Holy Christ!

Been a long time. But mostly i'm saying holy christ because of how i feel right now... which is a odd mix of inspired and nostalgic all wrapped into one!

Went and saw some music tonight. Not the usual. Not the "next years best new band playing at the Doug Fir for the 8th time this month"/the flavor of the minute (Minden). Not the super hip Rontoms or Bunk Bar show. No. This was legit. The real deal. Some middle of the road bands playing what, i'll be honest, is a shit-hole of a venue. The only bar I know in Portland that really does NOT seem to serve food (an Oregon law). On a side note, i've been at this bar in the last year or two and witnessed them close early so that everyone could legally (?) smoke inside... Ya, fucking rebels!

Anyway, this show tonight brought back a lot of feelings. Reminded me of when I 1st moved to Portland... 10 years ago!!! My 1st gigs were playing Mississippi Pizza once a month. Oh, and in case you weren't in town back then, the only other business on Mississippi Ave. back then was the Rebuilding Center. (!) I played with a singer-songwriter and we'd play for family... not even friends came out to North Mississippi Ave. back in those days! But to be fair, I'm sure we weren't very good either.

And while a lot has changed. For me. For this city. Some things don't change. There will always be shitty venues. And there will always be young bands trying to do something. Even if they have NO IDEA what that something is.

At the same time, while I was out seeing this show, earlier in the day, I had somehow remembered my days spent playing hump night @ The Green Room. I'm telling you, I don't know when Wednesday's have ever been so fun! EVERY Wednesday! From 9-ish to 1-ish. Rock'n Roll. Dancing. People Singing along. Pretty fucking glorious. Not in the glamorous sense but in the "this is why i do this" sense. What more does a guy like me need in life but to play drums in a Rock'n Roll band that people can have a good time to? Seriously!?

More? More.