The much anticipated press and reviews for HURRICANE NECKLACE finally pour in. They are by far and away the best reviews they have received for an album. Unfortunately they would have really helped if they had been coming out while the band was still on tour.
NRSK's relationship with Grass is once again strained. The band gets the sense that Camille is the only person looking out for them. She also begins to drop hints that she might not be around at Grass for long and warns the band to watch their backs.
Adding insult to injury, Alan Meltzer CEO insists that the band be "team players" and basically forces them play a traveling Grass showcase, tackily titled Grass of `97. Booked at several large Colleges and Universities in the Northeast, Grass of '97 is supposed to be the label promotion of the century.
Grass of '97 is obviously costing the label a lot of money to put on. The shows are free to all students. Somehow the better bands on Grass get out of having to play and the bands on the bill are pretty average. In fact, they all seem to be the generic brand versions of the bigger names of the day. There is Chimera (Cranberries), Ditch Witch (Wilco/Son Volt) and Creed (Jesus Freak Pearl Jam or a Jesus Freak Nirvana?).
Still broke from tour, NRSK is informed that they will not be paid for the shows. They also are told that the shows begin in two weeks. Unable to get out of their day jobs, the band manages to wriggle free of any gigs more that an few hours from home. However the three that they do play (Brandeis, UNH Keene, and North Adams State) are farces.
Joining the merchandise tables for Grass bands are representatives from Coke, KFC and Icehouse Beer, all hocking their t-shirts and beer cozies to the few students who attend the shows.