This weekend, the four members of Scamper were together in the same room (in a non-toddler related capacity) for the first time since our show at Tufts in late August. It seems crazy, but Scamper has not played music together for over four months.

We plugged in our instruments (i.e. made the messy manlove) and then got dressed, cleaned off the motor oil, and started rehearsal. I was a little skeptical of our assumed rustiness and braced myself for the screeching cat sounds that would likely come out of Keith's amplifier. I winced as Mike clicked us in for the first few power chords of "Stunner"...

And we played it perfectly. Not a flubbed note or mistimed beat.

Ah well, re-beginner's luck, right? We launched into "Sophie," expecting the wheels to inevitably come off the bus...

A well-oiled rock machine. Probably the best we've ever sounded in a practice space.

Song after song after song was just spot-on. There were no painful "oops I missed a measure and now I hate myself for the next 15 minutes" Mike faces or sheepish "what's that chord again and I'm a bad wittle boy" Nate faces. Keith didn't get confused in the middle of a solo and wander out of the room into traffic the way he usually does. We played almost every song just right.

This cannot be a good sign. I hope in the weeks to come before the big finale show on February 2 at the Middle East Downstairs, we have a little musical turbulence to keep us sharp. At the very least, I hope Keith comes to the next rehearsal sporting a grey hoodie and a scowl full of humble pie.

Not into note-perfect power pop or fascist "sound good"istas? Come on by Hennessy's in Fanyooowl Hahl on Wednesday January 16 for Brendan Boogie Band's second show. That's a week from today, friends. It'll be a tasty appetizer for the Scamptastic main course.