Sharing a couple of drinks, leaning, backs against the bar. Two maniacal madmen surveying the site of calamity, and goddamn, it is good. The elder of the two having the beautiful perspective that only comes with experience; However the conviction is shared. The room is full of the gloriously uncommon – the beautiful bastards of this life. The bright things, the star children. Lovers and rebels, beauty seeking madness craving wanderers, fighters and dancers, all in the same breath. The sort of people where you’re equally as likely to make out with someone in the middle of a pit as you are to catch a fist, and quite possibly could be the same person.

“Jack” I say, leaning slightly over – enough to hear and speak clearly but not enough to take my eyes off the crowd of fire dancers. They are fire dancers after all, and we bring the fire and light – we’re entertainers. It’s what we are and what we’ve pursued all of our lives. “Thank you for all the help you’ve given us; It means a lot, man. It’s really help get our asses out the door and on the road.”

He swirls his cocktail, turning a plastic dixi cup into something more sophisticated, more elegant, if only for a split second. A wine glass, perhaps; Maybe a heavy bottomed dram. Eyes still fixed on the crowd and ears on the barstool conversation. I can feel a smile, a weary smile, but a smile none the less. You don’t need to see these things to hear the inflections in the words. “Oh, don’t mention it, Jonny. We recognize our own tribe”.

The Devil’s delightfully wicked grin creeps across my face. The one I sing about so passionately. The words leave my mouth as they are thought, no brakes or restraint.

“Tonight is going to be such marvelous, beautiful fun, isn’t it?”

–
And you know what? It most certainly fucking was. It’s an honor and a joy to share the stage with you fine folks and hopefully it will be sooner than later when we get to do it again – I can say without a doubt it’s been the best Halloween I’ve ever had, that’s for fucking sure. Jack, Leslie, Sandra, Frank, Rebecca, Matt, Greg, and of course the delightful clan of Infernites – Thank you.

Also? Chestnut is coverd in glitter STILL and I can’t help but giggle. He sparkles.

-Jonny Swagger