O.K., this will be my last Vertebrats post for awhile—this really isn’t an all-Vertebrats blog and I’m not stalking them or anything. That being said, this weekend really reverberated with us. We were at the reunion eleven years ago and I loved it but it didn’t shake me up as much. Perhaps, as my friend Kirsten noted, it’s because our life wasn’t as far away from those days then….we didn’t have kids yet and we still went to see bands all the time. In the intervening years, a couple of kids, a bout with cancer for Ernie and my father succumbing to Alzheimer’s have all made me feel much, much older. Ernie and I sometimes disagree about this, but for me—when he was diagnosed with cancer I felt like I crossed a line and there was no going back. I’m not sure the Brats made me go back but it did something for me. Can’t quite express it yet.
Anyway—-a few random notes and pictures from the weekend. (by the way—we were too busy talking and listening to get good pictures–if anyone has any—please send them to me (spleo@insightbb.com) or post a link.
1. I’ve always been a girl with a soft spot for bass players. Just the way it is. And I’ve got to say—nobody slings a bass nice and low like Don Gerard. Nice work Don.
2. Van Cagle. My friend Eileen lived down the hall from Van Cagle and Tim McKeage. She had hoped to be there this weekend but couldn’t be. Wish she had been—Van said he’s never forgotten the night we heard Wanda Jackson echoing from his apartment and just invaded…..Here’s a picture of me and Van many, many years later. And why did I forget to get his email address? Anybody have it?
3. Why the hell didn’t I get a picture of Ernie and me with Jon Levy? Reconnecting with him was a highlight of the weekend. Next time Jon…
4. At one point I was standing off to the side up near the front and I looked back and Ernie was back next to the stage leaning on something and I swear to God—he’s still the guy I would have picked out of the bar line. Here’s a great picture of him and Jimmy after the show…I love this picture because Jimmy looks so happy and Ernie looks his goofy self which he doesn’t usually allow in photographs….
5. Kenny has the most gorgeous kids. No surprise I suppose but they just were so beautiful. It’s still hard for me to imagine my guys the age of his son….I can’t imagine what awaits me….
6. Seeing Pete was great! After he’d posted a dozen or so clips on youtube I finally emailed him and said, “do I KNOW you?” and sure enough I did. He was also kind enough to remind of the name of Doreen and Melissa Records’ band which had been driving me nuts (The Rayguns). Can’t wait to see the video from this show Pete.
7. Oh….and here’s a favorite pic…..a veritable Milktoast reunion:
Well, I said this was my last Vertebrats post but I’m not sure that’s the truth. I’ve got a little four year old blonde kid begging me to go downstairs and sit with him though and he’s a charmer so off I am…..
I have Van’s email address and phone number for you. He is very happy to talk to you and/or write, so I’ll pass it to you when I can figure out how to get ahold of you!! I thought I saw your email in here somewhere but can’t find it now.
hi cynthia,
you don’t know me, but I feel like we should since we were both hanging out at the same shows at Mabel’s during the early 80’s. My friends and I sat at the table next to you and your husband on Sat. night at the Vertebrats. I found your blog today and have totally enjoyed it. I also have two boys (9 & 6) and can relate to the intense love and the intense, intensity! I’m wondering if the friend you mention, Kirsten, is Kirsten Stigberg? I hung out with her a lot at the U of I and I missed seeing her since I could only come on Sat. night. I haven’t talked to her in years and wonder if you have an e-mail for her. Thanks for the pictures- I brought my camera but only took one picture the entire night. ah well…
-Beth (I was Beth Otto back in the day, now Giles is my last name)
hi cynthia,
you don’t know me, but I feel like we should since we were both hanging out at the same shows at Mabel’s during the early 80’s. My friends and I sat at the table next to you and your husband on Sat. night at the Vertebrats. I found your blog today and have totally enjoyed it. I also have two boys (9 & 6) and can relate to the intense love and the intense, intensity! I’m wondering if the friend you mention, Kirsten, is Kirsten Stigberg? I hung out with her a lot at the U of I and I missed seeing her since I could only come on Sat. night. I haven’t talked to her in years and wonder if you have an e-mail for her. Thanks for the pictures- I brought my camera but only took one picture the entire night. ah well…
-Beth (I was Beth Otto back in the day, now Giles is my last name)
hi cynthia,
you don’t know me, but I feel like we should since we were both hanging out at the same shows at Mabel’s during the early 80’s. My friends and I sat at the table next to you and your husband on Sat. night at the Vertebrats. I found your blog today and have totally enjoyed it. I also have two boys (9 & 6) and can relate to the intense love and the intense, intensity! I’m wondering if the friend you mention, Kirsten, is Kirsten Stigberg? I hung out with her a lot at the U of I and I missed seeing her since I could only come on Sat. night. I haven’t talked to her in years and wonder if you have an e-mail for her. Thanks for the pictures- I brought my camera but only took one picture the entire night. ah well…
-Beth (I was Beth Otto back in the day, now Giles is my last name)
Wow! Name the guys in the Milktoast reunion pic–please. Excluding Ernie of course. My gosh–when did we all get so old?
Yay! Matt’s still hot! That makes my day!
Wow! Name the guys in the Milktoast reunion pic–please. Excluding Ernie of course. My gosh–when did we all get so old?
Yay! Matt’s still hot! That makes my day!
Wow! Name the guys in the Milktoast reunion pic–please. Excluding Ernie of course. My gosh–when did we all get so old?
Yay! Matt’s still hot! That makes my day!
Oh I don’t know Stephanie—I feel younger after this weekend!!!! Well…kind of…..
Pat Dailey is in the middle and David Conroyd on the right. Pete sent me some mp3s of an old Milktoast set—-maybe I’ll post one…..
Oh I don’t know Stephanie—I feel younger after this weekend!!!! Well…kind of…..
Pat Dailey is in the middle and David Conroyd on the right. Pete sent me some mp3s of an old Milktoast set—-maybe I’ll post one…..
Oh I don’t know Stephanie—I feel younger after this weekend!!!! Well…kind of…..
Pat Dailey is in the middle and David Conroyd on the right. Pete sent me some mp3s of an old Milktoast set—-maybe I’ll post one…..
I totally did not recognize Pat. I recognized David, but could not remember his name for the life of me.
I totally did not recognize Pat. I recognized David, but could not remember his name for the life of me.
I totally did not recognize Pat. I recognized David, but could not remember his name for the life of me.
Thanks for posting Beth—I couldn’t remember Kirsten’s maiden name so I had to check—but yup–same Kirsten. She said she’d email you. Thanks for the kind words—check back and I’m sure I’ll have more little boy stories for you to relate to….
Thanks for posting Beth—I couldn’t remember Kirsten’s maiden name so I had to check—but yup–same Kirsten. She said she’d email you. Thanks for the kind words—check back and I’m sure I’ll have more little boy stories for you to relate to….
Thanks for posting Beth—I couldn’t remember Kirsten’s maiden name so I had to check—but yup–same Kirsten. She said she’d email you. Thanks for the kind words—check back and I’m sure I’ll have more little boy stories for you to relate to….
Very cool. Thank you, Cynthia.
Very cool. Thank you, Cynthia.
Very cool. Thank you, Cynthia.
I wanted to get some of the new video up on youtube already, but a cancelled flight that kept us in Champaign another day and then a night in the emergency room with my youngest son (he is OK) have set me back a bit. I’ve watched part of the first set – the video is good, but it just doesn’t compare to the intensity of actually being there. Thanks for posting the pictures.
I wanted to get some of the new video up on youtube already, but a cancelled flight that kept us in Champaign another day and then a night in the emergency room with my youngest son (he is OK) have set me back a bit. I’ve watched part of the first set – the video is good, but it just doesn’t compare to the intensity of actually being there. Thanks for posting the pictures.
I wanted to get some of the new video up on youtube already, but a cancelled flight that kept us in Champaign another day and then a night in the emergency room with my youngest son (he is OK) have set me back a bit. I’ve watched part of the first set – the video is good, but it just doesn’t compare to the intensity of actually being there. Thanks for posting the pictures.
I’m glad your son is o.k. Pete. What a crazy weekend you had…..
I’m glad your son is o.k. Pete. What a crazy weekend you had…..
I’m glad your son is o.k. Pete. What a crazy weekend you had…..
hey cynthia – i’m hoping the best for ernie’s next test.
-mbb
hey cynthia – i’m hoping the best for ernie’s next test.
-mbb
hey cynthia – i’m hoping the best for ernie’s next test.
-mbb
From Van:
I don’t mind saying that I have been a little teary-eyed for a week.
I have tried to cheer myself up by doing constructive things and even by going to places that I like here in NYC.
But I can’t shake the reunion yet.
It has affected me on a much deeper emotional level than the first two.
One of the reasons that I have felt as I do is because since leaving CU, I have never had such a large and interesting group of friends as I did during the time when the VBs existed.
In essence, I had at least 25 close friends, which is truly incredible, and I knew by face and name about 150 people. That’s truly astounding.
In addition, I have felt very melancholy all week, because I really don’t think that I will ever experience again what I experienced in CU.
The older we get, the harder it is to make friends.
Being in CU again made me realize what a special time and place it was for all of us during the late 70s-early 80s.
In meeting tons of incredible people during this period, I learned more about films, art, literature, theater, and popular music from friends than I ever learned from college courses I took, because there was this special moment when really intelligent people were at the same place at the same time.
From Van:
I don’t mind saying that I have been a little teary-eyed for a week.
I have tried to cheer myself up by doing constructive things and even by going to places that I like here in NYC.
But I can’t shake the reunion yet.
It has affected me on a much deeper emotional level than the first two.
One of the reasons that I have felt as I do is because since leaving CU, I have never had such a large and interesting group of friends as I did during the time when the VBs existed.
In essence, I had at least 25 close friends, which is truly incredible, and I knew by face and name about 150 people. That’s truly astounding.
In addition, I have felt very melancholy all week, because I really don’t think that I will ever experience again what I experienced in CU.
The older we get, the harder it is to make friends.
Being in CU again made me realize what a special time and place it was for all of us during the late 70s-early 80s.
In meeting tons of incredible people during this period, I learned more about films, art, literature, theater, and popular music from friends than I ever learned from college courses I took, because there was this special moment when really intelligent people were at the same place at the same time.
From Van:
I don’t mind saying that I have been a little teary-eyed for a week.
I have tried to cheer myself up by doing constructive things and even by going to places that I like here in NYC.
But I can’t shake the reunion yet.
It has affected me on a much deeper emotional level than the first two.
One of the reasons that I have felt as I do is because since leaving CU, I have never had such a large and interesting group of friends as I did during the time when the VBs existed.
In essence, I had at least 25 close friends, which is truly incredible, and I knew by face and name about 150 people. That’s truly astounding.
In addition, I have felt very melancholy all week, because I really don’t think that I will ever experience again what I experienced in CU.
The older we get, the harder it is to make friends.
Being in CU again made me realize what a special time and place it was for all of us during the late 70s-early 80s.
In meeting tons of incredible people during this period, I learned more about films, art, literature, theater, and popular music from friends than I ever learned from college courses I took, because there was this special moment when really intelligent people were at the same place at the same time.
Van just emailed that Courtney Love released a cover of “Left in the Dark” by the Vbrats. They’re delighted.
Van just emailed that Courtney Love released a cover of “Left in the Dark” by the Vbrats. They’re delighted.