this is why

See, the problem with a plan is that if you get all organized and look at the list of bands who'll play, for free, down under the arch this summer, is that either you'll do just what the Live on the Levee's crowd control committee (publicly stated motto: not too good, not too popular) half hopes you will, and say, "oh, who cares, we'll go another time," or, you do go, too early, and bake in the sun to get a seat on the arch steps, since sitting must be better than standing, and fight the ballgame traffic and the families with their coolers and camp chairs and by the time the show starts, way down across the street, your butt is numb and who cares about this band anyway and haven't we seen fireworks three times this week already?

Or, you can decide at 7:24 to try to make the 8 o'clock show since what are we doing anyway but nothing, walk up to the stage after missing no more than a song or two, spot Beatle Bob in the crowd, realize this trio of brothers are not one-hit wonders but actual musicians, including a kick-ass guitar player, who, as Willie Nelson said, may well be Stevie Ray come back to life, and spend more than an hour doing one of the things you love best: moving to the better-than-you-ever-thought-it-would-be music on a summer night.

Good thing I know better than to make a pl*n.