Way back in the day, before “Awesome” got all (provincially) famous and started playing rock clubs and fancy literary events and theaters like On the Boards, they did a series of intimate (but packed) shows in the long, dimly-lit theater in the Rendezvous that always, always makes me think I’m in a bordello.

(Even though it doesn’t look particularly bordello-ish. Did it used to be a bordello? Are the ghosts of cheerful turn-of-the-century prostitutes, gruff-but-sweet barmen, and a diminutive piano player named Mac floating around the place? I’d like to think so.)

Anyway, those old shows were great—surprising, conspiratorial, like you were in on a secret. They’re still my favorite “Awesome” shows. Special guests with improbable-looking horns (big saxes, long trumpets) kept coming out from backstage. A tub of water was used as a percussion instrument, getting the tub-player soaking wet. The national anthems of other countries were sung. Lots of people wore suits. Some guy behind me kept barking load, hoarse yeah!s every time a song ended. And drinks, of course, were drunk. Those were good nights. They looked like this:

(The photo in the banjo was, I think, of Patrick Swayze.)

This Friday, March 30, “Awesome” returns to the haunted bordello known as the Rendezvous for one night. The 8 pm show is sold out. The 10:30 pm show is almost sold out. You can get a ticket here.