Regression

At home in California, Snake loved going to concerts.  He went to some pretty big concerts, pretty big names in large stadium venues.  But his absolute favorite thing to do was to go to a show in a really, really, really small venue and see some of his favorite, although very often not popularly acclaimed except by a very small segment of music lovers, groups.  Sometimes he would come home with a t-shirt or cd from one of the groups.  He explained that many of the groups sold merchandise not necessarily for profit but to pay for the gas to their next show.  He usually only paid $10-15 per ticket so these bands were not raking in the dough at these shows.  He also liked the intimate surroundings of these small clubs. The crowds were small, sometimes as small as 30 people or as many as 200.   It is a lot easier to work your way up to the front of the crowd by the stage with small crowds.  He came home with prizes too, set lists, guitar picks, the occasional drum stick.  Snake would also take photos on his phone to show me the different groups and I could see how close to the stage he got.   If there were 3 or 4 acts on any given night, he sometimes would get to chat with some band members either after their performance or right before they went on.  The bands would hang out in the venue either selling their merchandise or watching the other groups perform.   During the summer, Snake would go to shows several times per week. 

This week, I learned that the acorn didn't fall far from the tree.  Snake came by his love of music genetically.  Chizz also loves music, although not the same genre as Snake.  He also likes the more obscure groups or groups on their way up.  A few weeks ago, he mentioned that a group he likes, Sons of Bill,  would be playing in a small NYC venue and he wanted to go.  Since the tickets were only $12, how could we not?  We were hoping it wouldn't be a mass of people.  One thing we have discovered in our old age is that we are past the point where a good time is squeezing as many folks as you can in a place.  We went to Jazz Fest a few few weeks ago, and while we had a wonderful time, it was hard at times pushing your way through tens of thousands of people to see the headliner.  Also not thrilled about bulldozing my way into a bar to stand 8 deep to get a drink and then lose half of it to someone's elbow.  Much rather find a place I can sit down and breathe. 

I mentioned the venue to Goldengirl and she told me that it was very close to her dorm at NYU.  Really?  I was starting to feel strange about this.  Wait.  Would we be surrounded by hip NYU students?   Would people think we were the parents of the band?  Would we be the oldest people in the place?  Goldengirl reassured me.  Yes, yes you will, she told me.  Great.  But I was also reassured that they had a bar in this place, so how bad could it be? 

We went and actually had a pretty good time.  The venue is small, it holds 300 people and I would guess at maximum there were 200 people there.  Four different acts played.  We missed the first one and the second one was just taking the stage when we got there.  I would say there were about 75 people when we first arrived.   The second group, Hounds Below, started playing.  They are from Detroit and are apparently doing an east coast swing because they announced where they would be the next few nights.  I thought they sounded pretty good, until they started singing.  The music was good, I just didn't care for the lead singer's voice.  They sang about 6 songs, and then pointed out the merchandise they were selling in the back and asked that people buy because it would help defray the cost of gas for the trip!  I can't remember ever being at a show where that happened! 

While they were setting up for the third group, The Liza Colby Sound, we got a beer and I had a chance to look around a bit and kind of size up the crowd.  I was pleasantly surprised that we were not the oldest people in the room.   There were actually several groups of people that were our age or older, so I didn't feel very conspicuous.  Which is a good thing.   Liza Colby is a hard rocking gal.  She mentioned she didn't usually have performances on Friday nights because she usually worked as a cocktail waitress on that night.  I think it must be a bit harder for a women rocker to be successful.  She was pretty high energy and reminded me quite a bit of Tina Turner.  In doing a little research on her, I found out her dad wrote the theme for ESPN's Sports Center (You know the one) and others.  I enjoyed her quite a bit.

So the main event comes on.  Sons of Bill or SOB as I like to call them.  Chizz and I had been kind of loitering by the bar, no surprise.  We worked our way into the crowd, well not really a crowd more of a group.  Sons of Bill is comprised of 3 brothers (I guessing their father is Bill) and then two other guys.  While the lead singer (a son) mentions his brothers quite often, I think the other two guys (the drummer and bass) are only referred to twice.  And the bassist went to middle school with these guys!  In this band you get no glory unless you are a son, it is in the name.  Anyway they were  pretty good and I was surprised how most of the people seemed to know they lyrics to the songs.  I guess I shouldn't have been .  In a small crowd, most of these people were probably fans and would know the words.  The lead singer was handsome but spent most of the performance with a scowl on his face.  I am guessing part of his troubled troubadour persona.  After the show, the band members gave out the set list and some guitar picks.  I did not see anyone get a coveted drum stick though. 

 All in all, a fun evening.  I couldn't help but think of all the comparisons between Snake's shows and this show.  Gas money request? Check !  Small venue/manageable crowd?  Check!  Inexpensive?  Check!  Feeling like we got a bit more than we paid for?  Check! 

And just so you are not left wondering.  No I did not rush the stage to get any of the swag being handed out.  I didn't want to break a hip or anything.  Right Goldengirl?