A Little Epiphany - (and a newbie delurking)

[Dia]

So walking up to the place, I heard the beat of a drum. Ahh, thunk I, the bodhran! Imagine my surprise when, upon entering, there wasn't a bodhran in sight. In fact, the place was empty except for an Asian saxophonist and a drum set with chimes and a cowbell. The Asian saxophonist looked a bit out of place for Irish music night, but I am nothing if not ecumenical so I didn't think much of it.

"Oh my. I must be early," quoth Dia as she crossed the threshold. Mind you, I'd read that Irish music night started at 6, and here it was 6:45, but knowing sessiuns as I do, there's no way they'd done and gone in 45 mins.

So I ordered myself one o'them espresso stouts and took my pick of seats right next to the house cat who was sleeping on an empty chair. There was a bookshelf, so I grabbed a copy of Pride and Prejudice and settled in to wait.

Then I heard the brass section warming up in the back, bringing back many fond memories of listening to orchestra tunings during my theatre days.

Wait a minnit. Brass section? On Irish music night??

Then the sax player came over to ask me if I 'was here to see Vinny.' Uh oh. I've stumbled into a Sopranos rerun! Vinny turned out to be Vinny Golia and the sax player was from the oddly named band, Crepuscle Trio. And no, no Danny Boy, no Whiskey in the Jar and definitely no Song for Ireland.

The flavor of the evening was experimental jazz. Experimental jazz is a music of 'isn't'. There isn't a melody. There isn't a beat or a rhythm. And it definitely isn't comfortable. It's about dissonance, cacophany and a-rhythmia. It' about exploring sound outside the bounds of tradition.

The cat was brazen in her displeasure, making flat-eared, slalom dashes through the forest of ankles and music stands. And me, I turned a few heads, which felt good. And I even got hit on - by a slender, elegant, silver-haired woman in her 60s! And while I don't particularly object to any of those descriptors, I am married. So while the lady was cordially invited to share my table, that's all we shared.

The whole thing took me completely out of myself - an unexpected adventure. Just the shake-up I needed.

Now for the homecoming.

Since the music started at 8, not 6, Vinny and ensemble were just getting started at 9, and still mid-set at 10. I left at 10 anyway for a variety of reasons but mostly because I wanted to. I was home before 10:15.

H was on his computer with headphones on, freshly showered but looking wan and exhausted. He asked me how it went but wasn't interested in listening past "Great!" I took my cue and disappeared into the bathroom to change into jammies. On my way back out, H again stated that he'd 'hear about it later. His brain was full right now and he didn't want to talk." He seemed whiny/grumpy and like he was using the computer as a palliative.

Now, I hadn't pushed at all to tell him about my night - not the first time, and I hadn't said a single word coming out of the bathroom. After "Great!", I asked if he wanted to hear about it now or later. He said 'Later' and I cheerfully said "Ok!" and wandered off to find jammies. I'm not at all sure what's up with him but unless it's straight sleep deprivation, something has him tied in knots.

<shrug>

Not gonna mindread tonight.