While everyone else was dressed up as Mexican gunfighters and sexy fairies, partying it up this past Saturday, I was getting a good night's sleep. Why? Because I was bound and determined to see Louis XIV play at the Brookside Bar and Grill Sunday morning at 10 a.m., that's why!

Now if you're into Top 40 or country, then Louis XIV probably isn't your cup of tea. But if you like alternative, indie and all things underground then you'd most likely drink them up as if you were dying of thirst. (And if you still don't like them, then be gone with you!)

Since I don't actually live in Kansas City, Mo I knew I was going to have a long drive ahead of me. And since it was a free show I was really worried about not getting in anyway, so I wanted to be there early!

My wish was granted as I ended up getting there at 8:30 am. I felt a little silly walking in since I was one of lets say 10 other people (including staff) that were there that early, but still I was pleased. I knew I'd get to have a chair and there would be plenty of time for me to partake in the breakfast the Brooksider serves, long before the excitement began. And in case any of you are ever up that way, the Brookside breakfast is really good! They do a country style potato with chopped peppers that is just about perfect.

Anyway, I assume that being a musician is a pretty hectic life. Flying here, driving there, having insane fans throwing themselves at your feet. Nothing I deal with on a day-to-day basis, so I'm guessing one of those three things is what caused the band to be late for their 10 a.m. show. They didn't actually show up till almost a quarter past 11 and all I can say is I'm glad the dude that sets up their equipment was ahead of the game or I may still be at the bar waiting for them to play.

But before long the 4-man band was up on the small stage singing to me and making me very glad I'd driven all that way to hear them. (I say singing to me, because I'm their biggest fan and all #1 fans think the band is playing for them alone.)

Since it was such a small setting, they had acoustic guitars instead of what they normally use on stage and they obviously didn't have all the bells and whistles they use on their CDs either. If you go to a show like that, never expect the band to sound like they do on their CDs. It's just not going to happen. It's live and they aren't lip syncing like so many big named artists do now days. The sound is raw and the vocals are pure. You know if they've been up late and if they have a cold. You also know if they have forgotten the words because they normally look at you and laugh then pick up wherever they left off. (They didn't forget the words by the way - I was just making a point.)

Moving on!

When they finished their first song "The Grand Apartment", and immediately went into "Finding Out True Love is Blind", well I admit to forgetting all about the seat I'd gotten there so early to obtain, and began to wiggle my way up through the crowd to the front row. Where I shamelessly stayed for the rest of the show and danced the morning away with my camera in hand and my voice mingling with theirs (and everyone else's) till they crushed all our hearts by telling us they had to leave and get on a plane to go somewhere else.

Ah, the life of a rock star.

I'd like to see them again in a larger venue so I can get all those bells and whistles I missed this time around. But for a Sunday morning, I think this was just about perfect.