96-year-old woman's holiday party, the Rose Garden, the Beer Can House, Dan Pastorini's book signing, played on the light rail, and of course the Continental Club."

Home Base: Besides the Continental, Goodtime manages the Big Top and adjacent patio bar the Pachinko Hut. That puts him in the thick of "The Island," the compound of eclectic businesses on the 3600 and 3700 blocks of Main Street. (Disclosure: I rent an apartment upstairs at 3700 Main.)

"I love the block and all that is going on down there," Goodtime says. "There is something for everyone: record shop, barber/hairdresser/tattoo, coffee/exotic drinks, handmade clothes, vintage clothing, weird/psycho trinkets, tango and of course the Continental Club and Big Top."

Photo courtesy of John "Goodtime" Smith

Why Do You Stay In Houston?"Since we moved here we havewant to leave," Goodtime swears. "I do have pet peeves, though. When a band is completely unprepared. They don't have guitar cables, forgot the cymbals, etc. Get it together, people.

"Or when the next band sets up their gear in the walkways," he continues. "Excuse me, are we in your way? How about underage girlfriends? 'But she won't drink.' Damn right she won't drink, not here, anyway. Tell her you'll see her tomorrow and do your gig."

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Photo by Jay Lee

Good War Story: Goodtime takes us back to his NDI days and Winnipeg, Canada, where the band played "a couple times a year" at the Royal Albert Arms Hotel.

This was a run-down hotel with a great rock and roll club. We would play three nights