Checking up On Him

It's not often I am transported back to High School on a good memory. But with this album, I am. On some weekends with my two best friends, we'd pile up in the car and go see a show. It was typically down to Orlando, about an hour's drive from our rural tiny towns. Until we got there we'd just talk, or play games to pass the time... like combining swear words to come up with the best (worst) one (and "Grasshopper" won that game in two seconds, with "cuntshit"). Eventually I'd see quite a few shows, wearing platform boots at the front of the stage if we weren't at the merch tables or braving the mosh pit.

But there's one show I remember the best.

It was Precious, a band my BFF followed and enjoyed when they lived closer to Orlando's music scene. They have been telling me all about them, and I was excited to see them in person. And they came onto that stage and rocked. It had the hallmarks of a great live show: passion, stage presence, talent, and a responsive crowd that loved them.

In addition to their Rarities EP, I bought their second album titled "Whatever Sinks Your Ship." My favorite track, if I had to pick just one? "Youth and the Drug Explosion," for how it ends: the wail of the electric guitar, carrying on until it was the only instrument left. Steve just stood there looking cool. But overall, I love the lyrics.

Some lines I still carry around.

"Youth and the Drug Explosion"

There's the beautiful.

"All Saints"

Some are more... blunt.

"Work"

And some I think are relatable.

"I Wanna Die"

I saw them play at one other show, where someone had driven four hours to hopefully hear them cover "Bare Necessities."

We've kept in touch via AIM. The details of how we exchanged screennames escape me, but everyone was giving our their screennames willy-nilly back then. We'd chat for upwards an hour about current events, broad-strokes life things, and music. I tried not to bug him too often-- he was an artist and a busy man. We kept in loose touch after I began college, until the messages tapered off completely.

I feared the worst-- he was open about his kidney issues-- but I'm happy to report that he's still around. I'd been keeping a casual tab on what he's been up to. He has been fundraising for a kidney, and after a long hiatus makes music under the name The Guarantees. But, every once in a while, I still yell Where is Steve Garron?! into the void. Out of habit.

And here's a call to action for you: go to your local shows. There's really nothing like them.