Steamboat Austin, TX - March 8, 2003 ~ Anne As usual, it bugged Sarah that we got there early for the show. It bugged her even more that I cleaned her clock at air hockey but she later retaliated with a scorching victory at pool. Cameron and Monica also arrived early & having met them only once before, we had plenty of time to get to know one another. We had some whiskey and beer while Cameron took on Monica then me at air hockey - with all the innate advantages he has, well, he won convincingly. Before we knew it, Micky & The Motorcars had started their set so we scrambled into the auditorium styled room and were treated to an hour of great music. Having never been to Steamboat, I didn't know that fog machines still existed, and I had flashbacks to the 70's for a second... "light shows and fog machines, jeez, where the hell am I?" I guess I do my own kind of "trolling"... only it's a good position I'm looking for. I found a nook with four chairs that was right up front and to the left of the stage. It provided a good vantage point and no one was walking in front of us. Cameron and Monica joined us after M&MC's set.

We drank beer and ate pistachios (gourmet, I might add) and talked about the upcoming shows for SXSW. It was a delight to be able to meet and become friends with Monica and Cameron (Cameron is known on the message board as Recklessfan). In short, that's one of the powers of music – the power to create an environment that joins people. It doesn't matter what socio-economic background you come from. It doesn't matter what generation you were born into. We, along with about 400 other people were there to hear Reckless Kelly. The stage was plenty big and it was well into the second song that I decided I was going to go up to the front by Matt, Andy, Jules and Tonya. One of the truly unique by-products of liking a band so much is that you are turned on to people who have the same fanaticism. As I stood next to Matt, I was really touched by how "into" it he and his friend Andy are. There were moments, shared moments, when Jay was doing something extraordinary and Matt and I looked at each other and we just smiled. Now, I don't know this kid from Adam but he knew what I was smiling at and I knew what he was smiling at. Jay Nazz was our link to a shared smile. The message of this particular smile is pure and simple... Jay can blow our minds with how inventive and clean and powerful he can play. During a lull between songs, I nudged Matt and said that I would pay money just to watch Jay play because every time I see him play, I experience and sense new heights of his finesse as a drummer. Matt knew what I meant (and in this day and age it is real nice to be understood).

I was in a great position, halfway between Cody and Willy - the only irksome moment happened when the girls on my left kept screaming in my ear "who are these guys?" Now I have a pretty high tolerance for idiocy, but it bugs the everlovin crap outta me when people talk to me DURING a song. I was brought up to be polite so "shut the fuck up!" won't come out of my mouth but it certainly comes out of my eyes! So, I gave them the evil eye, which of course didn't phase them one bit. They were so drunk they just faded into the night. The stage was a perfect height for leanin' on your arms for comfort. It might look sloppy but it was comfortable. Jules was right when she said it's nearly impossible for her to sit during a RK show. There was plenty of dancing and grooving to be had. The guys were in great form and that's amazing considering what went on the week before with Mardi Gras and all. They played 4 or 5 songs that I hadn't heard in awhile - "Hard Fight To Win", "Me & My Baby", "Mersey Beat", and "Lonely All The Time".

As I figure it, I've seen RK play about 25 times since last June and I kid you not, every time has been a joyful experience. While I may be somewhat limited in my abilities to express my personal feelings about them, when they are on that stage, they exude a radiant energy that touches everyone who's watching and listening. For that hour and a half or two hours that they play, they make me feel as if they are sharing their bliss with me. What happens on stage is really the key and it leads me to believe that the life they are living is the one that they ought to be living. We were treated to an unusual encore. Willy called Micky Braun and Travis Hardy into action and they alternated vocals on Dylan's "You Ain't Goin’ Nowhere". For the last song, Travis sang his signature "Truck Driving Man" but with RK backing him. I imagine that was a pretty cool thing for Travis. It sure sounded and felt good to me. Like other RK fans, I have a symbiotic relationship with the band... I pay my money and will travel to any destination to be on the receiving end of what they give. I will hang on to the joy that they dispense through their music, because it means that much to me. Reckless Kelly is a very important band to all of us that appreciate their musical gift.

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all non-lyric text, © Copyright 2003 Desolation Angel