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CONTENTS
HOT
SPOTS
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Lifestyles
Of The Not-yet Famous
Continued
by Erin Kosnac
photos by Tim Harrison
Where in the hell is Tidioute?
 Drumlines that would make most drummers vomit don't faze Jon Finley. Despite his hard hitting, Finley takes a bite from a sandwich between songs. |
But tonight is just a regular Tuesday night at Europe Gyro. No broken-down vans in a desert. No tattoos with a safety pin. Just the regular crowd that has gathered in front of the small wooden stage to watch The Party of Helicopters play.
It is almost 1 a.m. when the four members of The Party of Helicopters take the stage. The drummer sits shirtless, a tattoo of a spider leaping from his upper arm onto his chest. As the band starts to warm up, you can feel the deep thumping in your chest. Then the floor begins to shake.
Most of the people in Europe Gyro have moved closer to the stage. Those who haven't start to take notice. Even those huddled by the Golden Tee 3D Golf machine turn to look.
Stillman, dressed in all black again, almost blends in completely with the black wall behind him. As his head shakes violently with the music, his dark hair covers his eyes. The sweat on his face begins to glisten when the light falls on him.
But at center stage is Dennis.
He cradles the microphone stand in his hands, wearing jeans ripped in both knees and a red shirt reading, "Where in the hell is Tidioute?" He captures your attention. He makes it nearly impossible to look away.
Dennis' eyes look out above and over the audience as if he is staring into infinity. With hollowed cheeks and circles under his eyes, he casts a vampire-like gaze on the audience.
And then he sings.
The screech-moan-howl combination sounds like it comes from somewhere deep within and is unexpected from Dennis' slight build. It is almost as if he is possessed, and at any moment some demon is going to be released.
Al Gore is on a TV screen by the bar, but he goes unnoticed with The Party of Helicopters on stage. Dennis commands attention as he moves on stage almost like a sex kitten, his hands running all over his body. Somewhat seducing. Somewhat teasing. Definitely entrancing.