February 23rd was a very special day for us Meines. This was the day we got to see my brother Joseph on action with his band. Joe's band A Lot Like Birds came to San Antonio to play and show and we had front row seats!

While the venue smelled strongly of cigarettes, pizza, and badly dressed people trying to be something they're not, I was so excited to see my brother. It was the first time I'd see him in about a year!! And he looks great!

Oops... wrong picture. *Ahem* 

He looks great!!

A Lot Like Birds played at the White Rabbit in a sketchy little part of San Antonio. Joe got us in no problems. We got wristbands and everything!

We also got to stand ON STAGE with the band. We got to see what they see. Lucky for us, really. I didn't want to be down there with all those sweaty people.

^sweaty people^

 Joe can literally set his drum-set up in 10-15 minutes flat. While everyone else is bringing their guitar stuff onstage and testing the microphones, he goes to work. I was impressed.

Classic.

 The kid in the red is Buttars the bass player, and the kid in white is one of the singers Cory (I sure hope I'm not butchering these name spellings...)

This video is one of my favorites because Joe spins both drumsticks effortlessly! I'm pretty sure my mouth dropped open. Good thing the camera was recording! I didn't know he could do that!

All the way to stage left in the green shirt is Ben on guitar, and stage right in the red is Kurt a singer, and Mikey on guitar.

 More drumming gloriousness

All these girls out in the audience kept giving the band some serious googly eye action.

Poor Cory. He had the 24-hr flu on this night. He sang and pulled through the show like a pro, but every time he turned around he looked like he was going to cry.

 Crowd surfing at it's best. I was so confused at first when these people would just pop up onstage from nowhere! And of course at the end of this video, it's dark and you might not be able to see, but Mikey the guitar player on the right climbs up onto the ceiling and hangs upside down while playing his guitar for his finale. Crazy kid...

Well, after all that craziness died down, it was time to let the guys air dry a little bit (sweaty sweaty sweaty)

Joe has lost about 37 pounds since he went on tour on January 15th, 2012. He's down to his tightest belt notch. Apparently I just need to go on tour if I want to lose weight...

Dinner of champions 

 Jake the Merch Man

 

This was the merch crowd after the entire show. Apparently A Lot Like Birds sold completely out of T-shirts.

The best part of the night was the fact that Joe actually got to come home with us and stay the night at our place!

 He got to finally meet the May-Merz who loved him right from the start.

Joe got to shower and shave and do all the things he can't do in a van, so in the morning, he was a new man.

 awkward picture posing...

 This has to be one of my all-time favorite pictures of me and Joe. It's perfect.

And a couple of days later, after Joe went to Houston, Edinburgh, and Corpus Christi (yes Dad, there's an Edinburgh Texas) he came BACK to Austin to stay with us for one more night.

 Jobo Baggins with his unkempt beard and curls

 We did some hanging out in Costco, Barnes and Noble, and a delicious French cafe before I had to say goodbye.

 But he'll be back in about a week for South by Southwest here in Austin once again, so have no fear... I'm sure there will be more pictures to come!

I'm so proud of Joe. He's doing so incredibly well! He's thin, happy, healthy, and on top of the world. I watched him perform with my jaw on the floor. I had never seen him in his element before, and he knocked everyone's socks off. I think it's safe to say that Joe is the glue that is keeping A Lot Like Birds together. I believe he's the most dedicated and talented one they've got, and he's my brother. That makes me so proud.