Hokie House, Blacksburg, Virginia, August 6, 2003

I've worked this room a few times before -- always great crowds, and the Virginia Tech college students are always incredibly nice and hospitable.  This time I just about didn't know I was working the gig until I get there.  An email from Pat the day before said he needed me, but I didn't know for sure that I was going until the following morning....Pat's first attempt to let me know was a failed attempt.  Apparently, I answered the phone in my sleep, constantly inquiring, "who is this?" then, when I finally got the name, I said something of the likes of "I don't know about that."  Folks, please, please, please don't call me before 10 AM.  It's not pretty.

The lineup:  booker/house MC/friend, Pat Miller, me, and Derek Richards.  I was about 5 minutes into my set when Pat began heckling me from the back of the room.  We went back and forth for a minute, and I won (closing with a cruel reference to gravity).  Had I not, Derek would have thrown him out.  Just to complete the series of firsts: booker heckles opener, headliner throws booker out.  But Derek let Pat stay and lick his wounds.  And Derek had an incredible show.

And here's Pat and Derek.  See, they get along.