Had their egos inflated with their VH1-assisted fame? Would Dominic be behind the drums or facing palimony charges? Maybe the fractious quintet had finally cracked, with various members laying claim to the name. Would the band playing Brownie's tiny cubbyhole actually be Flickerstick featuring Rex "El Dangeroso" Ewing?

There were some surprises. First, the band was still together. There were no fistfights. No power outages. Their beers were replenished. Second, this was a chance to actually hear what Bands on the Run was shortest on, actual music. It turns out Flickerstick are Texan fans of that sweeping '80s guitar-rock sound that the Waterboys called "the big music."