Man, sometimes you just get lucky.
Friday night we took a trip to the city; myself and two good friends. I'd requested blues. Jazz is great and all, but occasionally you need some funky music with a familiar chord progression. We took a gamble and decided to see whoever was headlining at Biscuits and Blues in SF. Either we lucked out, or they have great bands playing there every damn night.
The 5 piece ensemble segued effortlessly from latin groove, to funk to traditional blues and back again. It was fun to see a group thoroughly enjoying themselves on stage. Seriously, I think the bass player danced in place the whole set.
Sitting in the audience wasn't too bad, either. I'm pretty sure at one point the whole room had an orgasm when the hammond organ took over with a particularly passionate solo. Before the set was over, Ray and I decided chromatic whole notes are widely underrated.
Needless to say I walked out of that place grinning like an idiot.
It was great to spend an evening with friends. A refreshing change of pace.
I know I've complained before about feeling out of place here. About not quite fitting in. Things are gradually improving, or maybe I'm just adapting. Moving off campus will definitely help matters.
Meanwhile, I still enjoy being by myself. Going places alone is rather liberating (rejuvenating?) and I don't mind it. I feel almost guilty saying that-- admitting my affinity for solo outings. We're all taught only losers go to movies or festivals or speeches alone. Well, I want to keep busy... to see and experience things. I'm definitely not waiting around for people to show up on my doorstep. I can take on the world alone.
So Saturday I dragged my loser-self out to see HP6, but a funny thing happened en route to the movies:
I could hear the music from the Caltrain station. [I'm compulsively drawn to live music like a moth to light; that's how my LSJUMB stint started: the sound of 'American Idiot' wafting across campus at 10:30 pm.] Of course I had to see what the fuss was about. I'm glad I did, too, cause right there, in the middle of downtown RWC, was a Blues Festival.
To hell with Hogwarts. I'll see it next week.
I stuck around all afternoon, sitting amongst kind locals, bobbing to 4 different bands. This group was by far the best, both in terms of sound and instrumentation. How can you not like a washtub base (a stick in a bucket with one string)? I am in love with track #5, despite the lack of brass.
Feet dipped in the fountain. Sun on my back. Yelling with delight at trumpet solos and walking baselines.
Alone and happy.
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