So...............I got the club around 7:30 to meet Tim H, Tim S, and Dave
from The Cripplers sitting by their equipment on the stage.  I came up and
introduced myself and asked if they knew if Kurt from The Load Levelers was
here yet.  They told me that The Load Levelers and The Crosstops were still
on the road.  So.........I hung out and had a couple of beers with the guys
from The Cripplers.  Very cool guys, they kept looking at the Real Detroit
(a local music rag here in the motor city) talking about how they wanted to
beat the shit out of the band on the cover of it called The Hives.  I
thought it was pretty funny, but I was quite impartial because I never
really heard The Hives before.  But guys, I do agree..............How the
fuck can you take them morons seriously looking like that?  Kurt called the
club and let them know that The Crosstops had broken down and they were not
going to be able to make the show.  That slowed The Load Levelers down
because they stopped to help them get their van fixed.  They did get the van
going again but The Crosstops decided to just go to Milwaukee for Fridays
show. 
    

    Around 9:30, Dave from The Cripplers and I were sitting outside the club
bullshitting.  We looked down the street and saw the van coming.  The Load
Levelers van blew by the club one time and then came around the block.  They
stopped and hopped out.  What a fucking cool thing man.  I was finally
going to meet an icon of my life since I was a child.  Kurt hopped out and
and yelled "Scott?" and I was like "Kurt?" and that was it man,
hahahahahaahhaah.  Too fucking cool!  We all went into the club and I got to
meet the rest of the band, beers were on me, thanx guys for being cheap
dates! :)  So we hung out for a couple of hours and watched the hockey game.
I remember Kurt say that he was so happy to be watching a hockey game in
Detroit, hehheh.  I guess for me it is like living next to an
airport.......after while you get used to it.  All the rest of the guys in
the band were super cool and put up with my non-stop picture taking, thanx
dudes. 
    

    The Cripplers went on and they were sweet.  We watched them play their asses
off to an empty bar unfortunately.  Like I mentioned before, there was a
hockey game going on.  I watched The Cripplers as The Load Levelers loaded
their stuff into the club.  Cool guys........killer band, it was a pleasure.
Towards the end of The Cripplers set the sound guy said he needed to talk to
me.  We went towards the front of the club and he told me that seeing that
the bands did not bring anyone in, that they would need to shell out $20.00
to at least pay him.  Now, being a musician of almost 10 years, I have been
in this situation before.  The normal response to something like that is
variety of things.  "Go fuck your mother!"  is one of my favorites.  "How
about you suck that $20.00 out of my dick!" is another doozie.  But being
the one who booked this show for the guys, I felt responsible and I didn't
want them to not be able to play either.  So I ended up, reluctantly,
forking over $20.00 to the asshole sound guy.  After that I walked outside
and Kurt was standing there.  He told me the owner of the club said they had
to pay out $20.00 to play.  Well, I told Kurt that I took care of it.  Kurt
was like "No man, you are not paying to play in this guys club."  Now I know
exactly where Kurt was coming from, and he was right.  I mean local band or
not..............fuck that shit!  Kurt told me to go get my money back and
that they were not going to play and oh yeah............fuck this club.  I
walked in and went to the owner at the front door.  I told the owner that I
wanted my $20.00 back because The Load Levelers were not going to play if I
was going to have to pay the sound guy.  He seemed a little reluctant but I
was like "I want my money."  Then I heard Kurt behind me saying "Yeah give
him his money back."  The owner gave me my money back without too much of a
hastle.  Kurt was ready to kick his ass.  I really admired that.  I know
with my band we have the same attitudes, we are not paying anyone
shit...........you pay us!  But I felt responsible towards the bands and it
didn't matter, their pride as musicians was much more important.  Really
straightened me out, what balls man...........what balls.
    

    The band started to move their stuff back out of the club now.  Me and Kurt
were outside talking to 3 kids who came down to see a show.  Kurt told them
to go back in and get their money back also, hahahah, fuckin' awesome!  I
already offered my place for the band to crash.  So Kurt was like "fuck this
place, we will get out our acoustic guitars and do a set in your living
room."  Well........fuck yeah!  So the band loaded their equipment up and we
headed up to my place about 20 minutes away.

    We all got back to my place and The Load Levelers brought there acoustic guitars in to have a little living room jam.  I had a bunch of beer and food ready for the guys.  What a night, we all just sat and talked and the guys played some great music.  It was an honor to finally meet a man who has had such an influence on me as a musician and as a person.  I would like to thank Kurt for being so damn cool since I started this site (what has now become a movement), and for treating me like a bro, it is an honor.  I would also like to thank Johnny Smokes, Noah, Tim, and Keenan, The Cripplers (especially Tim) for giving me a memory of a lifetime.  Hope you guys liked the Mad Magazines.  You guys have a place to stay anytime you visit Detroit.