sweet sweet day. got a call from my brother at work---chose to 'ignore' it, as i was at work. the message came around 452, 8 minutes before leaving time. i got home, at about 515 i checked my voicemail. my brother, as it turns out, was playing in iowa city that night...well actually, at six. it's about an hour 10 minute drive to iowa city...they were playing second, and the show had to be done by 930. i quickly changed out of my tie, called my bro and said 'lets ride.' [understand, i haven't seen my brother in almost six months, and i don't think i've spoken to him in that time. it's been too long---he's a great dude]. so i got there and i told the guy i was on the list and he asked for my name and i started to give it and then dave came up to me and gave me a big hug, signifying i was welcome. the first band was on, so we watched and chatted. they finished---i saw dave's girlfriend jenny, gave her a bigol' kiss, and proceeded to the front as my brother and band were loading the stage. [they also bought me a beer---woof] dave's band, seven days of samsara, hasn't played outside of milwaukee in forever---he guessed maybe 2 years---he told me before the performance that kids from louisville and cincinnati had come to the show. perhaps indy also? total, 150-200 folks [i'm a poor estimator/er]
i don't go for the music my brother plays---i like the intensity of it, but i don't generally like the sing/growl/growl stance the vocalist---incidentally, dave----uses. that being said, the performance was awesome. rockin'. energetic. about 8 times [in a 25 minute set], dave knocked down his mic stand [he also plays bass] and somebody in front had to pick it up...during this time, he would growl into one of the guitarists' mic. before their penultimate song [i like the word] he mentioned how he had thought of me [not referring to me by pointing, just talking about 'my brother'] as the crew crossed the mississippi river and remembered that i live in the land of the fields of opportunity and how he was excited that i came and that the song was inspired by our late grandfather. the song ruled. energetic, and then some.

during the last song, a crowd gathered near the front. and my brother put his mic stand on the floor [not the stage] and during the chorus about 12 people from the crowd screamed along with him. apparently a traditional closer [one that people were singing the words to even before it was recorded, dave later told me]

after the show, the merch table was fairly packed with fans new and old. t-shirts, records, cds were sold, zines, buttons, stickers, posters [bitchin' ones] were given. dave nabbed me a cd [although i'm not sure i was supposed to keep it] and a t-shirt [which he told me to take]. a guy came up to guitarist andy and told him a story about the first time he saw seven days---like they were the stones or something. the kids behind me talked about how sdos was an 'awesome live band.' small group, but an appreciative, appreciative one.

no hanging out time post-show...dave works tomorrow morning. although he hinted he might accept my invitation to stop by next wednesday, the day before thanksgiving. that would rule.

on the way home, i listened to a bit of the cd [after the one i had started before arriving was over] got through four songs...sounded like trail of dead with growling instead of tuneless singing. i love the new trail of dead album. tuneful, sweet, sweet instrumental breaks. me likee...i'd listen occassionally even if it weren't my brothers music.

sweet, sweet day.