The Eve of the Holidays
It's been a good week. I feel the holidays looming but in a positive way....I love this time of year....for all the stresses and all the worries about spending....I love it. And right now it feels like we're on the eve of the holidays....
I went out THREE nights in a row this week. Shocking, I know! Wednesday evening we saw the Carolina Chocolate Drops at Krannert Center. Ernie had seen them before but I had not and it was lovely. Great music, great playing and a brilliantly thoughtful approach to it all. However, as much as I loved the lengthy introductions to all the songs once in awhile I wished they would just go from one to another....there were so many long spoken intros that it made for a funny pacing to me at times. That being said however I loved the music and the range of what they played. Smile Politely had a nice write up of the show (as well as a preview). I admit to having the same thoughts about the audience.....overall a pretty damn old white audience....it does make one wonder if many of the people would choose to see them elsewhere. But does it matter? I suppose not. It made me think about all the comfort zones we have...for as much as I love KCPA sometimes it seems odd to see music in that setting. And the more we have house concerts the more I feel comfortable in that setting which is yet different one from a club---which is how I have experienced most music. I remember going to see the Mavericks at one of their stadium shows after having seen them in the clubs for so long....it felt like such a bloodless way to see a show....and yet when I think back to many shows I have seen where I was in the midst of a packed crowd...usually up by the speakers (hence my lousy hearing these days)....I can't imagine that either. I guess our comfort zones just shift along with us.
Well, THAT was quite a meaningless ramble....sorry.
These songs in Gaelic were probably my favorite of the evening---particularly the tension that builds up at the end of the second song.
Last night we all met Ann and Bob and Sophie at Fries and Peanuts. At first Owen said he was going to stay home and study but then at the last minute he decided to go. Leo and I went and got in the car and sat and waited for the two blondes because that is ALWAYS what happens. As we drove Owen asked for a Kraftwerk song and as we sped along in the cold, with Kraftwerk playing inside I felt like I was running and leaping. That sounds so crazy but I did. I just felt so happy....with all three boys listening to the music (even Leo seems to like Kraftwerk) and then laughing and talking as we tumbled out and walked over. It just feel like we were running and leaping... We sat and ate and drank and talked and giggled until it was time for Sophie to get home to do her math homework. I love them so. It is such a comfort to have those friends who make you feel more yourself.
And today, well today is Friday! We have a Family Movie Night planned with a viewing of Planes, Trains and Automobiles as it has a Thanksgiving theme. There will be snacks and a darkened room....until Ernie starts falling asleep and then we'll turn the lights up bright. No doubt somewhere in there someone will get mad at someone else but hopefully we'll move past it....and maybe we can convince Leo to make brownies....
Oh, and a HOUSE CONCERT ALERT....we may be changing our Christmas show date to the 22nd. Stay tuned!!
I was so sorry to miss David Olney on Music City Roots on Wednesday night....sigh....