BEFORE
7/13/94. Early PM CDT. Kent, Ohio.

Ted & Nicole are working, Dave's in Fairlawn, and the Vaguerants are a duo for our debut. Mark and I have a short set list:

something drastic (me)
she came in through the bathroom window (beatles)
in the distance (me)
can't fight it (bob mould) - first against the wall if we run long
fat (violent femmes)

We're at Brady's now, as prepared as we're gonna be, and Laurie and Patty are both supposed to show. Mark's talking to F.U. Bob -- well, listening to Bob, anyway.

Earlier today Ted & I walked past Woodsy's Music -- in the front window sat my guitar and Mark's bass. I take that as a good sign.

I'm wearing my Uncle Tupelo shirt for good luck, though I've forgotten the green fishing hat. Wish us luck.

AFTER
7/13/94. Late PM CDT. Kent, Ohio.

We did all 5 as practiced, and a good thing too: I botched the words on "Drastic" and skipped the last chorus in favor of the coda, but by the time we got to "Can't Fight It" I felt much better, and it sounded great. Best one we played.

"Bathroom" was OK but screamed for percussion -- wish Ted hadn't had to work. Same goes for "Fat" & "Drastic," really. Patty's & Laurie's smiling faces helped me calm down early on -- I was pretty terrified, and needed it.

Need maybe one more tune -- plus percussion -- for next time, which appears to be next Wednesday's open-mic. We need to clean up what's there, too. Also gotta learn the stinkin' lyrics.

Not bad for my first real performance, though. Tonight's goal was really just to kill the fear, and I did. Good enough for now.

Brady's only had two mics, so for the first two songs, which segued, my voice was miked, and the other mic was between my guitar and Mark's acoustic bass. We had to sit kind of weird to make it work, which it didn't. So for the rest of the set, Mark wasn't miked at all.

Subliminal Bass.

Subliminal Vocals, too, I guess, since it didn't seem like anyone could understand a word I was saying.

It's OK. I still feel good.

But next time I'm wearing the hat.