4.3; The School Concert is a Hit!

April 30, 1973

Loudness had practiced long and hard for this big night. It was the Annual Smallville Jr. High Dance, and the group had increased their set to 10 songs.
This was their April 30th Set:

1. Saturday Night
2. Dream On
3. Band On the Run
4. I'll Have to Say I love You In A Song
5. Gimme Three Steps
6. Bad Bad Leroy Brown
7. Hooked On A Feeling
8. Bennie and the Jets
9. Midnight At The Oasis
10. Rock On

The group realized they needed 2 slow-dance songs, so they added "I'll Have to Say I love You.." and "Midnight..." They also decided their signature-ending song would be "Rock On" by David Essex. It was a good concert, but JoJo realized he needed another guitar to help him on some songs. Also, the guys didn't have the greatest of back up singers. However, the students seemed to enjoy themselves. This was confirmed afterwards as they were "mobbed" by their new fans! JoJo again thought This must be how Lynard Skynard feels! The guys hung out at the party for awhile. About 11:00, Dan showed up to get JoJo. His first thought was Lynard Skynard's parents don't pick them up after a concert! He quickly remembered he was thirteen!

JoJo's dad seemed to be excited. Weird...
"How was the concert, JoJo" (Little did JoJo know, but Dan listened to the entire concert from a secret vantage point in the school gym. He parked around the corner, and "appeared" to show up at 11:00.)
"Dad, it was the greatest night of my musical career!!"
"Baha!"
"Why you laughing, Dad?!!"
"I'm sorry, JoJo. This is only your SECOND concert."
"Oh... I see why you laughed. But, you know I have played imaginary concerts for 3 years."
Dan thought back to hitting the game winning hit in the World Series..thousands of times...in the back yard.
"Son, I'm sorry! This was a HUGE night for you, and I am proud of you!"
JoJo had not heard Dan say those words in 1973. As a matter of fact, he could not remember the last time Dan told him that he was proud of him.
"Dad, why are you so proud of me?"
"Son, many men go their entire life without fulfilling any dreams! You have fulfilled a big one at 13! You have worked extremely hard, plus you have kept your grades up. As a matter of fact, this is the best you've done in school in 2 years. And..."
"Why did you stop, Pop? You were making me sound really good!"
"Through all this, your Bible reading has increased." Dan hesitated because he did not want to turn JoJo off to the Bible or God. He knew fathers sometimes did that.
"Dad, I enjoy reading my Bible. And...I enjoy my Rock & Roll. Plus things with Cindy and me are going pretty good."
With relief, Dan responded, "Keep doing what you are doing, Son, because it's working." Dan really wanted to say Keep seeking the Lord, but he knew that opportunity would come---he could feel the Lord telling him that in his heart.
"I know it is late, but are you hungry?"
"Starving!"
"IHOP?"
JoJo laughed. "You know me well, Dad."
Dan used the pay phone outside to let Alice know the boys would be a little late tonight, and what a night it had been!