If you were one of the many who braved the cold and packed the Jackpot on Monday night (a school night!), you were part of something pretty special.

When I arrived to help a friend record the show, there was an electricity in the air. Folks were packed in there, huddled for warmth, excited to see Tame Impala. I heard much of the crowd had come up from Tulsa thanks to Stardeath and White Dwarfs. You could tell who wasn’t a Lawrencian because there was a lack of beards in the audience.

Now I’m not into psychedelic music. Like I said, I was only there to help a friend shoot the show (which is why I have no video or photos of the show for you today). But this was a stellar lineup. These bands are all fantastic, and so are their fans.

Then I started noticing a slight frenzy around the audio board, where a small gathering of tiny t-shirt-clad men with long hair and beards had started forming. Something was amiss, and “sound guys” had come from near and far to work out a problem. Whatever the problem was, the crowd didn’t seem to mind. Glasses clanked, friends hugged and bands played. The atmosphere was wonderful, and everyone was just glad to be there.

Then the poor doorman (who is wonderful, and many of you know him on a first name basis) got up on stage and told everyone they were canceling the show. Up went the lights and the Jackpot started refunding tickets.

Folks started to boo, but it wasn’t really convincing me. They were upset, but not TOO upset. And here’s the reason why they probably weren’t too bummed.

The band was still going to play, but it wasn’t going to be their usual set. It turned into a few 10-20 minute jams. Yup, they became a jam band for the night, which makes me believe that something was amiss with the microphones.

Now here’s why I think fans shouldn’t complain, and should instead be happy that they were part of something special. They could have just canceled the show altogether, but they didn’t. They could have NOT refunded your ticket, but instead they paid back anyone who paid cash that night. And finally, you got a very unique performance out of the band.

A few years ago, I went to go see Depeche Mode in KC. I was a giddy schoolgirl and had waited a long time to see them. They took the stage, played about 3 songs, then the lead singer ran off due to an illness, and the rest of the band awkwardly fumbled some piano ballads for just a few more minutes before they canceled the show. It was a major letdown. Don’t get me wrong, I was concerned and worried after the singer ran off stage a couple of times, but they could have at least refunded our tickets.

That wasn’t the only time I’ve seen a band play a couple of songs, then run offstage due to some catastrophe, and was left without a refund.

At least on Monday night, fans got a special performance that was unique to them. They still drank, had fun, took photos and did all the great things that go along with seeing a show. The band was in good spirits as well. They ended their set by saying “We’re only going to play one more, and then we’re going to get out of here….so you can go home and forget this all happened.” Then the band, and everyone else, had a good chuckle. Not so bad for dragging ourselves out in the cold on a school night, in my opinion.