Swingers, Flop Houses, and Half-Pipes

Setting up the merch in Chicago and I notice a couple making out, but I'm not offended by it. I remember thinking to myself," That's sweet". I head in to the main room and when I get back I notice the same girl now kissing another girl, and a little longer than just a friends kiss. Next thing you know the three of them are involved in a full on 3 way make out sesh. The group of onlookers in growing as it's hard to ignore. This continues for a while.

I go about my daily tour business and notice this is continuing. Only now, a husky built guy in tight indie pants and sweater has approached the girl girl guy triad. He begins nudging one of the girls, but remaining at arms length. I think he may have come to the show with this girl, and feel bad for him as it looks like they won't be leaving together now. He doesn't gain or attempt eye contact though and the threesome continue going for it, vigorously. He remains at his awkward arms length post.

It is at this time that I notice the group gathered on the couch next to all of this. It is then that I realize we got ourselves a group of swingers. They are all cuddling on the couch, in no way putting on a show as the others but observing in a way that they are the elders and seeing their new recruit handle this public display. This goes on throughout the night. I don't know what the cover was, at least 10 bucks, and the whole lot of them never left the couch pool table area, or set foot in the main room where the bands played. I still feel bad for the awkward guy, even if he knew what he was in for, he did not look comfortable.

Pontiac MI was the next stop. We were late, but arrived to a very nice club. Great sound and facilities and very hospitable folks. Played fine despite leaving my cowbell behind in Chicago. An employee of the club, off on this night offers us a place to stay blocks from the club. A younger sweet couple offer us a place as well but it's a half hour away in Detroit. We go with the closer option, and pay the price. We arrive at a big house and all seems fine. We walk in to what looks like a squat. Nothing anywhere except 2 loveseats and a couch in a little corner room. The place is littered w/ cigarette butts, beer caps and broken glass, and an odor to match. We sit on the couches, the only place to sit, and are then ambushed by a screaming horde of inebriated bros. As we sit there draped in our sleeping bags, road weary and obviously looking to just crash out, we are offered a sip from a half full plastic vodka bottle, cigarettes are lit up and we all look at each other wide eyed, silenty saying..."let's get out of here". Half of us stay in the van. Nick and I stick it out and by 9:30am we are on the road outta there......