so anyway, last night, june 12, 2008 was my all-time favorite night at the 400 bar. i had planned to go to the david allen coe concert at the cabooze, but since i got there late, was alone, and couldn't find parking within a 10-block radius--i gave up. besides, i couldn't imagine seeing the one and only david allen coe without my irreplaceable hick friends from iowa. just wouldn't feel right.
turns out, the cabooze is right down the street from the 400 bar...so i pop on down to catch caroline's boyfriend, miles, and andy ulseth perform their self-promoted/planned show around 10:00 PM. since i started working there, i get in free. bonus. i chat with my new girl friends at the door. one of them, gosh dangit, can't remember her name, works for an art center, is eating thai food and a banana, and is nice to me--so i engage in conversation with her, trying my best to be confident and not say awkward things. i tell her the normal info, where i go to school and why, and how everyone at my school is sports oriented but i am overall grateful and content on my college-going decision because it got me to where i am now, and to be completely honest. I COULDN'T BE HAPPIER :)
miles starts playing, but i'm still talking to the girls. i sneak away and lean up against the wall, back at least 20 feet from the rest of the crowd. a column is blocking part of the stage, but i frame my view of miles so it will stick in my memory. the red lights shadow him just so, and i'm struck by enhanced his physical beauty. the crowd whispers, some slowly sipping their beers while continuing their gaze on the reddened blond haired, big eyed artist on stage. i'm completely intrigued by his voice. it's smooth. his guitar skills surprise me (probably because i didn't know he played). the combination makes me drunk in a sense. i'm suddenly dumbfounded, happy, and i kind of forgot where i was. he's singing a heart-tugging song about caroline. the pitch in his voice is dynamic. it's true, full and considerately soft, and taking the audience under its wing. it is the exact same longing to be under blankets with someone you love. and i almost break down in tears right there for my deep (so much i could die) yearning for a love such as these two talented, young individuals.
i inch towards the bar, to temporarily break out of my spell, and ask jeremy, the very cool bartender, for a dark beer. i don't listen to my options, i just say, "that'll work". i dip my finger in the creamy foam and lick it a few times like it's cool whip or something. i forgot to mention, the slew of people that are in the audience. a handful of them, acquaintances whom i met through arlen. there's arlen's bandmates, pals, classmates, co-workers, and a friend from high school. i'm actually surprised that some of them are congregating around me. i never think i'm much to talk to; every one of his friends has a very silly sense of humor (which i adore) but given my state of mind lately, i haven't been much of the conversationalist. i'm very much into people's regards rather than witty remarks. i'm not exactly sure how they perceive me, but as you can see, it's not a pending concern of mine. we're all chatting, near the end of miles' set. we talk about what we're doing in the city, how our summers are going, and how we're going with the flow of life rather than getting worked up about the little stuff that makes your head want to spin (realizing that it gets you nowhere).
my friend don makes his entrance, and i am extremely happy to see him. i jump off of my barstool and squeeze him tight. he always puts me in my own mood. i laugh uncontrollably and am not afraid to dance like a dork. he's a good guy.
andy takes jeremy's station at the bar and jeremy reads a few of his short stories. his stories have a very dry, to the point, humor that is irresistable. he makes people chuckle. although, he falters a few times, he still captures the audience. they hoot and holler.
andy ulseth makes his way to the stage. again, the red lights depict him just right so that when the waves of music extract from his body he seems angelic. he nails a neil young cover and i feel like i'm in love with him. although that may seem shallow, like i said, i really don't give a damn. i fall in love daily, whatever that entails, i feel in whisp up my spine, into my heart. i hope those whom i fall for know, it's in my eyes and it's true.
he performs a few more songs. his family is there. he plays a song for his younger sister that just graduated high school. the rest of his band, including his pals, arlen, and caroline...they drug me with their catchy chords, unique harmonizing, and drop-dead beautiful lyrics.
i have been to a plentitude of concerts. sometimes i have fun, sometimes i wish i would choke on the cherry in my shirley temple. this concert, i have never felt more gracious and grateful to be there. even though my summer isn't going as i had planned...i'm still happy it's taking place. it needed to. needed to happen. needed to fall apart. i had to wake up sometime.
