Old 97's...Wednesday, March 2, 2011. Skipper's Smokehouse

I'll try to be as succinct as possible.  Not my normal MO, I know.  The more I write, the more Ranch Style Doritos I'll eat.

WMNF announced the Old 97's show a long time ago, October or November. Way before I knew that I'd no longer have a show.  I was ecstatic.   I considered it my birthday present. 

The Old 97's are an amazing live band.  I've seem them just a few times...one time in St. Pete on their Satellite Rides tour, and a few times in Austin at SXSW.  Every time I see them, they always give their all and always deliver a memorable show.  Rhett Miller is the consummate frontman.  Extremely good looking and sexy, a pretty boy, really, but he's got the rock god moves down.  He can churn his right hand playing his guitar (think Pete Townshend doing the windmill from his shoulder....Rhett somehow does that from his elbow) and whip his hair around in a frenzied state like no one else.  He can move his hips like Elvis and make the girls scream like Elvis and, damn it, I'm not immune to his charms.  Quite frankly, he makes me swoon.

I'm no more immune to his charms now than I was ten years ago, but this was the first time I was going to actually meet him.  How did I handle it?  Like the total fan girl that I am.

I was backstage for the opening band, watching them through the curtain.  He came up and started grooving on them.  The band was Those Darlin's, three young women and a guy drummer.  The lead singer is dynamic.  She's got a mop of floppy black hair on her head, perfect pale skin, a gorgeous face, amazing dimples and eyes that can bug out.  During their set she went through a gamut of facial expressions, and was totally engaging.

Rhett came up to me and said, "Hi, I'm Rhett." and I stuttered and said that I know who you are.  He said, "This song is great!" and turned his full attention to Those Darlin's.  I was able to observe him from close up.  My take?  He could pass for 25.  Really.  I think he's over 40. His bandmates all have gray hair.  Rhett probably dyes his but you can't tell.  His face is still youthful and his moves are those of a very young man.

The Old 97's were supposed to go on at 10, and it was my job to get them on.   But they weren't quite ready.  Their sound guy and guitar tech had to get their stuff set up.  I had a few conversations with them about how it was to be announced.  They have their opening music that they file on state to.  We were gonna wait for that, then I was gonna do the announcing.  I asked if they wanted me to include anything (not that I'd remember) and they told me to do whatever I want.  Mention Texas.

We're all backstage and they hear their cue music.  They all rush onstage and I follow and they're fiddling, getting their instruments set up.  And I become overwhelmed with my duties.  I'm ON STAGE AND ABOUT TO ANNOUNCE THE OLD 97's!!!!!  I cup my hands over my mouth and just start to sway back and forth with disbelief.  You know?  One of those moments that you couldn't imagine would ever happen in your life...well....it's right there in front of you.   It's happening right now.  I'm a part of this.  I AM SO LUCKY!  I AM SO ....I DON'T KNOW...DANG...(my hands are still clasped over my mouth in disbelief)...I heard Rhett say from my right side "We're ready..."  and I still stood there, struck dumb, with my hands over my mouth.  Rhett said it again.  "We're ready!" and I talked into the microphone and think I did a credible short and sweet intro.

Then I went to the side of the stage and enjoyed one of the best shows of my life.

Sound was not the best.  Had good parts and bad parts of sound.  Rhett was not happy...I could tell it from my vantage point but pretty sure the rest of the audience didn't know.

Was told after wards by friends that I was singing along with all the lyrics.  Really, I was in a 'feel very special' zone, and just had a blast.

Rhett acknowledged  me on his way out and then again after the encore.  I'm sure he wouldn't recognize me if we met tomorrow, but it doesn't matter.  In the moment, he made it matter.

OK, I  need to wrap this up before I forget the details.

It was an awesome night, an awesome show.

Thanks for reading.