The audience was drenched and brilliant, singing the lyrics to the old and new with a mix of nostalgia and wisdom that is seldom found at a rock show. This was Cracker, yes Cracker, at their finest. It was ABC’s 12^th Anniversary and this was definitely a party. The Abbey Bar was packed, obviously, and what the crowd was ready for and, oh lord, what the band delivered, was a reminder of why we listen to music and follow bands around: rock ‘n roll man, rock ‘n roll.
 

            Starting off with the next great slacker anthem Turn on Tune In Drop Out, Cracker jammed headlong into an intense ninety minute set that showed us why we fervently loved Teen Angst and took us back to the summer of 1993 right before senior year. They ripped through a great version of Hey Bret and right into Euro Trash Girl. They were fiery and we were kindling, our shoes dancing flint sparks across old oak beams baptized in beer.
 

By the time Teen Angst proclaimed itself our voices were raw and we were only half way there. These fantastic mad men gave just enough of what we knew we wanted with a gracious plenty of what we didn’t. I had almost completely forgotten about St. Cajetan until Cracker presented me with a “cool drink of water.” I absolutely fell in love with Show Me How This Thing Works but there was a smidgen of sadness without my absolute favorite Mr. Wrong but I’ll have to forgive the band. These gentlemen were dazzling and dynamic with seventeen years of music as a foundation.
 

            There are nights when I thank my lucky stars that I work at the Brewery. Nights when the band hangs out with the crowd because the show blew everyone away and nobody is quite ready to go home. These rare moments, they slip so easily away during the day to day, so here’s to every “junkie cosmonaut”: Cheers buddy, may your bands always leave you wanting more.