Next were Pariah Caste from Denver. I think they sported members of Five Day Messiah and the Facet maybe others I could be wrong. They traveled with SBA and arrived a bit later than I hoped. I told Cravis to watch the door and went in to check them out. I must say, for the first show they were really good, lots of presents and energy. Awesome melodic hardcore, sort of like Boy Sets Fire but with a cleaner sounding singer. Plus one of the guitarist had a homemade Teen Idols shirt, so what's not to like? I hope to see them here again.

This was also about the time that JD began to get a little bit high strung and upset at the number of folks that showed up an were disregarding the rules, especially the one about shutting the door. He took it upon himself to be the door man and to be pissed off at me for not doing more to help out. Sorry JD, I was totally unprepared for that size of crowd. I appreciate you more experienced fellows helping out.

Up next was the almighty Scott Biao Army for their first Wyoming show ever. Okay I know I've been talking these guys up for that last two and a half years and a lot of you were disappointed after all the talk of Saltines, Iron-Fucking-Cobras, Fireworks, and drunken instrument changing antics. Well, I warned you that I'm biased and I thought they were fucking awesome. They rocked my socks off with their Charles Bronson meets Negative FX styled hardcore. They played old favorites and new, not to mention a kickass SSD cover. This night Cheyenne was given a lesson in circle dancing and how sweet it was to see the kids (all four of them) knocking into the confused audience, even the bald headed cheap shotting jock wouldn't touch us. Fucking great. The Best part for me was when they held their trivia contest for a test pressing of their new split LP with Line of Decent. Unfortunately just when I had correctly named the singer of SOA as Henry Garfield ( you might know him better as Henry Rollins) JD grabbed me and pulled me into the room and take some fuckers cash and give them change. I was pissed A: I was watching the show and winning a test pressing of my favorite regional bands new record. B: The show was 3/4 over no one should have to pay after the first half and C: We already made 250 that seemed like plenty. (editors note: I dont see you watching the door at my house while I enjoy myself!)Oh well, I took the cash and went to see the rest of SBA who were just finishing up. Great set. Great guys. The new record tears it up even more than the 7", buy it if you get a chance.

Okay, next was the band I had been waiting two years to see and finally they were infront of me because of my (and a few others) hard work. I felt great to know that I had played a hand in it all. I guess I should give you some background of Tragedy all they entail. Their lead singer guitarists, Todd has been one of the biggest punk rock inspiritors of my life, right up there with Black Flag and Crass. This guy writes some of the most poetic and original lyrics and his guitar parts are so creative they know me on my ass every time. Not to mention the fact that he has the coolest voice ever since Jake Flith. I mean he seriously has a musical Midas Touch, he's in (or was in) His Hero is Gone, Funeral, Severed Head of State, and Death Threat. That said I hope you can understand what this show meant to me.

Tragedy hit the stage like a ton of bricks and didn't let go until the left. They were incredable, I simply couldn't stop moving or screaming along. My sore throat had been on the mend until they played but I didn't care. They just killed the whole way through, for half and hour I didn't care about anything except rocking out. They were so tight and precise that it was like an out of body experience, I just can't do them justice with words. They played a few songs from all their records including their new LP (I just got it and it rages. Buy it ASAP) Anyone there knows what I'm talking about, even Tad walked off with a Tragedy shirt after calling them a "crappy metal band of smelly hippies" A few day prior. Then they were done and I felt reborn, like how Christmas must feel after receiving communion. They were just that good. So the show was over and it was time to pay the bands. (VOS refused they are swell guy) and I thank them for playing. Pariah Caste were stoked at their reception and would like to play again, my friends in SBA were really happy and said they would play here anytime. Even Tragedy who'd been impersonal seemed real happy to have played. Then I made my way to the distro/merch table and left with arm loads of crap. Mike baio laid a SBA shirt on me and we caught up on old times. I left with Tad and couldn't get the smile off my face all night.

Thanks to: JD and Brian, Courtney, Paul, Rich, all the bands who played and all the bands that rock with us. I couldn't have done it without you. No thanks to the jock skinz for being violent fucks.

***Mark Masters