11 August 2012: Six Minute Century Presents Dr. Froth’s Birthday Extravaganza

“Come butter the sandal.”~ Dr. Froth

Gather around children. It is time for a Frothy tale.

I find it difficult to believe that I’ve been down to Houston and back again in such a short time.

Not only that but in the span of two short months, I have gone to see SIX MINUTE CENTURY play two shows.

This time, it was for Dr. Froth’s Birthday Extravaganza. The second one that I have been able to attend.

This was my THIRD show this year alone, my fifth in total. And it just gets better and better.

I had hoped that I would not have to write several blog posts concerning the weekend trip to Houston. Thankfully, I feel that there will be no need for it. The only foul up was the trip to Houston when I arrived and the bus that I was supposed to get on, was said to have no wheelchair lift.

That foul up actually turned around and totally worked in my favor.  It would cause me to get on a different bus and arrive just under an hour earlier than originally scheduled.  Perhaps the fault is within the bus line that I have been using all of this time. Perhaps I need to change since the buses that are here all go to the same place anyways.

But it took me on a different route. I would be able to see parts of this great state that I had never seen before. And a few things that I have. The most impressionable view that I had seen was the devastation that was left behind from the fires in Bastrop from last summer. The trees are standing but they are nothing but unified and uniformed pieces of sticks. It stuck in my mind because the night before, I was watching a show called “Day Tripper” and that show was in Bastrop. I would end up seeing the very same thing as was on television. But with my own eyes as we went down the road. So surreal!

However with this entirely different route, the ride wasn’t as “boring” as it has been in times past. Before I knew it, the bus was infiltrating Katy from the west and coming through right into downtown. I had to laugh and just wave as I saw Memorial City Mall where I have played sledge hockey before. And of course we remember the Mystery Woman who works there too!

As I got into town, I would have one more slip up. One that was more significant.

A man came up to me and was asking if I needed help with my bags. I declined.

But then he grabbed the strap and began to pull it. And that wasn’t cool. The strap was around my neck and the bag was on my lap. And had he actually pulled a lot harder, he probably would have strangled me.

So I popped him in the nuts with my elbow and down he went. Then he ran off. Probably scared and confused and totally apologetic as he ran the other direction.

Minutes later, Dr. Froth and his wife came and picked me up. I told him, “Get me outta here before I land in jail.” So we took off. I was so happy to see both of them, I probably could have dragged them into a group hug or something.

I checked into my hotel room and then I was all set. I was close enough for Dr. Froth and wife to grab me from the hotel and take me to the show on Saturday evening.

I’m so glad that I don’t have to waste my energy and time writing a negative blog about the hotel!! Last June was a complete nightmare. This time, it was wonderfully peaceful and accommodating.

Right before I settled in, Dr. Froth told me that if I needed anything to just let them know. Almost immediately I announced to him that I hadn’t eaten.

This was a very smart move as MRS. Froth had previously read my blog about the Super 8 hotel experience and when I mentioned I hadn’t eaten that day and never told her about it so that they could get me something…. well, I was grounded!!

I wasn’t going to go through that again, so I mentioned that I was a little hungry and whatever they decided to get me was just fine with me. My stomach was at their mercy. And needless to say, they pulled through with an excellent choice.

So I watched some television, turned up the air conditioning, and simply chilled. Ironically, I would find myself watching the movie, “Rock Star”. How fitting that was! I would find myself watching it again Saturday morning. It was a good thing to do to kill time.

Later on in the evening, I would settle in to watch some more television and then go to bed. But that would not happen as my cell phone rang while I was in the middle of a texting conversation with one of my friends.

I’m not going to go into detail about the telephone conversation, but I will say this: One should NEVER play with fire because you may get burned!

What was supposed to be a 10:30 PM bedtime, ending up being 2:15 AM the following morning.

And that would play into the fact that since I was awake at 8:15 AM that same morning? Yeah, six hours of sleep. And evidently, I slept totally wrong in that hotel bed as I woke up all contorted and twisted. It was weird.

It was time to get ready for the show. Watch “Rock Star” on television for a second time in 12 hours, and then the energy just came over me as I was told that I was going to be picked up in the afternoon to hang out with Dr. Froth and family as they got themselves ready for the show. And that included actually playing with their two month old Alaskan Malamute. Yep, Dambreaker was mixing it up with the puppy! And the dog won.

After that, we took off for BFE Rock Club. Fourth time there for a SIX MINUTE CENTURY show. I was not entirely enthusiastic about the restroom situation, but I made the best of it.

I was hoping that a particular person would be working there and tending bar. I’d get my wish. She was working outside on the back patio. The entry way though, has a very huge step down. It was very shaky because I had seen it before at night and never thought that I could navigate it. It would be like jumping off of a curb. But when there is a will, there is a way.

So I had a drink, talked to the waitress, got to know her a little bit better instead of relying on Facebook. And the gold medal action of it all, was that I got a photograph with her! And that was something that I had hoped could happen.

And due to some unfortunate circumstances there was a change of the venue. One band couldn’t make it. Another stepped in at the 9:00 PM slot.

ECHO TEMPLE. I had heard about them, but never any of their music. They blew me away!

After the first song, I had trouble finding my brain. All I could do was sit there and say, “WOW!”. And it was pretty loud when I said that. Many people admitting that they heard it, but were unsure where it was coming from. I’m sure the band heard it as well. I sat there wondering if I could get my hands on anything that they may have released. I totally enjoyed their set. It would be cool to see them play again.

The true test of the night would be the next band. WELL OF SOULS.

I know that Mrs. Froth has always waved the banner for them, just as much as she does for SIX MINUTE CENTURY. And keep in mind, it is she that is responsible for introducing me to SIX MINUTE CENTURY, and I love them! So most certainly, she can do no wrong… wouldn’t you think?

WELL OF SOULS is a different genre of music. Doom metal. It isn’t something that I could honestly say that I have gotten into. But I decided to jump on the fence and see where I landed at the end of their set.

Their front man has such showmanship, that I became nervous for him to look at me from the stage. Almost as if I was afraid that his eyes was going to consume my eternal soul and claim it. I was impressed by that. Again, this was a band that I knew of, but knew nothing of their music.

Dr. Froth

Dr. Froth, I should mention also plays bass guitar with WELL OF SOULS. So the poor guy was about to pull double duty for two bands, and play them back to back. I don’t know how these musicians do it but they do it because they love it!

After one particular song from WELL OF SOULS, I was up against the stage and I threw the Devil’s Horns into the air. The front man caught it, and he threw them right back. His eyes filled with dark passion for the music. It was totally incredible to see that vision with his fingers in the air. I wished I had taken the opportunity to take a photograph of it.

I was sold. And now the VoM has created a monster. Her response? “I told you!”.

Yes you did. You did indeed.

All I could think about at that point was I was totally impressed by the two bands and I want in on everything there is to have. Where’s the merchandise table????

Sadly, there was none. At least nothing there that I didn’t have already! But by the end of the night, I wouldn’t leave empty-handed.

As I turned away from the tables, I was accosted by another waitress who was selling off Jell-O shots. I at first declined, but then she started to shake her groove thing, and I couldn’t resist that.

As Larry Miller said: Women are the most powerful magnet in the universe. And men are cheap metal. And they all know where “north” is.

So what the hell, I bought one. She gave me change back and she wasn’t quite sure if she gave me the correct amount. I was to receive $4.00 back. So I counted off the singles and took the last bill and shook it in her face.

The waitress stepped closer to me and stuck her chest out.

She allowed me to stuff this dollar bill down her top across her left breast. With what she was wearing, there was no room for it in her cleavage.

I made nice and sure that it was tucked down in there. Ohhhhh yes I did. I made sure that it wasn’t going to fall out easily at all. Nice and cozy.

But the adult games would have to come to an abrupt end as I saw members of the gothic metal band SILENCED WITHIN heading for the door. I’ve made good friends with them, and I wasn’t going to let them leave without taking some more photographs with them. They’ve become so nice and adapting when it has come to that. What was so cool about it was that bands were coming out to support other bands. That’s gotta be one of the coolest feelings in the world for bands who are performing.

Bands, bands, everywhere.

After that, I had to take my place by the stage and prepare for the moment that I had been waiting two months for. I was going to send a text message out to a few select friends, but noticed that my battery was as dead as door nail. All because of the night before using the phone for so long just killed it. And I didn’t know what I was going to do because how was I to communicate? I simply forgot to bring the charger. Will NOT make that mistake again.

Since we were there to celebrate the birthday of Dr. Froth, it was particularly special for me to have been there. I mean… I HAD to go, right?!?

The set for SIX MINUTE CENTURY was a bit longer, but that was perfectly fine with me! The band actually debuted a few new songs that are off of their new album that they are working on. I felt extra honored and extra special that I was there to witness that.

“Baptized In Flames” was one of their new songs. The song moved me so much that I cried. Yes, I actually cried REAL tears. I freaked out the guy standing to the right of me.

But I stuck it out and I let loose. I knew that there were eyes on the back of my head, and I just didn’t care. I was there to rock and have a good time, and that is exactly what I did.

Especially after bugging VoM to death for the past seven weeks by my constant badgering of “Are we there yet?”. I actually asked her one more time. But it was up close and personal. I took one more shot at her and paid the consequences for it. I sat there and said aloud, “Yeah, I deserved that shit.”

After all, we WERE there. No clue as to why I should drag it out other than to tease her about it. Oh well. I’ll perhaps learn one day. For my OWN sake.

The three band just impressed me so much Saturday night. It was the greatest show ever. And I was there to be a part of it all.

I was able to bring my own custom made SIX MINUTE CENTURY t-shirt. I hope the guys in the band liked it.

After the show, I got to hang out at Denny’s (again for the third time in 24 hours) with WELL OF SOULS and have breakfast. When that was finished, the front man provided me with some of the band’s merchandise that he had in his vehicle. I was very appreciative of that. They too, have a new album coming soon. I’m gonna run like a child hyper from eating chocolate when I hear that the album has been released.

Saturday night was so short. Whenever we are leaving the late night breakfast, my brain goes into this mode of preparation for my departure which is always soon around the corner from that point.

I told VoM on more than on occasion that I never like getting to that point because I know that I have to go home. But I have also mentioned to her that I know deep down that it is not the last time.

And now I am home. It is kind of freaky to think that just several hours ago I was there hanging out with everyone and having the time of my life!