SORTIE REPORT · IBWT-SR-1998 · CY1998 // PROPOSED
1998
They Keep Trying to Retire It. On time.
- SHOWS LOGGED
- 27
- RECORD DELIVERED
- They Keep Trying to Retire It
- INCIDENT REPORTS FILED
- None filed.
- PERSONNEL ON STRENGTH
- 7
By Day
0700–1630 local · Duty assignments
Marcus Webb “BRRRRRRT”
BAND · Lead Vocals
Promoted to program analyst, the defense contractor. Wrote cost and schedule variance reports by day. Wrote the album by night.
Dennis Kowalski “Cost-Plus”
BAND · Lead Guitar
Senior test engineer, the second contractor.
Dave Pruitt “Warthog”
BAND · Bass
Shuttle bus driver, Davis-Monthan AFB. Fourth year. Twenty-two stops on the route, all on time.
Elaine Kowalczyk “Seven Barrels”
BAND · Drums
Teaching studio, forty students and a waiting list. Sergeant first class, Arizona Army National Guard.
Tony Reyes “Wrench”
SUPPORT · Vehicle & Equipment Maintenance
Bought the transmission shop on South 6th Avenue from the retiring owner in September. Kept the name on the sign. Kept the jumpsuit.
Linda Vasquez
SUPPORT · Venue Owner (The Runway Bar, Tucson)
Owner, The Runway Bar. Added a covered patio facing the base.
Brian Holt “Captain Holt”
SUPPORT · A-10 Pilot / Fan (Davis-Monthan AFB)
Promoted to major. A-10 instructor pilot, the formal training squadron at Davis-Monthan.
By Night
2000–0100 local · Operations
In 1998 the band released They Keep Trying to Retire It. It was written in response to the 1997 Quadrennial Defense Review. The archive describes it as a formal objection filed through the medium of metal. It has five tracks. The last is a lament for an aircraft that was proposed in its place.
The album was written in the margins of a government document and recorded over eleven weekends. The second track runs six minutes and twenty seconds. It is titled Congressional Testimony (Metal Version). Marcus had not yet testified before Congress. He has since. He has said the track was accurate in advance.
In March a local paper reviewed a Friday show at a downtown room. The reviewer reported that the show began exactly on time. The review also reported that the vocalist gave the band a briefing six minutes before they took the stage, and that it lasted exactly five minutes. It reported that the bass was felt before it was heard, and that the band was packed and gone within thirty minutes of the last song. Marcus confirmed the load-out time from the log. It was twenty-eight minutes.
By day, Marcus was promoted to program analyst. He wrote cost and schedule variance reports for programs he did not discuss. He said the work was the album with the volume turned down.
In September Tony Reyes bought the transmission shop on South 6th Avenue from its retiring owner. He kept the name on the sign. He kept the jumpsuit. The van's maintenance book moved from his toolbox to the shop office. It has a shelf.
Brian Holt was promoted to major and became an instructor in the A-10 formal training squadron at Davis-Monthan. Some of his students came to shows. He seated them at the back, on the right, near the wall, beside him. He told them to listen to the bass.
Linda Vasquez added a covered patio to The Runway Bar, facing the base. The album release show in June drew more people than the room held. The overflow stood on the patio. Linda counted them separately. The fire marshal's number was not exceeded.
The band played twenty-seven shows. Elaine's studio reached forty students and began a waiting list. The A-10 remained in service.
Operations logged
- MAR 13A downtown room, TucsonStarted on time. Ended on time. Reviewed.
- JUN 20The Runway Bar, TucsonThey Keep Trying to Retire It release show. The patio was used for overflow.
- OCT 10A bar near the university, FlagstaffAttendance 24. Snow at load-out. Chains on, per Tony.
Selected entries. 27 shows logged in CY1998. The remainder are in the binder.