“The first time I saw 208 was in your bedroom.” Derek smiles at me from the steps of the Shrine porch. Smokin’ section of the Masonic Temple. Leanin’ over the rail to pass around my weed pen. Sav was gonna bring a preroll. But she wasn’t sure how heavy security was gonna be. Big venues only really concerned about weapons. “It’s trippy man…”
You’re tellin’ me man. Saw the backstage schedule yesterday. Doin’ conversions. Preppin’ the Temple for the show. “208 sound check - 6:00pm.” Started cryin’ then. And it’s been a fight against the tears ever since.
“WHO’S READY FOR A ROCK N’ ROLL SHOW?!” Yell to the line through the megaphone. Door lead tonight. Checkin’ IDs. Line control. “WHO’S EXCITED FOR JACK WHITE?!” The line hollers. “I’M NOT!” They don’t laugh.
“You can’t say that Mike!” (Pardon the government name.) Danni laughs. Last weekend supervisin’. Who’s gonna keep me from lettin’ the bit go too far now?
“How can I sneak me and Jess into the Masonic tonight?” And shit. If everyone in the metro Detroit area that pretends to listen to music weren’t here. There wouldn’t be so much staff. And I’d sneak ‘em in. After all. TJ used to say that’s what your twenties is about man. Givin’ away free shit to the homies at your shitty job. But this isn’t drinkin’ and smokin’ in Dos Locos. This ain’t Bowlero and the infinite money hack. This isn’t accidentally payin’ Cam an extra hundred for sound from petty cash cause you’re on acid. This is unfortunately bigger than that. The Masonic Temple is the second biggest stage in the country man. And right about now 208 is on it.
Hug Tyriq as him and Gabby are leavin’. He’s sweaty. And in awe from the noise. Missed the whole set gettin’ railed by Jack White fans. But damn… They sure were rattlin’ those windows in a way only the EDM subs manage to. Fucked up two people can create that much force. That much impact. That much inspiration to just fuckin’ push it. As far as you fuckin’ can till it all clips to nothin’.
Does anybody here really get how important this moment is? How much existential sheddin’ has been soundtracked by 208? How many bad trips have been grounded by Toeheads? Or Shadow Show. Or Sugar Tradition. The Stools. Craig fuckin’ Garwood. Like Arlo said when Kyle snuck me through the El Club kitchen openin’ for Kikagaku Moyo. “I’m so buttered to hear 208 on these speakers…” That’s all I been thinkin’ about. And I fuckin’ missed it.
But what difference does it make? Second largest stage in the world. Still can’t beat the stage at Outer Limits. Or the concrete in front of the small stage at Labor Day Fest. It could never hit the same as the sound at Riverside Skate Park. Or the Ham House basement. And what does a forty three hundred person crowd got on twenty bodies crammed in Dos Locos afterhours for a record release on 2/08? Dylan and Joey out front spittin’ on each other. Masonic Temple ain’t got shit on Spread Art.
Don’t get me wrong. It’s crazy to witness all this happenin’ in real time. It’s crazy to watch 208’s satanic world domination to destroy the globe’s eardrums reach this height. And I’m sure it woulda melted my mind. Body. And soul. But it could never beat Devil’s Night 2019. When you really feel whole. One complete consciousness of harmonizin’ frequencies of feedback.
“Did you catch the set Nips?” Jake asks as I pass out mixtapes. Ava not realizin’ till she leaves there’s a hit of acid taped to each copy. Light a cig at the Shrine porch. In plain view of guests. AEG-Sus would smite me for this. Give Sav the spliff I got on me. Ya aren’t gonna catch every set. Don’t let the FOMO get ya. Ya don’t gotta experience everything to be part of the experience. To feel connected to somethin’ so much bigger and more beautiful than you could imagine. Even if it comes in the form of near unintelligible noise.
My life has been made significantly better for havin’ heard this noise. Bein’ able to recognize the frequency of the feedback on shuffle as 208. Sometimes that noise is the only thing keepin’ you alive. It changes ya. Bein’ able to witness genius decorate space and time and the whole damn continuum. Right before your very fuckin’ eyes. A good rock n’ roll show can save lives. My life has been made significantly better for havin’ known these people. Havin’ shared this rare experience we call life together.
Do they even really know how important they all are?