Just the Best Party Reunion

The World/Inferno Friendship Society reunited all the original band members to celebrate Just the Best Party. They played at the Music Hall of Williamsburg in Brooklyn, which is about a Hallowmas-sized venue. This show was a BIG DEAL.

It was kinda rainy and yuck when I got there. Maybe 40% of the crowd was dressed up in suits and dresses like the old days. I honestly don’t remember when we stopped dressing up for Inferno shows, because I definitely used to, and I remember a few dudes who always dressed up, but I don’t remember when or why we stopped.

Regardless, it was nice to dress up again.

Hillary and Susanna were outside smoking when I got there and I was greeted by a “Hey beautiful!” I love them, honestly.

The venue was set up a bit weird. When you first walk in, there’s just stairs going up and stairs going down. Like around a corner (somewhere) was merch, and from there you could go down some more stairs to a bar with tv screens to watch what was going on in the venue. It was confusing tbh, but I mostly hung out down there until the show started.

I officially met Hillary’s boyfriend Brendan, who plays guitar for Inferno’s current line-up. But of course, the current line-up wasn’t playing tonight. Brendan told me I always take the best videos. Awww.

Then I found Clay and Whitney and Doug and Margot and Scott and Josh. Josh apparently cracked a rib slipping in soap onto a sink while holding a box the day before the show, so he didn’t think he could dance in the pit. It was the most sad thing ever.

There were a decent amount of people there that I didn’t recognize, which was unexpected.

Margot: “It’s like my high school reunion, expect I actually like all of these people!”

It was also like different “classes” of Infernites. I’m a newb compared to a lot (read: most, if not all) of them, and I don’t think my friends even realize that for the most part.

There was a ~supposedly~ “limited edition” poster, “only 66,” but really someone just numbered every. single. poster 6/66. Lolllllll they would. And Jack’s face on that poster is priceless.

I saw Kevin Vonesper (who is an awesome photographer and videographer, as well as musician) and we caught up a bit. He told me the guy he was with brought him to his first Inferno show.

Zanne: “Do you know Lindsay?”
Whitney: “Yeah, I introduced her to Inferno.”

One of the openers was Vic Thrill, who current-Inferno-member Dallow was playing with. I watched with Hillary and Brendan.

I’m pretty sure Vic Thrill opened Hallowmas one year wearing a lot of feathers. I think that was him at least. Regardless, he was fun. I enjoyed it.

Dallow played this weird instrument called a theremin that he played by like… manipulating the air??? It was the strangest thing I’ve ever seen, I was so confused, but it was AMAZING. So friggin cool.

The air conditioner was SO COLD during Vic Thrill, but we really really needed that during Inferno.

I missed the second opener and hung out with my friends downstairs instead.

Brandy literally picked me up like a baby when she saw me.

Obviously the band played all of Just the Best Party (although not in order), as well as a bunch of other throwback songs. I loved all the old songs.

Okay can we talk about how I saw a once super creepy dude named Kevin (not to be confused with Vonesper, who I adore) in the pit during “I Wouldn’t Want to Live in a World Without Grudges.” I freaked TF out. I haven’t seen him in years and mostly forgot he existed, but he makes me v uncomfortable.

AND THEN he messaged me the next day saying he wanted to talk to me but wasn’t sure if I wanted him to and I’m like LOL NOPE bye.

Jack before Grudges: “This song has a meaning. And that meaning is ‘I will kill you.'”

The band friggin killed it. They really only messed up one song, and I don’t even remember which one it was, so it wasn’t that bad.

But I do remember Scott jinxed how well they were doing right before the song they messed up on.

Me: “Where is Scott? YOU JINXED THEM.”

We were a little surprised at how great the show ended up being, since it’s been so long since they all played together, and probably didn’t get much time to practice before the show. I heard they only had two rehearsals. But they’re super talented musicians, so it was really really awesome.

I danced with Hillary for one song, and waltzed with Kevin Vonesper. It was a very cramped pit for waltzing, but it was fun and he’s a sweetie. The band had teased us earlier about a waltz, but ended up playing something from Astral League instead.

There were a ton of stage dives during “All the World is a Stage Dive” obviously.

They played “The Naughty Little Rat Makes New Friends” at full speed, which I was a little confused about because they normally slow it down in the beginning for live shows, but I went with it. There weren’t enough people actually circle pitting, but I really love that song.

It really was Just the Best Party. So so much dancing. Love it. Love them. So happy to see the original line-up.