Opened with "Euphoria" to set the stage for what was to come, which was an evening of Mardi Gras celebration! Plenty of zydeco delight, Vince and his rubboard, and tunes I rarely hear like "Voodoo Queen Marie." There were plenty of other highlights; see my post to the Leftover Salmon mailing list.
The show ended with a really crazy "drum circle" that had two or three folks playing djembe, Jeff dismantling and distributing his drum kit to the other band members, Tye spinning one of those prayer drums, and all of this very strangely orchestrated to Rise Up/Wake and Bake.
Tye has come light years in terms of stepping forward and showing his stuff. I don't remember him even picking up his 5-string, so the evening was spent across the wide range and play of his 6-string Modulus. Very inventive, skilled player, and I felt a couple of times like he was the glue holding things together.
On other Tye North notes, am I not the only guy out there who thinks he's just totally hot?! This of course doesn't go spoken in other forums (e.g. the LoS mailing list) but I just have to get it out there that Tye holds my vote for #1 aesthetically pleasing musician. A guy with beautiful hair, well-dressed, very peaceable and nice (I've met him once backstage and talked to him front-of-house), trim, plays bass guitar like nobody's business, a left-handed six-string no less.. ahh! And like most of the beautiful guys in my life, he's straight (from what I can tell).. anyway. At least I know where I'm sitting during the shows!
Things change, scenes change, and the one tonight was very different. Very unique. Still did not feel like a good queer space, though there were plenty of queer folk enjoying the show tonight. Let's look each other in the eye and connect. I spent the show a bit lonely, despite the wonderful companionship of my show-going buddy compatriot, and kindred sister, Pat. It was at best difficult to get my act together and talk to the brothers there gathered; what makes it so _hard_? I want to dance with the world, drink it in, wrap my arms around it with a huge hug that unmistakeably tells the Earth I love her, to look after me, and for the Goddess and God to bring me into the realm of Kindred Brother and Kindred Sister. The show was all that and more, but I was still so detached from the realm. What does it mean to be gay and want to be a part of that subculture? What is the allure of hip folk, the need to surround myself with them, and and yet falling short of the dream of eternal bliss and companionship and intimate bonding. Call me a fool, and laugh me right off the lot, but damn if it doesn't have a feeling of home.
There are so many issues related to other experiences at shows; lesbian, bisexual, transgendered.. I'd love for someone to write up response thoughts on bisexuals at shows. There seems to be (sometimes) a totally relaxed atmosphere in which the open doors of bisexuality can be explored. I'm not bi, so I'd love to get that discussion flowing. Haven't consciously been tuned to look for trans people at shows, though I'm sure they're going as well. The young gay male element of my being took me into the novelty, the expressiveness, the beauty (both musically and the fine lads roaming everywhere ;) The luscious brownies added a dimension both fine and surreal, jumping into the superconscious yet placing all kinds of watches on the subconscious. Dancing profusely and letting all the energy circulate.. get that chi moving.. nothin' like a little bit o' that zydeco delight! Aaaaiiiiieeeeee! Weeeellllll! What an exciting evening!
Hopefully I'll append later; it's nearly 4am and I'm way overdue to rest these weary bones. I know you're out there, and now in here, part of this space, my dear reader. The HipFaeries roam in and out of all sorts of places. We need to roam into shows together, create our beautiful safe and colourful space in which to dance, be, sing, hug, and be free. It will happen. Let's get those connections flowing, growing, and glowing.
Blessed be, my brothers and sisters,
Shaggy
2/21 early a.m.