I circle the floor, searching in vain for three young women matching the descriptions that had been ICQed me a few hours earlier. And being distracted by the enticing show onstage...

Wait, I think I see Blakey. The crowd is nice, and I don't even have to push through to get to her. Sure enough, here's Blakey with Lilo at her side, and I now meet Syldath Angelfire, MsKitka, and BlueBaby for the first time. After a round of hugs, our attentions revert back to the stage. We couldn't help it.

I must admit, I haven't had this much fun at a show in years. From watching Coyote, Chad, and Casper entertain the crowd, to seeing my friends gazing raptly at the stage, to having Blakey snag a pink balloon from the ceiling and tie it in my hair...this was some of the best time and money I have ever spent in my life.

As for the music? It's a rare thing indeed when all the lyrics are comprehendible in a live setting, especially when the listener has never heard any of the songs before. The music pulsated with this sensual energy that shifted every nerve ending to a higher setting. And the lyrics? Oh, God...I know of no one else who could turn around and find a couple involved in the beginnings of foreplay on his stage. And no one else who could pull off lyrics like these with total sexual sincerity:

Chad Stewart, Coyote's drummer, came out from the backstage area and talked with us for quite awhile. This simple act surprised me, since many of the original acts I've seen tend to be a bit stand-offish when it comes to female fans they don't know very well. (Mike from Rosemary's Billygoat is one definite exception to this!) Chad was very nice, and although I could only hear about half the conversation, I remember him asking each one of us who our favorite band is. I popped off with the first thing that came to mind, Coal. (It should have been Scenario 34, but.)

A little later, Coyote came out and saw Chad talking with us. He came over and made a comment about how he can't have the drummer being the representative of the band. I had to laugh at that. Chad wandered off to leave Coyote holding court with us.

What an amazing guy. Attentive, courteous, recognized The Coyote Collective from his website (see link below). He seems as though he actually cares what his followers think about his music, his show, and life in general. This is a big part of that star quality I mentioned earlier. Coyote gives the impression both in person and online that he's not one to take *the little people* for granted. This is one of the things that will gain him more fans, and fans that will stick with him through the years.

I walked into that club that night expecting to see just another band in the Los Angeles music scene. A bunch of guys who might be nice, but might be arrogant assholes. What I found instead were a couple of men (I didn't get to meet the bassist, Casper) who I'd be proud to call my friends if they just worked at the Baskin Robbins across the street from my bar. They give the impression of being genuine, down-to-earth, wonderful people...and that is what ultimately counts in the long run.