I had spent the months leading up to NYE steeped in anticipation for a night of fun and rowdiness with my two favorite bands in North Carolina.  When the pairing of the Booty Band and Barefoot Manner for New Years was announced, I knew that this would be a night of hilarity and fun that I wouldn’t want to miss.  I’ve been incredibly busy over the Fall, so I looked forward to the Barefoot-n-Booty NYE Party as a great way to end the year and blow off some steam.  However, in the weeks leading up to the show, my thoughts on the night took on entirely different connotations.  Once Dave Kleiss announced his plans to leave the band for a promising opportunity in Florida, I reeled.  What had been gleeful anticipation turned into a realization that another era would be ending in the music and world of Barefoot Manner.  As the night of December 31st approached, I looked forward to a performance of David Kleiss classics, and hoped I wouldn’t be crying all night.

Maggie, Andy, and I arrived at the Lincoln just before 9:30 and walked in with Walter and Kara, who we had run across outside.  We purchase tickets, wander through the crowd and say preliminary hellos.  We spoke to Mr. and Mrs. Kleiss.  We shared a brief moment with David and offered our congratulations and best wishes for Florida and his future. 

We found some nice dancing real estate in time for Yo Mama’s Big Fat Booty Band.  The Booty Band played their set and finished around 11:35.  As much as I had anticipated the pairing of these two bands for NYE craziness, the news of David’s departure had radically changed my perceptions on the night.  My thoughts were focused squarely on Mannerland; everyone else seemed superfluous.  When the clock inched towards midnight, signaling one last dance with David Kleiss, the celebration I was having with dear friends remained bittersweet. 

Jeff Garland and Al Ingram from the Booty Band commenced with the NYE Countdown, and 2007 was under way.  The curtains were opened, revealing Yo Mama’s Big Barefoot Manner Booty Band.  The two bands launched into an enthusiastic James Brown cover “Get On the Good Foot” to get the party started.  Once the Booty Band left the stage, Barefoot Manner unveiled one last “High Life Day,” which hadn’t been played in months.  They then delivered a set of Kleiss sung tunes including “Glance,” “Worth,” “Caribea,” “Airplane,” “Roots,” “NC Sunrise,” “Swingin” and others. 

I’ve always enjoyed the rare “Dreams and Me” on Barefoot setlists, and really hoped that they would play it one last time.  Maggie and I have also always enjoyed David’s renditions of Bob Dylan’s “Meet Me in the Morning,” feeling that this song showcased David’s voice in the most bluesy area of the Barefoot Manner spectrum.  Considering that I had a hankering for these two songs in particular, I was thrilled when they were busted out sequentially early on in the show.

As the night drew on, I shared hugs and laughter with all my friends, but was more somber by the conclusion of “NC Sunrise” than I ever thought possible.  This song has always reminded me of celebration, and the enjoyment of life.  I was having trouble with the "celebration" part, as the reality of David's departure was beginning to weigh on me.

When Walter joined David for a soulful, yearning “Where Do We Go,” I sat there speechless.  As all the Barefoot fellows joined Walter and David for one last performance of “Barefoot Blues,” I thought about some of the things that life has taught me.  Life is fragile and precious.  Enjoy your good moments, because you never know when they will be taken from you. 

David Kleiss brought his "A game" to every Barefoot Manner performance.  His playing, singing, and heartfelt lyrics were the model of consistent excellency. I thought about how he was moving forward in his life to new adventures and new opportunities, in the same way that I should in my own life and career.  No one was dying.  And Barefoot Manner was not dying.  So, I sat there and reflected on that, and felt a new sense of determination for the upcoming year. 

There will be lots of work to do in 2007.  And there will be lots of fun too.  And if I savor my moments and maximize my enjoyment of the “good times,” then I can live without regret.  And that seemed like a resolution worth making as I began 2007.  We shared goodbyes and hugs with our friends in Mannerland and sauntered out into the night ready for laughter, camaraderie, more Barefoot Manner shows and the next year.