Playing to an Empty Lot with a Packed House (in the Snow)

I'm thinking the year was 1993:  Our newly minted five-piece band, Narrow Road, would play anywhere the doors were opened to us, which soon led us to a quaint coffeehouse called Ketchum's.  At that time, Ketchum's was located among a small strip of shops near the intersection of Oak and Harkrider streets in Conway, AR.  

I can't recall the month; what I distinctly remember is the patches of snow remaining on the ground in the parking lot... And our band having to set up outside the front door at Ketchum's, facing said parking lot.  There simply wasn't enough interior room for our amps, instruments and driving rock sound.

The people came, and we played to a packed house - sort of:  It was cold enough outside that our guitarists began to lose feeling in their fingertips.  I could see my breath as I sang in the frigid air.  The house was packed, alright:  Our supporters were inside the warm coffeehouse, watching us through side-view windows, playing to an empty lot.  

It was a bit strange, singing to vacant cars on that lot, knowing that the occupants were inside watching us.  Soon, I began to hold microphone in hand, walk through the band and into the coffeehouse, sing a few bars to the people, then walk back outside with the band.  It was surreal... and cold.  Very cold.  I would do it again in a heartbeat.

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- K -