Café Scooters
Drachten, The Netherlands
Friday, May 30, 2003

 Chicago Mike performing with Big Eyed Beans From Fryslân: Rik Meyer (guitar), Jan van Olffen (bass), Boy Brostowski (drums), Rhodes electric piano superstar Ruben Mulder and guests.

An outrageously rockin' evening with the Friesen Beans at my home away from home, Café Scooters in Drachten. Booked at the last minute so the Beans could squeeze in an extra gig before I flew home to Chicago, we were welcomed by a packed house. The Beans delivered the goods and really tore it up. It was great to see Ton, Ali, and all my friends again! An unexpected but welcome surprise end to my tour. This was the last "official" show of my Spring 2003 tour, though I did manage to squeeze in one more guest appearance (the next night with Marshmellow Steamroller in Heerenveen), and an extemporaneous performance at De Burgermeester in Tiel a few days later.

On the drive home to Leeuwarden, cars were parked all along the highway as the sun came up. Ruben remembered that he heard there was to be an eclipse at exactly this time! We stopped the van and all got out to patiently observe the celestial dance. What an experience.