Topsy-turvy

Once upon a time, sometime in the late 90's, Dannii Lee Damage's ex, Alanis Morrisette, wrote a song called "Ironic" that listed a bunch of circumstances that, while possibly unfortunate, were not really ironic in any way. Last night was the kind of night Alanis, in her confusion, may have included in her song.

Johnny Emaxx, the band's grumpy, abrasive, outspoken, yet somehow still lovable guitarist/bassist/vocalist, has been off his beloved cancer sticks for two full weeks. 14 whole days with a more controlled flow of nicotine into his veins (thank God for the patch...). He had reached a point of balance in his life, as tenuous as it may be. How would that hold up to the test of a Morgan's Tuesday night? Likki Stixx was burned out from his new day job selling gas futures to the residents of the Atlanta area on the black market. Dannii Lee Damage was run down from debating Republican representatives,trying to single-handedly trying to rescue the U.S. economy from itself. Tommy Gunns just couldn't shake off the fuzzy feeling he still had from his afternoon nap. Yet, with all the planets aligned, as it were, last night Mr. Emaxx stepped up as the band's creative and motivational leader.

Chomping at the bit to get on stage, leading the band through the struggle of compiling the night's set list, doing the little touch-ups on everyone's hair and make-up, giving Tommy Gunns a hug to get him over his performance anxiety, Emaxx delivered on all fronts last night. It was a performance for the ages.

Emaxx, the rebel, the tough, the loner. But last night it was Emaxx the Uniter!


Will wonders never cease?

Eli Finkelstein (Cy's kid)