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IF
WE NEVER MEET AGAIN
by Catherine
Rodriguez
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| December
2005
I traveled
last weekend from
Dallas
to
Philadelphia
to see my favorite band play live for the first time.
Tommy Conwell and the Young Rumblers reunited for the closing of
the Stone
Balloon, a club in
Delaware
that has featured great musical acts over the last thirty years like Ray
Charles, Cheap Trick, The Ramones,
Metallica, and Bruce Springsteen.
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| Philadelphia
Airport
After my arrival, my first order of business was to drive forty minutes
south to
Delaware
. Since I had never traveled to this part of the country, I wanted to
do a "dry-run" drive for getting to the concert later.
Once I found the club, I decided to look for a box office so that I could
get my ticket early, in case they sold out later. (Even though I paid
for my ticket online, I was worried that if the place got packed, I
wouldn’t get in.)
I went around the
back and saw some guys standing around the back door. I asked if any of
them worked at the club. In the conversation, I mentioned that I had
just taken a flight in from
Dallas
, when one of the guys came forward and said, “Well, come on in to the
club – I’m sure we can find someone to help you.” This guy was
Chris Day, guitarist
for the Young Rumblers. I didn't realize it was him until he told me his
first name. As it turns out, the Rumblers were getting ready for their
rehearsal and there was Tommy onstage. Chris said that he didn’t see a
problem with me being there since I had come a long way for the concert.
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| Soundcheck
I
found an inconspicuous corner to watch the guys set up onstage. I was so
excited to be there! One of the crew started chatting me up about my trip
-- when Tommy walked by, the guy said “Hey Tommy! This girl came
all the way from
Dallas
to see you.” And Tommy said “Are you Catherine Rodriguez?” He
gave me a big hug, too! Right
before rehearsal, Tommy called me over and told me to take the stairs
on the side to get on the stage. He then introduced me to each of the
Young Rumblers as the girl who was a fan and came all the
way from
Dallas
to see their show for the first time ever. I was so honored. Chris told
Tommy that he was the one who let me in the club!
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| The
band kicked off rehearsal with HERE I COME.
The band gave me permission to take pictures for the
entire rehearsal. It was so great to hear all my favorite Rumblers songs
– and I knew the words to every song they rehearsed – even SPACE COWBOY! Tommy forgot the lyrics to the last part of IF
WE NEVER MEET AGAIN and said “I’ll remember it by tonight.”
Chris Day said, “Just watch Catherine!” |
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Showtime!
The concert
later on in the evening was absolutely incredible. It was so great to
be there, to share in the history of the event, and to see the last
concert at The Stone Balloon with Tommy Conwell and the Young Rumblers.
Although the reunion of the Young Rumblers was an event unto itself, Tommy
made sure that the emphasis was on everyone realizing that it would be the
last night for music at The Stone Balloon. One of the more poignant events
of the evening was when he shared his memories of all the people who
played there, including how he had once sat outside listening to music
when he was too young to get in. He ended each of his tributes and
remembrances with a thoughtful “Cheers, cheers…” |
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| The Stone Balloon ended its last show with a
class act, indeed! |
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