Stickmen Day 2008

December 5, 1992 – The Stickmen played 17 songs to a crowd of about 30 friends and neighbors in my parents’ backyard. It wasn’t our very first concert, but it was the first time we dropped the protective veil of comedy material, to spotlight our best songwriting in a full-band live setting. Lo and behold, our music got a very good reception, well beyond what could be explained by the friendly nature of the audience.

To me, 12/5 is Stickmen Day, because that’s the day we became the “real band.” Unfortunately, and due to various trials and tribulations, December 5 was also the last time we performed in that full-band format until nearly a year later. But I personally credit the December 5 videotape as my motive to reunite with the band – and therefore for seven more years of rock and roll with the “classic” stickmen. Also, I’ve always thought there was a live EP’s worth of material in there:

• It’s the End of the World as We Know it [REM cover]
• Gravity
• Dr. Brumbacher (and his Tools of Torture)
• To Myself
• Fire Hazard Christmas

Okay, so there were still a few comedic numbers in the set.