DECEMBER 22, 2000 - HOUSTON, TX
It was Phil Pritchett's last regular show in Houston. Brian and Jason had made it down from Austin and Waco respectively, and we were joined by my ex-girlfriend Tanya, our mutual friend John, and his sister Robin. It was the largest group we'd ever gotten together for a Phil show, which was usually restricted to just Brian, Jason in myself. In fact, it had become one of the traditions that helped solidify our friendship for some time to come. Phil had become an institution among us, and through the other three we were trying to bring over converts to the religion that was about to move to Tennessee.
It came at one of the biggest turning points I'd had in my relatively short life. Tanya and I had broken up less than a week before, ending a four-year relationship that had been moving apart for the last few months. It was amicable, as far as these things go, and we'd amazingly survived it as friends. I spent more time that evening talking to Brian and Jason, though, unsure of what to say to someone I loved very much, but already felt like a figure from my last. Jason and Brian, in our relatively newfound tightly-knit three-way friendship, had become my present. The girl that it seemed would be my future was at her then-boyfriend's house, setting her own past apart.
Blind Luck, a rock group trying to move away from its country roots, opened for Phil as they had the last few shows. They were noticeably improving every show and this one was no different. They had the advantage of an extremely attractive lead singer, so they grew on Tanya and Robin considerably quicker than they had grown on Brian, Jason, and myself. We'd initially endured them waiting for Phil, but with each show I made more and more of an effort to get there in time to see their act. Before long, I would watch them open for other groups and leave when the headliners took the stage. They had the advantage of an extremely attractive lead singer, so they grew on Tanya and Robin considerably quicker than they had grown on Brian, Jason, and myself.
Article comments
1 - Eric Olsen
Wow, great story Alex: powerful, sad, hopeful. Hope you are well