SHARING THE SHOWS
I don’t usually talk about dreams I’ve had, but I thought it appropriate to start off this post with one. Lately, I’ve been fixed on the song “True Faith” by New Order; it’s just a neat song. In this dream, I was in an 80s dance club, wearing a Devo-style hat, boogeying to that tune. So the serendipity of JJ inviting me to a dance party, replete with 80s dance music, got me stoked.
I spent 4/20 in downtown Bethesda two years ago to the Grateful Dead-fueled stylings of the Montgomery Warlocks. It was fun, and there were two similar shows within Metro distance from me: 1) On the Bus at Bethesda Boards; and 2) the Wharf Rats at Hank Dietle’s Tavern, near the North Bethesda stop. Had I not solidified Runaway Gin as my April show, I likely would have gone to On the Bus with Pete. So, in a way, I’m glad for this “one show a month” commitment, as it’s opening me up to other things. I did get to connect with Pete over dinner at Silver New American Brassiere, one of many restaurants on lively Woodmont Avenue. I had devoured half a Wegman’s pizza the night before and was feeling some “carbohydrate remorse.” So I ordered a half Cobb salad, which was quite huge. Pete and I talked music and shows and hiking and our mutual preference for public transportation. The history of Bethesda also came up; Pete lived here back when it was a bohemian paradise, before urban sprawl. He was mystified by all the office buildings, restaurants, and apartments that have been built in the last couple of decades. I’ve never known any other version of Bethesda, so it’s cool to know the history. It reminds me of the scene in Cobra Kai where Daniel LaRusso learns that village in Okinawa he visited in The Karate Kid Part II now has a Gap, a Red Lobster, and a Jersey Mike’s. I met JJ at the Barking Dog, and I was surprised to see an empty room; I expected to see a crowded dance floor filled with multicolored hair, spandex, and Devo-style hats. What I did get was a free dark chocolate bar, appetizers (including some neat BBQ shrimp skewers, pictured above), and a benefit from ForestPlanet to celebrate Earth Day. And the best part: good conversation. JJ’s friend Jason also keeps a spiral notebook to log songs; LOVE IT! I did the same thing. I’ll list a sample of the songs I heard and, in some cases, offer a story to go with each song: “Bette Davis Eyes” (Kim Carnes) – When I was sixteen, my family moved. When we got to our new house, I spotted a box filled with random ideas, including the Flashdance soundtrack. As a CD collector, I had to add it. While I wasn’t a huge fan of the movie, the soundtrack did bump. “Only the Lonely” (The Motels) “I’m Your Boogie Man” (KC and the Sunshine Band) “The Hustle” (Van McCoy) – I first heard the song on The Simpsons episode, “The Way We Was.” In that episode, Homer meets Marge and is smitten. Faking his way into her house to be tutored, he gets to know her, and at one point, they’re dancing to this song. Sadly, I couldn’t find this clip. “I Can Dream About You” (Dan Hartman) “You Sexy Thang” (Hot Chocolate) “Nobody Does It Better Than You” (Chaka Khan) “Night Fever” (The Bee Gees) – When I was a kid, my Mom would drag me shopping, and she had a cassette of their Greatest Hits. While I couldn’t stand having to try on clothes, I dug this album, which is forever embedded in my subconscious. “Bring on the Dancing Horses” (Echo and the Bunnymen) “Come Undone” (Duran Duran) “Boys Don’t Cry” (The Cure) “Dr & The Medics” (Spirit in the Sky) – Norman Greenbaum did a better job on this. “The Jean Genie” (David Bowie) “Radio Free Europe” (REM) – My first exposure to REM was the video for “Drive.” Upon loving this song, I bought a tape of Automatic For the People. The grunge-inspired Monster is still my favorite of theirs, and “Crush with Eyeliners” tops all other tunes on that album. “Gone Daddy Gone” (Violet Femmes) “Billie Jean” (Michael Jackson) – Looking past Jackson’s proclivities for the younger generation, he is a great performer. That said, I don’t like this one. “One Night in Bangkok” (Murray Head) – I like this tune, but nothing beats Mike Tyson’s performance of it (reference: The Hangover Part 2). “La Vida Loca” (Ricky Martin) I mentioned the lack of dance fever on the floor, save for two women dancing for a couple of the songs. That said, I don’t mind a low-key, conversation-filled event. But after JJ and Jason dropped me off, I turned the livestream of Phish’s performance at the Sphere, and bopped to “Set Your Soul Free.” All in all, it was a fun night. Good food, great music, excellent people.
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May 2024
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