Posted By ShanRock on May 6, 2007, 1:24 pm

DRAT-ed Destiny

I'm pretty sure that The Fates have some big plans for me and DRATS!!!  Years ago, when I managed the Hollywood Theatre, our head projectionist told me about a conversation she had on my day off with an interesting passerby, mostly about how rad the theatre and eponymous neighborhood is.  Later, he gave her a copy of his new CD (which she passed along to me), Random Conversation, which included a song entitled "Hollywood" and featured a photo of our beautiful, beloved theatre on the cover.  

A couple of years later, a fellow Mad Scientist invited me to a house party to see his band.  While one of the earlier groups set up, I eagerly noticed that they had not one, but two keyboards in effect.  I'm also a big fan of showmanship and cosutmes, so I could tell I was in for a treat . . . one band member was sporting a set of scrubs, and had a home-made contraption on his face - a basic doctor's mask with a plastic eyeshield duct taped to it.  A guy behind me started gently mocking the get-up, presumably because he didn't understand that it was part of the act.  He started singing this little song . . ."not gonna get spit on my mouth, NO not gonna get no germs on me," etc., which I must admit was pretty funny, especially since it wasn't done in an ugly spirit.  At one point, his friend just looked at him and shook his head "no" which stopped the guy in mid-mock.  Finally, the band was ready, and their music burst forth, rocking the garage and its inhabitants loose of years of accidentally overheard Celine Dion and Creed.  This was DRATS!!!  Sound interesting?  Want instant gratification?  Carpe Diem, my friends - go see them tonight at Doug Fir!  They're playing with Deep North and System & Station.  First band goes on at 8, DRATS!!! at 10; show is $6.  If you want to know more about the band's sound or mythology - they say it best on their entertaining website.

I have been to many of the band's shows since that first encounter.  After several conversations with frontman Chairman, and hearing about his solo project, it finally dawned on me that he was the guy that my projectionist had had a "random conversation" with years before.  I pulled out the CD, and for the first time I noticed that there was a flyer inside . . . a flyer for the very first DRATS!!! show.  It also turns out that a great guy whom I "made time with" last year had seen me around at DRATS!!! shows, but had never talked to me (he waited to "make his move" at one of my trivia nights).  Is Destiny trying to introduce me to some of my future ex-husbands?  OK, I'm game.  I'm starting to think that Adam Ant is never gonna pop the question, so I'll happily elope with the DRATS!!!
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