So what did I do, after we crept back upstairs? I drank. Lots and lots of vodka cranberries.

The one benefit to being backstage was that we completely missed the lame opening band. John Vanderslice was up next. I drank. JV played. I drank some more. JV played some more. Right then, I loved John Vanderslice. And in fact, I said so. As he was playing one of my favorite songs of his, I started to say, "I think I..." when the song suddenly ended. Leaving my "I think I love John Vanderslice" to hang in the air.

Glug, glug, glug. Mmm, vodka.

John V. finished up, and then John D. came out as the Mountain Goats. After a slew of songs by himself, he brought out his bass player. His bass player was wearing very, very shiny shoes.

con't