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As a seventeen year old, I had already been going to shows for two years.  By chance, I went to one of the truly all age venues in the town, Vino’s Brew Pub, of Little Rock, Arkansas.  They were hosting The Gossip.  A friend of mine told me it was a show not to miss, so I made the fifteen minute drive, paid the five dollar cover, and got way more than I expected.  

I recall that at least one local band opened the show, but I’m fuzzy on the details since it’s been about six years since then.  Next, The Gossip, as they were known back then, made their way to the small stage.  Beth Ditto, Kathy Mendonca, & Brace Paine started playing.  As soon as Ditto sang her first note, I knew I’d be a fan for a long time to come.

Fast forward to October 30, 2009 where Little Rock was eager to welcome back their wunderkinds, Gossip.  I’m still having a hard time not attaching “The” to the band name, but that’s all well and good.  They chose Little Rock to close out their current US section of their tour before traveling back to Europe. 

I was rather surprised and honored at the same time that they’d even think of coming back to Little Rock, much less them opting to play at Vino’s when they could have easily sold out a larger venue.  Ditto actually insisted on playing at the venue because it was such an integral part of their early years together. Gossip has gotten so popular in recent years that I’d resigned myself in to having to see them in a larger venue some time in the future.  However, in retrospect, it makes all the sense in the world for Gossip to re-visit Arkansas.  Ditto, born in Judsonia, AR, but raised in Searcy, AR had been causing a stir for many years in an area that most likely viewed her as socially unacceptable.  She obviously did not let that stop her and The Gossip was formed.

Now that the mini-history lesson is over, I was exceedingly excited when the show started.  Ray Bridgemay, from Cabot, AR, opened the show.  They were folk rock infused with undertones of a jam band.  That being said, they weren’t that bad.  I actually enjoyed them, but as they said themselves, “They were the band everyone wanted off stage so Gossip could play.” After the show, I asked them what it was like to be opening for Gossip and they said, “We were so excited.  We’ve been practicing our asses off for the last four months.”  Hey, I give them credit for being honest, and would love to see them again where they are the primary focus of the night. 

After a half an hour set give or take a few minutes, they cleared off the stage to make wake for Gossip.  This time around, there were at least three times as many, if not more, people packed in to that oddly shaped back room.  The crowd rippled with energy and last minute beer runs before the stars of the night took the stage.

Hannah Billie, who replaced Mendonca on drums in 2003, entered through the side door first, followed quickly by Paine.  Everyone waited with pent up excitement for Ditto to appear.  She bounced in through the door, as full of energy as ever and as vibrant as her freshly dyed fire engine red hair, to rousing applause.  Ditto’s family, as they are accustomed to do, made their way front and center of the stage.  I met Ditto’s mom, and I can see where her jovial demeanor and crazy antics come from.  Once they were all settled, the band kicked started the show.

Gossip had a thirteen song set, but I could be off by one or two because the set list I glanced at briefly was typed in ridiculously small font.  The set consisted of a healthy mix of old, new, and in between material.  I spent the better part of my teen years listening to Movement, Arkansas Heat,and, That’s Not What I Heard, and it was amazing to hear some of those live again.  Admittedly, I’m not as familiar with the newer albums, but what I’ve heard in the past couple years and during the set, I loved.  Newer material was favored during the show, but everyone was completely fine with that.

Near the end of the night, Ditto lead a raucous sing-a-along of We Are The Champions.  Everyone got in to it, and it was a fitting way to wrap up the evening and kick off Halloween festivities.  As they finished up the show and walked off, the crowd enthusiastically cheered for them to come back on stage.  Ditto’s mom, got up on stage to fire us up more, and because of her efforts, we cheered Gossip back on the stage.  To the delight of everyone there, they played one last song and then called it a night. 

There was a frantic scramble among some people there to obtain coveted set lists and show posters.  I actually had no problem nabbing a poster so I could hang around and get it signed, talk with the bands, and generally make up for being too shy around them six years ago.  Each member obliged and was truly wonderful to meet.  It took me a few minutes to track down Ditto.  I finally found her out visiting with her family and asked her really quickly to sign my poster.   I also asked what her thoughts on being back in Little Rock were like, and she said, “ I love Little Rock.  It’s great to see all my family and friends here.”  I didn’t want to steal any more of her precious family time, so I wandered back in to the venue.

This show exceeded all my expectations and then some.  Gossip certainly did their job and did it well.  No one left that show without being sweaty to some degree and a smile.  There’s a reason why they are hands down the most popular band to hail from Arkansas in the last ten years.  They are a tightly knit band that makes intoxicating music.  I can only wish them best of luck on the road and hope that they don’t wait another six years to come back and see their extended family of Little Rockers. 


-L

(Side note, Filter Magazine asked me to write up the show.  That's pretty sweet.)