Band

Went to hear a band last night. After a long day, I took a nap first. Didn't help much. Just a block away, a quick walk. Started at 9, rather the doors opened at 9, there was an unexpected, and unannounced opening band that began playing at 10. They weren't bad, their sound system was, all muddy and blaring. It's not that I need to "hear the words" as such, but I do like to hear the singer, and the keyboard, not just the drum and bass. By 1030, I was pretty much ready for bed. This is sad, but more related to my work/sleep routine for over a decade than just to my age.

Strange thing, though. Watching the crowd, a strange mix of people in this dive of a lounge, and I did not feel old or frumpy as I used to when I was closer to the median age. The young women seemed to be trying too hard, gawky and self conscious. I sat in my fitting and unremarkable clothes, uncut grey hair, and felt beautiful as I never really have before. Nothing so artificial as pretty, a rock in the stream and content to be so. Still very proud to accompany such a lovely guy as D. Even spotted a local celebrity.

The annoyance of a seedy venue, bad acoustics, obnoxiously drunk crowd, and my body insisting it was well past my bedtime at 11, nearly got us both to walk out. But we decided to at least stay for the band we'd paid to hear, and very glad we did. They were fun, smart, stylish interesting, very professional. On balance, they made the evening worthwhile, so good they cancelled out the irritation, if not by a huge margin. We stayed about an hour, and were in bed shortly after midnight, ears numb and clothes smelling funny. (Not cigarette smoke, much, because that's not allowed inside here, thankfully.)

We will not go back there for any band that would play at a place like that, though. D says, maybe if Pete Townshend* decided to do a solo tour of crappy bars... but that seems unlikely.

Happy Belated Groundhog Day.





*The guitar player D most admires, and wishes he could play like.