gotta find a road that brings me back slow
gotta find a way back home
the loving in your eye that holds you alive
gotta find a way back home

 

So despite my noble efforts to arrange accompaniment, I went alone to see Mojave 3 tonight at the Paradise. And aside from getting there a little earlier than I had meant to, I really had a great time. At first I felt a little odd, rather quickly finding a beer to talk silently into and trying to start a few text message conversations… But then, I got comfortable, and 2 songs into Mojave 3 I was thoroughly content. In fact, while I was standing there – I really got to some thinking…. And I remembered how I used to always go to nightclubs alone to hear house DJs – for years – just being a shadow in the booth, watching the people, remembering the records I liked or loved – and most of all just free-thinking, about all kinds of stuff. It never bothered me that I was by myself, and I only gradually added to my social circle over the years, keeping track of regulars and making friends. Even once I had the circle though, I would still end up back in the booth for periods of the night, minding my own business like I knew no one at all. My only concern was that friends might think I was snobby – when really – I was just so very comfortable back there.

So tonight as I watched a great band play a great driving melodic set, I sort of enjoyed a few cul-de-sacs in my brain – thought about how I could probably be really good at piano if I would just learn, or about how I found Mojave 3 in the first place, or about what bands talk about on the bus when they really get into the dead middle of a nice long road trip. And frankly it’s just so nice to see a band that plays in such a way that I can hear clear vocals and every instrument – and for it to be chill enough crowdwise that I’m able to easily stand 3 feet from the stage and thus pay specific attention to something like the keyboardist letting his hands hover over the keys while sort of airplaying as he picks a time to come into a jam with a few chords. And that made me think of that amazing scene in The Pianist when Adrien Brody can’t safely play out loud so he ghost plays instead, hearing the music in his mind so as to not go insane. And I have plenty more to think about these days…

Of course great company to a concert is one thing on its own, and not necessarily to be replaced – especially as it really does add something when you can turn to someone at the end and say “Wow”. But this was fine too. Just fine indeed. 

And also, this is fascinating – but ladies really do like beards. Who knew?