This was my first concert in San Diego.

It was a radio contest for 91X. Juliana played three songs on acoustic guitar. All covers. And whomever the first person was that called in and named the songs would win. She did “Say it Ain’t So”, by Weezer. Then she did “Blue” by The Jayhawks. I can’t remember the third, but I knew it. Then I called in, and won the tickets.

This was all on short notice. The concert was the same night that I won the tickets. So, I convinced my big sister—who listened to rap at the time—to go with me.

Bad idea.

The show was good, but I was introduced to San Diego’s lacadaisical music fanbase. I was rocking out to Juliana, whom had the guitar skills of a female J. Mascis and the fire of one of the Reid brothers in Jesus and Mary Chain. She also had quite an attitude and sarcasm that I really dug.

I think my big sister was embarrassed by how much I rocked out. I constantly screamed out to Juliana. And my sister looked like she wanted to be somewhere else.

At the end of the night, I hung out by the bus. It took a long time for the band to come out. And my sister was losing her patience. She came out, screaming at me, wanting to go home. And she was loud about it. After five minutes of her bitching, she had the nerve to say “YOU’RE MAKING A SCENE!!!” (Of course, her ego made her oblivious to all the fans around us laughing at her.)

When my sister stormed off, I sang to our inadvertent audience. “I hate my sister… she’s such a bitch…” They laughed.

Moments later, Juliana came out. She looked dead tired, and didn’t feel like hanging out. So, no more than a few words with the kids. Probably a sentence or two. And she was on the bus, ready to pass out.

Out the window, she waved at all of us. And for one moment, she acknowledged me. I threw up the rock and roll devil sign, and she threw it right back.

On the drive home, I noticed we were on the same highway. I could see the band passed out on the bus, as they were right behind us. So, I waved to Juliana once more. I think she was crashed out by then.

Bad crowds in San Diego apparently wear musicians out.