Preservation
Hall is a non smoking facility (if only this would catch on!) located
next to world famous Pat O’Brien’s on St. Peter Street.
Bingo! fans turned out in droves that Sunday night to line up
outside of the venue, itching to see the band once more. Once the queue
had been let into a room much too small for those in attendance, it
was apparent that anyone under six feet tall and not in the first two
rows would not be able to see much. As the night wore on, though, and
the crowd shifted as people left or went out to the courtyard for some
relief in the cool breeze, it became easier to get a good view.
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As
the crowd filed in, perpetually face-painted Ronnie Numbers exhorted
the fans through his bullhorn, his manic/profane motivational words bringing
nostalgic smiles to many faces. Finally, near 12:30, the band took their
places (we can’t say “climbed onstage” as this room
actually had no stage to speak of). “Okay, let’s do this,”
said Maedgen as he launched into Celebration, the traditional
Bingo! show opener. The band obviously was enjoying itself, as
was the crowd. Bingo! has always drawn a rather diverse crowd and
this night was no exception with the tattooed and pierced grooving next
to the jeans and t-shirt people partying next to the cross dressers etc. |