It is said that all bands must pay their dues before getting rich and famous and meeting all the pretty people. Well, last night Scamper decided -- or rather, it was decided for them -- to skip a lot of frustration and just pay all their dues up front.

This show was a benefit for Toys for Tots up in Lowell MA, but it was cursed from the get-go. First, Mother Nature was threatening another wintry mix, keeping the Lowell faithful curled up in front of their fireplaces. Then five of the twelve bands cancelled. Then the soundguy left when he found out he wasn't getting paid. And then the most shocking thing of all: no one -- I mean NO ONE -- came. (No one outside of perpetual superfans Alena and Luda, that is!) Apparently the promotional machine up in Lowell dropped the ball on this one. Plus the whole event was competing with Kiss 108's "Jingle Ball" downtown, featuring legendary pop diva Kelly Osbourne. Egad. One song into the set Nate had already broken a string and the cacophony of feedback on stage had rendered Keith and Mike deaf. So the band got offstage and had a shot of Jagermeister to warm the blood and soothe the soul. Then Scamper returned, ready to rock... and Marc broke a string. And Mike's kick drum pedal fell off. Oh goodness.

Anyway, there were highlights. Mike ruled Club Fuel from atop a fabulous drum riser, Marc was treated to his very own microphone, Nate played "Luther's" from inside one of those stripper cages on stage left, and Keith played "Park Bench" down, well, where an audience would normally stand. Some great photos came out of the night, and the new cover of "Winter Wonderland" was nothing short of a sensation. Scamper also tested the water for some new and evolving tunes, and the future looks bright.