About 15 years ago, I was a sad little waitress who never knew where her next margarita was coming from. When my friend Shannon asked me to go to Party on the Plaza with her... and said that she knew someone, who knew someone, who could get us free drinks ... well, I was not about to say no. Party on the Plaza is a series of free concerts held in a downtown Houston park on Thursday afternoons. On this particular Thursday, Loverboy was the featured band. I was always more of a Duran Duran girl, but the lure of free drinks clouded my judgement, and downtown I went. We had been there about 10 minutes when Shannon asked me if I wanted to go backstage. Um ... yes please. Since we knew someone who knew someone, we were escorted right back. Right back to the other side of the string that separated "backstage" from the rest of the park. Hmmm ... not quite as big of a deal as I thought it would be. Oh well. Free drinks.
We sat on the edge of a planter and enjoyed the people watching while we waited for the band to begin. After a minute I heard Shannon say, "Is that him? Is ... that ... him ... ? No ... yes ... uh". I turned my head and saw a chunky balding guy in unfortunate leather pants staring at us. Mike Reno. Lead singer of Loverboy. Checking us out. Free drinks.
He sauntered over to us, paused dramatically, and took a big swig from his water bottle. Then he just stood there. And stood there. Looking at us. Not talking. "Um ... hi how are you?", we said. To which he replied, "Can't talk girls ... I'm saving my pipes". Then he turned on his heels and walked away to start the show. The free show. In a park. On a Thursday. Whatever. Free drinks.
PS: No joke, he rocked that park so hard. He sounded great. Am attaching video of a recent interview he did with a female reporter. He has his arm around her. He is leaning into her. He is whispering. Yes, ladies and gentlemen. Mike Reno is still saving his pipes ... and hopefully giving that poor girl some free drinks.
