July 09, 1985 - Indianapolis, IN
Show Day -
Sunny
Up at 10AM. Cleaned up, packed up, and locked up. Mailed postcards - bought stamps. Ate - bad breakfast at Main Street Cafe. Left for Indianapolis - arrived at 5:30 at the Patio Club. Promoter Bill Levin was a Bobby Startup clone - in fact he knew Bobby. We were way too early - why he said to be there at 4:30 I don't know - couldn't sound check until 8. Got everything set up. Went to eat - got take out at Renee's Deli - good food.
Bill Levin was a great guy and a real character. We ended up doing many more shows with him. Rodney gave him the the nickname "the Ghost" and we always referred to him fully as Bill "the Ghost" Levin. He was a wild man and reminded me a little bit of Iggy Pop. I think it's funny I'm whining about showing up too early when we were in fact an hour later than Bill requested. The Patio is still there. Bobby Startup is a legendary (in Philadelphia at least) DJ and club promoter. Bobby gave my previous band 'Narthex' our first East Side Club Club gig in Philadelphia (a Friday night - the headliner cancelled [the Damned] and he had us open for their opener - we did just fine).
Back for [sound] check. Had to play around to get good sound - good system - weird room. Set up in corner of a big room. A band called the Primates was to open but they couldn't find their singer. We went on at 10PM. 40 or so people - all about 25-35 years of age - strange. Played long set - good response. $81 dollars. Bill liked us. Next time we tour we should get contracts with guarantees etc. Stuart and Kathy from W. Lafeyette came to see us. I got my camera back. We stayed with Kathy in West Lafayette. To bed 2AM.
I wonder if the Primates ever found their singer? I imagine my amusement at the age of the audience is due to the fact that we were used to playing to a younger crowd. I'm not sure if I mention contracts and guarantees here because of the $81 bucks or that Bill mentioned it to us. We eventually hooked up with the booking agent Bob Lawton's Twin Towers agency in NYC and did in fact get contracts etc.
Posted by Dean at July 9, 1985 10:46 PM
Speaking as the other half of Narthex, thanks for the mention and I'd also like to give a shout for Linda McGothigan, who gave us our first break in Philly at the Landmark Tavern. Which led to Bobby calling us for that fill-in gig.
I still have postcards which Dean sent to me when on tour, and I'll try to drop them in the comments on the timely dates. I find it funny that while Dean complained plenty in his diary, the postcards are pretty much, "Wheee! We're having a great time!"
This first one was one of those he mentions sending out today, and was originally included in a Pylon "Chomp" LP, which Dean had given me, though he kept the card. The face is the Tyrannosaurus Rex statue at Dinosaur Gardens, Vernal, Utah.
The text:
"Hi Mike. This card is actually from the Pylon album I gave you, but I thought the best way to give it to you was through the mail system. I don't think we'll even go to Utah. Havin' a swell time 'on the road' -- great shows, great people, great towns. Doing lots of radio interviews, etc. I think the disk is going into 2nd printing soon. 6 1/2 weeks to go and nobody hates each other... yet. Take care, Dean"
[quickie scribble of Elsie logo with
"MOO MOO BUCKAROO" caption]
"P.S. Got the platter yet?"
i would love to see scans of those postcards if it's at all possible.
Thanks for remembering me. I hope you guys are well and happy and everything is going your way. If you come to town please come over for dinner, my punk rock son will be so pleased.
Best Wishes,
Linda
Good to hear from you, Linda! Of course we remember you. Also those late/early breakfasts at the IHOP after closing the Landmark down. Take care.
The year is 2004. I AM ALIVE and WELL despite all rumors. BANDS... I AM BACK IN THE GAME.... Wanna play Indy. PLEASE CONTACT ME. THANKS! CHEERS!
TTFN XOXOX B
