I Hugged A Brain

I'm a little tired today.....very late night for me by the time we got home and scrounged some food to eat....probably ingested a bit more wine than I should have too.

But oh good LORD can a night of real rock and roll turn your head right the fuck around. Even in a Knights of Columbus banquet hall in the hinterlands of Springfield, Illinois. I feel like the slate got wiped clean. What slate? The hell if I know, but it feels good.

We met Teri at Fries and Peanuts and had a drink while chatting to folks. I ate two chicken tenders. I hadn't eaten lunch and was hungry but I felt too antsy to eat more. Probably a bad move in hindsight. Oh what the hell. We sped over to Springfield, doing weird u-turns when Siri decided to mess with us, but found our way and got there just in time for a bathroom break and a drink before the lights dimmed. Loved the opening band, Iron Orchard. When I first saw there was an opening band I thought 'eh' but we ended up really liking them a lot and their set flew by which is always a good sign. Really liked them a lot!

I have been wanting to see Homemade Sin for years but it has seemed that they tour Europe a lot more than here. FINALLY though....Dan Baird was, of course, the front man for Georgia Satellites, Warner Hodges the downright legendary guitarist for the Scorchers, drummer Mauro Magellen from the Satellites and the BRAINS, and Micke Nilsson on bass. When I realized it was indeed Mauro Magellen playing drums I about spit I was so excited.

Drinks were cheap, crowd was happy, it was easy to walk around and get close. I can't quite imagine what could have been better. We chatted to an utterly charming Warner after the show. Teri was almost vibrating with happiness. We mentioned to Warner that we'd seen the Satellites open for the Scorchers years ago in Detroit and he immediately said, "Oh, yeah, at Harpo's." How the hell does he remember things like that? I suppose 23 years sober doesn't hurt. He was delightful and had nice boots. He talked about the spurs on his boots. I mean REALLY....life is fucking good sometimes. 

I sputtered to Ernie about the drummer so he dragged me over to where he was and said hello and said, "You were in the Brains, weren't you?" and when Mauro said yes and smiled I started bowing. I couldn't help it. A combination of wine and working at Japan House for ten years and the freaking BRAINS. He laughed and hugged me. He was utterly charming too. We bought an XXL Dan Baird t-shirt because that was the only size they had at that point, said hi to the guys in Iron Orchard and then we tumbled out into the night.

I may be tired today and not even sure I can drag myself to all the good antique stuff going on just south of here....but damn I feel good.

Somewhere Teri has a blurry picture of me and Mauro Magellen I hope!