I ask myself, W.W.H.D? Make some hell, hell yeah. So here I am at the Ice House for Beer and Loathing, a Gonzofest 2015 mile marker, trying to cause some chaos.
That’s why I throw back one, two, three, four, more, more, more. BBC’s Atta Boy IPA then West Sixth’s Transy Brandy Ale (a whopping 11% to my bent-back brain! Whew!)... Apocalypse Brew Work’s “Fallout Dust” (it was that peppery brew, or their summer seasonal “Watermelon Crack.” As the pour-lady put perfectly, “You can’t come to Halfway to Gonzofest and not be offered dust or crack.”)... the Bourbon Barrel Ale... More Bourbon Barrel Ale... Something honey...
There goes Dennie Humphrey, the host and bright-white-lightbulb of this thing, maneuvering coolly through, a light breeze. Ain’t as many people here as he hoped for, around 30 or 40, but he’s positive, hopeful. It’s the first year for Halfway to Gonzofest, and Dennie knows it can only grow. As Gonzofest (held spring 2015) has and will continue to do. Now in its fifth year, the main shebang celebrating everything Gonzo and Hunter S. Thompson, will be held at the Waterfront Park’s Harbor Lawn, with many bands, beers, innovators, friends. He puffs on a cigar and talks possibilities... Acts... Sponsors... He needs sponsors...
I roam some more. Maybe I’m a wuss, but I don’t turn too many things on their asses, just try to upend some conversation. Spearhead that like I’m deep sea fishing. Some older button-ups and blazers are on about their junior high acting careers. The guy with the hamsa hand hat gives me a lesson in breath control, gives me chocolate (only appropriate), tells me to read Tom Robbins’ Jitterbug Perfume. Glasses remembers his honeymoon Puerto Rico, feeling like a real white guy amongst the bustle and shacks. Over cigarettes, some slam Christian Mingle. There’s more... More... Beer talk... Handful of white girls booty shaking to Boogie Juice Funk-n Horn Band’s rendition of Snoop D-O-Double G.
I’m bump-de-bump-bumpin’ and then I spot him. Hunter. The one “Hunter” who decided to dress up for the costume contest (winner by default). Hawaiian shirt, aviators, white cap, classic. He leans against a bourbon barrel table, enjoys the show.
Picture from Beer and Loathing's Facebook page
