There were, near as I could tell, about eight Polly Esther's/Culture Clubs. They were all "the original" and they were all far enough apart that you didn't know they were a franchise unless you were in the industry. There wasn't one in Seattle and another in Portland, there was one in Seattle and another in Salt Lake. One in San Jose and another in Phoenix. One in Fort Worth and another in Shreveport.

There were about five cover bands that "toured" and often played "the original Polly Esther's/Culture Club." They were "on tour" and they had "tour dates" but since they were cover bands, they were actually the same guys. They'd show up at one PECC, do one or two dates each as each band, then go back to the other PECC. So you didn't really have to be on the road - you'd split your time between, say, Shreveport and Seattle. And the other four bands you had the exact same setlists and costumes in common with? You never saw them.

And I mean, I worked with Gene Loves Jezebel. Not that one, no the other one. Both brothers have contracts saying if they play your club, you can never hire the other brother to play your club. And I watched as a promoter threw "The Original Wailers" out of our club before they could play "Marleyfest" because they insisted on a halal hospitality tray. But the Polly Esther's thing always bugged me.

The music industry deserved to die.