Finally the votes are in...Halleluja! I ain't been this happy since I don't know when. God, maybe the eighties. Though that's a bit hazy. Umm let's see, Oliver North , Ronald Reagan, TOTO....Well maybe not. But I swear I hear a techno beat, a subtle synth wash. Wait a minute, it's Ry Cavanaugh and a Casio device he's dragged out of some dark audio closet. Wow! I bet you could get a lot for that on ebay...But no, Ry's having too much fun recreating the sound of 80's radio icons in his little box. You want the Cars! I got the boss?...Coincidentaly, Friday night's special guest Kris Delmhorst had chosen ( a delicatessen of fine platters that included) many hits from that era. We spent much of the previous evening's rehearsal marvelling at the digital drum fills and unique mandolin tone the Casio produced. ( Kind of like a machine gun, but in tune!) Usually, half the fun of the special guest night is the rehearsal. Hanging out and all that. Well maybe it was because Beardo wasn't there giving us his alligator smile, but the rehearsal wasn't even close. Because on Friday night, to quote Kris " we had a godamn good time."
 Some maintain that it was Sean Staples' stirring speech at the start of the proceedings that set the tone. (The ambassador of Folkdonia adresses the faithful). Others have observed that Matt Malikowski, by sheer force of will ( and a little gear ) has dragged lo-tech, one mic on a table Sessshhion Americana into a sonic force of nature; OK maybe just out of our cave and into the light. There were microphones, cables, a giant snake; EQs and Protools complete with an intern. There were three cameras. When Ry kicked off 'Dancing in the Dark' (with the digital guitar of course) I half expected to see downtown Julie Brown. Wubba Wubba!
No, no but listen, you can't do a Townes Van Zandt song or Gillian Welch with that Casio. Even Tom Waits would be pushing it (was that old '66 or ol' 55 ?). Kris had the table glowing like a campfire her voice was so warm . It was a 'Wave' washing over us. And there sure ain't no casio on no Smokey Robinson tune. But if you play 'Drive' by the Cars it definitely helps. How about 'Radio Free Europe"? Yes? No? Maybe. Yes,We were working hard at having fun that night. Though it was pretty serious when Kris, Sean and Ry came out for the third set singing some acapella gospel song. (Seriously beautiful that is). It was all downhill from there but WHOO HOO what a ride! 'Born Again' andJim Bouchard singin' 'Lust for Life'. Jabe took over driving our car, almost to 'The Point of No Return'. Ha ha. Did we do Love Train? Raspberry Beret? A diaphanous version of Beertown? Oh that was the first set. Well how can I forget 'Long Black Veil'. A special request gone awry? No, elegiac, extemporaneous, and unforgettable. Jeffery Foucault singin' 'Dead Flowers" and Bill Anderson. Man 'o man. Thanks to everyone for another Goddamn good time. Jennifer, Stroker, KC and all the Lizard Lounge staff.