23

AND THAT WAS JUST ENOUGH.

Scott had promised me he'd do what he could to get Ben and Carl in to the club (the Empty Bottle is 21+ and Ben and Carl were 16). When they got there no one was watching the door, so they just walked in, but soon they were spotted. They explained that they were with me and I explained that I was with the Grifters and Scott explained that they were cool and the guy marked up their hands real good and instructed them to stay at least 20 feet from the bar at all times and to go to the light booth if the cops came and to say that they worked there. Ben and Carl were fucking thrilled! Especially when Tripp remembered to thank them during the show for running lights. I left them and went into the back room to drink. The room was full of pot smoke and smoke smoke and every time someone knocked on the door I got worried. Each time though, it was the club owner coming to see if the bands needed anything. They would ask for more beer or whatever, but finally someone asked for some tequila and the owner brought a whole bottle.

The Grifters played one of the best shows I've ever seen a band play. It was just incredible. I was having a little trouble standing up, and they were up there doing their thing better than I can explain.

I couldn't believe it. The only sign that they were drunk was at the end of the set when Dave couldn't get his guitar off and cursed, "Tequila."

I hung out for the rest of the weekend with my brother and his friends. We went to see one of the Grifter's instores the next day and just fucked around in Chicago. I really miss that place.

∞Jennifer LaSuprema

Photo caption: The Grifters (Tripp, Dave, Scott, Stan) in front of the Music Box Theatre next door to Blackout Records in Chicago.