Fireside Inn and Dive Bar: Taking Me Back.

It was time for a family outing. By family I mean this motley crew of misfits and mutants that make up our group. We are about the adventure, it is about living in the moments. Jon and I were enroute to my house to pick up Danielle. After a short layover to prepare all that we needed for this night's escapades, we were again on the road to pick up Anison. Jon stepped out of the vehicle to have a smoke as we waited on Anison. Once Anison came down and took over the front seat Jon and I rolled in the backseat and we were off.

Driving down 8 Mile Rd. we incurred the dullest most treacherous traffic in any construction zone one was forced to deal with. We crawled along M-102 until we made that turnaround at Grand River. As we headed down Grand River there was talk of stopping to grab a bit of food to eat before we headed to the destination. We decided on Taco Bell. I am not a fan of fast food but as far as fast food goes I am even less of a fan of Taco Bell. Just the same, we ordered and we ate in the parking lot of this fine dining establishment before heading on to the Fireside Inn.

As we started out, I didn't even know what road we had tried to go down but we had to make a mad dash to turn it around and get back on course. Danielle is always just in go-go mode, rarely though is she ever in know-know mode. It was Anison’s fault as he was in the front seat and should know that Danielle needs constant supervision when she is on the roads and highways. Spin it around and through a neighborhood we cut. Back to 8 Mile Road and then again down Grand River, past the very familiar Taco Bell. It was truly one of those Deja vu all over again moments.

When we pulled up to that old stomping grounds known as the Double 00 Pub back in the day, many memories started to rush and flood my head. Besides Anison, our other two traveling companions have never been to this quaint little dive bar before. I remember so many good times and a couple of really crazy times. As we turned into the parking lot, so many more nostalgic moments revealed themselves to me. Stepping out of the vehicle, Anison waited patiently as the rest of us went through our pregame rituals. Ooted, booted and grass burned up, we seemed ready to conquer the world. Or at least this sweet little piece of it known as the Fireside Inn.

We all piled through that all too familiar back door. Greeted by the pool table and that sentimental smell of old mildew and stale beer that is common to all dive bars. It was brighter than I recalled. If recollection serves me correctly it was always so much darker back in the day. I used to sneak off to some obscure dim corner to do little bumps or nice sized lines. Which ritualistically happened as I went to order another whisky. Jameson was and is still the drink I choose when I am enjoying an evening here.

As we entered the place only Jon actually paid for his cover charge. I am not sure how or why, but that was a thing that he did. For his reward he received a DVD that he had no way to play when he went home, as he no longer has a DVD player. But I ended up with a copy and look forward to seeing what Miss Colleen has put together. I gave the place once over, as I walked about the place I saw many things that remained the same. I also saw things new to me that I shared with Danielle. We ordered drinks, Anison his usual screwdriver; Jon and I Jameson on the rocks.

As we settled to a table in the middle of the bar up close to the front where the bands would be performing, we began to drink and chat. Shortly into our conversation the lady of the Colleen Caffeine showed up in a little leopard skin print outfit that let you know she was no ordinary patron of the Fireside. I turned to say hello as she walked towards our little command center.

Jon was talking about the pool table and asked if I wanted to shoot a game? I answered yes and we started to head out as Danielle made a guttural sound of disapproval. I turned back to see if she would want to play, she declined, but made sure I knew that I should have asked her before I turned to leave. So Jon and I made our way in and out of the crowd. We arrived at the pool table, there were CD’s and other merchandise on the table. We looked at the fella who was running the door about them, with a bit of confusion he moved them to another location.

As we were in the middle of shooting pool, it dawned on me that even in the Double 00 Pub days one did not pay to shoot pool. It was an intense game of trying to look like we knew how to play. Then it happened, this guy came in and scribbled his name on the chalkboard to claim next on the table. From watching people to being watched as the man whose name I could not make out sat at the end of the bar and ordered a beer. While he watched us, Jon and I struggled to finish our match. Like some staggering meth heads that have no idea where they are or how they got there. But like some crazed dope fiends we just couldn’t win, smacking balls about the table in what seemed like an unending nightmare. Then finally it happened, Jon took out the 8 ball and it was over.

As I left Jon behind at the pool table to make my way back to Danielle and Anison, I thought of how I jammed on that stage many years prior sometime till 4 in the morning. As I made it back to the table I crept up on Danielle and kissed the back of her neck. Anison grabbed me and yelled, “hey that's Franks girl!” We shared a laugh between us and a couple strangers behind us.

Then the first band of the night was preparing to begin the show. This band I had never heard of and that was ashamed, because they were punk rock as fuck. They called themselves EKG, they had hard riffs, snappy drums and flowing bass lines that exploded in two and a half minute songs that were high powered as punk can be.

The night was heating up and the debauchery continued in high fashion as Pussy Maggot took control of this evening's entertainment. They brought the same high energy punk rock as EKG and the night could have been complete with just those two bands. However after such a dynamic duo of sets, there was still more to come. Like the hot sweaty, wild and passionate night of charged up sexual depravity that left you drenched and out of breath. This climactic night was far from over.

Now it was time for Choking Susan, fronted by one of the ladies that truly rock the Detroit music scene: Miss Colleen Caffeine. As I stated earlier she was dressed to kill and as expected she did just that. On stage or off stage she is the constant entertainer. In the bar room, bathroom, dressing room, and pool table wherever she is, if you are watching she is stealing the show. Colleen has been a staple in the Detroit music scene and after tonight's performance, she shows no sign of losing steam.

Unfortunately we had to miss the Mentors, schedules and work getting in the way of another magical night of music and mayhem. Big shout out to the Mentors, they are an amazing band that I would suggest you check out. The night was complete and the music faded into the recesses of my mind along with the scenes and photos that will live on in my memory.