I arrived at Hopper's just in time to see Ellen Whyte walking toward the front door. She had never been to Hopper's, although it was a target gig venue. Al and a friend helped her in with her amp while I lugged in my stuff, and shortly Garry showed up along with Richard Day Reynolds, a bluesman from McMinnville. Garry was all smiles and looking forward to playing.

Ellen had brought along her wireless mike setup, amp and guitar; bassist Sonny Boyardee brought along two basses, Garry had two guitars and a complete pedal setup, so with all this stuff on stage it looked like quite the arsenal of sonic potential. Music promoter and anti-IRS accountant, Terry Odor, made good on his promise to show up to see Ellen, and was touting a new digital camera. He flashed some shots of us setting up and continued through the night.

About three people were in the audience, but I wasn't too worried since the crowd hasn't been showing up until around 11 p.m. or so. Undaunted, we all swung into a set of Reflex Blue originals, most of which I was familiar with from hearing the CDs and jamming with Ellen three years ago. Garry sang some and Ellen sang some, and it was really fun.

At the break there were now FIVE people there, and I was getting concerned. Al and Tammy were there and apologetic about the turnout, reassuring me that I was "doing a good job." Nevertheless, I sensed a pause in The Force...My good friend, Dede Farrell, told me that the listing was wrong in the Oregonian A&E, and pointed out the fact that it was raining pretty hard outside.

Garry had invited Richard Day Reynolds to play, and Sonny had invited his old time friend Jack Cook to sit in, so by the beginning of the second set, guitarslingers were peppering the stage. Although this wasn't my intention, it was kinda cool. Everyone got their shot and no one sucked.

After the second set, there were about EIGHT people in the place, and I came to the conclusion we had set a record for low attendance. Just as we were taking the stage for the last set, the five Fred Meyer girls stormed in, lined up at the bar, grabbed their beers and headed for their favorite booth across from the stage. They get off work around midnight and go to Hopper's as a routine, so that was encouraging. Then came the wave that usually happens at 11 o'clock, but it was 12:15--maybe the rain slowed 'em down. And as the people came in, the band got more and more energized. Garry was doing some very tasty burning on a particular blues song, and afterward I looked up and there were about 10 more people.

One of the groups was led by the bombastic stripper I've nicknamed Lola, who was just whoopin' it up, so Ellen decided to throw gasoline on the fire by selecting the infamous "Love School" grinder--a little ditty using the public school system as the sexy double entendre. Ellen was right with 'em on her wireless, positively and gleefully entertaining this little group. Lola loved it, and although she stopped short of her usual stunt--a front handstand flip in front of the stage (a trick she was fond of doing while wearing a dress and no underwear)--presumably because she was wearing jeans, was laughing her head off.

We ended up playing past quittin' time because the crowd was now there and we were almost done. I dubbed the evening a success, and everyone had a great time. There was even some money in the tip jar. I headed for the john to change my shirt, and just as I was taking it off, the door opens and lo and behold, there's Lola. She just walks right on into the small bathroom with me to make the statement that I was ignoring her while she had something to tell me...I said, okay, out with it. With green eyes blazing, she wanted to tell me that she really appreciated me letting Ellen take the show and how I went along with it and backed her up so well. We embraced, she laughed and stomped back out. Geez...Well I guess that was a little classier than the no-panties flip...

Hope to see you down at Hopper's next Tuesday night, with Sonny "Smokin'" Hess!

Boyd