Unfortunately, Chris Rush had to cancel, so comedian John Mulrooney took over the job of opening act. He had the audience in stiches, priming them for a great evening. He left the stage to thunderous applause, and the dance floor was opened up. Suddenly, the theme to KING KONG blared through the sound system, and BLOTTO took the stage. Dressed in their best powder-blue, frilly-shirted tuxedos, they launched into THE MONSTER MASH and then directly into TOO MUCH FUN without giving the audience a chance to catch their breath. They then proceeded to rock through OCCUPATIONAL HAZARD and SHE'S GOT A BIG BOYFRIEND. When they proclaimed WE ARE THE NOWTONES, it wasn't very hard to imagine them as sleazy lounge singers in those tuxes! To keep World Series fever going, they performed TAKE ME OUT TO THE BALLGAME in their own very twisted way. If you weren't there, it's kind of hard to describe! They finished off their first set with a GOODBYE, MR. BOND and SECRET AGENT MAN medley. For their second set, Blotto changed instruments and was joined by CLYDE, an original member of the STAR SPANGLED WASHBOARD BAND. Together with Broadway, Bowtie and Sarge, it became a reunion of sorts. The SSWB performed OLD DOOLEY, THE BATTLE OF NEW ORLEANS, COLLECTOR'S ITEM and MOUNTAIN DEW. The audience stomped and clapped and danced through the whole set, begging them for an encore. The Washboard Band unleashed a reprise of MOUNTAIN DEW and left the stage. Blotto reclaimed the spotlight for set #3, opening with WHEN THE SECOND FEATURE STARTS. Next, Sarge emoted and gesticulated wildly while lamenting MY BABY'S THE STAR OF A DRIVER'S ED MOVIE. The crowd was then rocked off their seats by YOU ONLY LIKE ME 'CAUSE I ALREADY HAVE A GIRLFRIEND and COCAINE. If you've never heard Blotto's version of Cocaine, they change the words drastically and it must be heard to be appreciated fully. Words aside, they performed the music stunningly. Hammerhead grooved a devastating blues-organ opening to GO TO YOUR ROOM, and the band followed suit. As if all this hard-rockin' madness wasn't enough, the infamous MUNSTERS THEME followed. Broadway wound down their set by singing I QUIT and announcing that there were only 254 shopping days until Summer. To celebrate this event they pounded out I WANNA BE A LIFEGUARD with incredible power and energy. The audience batted beach balls and put their hands up in the air "in those swimming-like motions." Bob Wolf came out and thanked Blotto and wished all a good night. When it became impossible to ignore the chants of "METAL HEAD! METAL HEAD!", Blotto launched into a loud and soon-to-be-legendary 10 minute version. Sarge donned his famous leather jacket, Blotto handkerchief and performed the obligitory Barney sacrifice. I walked away stunned. Backstage, Blotto commented that it was the best performance they'd had in a long time! If you missed the show, I hope the planned upcoming video will do it justice! Remember, if you took video of the show, E-mail us! -Bert Blotto