posted March 15, 2002 10:09 AM            

So last Saturday evening was the Coach House gig!

Mamabear and I got into town early as we wanted to get to our hotel room and be well rested for the show. Well, I didn't realize that we were staying in a different place than we stayed before! So after driving up and down the 5 and 405 for hours (I'm a guy and could never ask for directions!) we finally got to our hotel. So much for plenty of time to relax. So I barely fall asleep, and the cel phone starts ringing! Of course, Sprint has lousy coverage in the area, and it was almost impossible to hold a conversation anyhow. Then "the dynamic duo", Krysta and Jamar, show up. Well any thoughts of relaxing are shot to doody now!

Mamabear and Papabear plan on having a few cocktails at the show, so we don't plan on driving. (I won't ask for directions, but I'm not that stupid!). So 5:30 rolls around and we phone the front desk for a cab. The very pleasant desk girl orders a cab and calls the room back with the details. Well, 6 pm rolls around and we have no cab. I call the cab company and am told that we have no call in and that it will be at least an hour. An hour! What kind of chicken-sh** cab company can't get to a hotel in under an hour? The whole town is only 3 miles across - geesh!

So I go back up to the room, to get the car keys. And we drive to the show. Good thing, we were just in time. I ordered my tickets really early, and got a great dinner reservation, right against the stage. And Laura bogarted my seats. That little bitch! If you haven't been to the CoachHouse, the tables end right against the stage. Great seats, awesome way to see the show.

In Vegas, I told Terri that I was gonna grow out my hair and get right down in front at CoachHouse, hoping for the Metro "treatment". Of course, Terri seemed up for it, and asked (told) me I "want to be roughed up!". Yeah, of course, I do!

So Mamabear, Papabear, Krysta, and Jamar are shown to our table. Scotto takes good care of things, and has already moved Laura. Martin, Paul K, Anthony, and ScottO's wife, Kimo are already here. What a pleasure to finally meet KimO! Later, Jeanette (NurseNetty) and her cousin and daughter show up. Happy Birthday, Marissa! And Ron is there! Back from Curacao, with a healthy tan and incredible stories of Caribbean surf!

After dinner and the first round of drinks, Hayesland takes the stage. They are great! And she's cute, too. And she plays the guitar. They are sooo much better than the opener last time I saw Berlin at the CoachHouse. I'm not sure exactly how to categorize the music of Hayesland, so I won't bother. Labels don't mean anything to me anyhow. Thank you Ms. Hayes for the CD. I actually haven't been able to listen to it yet, as Krysta took it home with her.

And then Darvoset takes the stage. Wow, she's a big girl. And can she belt out the tunes! And their keyboard player. Love the purple, spiky hair. His spikes can beat up Mitchell's spikes.

Now Mitchell takes the stage. And Dallan. And Chris. And Linda. And the music starts. First, the 2001 theme. Then the opening bars to Masquerade! And here comes Terri! The place explodes! Like in Spinal Tap - turn it up to 11!

And now "The Metro"! Hurry up, clear off the beer bottles, clean the table. Terri looks pissed. She's stomping around the stage. Glaring at Mitchell. Then she looks down at me. She dances around Mitchell and comes back around. Terri's looking for Paul K, I think. She looks at me, looks at mamabear sitting next to me, looks at the amps and the cords and Mitchell's keyboard stands and back at me, and then dances away.

Now I'm thinking I was pretty stupid to put myself in Paul's trusted and coveted position. The Metro treatment is not just an "experience" for Paul, but for the whole audience. And I screwed it up. I'm sorry. yeah, "SORRY!", that's me. What was I thinking? I'm just going to step into Paul's role? Step on a relationship with Terri that's taken years to develop? Man, am I stupid. Anyway, let's move on.

Mamabear posted a set list, so I won't strain my noggin trying to remember what the tracks were. Doesn't really matter though, as it was a great show. I really enjoyed Drug, which was moved to early in the set. A truly special acoustic version of "Pleasure Victim" and some incredible guitar work by Mitchell. Oh, look, Terri's also a magician! She made Dallan's head disappear (under her skirt). Small wonder that Dallan is all smiles!

My favorite song from back then, Dancing in Berlin. Anybody remember the video for "Hot for Teacher" by Van Halen? Remember Eddie, in the library, walking down the tables, playing guitar? Well, Terri walked out the tables during TMBA, and finally found Paul K. Simultaneously, Dallan walked out the tables on the other side.

Paul may have missed out on the Metro experience, but I think that Paul, Ron, Scotto, and Martin made up for it during TMBA. And then the show ended with hot, nasty, Sex-I'm a...

Great show, thank you.

After the show, I reach over and steal Mitchell's set list from off the floor. It's been spilled on, torn, and the ink is running. How rock&roll is that?!?

After the show, a select few head backstage. Terri is so incredibly gracious and patient. She must be exhausted and so many people want "just a minute". Well, I do, also. Thank you to Ron for taking a nice "family picture" with Terri. It will soon be available on the new www.pleasurevictim.com.

In closing, I have a copy of the set list as a souvenier. I don't really care what is on it, or what will be on future set lists. I truly enjoyed the show, and look forward to May 17. Not only is May 17 Terri and Paul's first anniversary, it is also Mamabear and Papabear's 10 year anniversary. I don't think Terri believed me when I told her of the coincidence.