Tuesday, August 19, 2008

Hell Outs












James Dean has some friends in a band called The Hell Outs. They roam the streets in a pack, pile into a bar unannounced and play loud, obnoxious music until the owners scream at them to "get the hell out!" Hamfist was channeling the Hell Outs last night. We were supposed to play the pre-show for the OSF Aids benefit on the courtyard stage from 6:00 to 7:00, but at about 5:00 it started pouring rain and we were cancelled. As we sat in a bar nursing our wounded pride, Jon Bates said, "You know, no-one's in the Bowmer" (OSF's older indoor theatre.) Jon tracked down OSF's production manager who gave his blessing, Jesse turned up the lights, I made some signs, Ellen acted as house manager and within 15 minutes we were onstage in the Angus Bowmer Theatre. It was very Mickey Rooney-Judy Garland; "hey, my uncle has a $20 million theatre; let's put on a show."

To paraphrase Arlo Guthrie, we ain't proud...or tired. If someone is dumb enough to say we can play then, goddammit, we're gonna play . We ain't in this for the money. Anyway we already had our band outfits on, and it's a shame to waste couture...

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