Double the Pleasure, Double the Fun
I’m really fired up for the show tonight. First, though, I have to cover the Wake Forest-Virginia Tech game at Joel Coliseum.
Far be it from me to bellyache about reporting and writing a game story on the No. 1 team in college basketball. I love my job every season, but some seasons, I’ll have to say, are better than others. And this is shaping up as one of the best ever. I just wish the ACC had scheduled Wake to play its league games on Tuesday or Thursday. Wednesday is usually my night to caterwaul.
For going on two years now, we’ve had an Open Mic on Wednesday nights at the Garage, on Seventh Street downtown between Trade and Liberty. We’ve had all kinds of fun playing all kinds of music for all kinds of people. I line up the acts on Monday and serve as the regular M.C. for the shows. But during basketball season I turn the duties over to my trusted wing man, bassist and sidekick Johnny “Hootie’’ Hoots. And what complex duties they are (“who’s up next?’‘).
On nights like tonight, with a home game tipping off at 7, I try to double dip. I’ll cover the game, file my story by around 11 and head downtown. If I get there on time, I’ll go on for the final 15 minutes or so—time enough for about three songs. It’s my favorite way to wind down from the adrenalin high of covering a game.
The show starts at 8. The game will be over around 9:15. At 10 tonight we have scheduled an alt country band from Brooklyn named Katy Mae. The tune I heard on their webpage sounds really good. They’ll be followed by one of our staple rock bands, the Feral Souls, at around 11. Hopefully I’ll make the last half of their set, in time to tune up my Gibson J-45.
If you’re a Winstonite wired after the basketball game and are looking for something to do, swing on by. You’ll be among friends and, who knows, you might even find yourself on stage before the night is over.
I hope I do.