Review by Nick Spacek
Photos by Matt Bechtold
(For all the photos, check our photo-spread spectacular!)

On December 10th, 1998 the people came to party with - as well as pay their respects to - a great band. Quite a few people were at the Bottleneck on this special evening to see the farewell performance by The Norman 360, with a little help from O'Phil and Ruskabank. For a farewell show, there was a serious party atmosphere about the Bottleneck. O'Phil got the night off to a great start by going first and just flat-out rocking the house with their patented ska-rock-hip-hop-metal-funk style.

While O'Phil played the requisite numbers such as "On My Toes" and "Skank to
This" - as well as a very holiday-appropraite "Robert Plant-a-Claus" - they also premiered a new song entitled "Punchin' Walls" that should be out sometime in early 1999 on the Booya!! Records ska compilation. Most importantly, though, the boys from Witchita dedicated "Damn Smooth" to The Norman 360, because as Alex put it, "they just are."

Next up were Ruskabank, and despite the formal attire the Ruska-boys were sporting, they did not treat the event like a funeral. Dave Spiker put it perfectly when he said that while they might be saying good-bye, this was a celebration. Ruskabnk played a great set, and sounded truly great, and had more people dancing on the floor of the Bottleneck than I have seen in quite a while.

But the greatest praise should be reserved for the reason everyone showed up
that night: The Norman 360. They were a great band, and they demonstrated it to full effect. The Norman played something for everyone - the complete contents of their self-titled cassette, other set favorites, even a few new tunes for those who had heard it all.

It was like a combination of every Norman 360 show I had ever been to. I saw tons of people, many of them familiar faces. The band played every song I had ever heard them do. When they played "Linda," Mario (cowriter of the song) came up on stage to sing with Otis, just like the first time they played it live. That was what made it such a bittersweet affair - it was like being able to hop into a memory and see it unfold right in front of you.

The band played great. There was not a missed note or beat all night long. Because it was such a great show, it left me wanting more, and the magnitude of this event really began to hit home. I had to face the fact that this was the last time I'd ever see The Norman 360 play - ever.

This led me to remember a conversation I had with a friend of mine about a year ago. He had made the comment that he was getting kind of tired of hearing and seeing the Norman at almost every ska show. We'd probably seen them six times
or more in as many months. I agreed. Looking back now, I know I regret that comment.

However, the evening was still a wonderful time. Many shots were done by the band - their infamous Norman 360-shots - which they finally revealed the secret ingredients to... and if you were there, now you know. *grin* The band was even kind enough to take the stage for an encore, for as Otis said, "I don't want this to be over."

They played the full-speed version of "Fall Up, Get Down" and invited everyone on-stage to dance and sing along. And people did - all of O'Phil and Ruskabank were up there, along with Matt and yours truly from Synapsis, and about a dozen other dancin' fools.

It was a great way for The Norman 360 to go. They started out as many bands in Lawrence do, playing house parties and beer blasts. Then they got a few choice opening gigs, and ended up coming out of nowhere to play one of the opening slots for KU's Day on the Hill in 1997. After that, they were opening for what seemed like every ska band that came through: The Slackers, MU330, The Toasters, just to name a few.

This was definitely one occassion where the "final show" wasn't just an excuse to get up and "do it one last time." This Farewell Party was much more than that. This bittersweet show was the band's way of saying thanks to the fans, and one last chance for us to celebrate the great songs and good times, to remember the great history this band has had, and to show our respect for the band that we all came to love.

But most importantly, this show will definitely remind everyone of why they'll be smiling when they think of The Norman 360 for many years to come.