Or
 Putty for the Hole in a Soul

9/28/01

There was one moment where the sound guy came running out on stage hollering that everyone should get away from the mics, he was a big frantic guy yelling to not touch anything electric... someone had spilled water on a speaker. For the next 10 minutes or so John was joking about "Kentucky Fried Prine" and somehow, it got twisted to John chuckling,  "I can see the headlines tomorrow,  'Webmistress Fries Prine, Extra Crispy Style...News at Eleven'  ...then their conversation wanders to other things and Iris leans in,  whispering a warning that whatever they say will be read in the Shrine... I don't have a memory, didn't bring a paper and pen for this chance private concert...so I couldn't repeat, even badly, of what their secrets were. Iris always seems shy and reserved, but you can tell that underneath it all is one quick witted sharp tongued lady that probably doesn't let herself get real loose in front of strangers...and if she knows you, then look out!

My most vivid memory of this sound check was when Iris and John practiced together - they have such respect for one another, and you can tell that she is one of his all time favorite voices because as soon as she would open her mouth to sing, he would just grin. When they sang "Jet Set" he had to hit several high notes and he reminded of a little kid, his eyebrows reached up his forehead and he'd tiptoe to get that note. I kept trying for a  photo of that, but due to the darkness of the stage, it was always a second too long.

I had brought along a funky suit jacket that I swore some musician would just love to wear ...  it was sort of subdued avocado green with lions and mice and trees all over it. They all tried it on or at least looked at it with disbelief. Jason said it made him feel he was being enveloped by a Divan (mind you I live in Davenport) so it made twisted sense to me. These guys are just too classy to wear a divan, I guess.... I'm hoping that an equally twisted guitar tuner took it home to entertain his girls with....