This was written within the week following the show, but I just got it retyped and posted.  Thanks for your patience!

 

I love Kansas City!  It's my favorite city and I had the privilege of living there for a few years in the early 90's.  I wish I hadn't moved away, but life comes at you fast and you have to make decisions.  It's always great when I can return.  I miss the place badly!

 

I was fortunate enough to get ahold of John, the owner of Jerry's Bait Shop, via e-mail.  I had tried calling, but the man is truly better able to be reached by e-mailing him.  This guy has one of the best attitudes of any owner I've been fortunate enough to meet.  I wish he was around when my band was playing a dozen years ago.  John truly loves the music and owns one of the few clubs that make things happen in Kansas City.

 

M!SS CRAZY was a little anxious about this Kansas City show.  There is a bit of a story behind it.  When it was booked and listed online, a huge M!SS CRAZY fan started the M!SS CRAZY Kansas City Chapter My Space site.  This young man was fervently excited about seeing M!SS CRAZY and had the song So Long on his personal My Space site.  Tragedy struck when this young man was in a motorcycle accident and passed away.  His great friends, Sam and Sherri, had just learned about M!SS CRAZY from him and they decided to take over the KC My Space site and let M!SS CRAZY know what happened.  Sam and Sherri shared this story with Markus.  Markus was in Des Moines at this time and it was obviously affecting him.  He talked about it a few times and was really starting to be unsure how to handle the show in KC.  Markus was trying to figure out the best way to deal with any potential comments, wondering what should be said, if anything, from the stage, and curious as to what the mood might be like when they took the stage.  I don't think he'd had this much on his mind about any show before.  He knew that at the very least he would dedicate So Long to their fallen comrade.  I was curious to see how Markus and the rest of the band would handle this news when showtime arrived.

 

The band took me with them to KC on Saturday and we arrived as the stage was being constructed in back of Jerry's Bait Shop.  They really went all out with a great stage and lighting rig for the bands that were to appear for the special "back to school" event that was to take place.  We unloaded the equipment and Tom and Jimmy did most of the stage setup while Markus and Kim left to get ready for the show.  They did this so that Markus and Kim would be ready to meet fans before the show since time was limited as the band was flying out to Seattle shortly after their set.

 

The band took the stage at 4:15om to a small audience.  I encouraged those that were there to move to the front of the stage to rock out, but it was obvious that they didn't need much encouragement.  The smiles were wide and the hands began to raise in the air to rock out.  Club workers from inside had come out to watch and those that were still getting things in shape outdoor for the crowd they expected had to stop and watch M!SS CRAZY.

 

M!SS CRAZY tore through a solid and exciting 45 minute set and made the show personal for those that were there to support them.  When it came time to introduce So Long, there were a few tears in the eyes of those that knew the young man who passed.  You could see in the eyes of those at the front of the stage that this meant a lot for a band who they'd just met to simply dedicate a song for their fallen friend.  It was an emotional release throughout that entire song.  Those that caught this show have become loyal fans and the band is anxious to see a much larger turnout when they return to KC in the future!

 

After the show, Tom and Jimmy got things torn down fast while Markus and Kim arrived at the merch tent.  They sold 17 CD's in about 15 minutes and autographed them all!  This was in addition to several posters sold!  Just about everyone there was getting something as a souvenir and reminder of this event.

 

We got the equipment off to the side of the stage and covered so the next band could go on and then we left for the airport.  The band made it just by the skin of their teeth to get the bags checked and get on their flight to Seattle.  It was incredible to see just how fast everyone moved to get this done.

 

I returned with their van to Jerry's Bait Shop and went back to the merch tent for a while.  I have to give a HUGE THANK YOU to Sam and Sherri and Shannon for their help while we were away.  It sprinkled a bit and they got a larger tarp to protect M!SS CRAZY's equipment.  Sam and Sherri ran the merch table and got word out about M!SS CRAZY while Shannon was the guard for the equipment.  I was told that he didn't move away from his spot even once!  These people run the Kansas City Chapter for M!SS CRAZY and are very loyal to the band and were tremendous help in making this show happen.

 

One other note before closing...  When I returned to Jerry's Bait Shop, they were announcing some winners for the drawing they had.  Sherri won a Bon Jovi CD, which was cool, but Sam remarked that what he really would have loved was the surround sound system that was being given away.  Well, as I pulled out of the parking lot to leave for Des Moines, I had the window rolled down while they announced the winner of the surround sound system.  Congratulations, Sam!

 

John is an owner that loves live music and loves supporting the scene.  Sam and Sherri are fantastic music fans who will do anything for the bands they love.  M!SS CRAZY can hardly wait to return to this spot for a headlining show.