Show #24: Seattle, Wash.
In Fall 2003, my band went on tour with Black Eyes and Q and Not U. One day, we played a show in Cheyenne, Wyo. at a space called “Club Drakula.” I’m not sure why the space was called “Club Drakula,” but the gothic moniker suited vacant Cheyenne’s star-filled, desolate night.
“Who wants pizza?” asked the promoter of Cheyenne show. In his spare time, this promoter managed a franchise of a chain pizzeria known as “Domino’s.” When the promoter called for pizza-eaters, thirteen hands (five Black Eyes plus three Q and Not U’s plus two roadies plus my postpunkish trio) shot up.
“All right,” said the promoter. “Who wants to come to Domino’s to help me make these pizzas?”
Consarnit, I thought. I would like to help make Domino’s pizzas, but undoubtedly my numerous traveling companions will also want to make Domino’s pizzas. Too many cooks will crowd the Domino’s kitchen. Then, I looked around the room. Miracle of miracles—my hand was the only hand still up in the room. “I will be the one,” I shouted. “If you transport me to your franchise, I will help you make Domino’s pizzas.”
“All right, then,” said the promoter. We drove through Cheyenne’s desolate night to his Domino’s franchise. “I once made a pizza in one-minute, forty-seven seconds,” the promoter boasted. We shaped varius doughs and toppings into edible pie-shape. I am vegan, but was thrilled to participate in this industrial food process. I assembled ten pizzas (including a vegan pie) and loaded them into a conveyor belt oven as bemused Cheyenne Dominoes employees looked on. These bumpkins had never seen a slight man from the east coast assemble pizzas with such glee! When my three-band touring caravan devoured these pizzas. I was not explicitly thanked for my pizza assembly. However, I basked in private glory.
Last night at the Sunset Tavern in Seattle, a young man approached me. “I am from Cheyenne and saw that show at Club Drakula,” he declared.
“Ah, Cheyenne,” I reminisced. “Are you familiar with my pizza-assembly skills?”
“No,” said the young man. “But do you want to stay at my very large house with laundry facilities and free internet? It is five blocks from the club.”
“Does your large home have room for five large men from Black Fiction?”
“Yes,” said the young man. My two-band caravan retired to this ample abode and experienced true Seattle-style hospitality—Wyoming-style. I was glad of this. Besides the show I played in Wyoming in 2003, I have not played or heard of any show in Wyoming before or since.
April 6th, 2007 at 6:30 pm
If you’re ever in Ann Arbor, Michigan you should visit Dominoes’ Farms, the corporate headquarters of Dominoes’ Pizza. I’m not sure why a pizza chain is headquartered on a farm, but around Christmas Tom Monaghan and his cohorts from Ave Maria Law School host a rather impressive display of lights on the grounds. Traditionally, the highlight is a massive nativity scene that morphs into a shrine to aborted fetuses.
Also, I really enjoyed your (Antelopes’) performance last night. It was worth the price of admission and the mild hangover I acquired from the Sunset Tavern. Come back soon.
April 6th, 2007 at 6:35 pm
Hi Justin–
It is awesome to know that you have remembered your Wyoming trip. I thought I would drop you a line to say that it was my house you stayed at in Cheyenne and I remember your excitement to make the “Dominoes Pizza.” I received your new CD in the mail today with excellent instructions, from a friendly Dischord employee, on how to arrive at your blog…..Awesome CD!!
-Kerry
April 7th, 2007 at 7:16 am
Thanks for helping make the pizza’s that day! My friend Chad in Seattle told me you said “hi.” He says you were curious about how the people of Wyoming reacted to ‘Broke Back Mountain’. Here’s how I think the people reacted. They were in most part offended that the movie was filmed in Canada, and have since passed legislation that give incentive to film makers to shoot here. For the most part, the fact that it was a love story about two men doesn’t bother most. We are still the “equality state” one Wyoming’s most favorite illusions.
-JD
April 7th, 2007 at 1:06 pm
Strangely, the blogmeister hasn’t mentioned his girlfriend, or boyfriend for that matter. Yet. Not even once. Queer, isn’t it?
April 7th, 2007 at 6:26 pm
Bobby: Wow, you really have some issues to work out while you probe your anus with the vibrator you stole from your mom. Do everybody a favor: leave your mom’s basement and get a life.
April 8th, 2007 at 11:32 pm
Am loving the blog. As for Bobby — while I would not put it quite the same way as Buzz Off, Buzz makes a valid point. Alas, there’s a Bobby in every crowd.
It was kind of you to refrain from pointing out to Stockard Channing that you were playing at Soapbox that night in Wilmington….
April 9th, 2007 at 12:08 am
Good advice to Bobby, Buzz Off. Heck, my son left the basement a while ago (sans vibrator) and now lives in a very large house with laundry facilities in Seattle where he shares his Wyoming hospitality with folks who play good music. Cool blog Justin.
April 10th, 2007 at 2:52 pm
Fellow wyomingites from Drakulas! Chad is in seattle! JD, Kerry! Maybe we see each other at the show tonight - denver.
A friend talked to cowboys of the Great Western Stockshow about BB Mountain and they were not impressed. They claimed that either 1) any “gays” could not be real cowboys and also that 2) and working cowboy could not possibly be gay. Funny guys.
“Drakula’s” was probably a sort of play on the name of the kid who was mostly responsible for one of the best places ever to play in Wyoming - Vondrak.
April 10th, 2007 at 2:56 pm
oh, but you drove through Wyoming last year with The Guapo/Supersystem.
How do I know? I was driving home (colorado to wyoming) on the interstate and passed you’re van going up I-25, just before the border.
April 10th, 2007 at 8:21 pm
Buzz, as vulgar andd disgusting your comment is, you sound like someone quite accustomed to the practice. Could you do everyone a favor and keep it to yourself though?
April 10th, 2007 at 8:38 pm
The rest of you dumbasses failed to understand: my observation was of rather complimentary if slightly playful nature.
April 11th, 2007 at 11:08 pm
[...] I pointed out in a recent post, I’m a fan of empty spaces, Annie Proulx, free-roaming pronghorn antelope, and just can’t get [...]
May 31st, 2007 at 4:29 pm
I was pleased to hear that Wyoming left a good impression. Wacky pizza exploits via Brian Vondrak do not suprise me. I mean this in the most loving way possible.
April 15th, 2009 at 11:57 am
I follow your blog for quite a long time and must tell you that your articles always prove to be of a high value and quality for readers.
August 21st, 2009 at 1:27 am
Ïðèêîëüíî!:) Íî åñòü è ìèíóñ ! Ó ìåíÿ ñêîðîñòü èíåòà 112 êáèò/ñåê. Ïàãà ãðóçèëàñü îêîëî 20 ñåêóíä.