July 24th, 1979

*MENTAL TOUR*

Gig #23

24 July 1979

Tuesday

Background by Tim 2005 – Before we formed the band, Carl was interviewed in a local arts magazine;  he stated that his next artistic activity was going to be a tour of mental institutions with a nuclear polka band (first sighting of the words “nuclear polka”?)  Once it became clear that this band –  Brave Combo –  was indeed the nuclear polka band, Carl took the steps needed to make the mental institution tour happen – he bankrolled all the expenses, set up all the gigs, and we did it!  It was a great experience for a new band.

BRAVE COMBO Knocks ‘Em Dead at the (         )

FORT WORTH STATE SCHOOL

The retarded people were alright, they got into it.  We got along fine once I realized they will never take “no” for an answer, they did’nt forget anything if they thought they could get something from us (songs, attention)

a shower of emotion

The strangest thing happened before we left, standing in the parking lot.  The attendants were all leaving and one of them called out that all (or half) of the kids we’d played for had infectious hepatitis.  Oh Yeah we cried.  Yeah he said and over there they’ve got chicken pox and he then proceeded to list horrible diseases in the area.  Probably we wouldn’t get sick he said as long as we didn’t drink after them (kids) etc.  I gulped.  He was (ha ha ha ha) putting us (haha) on.

$0 (Carl bought drinks for all)