Sunshine." ALWAYS A TREAT! Following this GS tore into a MASSIVE instrumental version of "Ode to Glenn Schwartz (Promises, Promises)."  My GOD! He was Coltranesque, he was machine-gunesque, he was everything I love to hear @ Hooples. After about 4 or 5 minutes of intense jamming Glenn stopped the band to sing a verse but got distracted by a woman in a dress down the aisle at the bar. He went off HARD on her and the show was over.

   After reflecting on the shows since late May, I've concluded that summer shows are on the whole "decent" (which is still FAR beyond the quality of most artists GREAT performances - "My worst is better than your best!"), but fall/winter seems to be the time when the vortex is always within reach.  As a side note, this show featured Glenn spotting Blanco halfway down the bar near the dartboard and saying "The only GOOD Catholic is a DEAD Catholic...MIKE WHITE!!" and Dom having his keys accidentally (and temporarily) swiped by an older fellow with a nice young date and her assistant. Fortunately the keys were returned.