Night One: Indianapolis, Indiana

Julie Slick and Adrian Belew on stage at the Music Mill in Indianapolis, Indiana

The Music Mill in Indianapolis is a crazy venue because it's located in the dead center of a strip mall parking lot. It looks like a giant cube that was plopped down from outerspace or something even though surrounded by a Pizzeria Uno and a Crabtree & Evelyn. It was only a 5 hour drive from Nashville and we stopped at a Frisch's Big Boy in Kentucky. I'm proud to say I had my first "Big Boy Salad Bar Experience", and certainly not my last. Adrian is quite fond of their fish sandwich -- I think he may have been raised on them.

Anyway, this place looked eerily similar to Philadelphia's World Cafe Live. Maybe it could've been the same designer. The backstage area was private and enjoyable but one thing I really love about this tour already is that we have a "rider". Though I've toured before with other bands, this is my first experience with riders and oh man is it cool. For those not in the know, a rider is a list of pre-show demands -- you know, like only green M&Ms back stage. Every single friend of mine knows I have a heinous addiction to Rockstar Energy Drinks, and much to my utter joy, they provided me with 2 packs of them backstage. Brilliant, Indianapolis, brilliant.

Our opening act was Graham Elvis, a longtime friend of Adrian's. He has this whole Kinks/British Invasion sound and look, and his post gig ritual involves throwing a pair of socks to the crowd.

I love artists.

Julie and I were frightened. We pranced about the dressing room doing calisthenics, which took the edge off of my um, vitamin packed beverage. Like a John Hughes movie, we huddled and put our hands in the middle and started an ascending yell. I walked on stage and I knew there was no turning back. This was it. The first night of touring with a legend. The show that night was electric and raw. Yeah, there were a few mess ups here and there, but the overall energy was perfect. A middle aged man yelled, "I'm in love with the bass player!" Julie blushed and looked down; she got really embarrassed and it was funny. Then two songs later the same guy shouted out "I'm still in love with the bass player!" It was hard not to break out laughing but I managed somehow though I did smile. But our biggest surprise were the 3 standing ovations we received. Highlights: "Big Electric Cat" and an uptempo "ampersand".

Afterwards, people asked us for our autographs. It was surreal. But with one show under our belts, we couldn't wait to get back on stage again and we would have our chance the following evening in Springfield, Ohio.