So there we were, bowling away a Saturday night in Davis Square.
Mikey, his roommate Tina, Amanda and Joanne, myself; y'know, the
usual gang of idiots. For those of you who haven't seen me (most
of you, probably), my perpetually changing "look" is currently
reminiscent of a young Elvis Costello or Buddy Holly. Or The Sheila
Divine. Nothing drastically original, I'll grant you that, but
cest la vive! So I'm hanging between frames minding my own business
among friends, when out of the corner of my right eye a young
girl appears. Prototypical Gap girl, this one; looks like she's
about to start singing off-key Madonna until I buy some chinos
from her. I don't think much about it, until she sits next to
me and says "HI!" I look to my right, and there beams a smile
resembling that of the flautist girl in American Pie. Ok, now I'm freaked; am I being hit on by this teenage mall
denizen?! Is she going to tell me about this one time...at band
camp? NO!!! She asks me "Are you in a band?" I'm caught a bit off guard, trying to think of how to let her
down gently, when Mikey leans over and says "Yeah, he's in The
Sheila Divine!" So now Gap girl starts hyperventilating, and I've
got no choice but to go along with it. She has no idea who The
Sheila Divine are, but it doesn't matter; I'm in a band, and that's
good enough. It turns out that she is among a group, one of who
is turning 18 that evening. A simple request is made; would I
sing Happy Birthday to the lucky bowler? Mikey, my "manager",
shoots me a negative shake of the head. I respectfully decline,
since I've got to rest my throat in between gigs. Instead, I offer
to pose for a few pictures. Hey, it's the least I can do for my
public. Gap girl and her friends all give me big thanks, and promise
to go by our disc, New Parade as they head for the door. Just
your typical Saturday night at a bowling alley in Davis Square.
I often wonder if right now, thanks to Mikey, one of those kids
is comparing the New Parade sleeve with a picture of me from a
bowling alley screaming "THAT'S HIM!!!" And THAT'S the Mikey that I know and love. And miss. Those of
us who are aquainted with Mikey Dee appreciate all that he's done
for our careers over the years. Those of us who know Mikey appreciate
Mikey, regardless of whether or not he's plugging our CD's and
gigs. Get well soon, Mikey. Bowling just ain't the same without
my manager. With love... Brian Westbye Saturday, March 11, 2000
ARE YOU IN A BAND?