Wednesday the 4th: Billy calls the rest of the band with Big News: "We've got a show." (!!!) A hasty practice is organized. It goes... well. Real well. New songs (and their are a bunch) are heard, learned, practiced, mastered, tamed. A list of the best shit is assembled. Rolling Rock is imbibed. "We'll get together tomorrow again".

Thursday the 5th: Indeed they do. The Kevv is present. Much Lion's Head is drunk (drank?). A set list is prepared. Hunter calls Kim (because the band unanimously agree that they want Kim at as many shows as possible). Plans for the transportation of equipments are made.

Friday the 6th: The Kevv drops by early in the A.M. (relatively) to pick up the gear. Later the band gathers and head down to the show via public transportation (punk as fuck).

<--An aside: Thanks to Dave & Co. for the invitation to play.-->

They arrive, check gear, buy beer and get levels. Dave & Co. take the stage.

<--(Do you guys have a name? Cuz I didn't catch it if you do. Leave a comment and we'll pimp you.)-->

Anyway, Dave & Co, sound pretty good. Dave and Michener at first, then some various other musicians join them. There is much instrument-swapping. Hunter acts as impromptu-roadie to hook Dave up with a working guitar (Brendan's). At some point the basement starts to leak. It starts back behind the drum kit. But soon Hunter's case is damp and the puddle is growing and spreading.

The Rex are to take the stage. Bierman is good enopugh to fetch beer and water for Hunter while he, Bill & Brendan make sense of the medusa-tangle of cords and reset levels. Everything and everyone is in place. With no introduction, Keith counts into "The Reason Dogs Hate Cats". Hunter sings the second verse first, the first verse second. Music is not an exact science. As it is the first time anyone else has heard the song, no one is the wiser.

"Ladies and gentlemen, the triumphant return of the Nervous Rex." Hunter says before setting his guitar down and picking up a textbook. The Nervous Rex now come with props. "Settle down now, class." Hunter says as the introductory notes of Nada Surf's "Popular" ring out from Brendan's guitar. According to Bierman (our man in the pit) the crowd is singing along. Good. That's the point. Hunter reads from his 'Teenage Guide to Popularity' like a preacher before tossing it to the ground for the final chorus. Class dismissed.

Billy then asks: "Hey Brendan, what should I do with this bass?" to which the only true response is: "Bill, take that shit for a walk!" Thus the Nervous Rex launch into the proposed first of their 'Fan Favorites': "Dumb as Dirt". After that another new song, "Mr. Wednesday". Unfortnately just before the song can be finished, Zach comes up to inform the band that the cops are outside. Bad News: music's gotta stop. Good News: beer is still a go. The band does not shoot the messenger.

After that the party is still good. Smoking & drinking & laughing & the roof are all involved. Hunter gets hit on a little bit. Bierman raps. Brendan & Bierman rule the beer-pong table for a while, beating even Billy & The Dude. Keith disappears at some point.

Eventually, after stowing the gear with the Kevv for safe-keeping, Zach, Bierman, Brendan, Laura & Hunter take their leave. They see a motorcycle gang that almost kill Bierman cuz he gets lippy when he's drunk.

<--"Petite bikes, femenine bikes...."-->

They decide to hit up a diner downtown (what is better than a diner after a night of competetive drinking? I ask you.). They find 'The Mystery Bag' about block away. Hunter better take care of that for his karma's sake.

<--The Mystery Bag is sombody's green messenger bag containing a CD & a necktie, lying on the ground near a Dear John-type letter-->

The diner is packed with last-callers, all the folks wandering away from the clubs. And then here's our little group, ordering what seems like too much food (but is in fact just enough) and singing "Beej Songs".

<--"...millions of Beejes / Beejes for me // Millions of Beejes / Beejes for free..."-->

The Beej Songs continue for about three hours. Everyone gets home safely.

The Nervous Rex will be playing again soon. I'm not sure if you could consider that night's performance a "...triumphant return..." but it was definitely... foreplay. Building the anticipation. Out of the fourteen song setlist, only four were played, and those to a rather small group.

Count yourself lucky if you were there.

You are getting in on the ground floor.