Well, it’s been ten days since the big event, and i’m sure all y’alls in Internet Land have been wondering: “So, Superstarcastic, how was the first ever Superstarcastival, a Benefit for Concern Worldwide?” Well, i’m glad i asked for you. Please for me to fill you in:In case you haven’t been paying attention (or have been paying attention and have a dangerous recall deficiency that borders on Reaganesque), i happen to play drums for Milwaukee’s own aural equivalent of the Coca-Cola/Mentos experiment, IfIHadAHiFi. Thus, our story begins with the band arriving at Chicago’s Beat Kitchen for load-in at 4:30. We weren’t the first to arrive as power-pop punks The Lusties were chilling outside with the $2 Berghoff Reds that were the bar’s special that day. Michael “Literati” Lustie didn’t need to try very hard to sell us on those–by showtime at 8 PM i was committed to drinking water until after our set in order to bring myself down to “buzzed enough to be dangerous onstage” from “too drunk to keep any kind of beat.” Yeah, for being full-blooded Sconni, i’m a bit of a lightweight.

As i worked on this, i was introduced to several of my SSC brethren and sistren (no, i don’t care whether or not that’s a word), including Sam, Zak, and Amber (who needed no introduction, as she’s hard to miss), who had no problem at all finding me thanks to my caving in to her demand to bring my high school hesher jean jacket to the starcastival. As the introductions were underway, The Lusties kicked off the night with a solidly-executed set of punk friggin’ rock, Lunachicks-style (if yer askin’ The Fucking Wizard–and you are), which led to equally stellar sets from Das Kapital and Pool of Frogs, whose Tenacious-esque vocalist bravely attempted to remember the name of the charity we were raising money for, with entertaining results for the audience.

For my money, i thought we played fairly well, and judging by my perception of the audience response, i think most people agreed. I had a problem with constantly exclaiming that the money raised was going to feed little Abu in Tanzania for 21 cents a day, which is absolutely ridiculous, as everyone knows that kids in Tanzania aren’t named that. I dunno; adrenalin does weird things.

The Red Tie Affair closed things out with a solidly driving set of charged indie-rock that sent the crowd home happy, and it was on to the schmoozing and drinking for the SSC writers and The HiFi. It was also time for KARAOKE ON DEMAND at Zak’s place, and those who braved the afterparty witnessed JoshD/MrAlarm/The Fucking Wizard tearing some early Madonna a new ass. Eventually, i think people were scared away by such antics as the band and Joie growling through “Whiskey in the Jarrrr-oh” in the style of Metallica, but fuck ‘em, they don’t know how to rock. Or something.

Anyway, big thanks about to the Beat Kitchen, the other bands, Joie for working her fracking ass off to make this a reality, Amber and Sam for traveling long distances, and (i think her name was) Brittney (or something) for being incredibly, staggeringly, entertainingly drunk, and for calling me a moron for being from Wisconsin. I truly hope you didn’t get the alcohol poisoning, my dear.

And Now: Photos!

Edie Lustie shakes it and shakes it well.

“Thanks to Worry Worldwide–er, wait!” Pool of Frogs feels it.

Like i’m not going to run a photo of my own band. As if.

Writers conference! Guess which of us are durnkn! (Note: The jacket looks way better on me than draped over my bass drum. Don’t deny it, ladies.)

Davin Youngs took these. He’s swell.

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