~Z.T.~ “What is that thing you do with your hands when you like music, that isn’t clapping?” my six year-old cousin asked with wonder in his eyes. “That’s the rock symbol,” I said, smiling.

We were listening to my newly acquired vinyl copy of The Raconteurs’ Consolers of the Lonely. The first vinyl he’d ever seen or heard. He called the needle a pin. He was fascinated by it.

I’ve been teaching the ways of rock for a few months now. I introduced him to Hendrix. He already loved Pink Floyd and the Chili Peppers. He thinks “Through the Fire and Flames” is the best song ever. He has a lot to learn.

So he decided we would have a dance contest. I’d bust out my best moves for the first half of each song and he’d try to out-do me for the second half. I pulled out some classics (that were new to him.) The Mick Jagger chicken dance, the windmill, the high leg kick, the back pedal saunter. He outdid me every song.

Dude tore his shirt off and swung it over his head, leaped up on the couch and flung himself off. Flashed the scary eyes and ran in place like his life depended on it.

Then I taught him the too much rock for one hand move. He struggled at first, holding up a thumb, but by “Many Shades of Black” he was rocking out in all the right spots. We made it through all four sides of the album. He refused to let me skip the slower songs. He even danced to “Carolina Drama.”

When I was shampooing his hair, (he stank like a rockstar) he asked me to give him a Mohawk. I tried to explain what a hipster wanna be he was with his Shmo-hawk, but I think I said too many words he couldn’t understand. Note: the child pictured at right is not my cousin. My cousin would kick this kid’s ass. The force is strong with this one. Now if I can only convince him to stop rooting for the Cardinals…

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1. The birth of Festival Crashers
2. Festival Crashers are Stranded…Dad…Help!
3. God Speed Festival Crashers
4. Popping my Festival Crashers cherry
5. A Heady Few Weeks for Festival Crashers…