Part's of Summer

Monday, June 15, 2009 11:20 PM

Last night I had embarked on an adventure to see one of my new favorite folk-rock musical groups, the Felice Brothers. I had little to expect of the show, other than watching them perform live on you-tubes. None-the-less I was very excited, for I had listened to their self titled album for months and couldn’t wait to see the real thing in front of me…
I arrived at downtown at the Casbah (the venue) thirty minutes early because the venue’s website had listed the wrong time. Regardless, I was there, and happy to be one of the only fans in line at the time. As I waited by the door, huge commercial jets soared only one or two hundred feet above me, barely missing an airport parking garage. I could hear the Felice Brothers warming up inside which got me excited for the show. I started to talk with a pretty girl next to me. She seemed very shy and artsy. Being in a band herself, we talked about music and she recommended me artists similar to the Felice Brothers (such as Grizzly Bear). I was very interested in what she had to say, especially when she mentioned about playing music with her brother (because eventually, whenever my sister and I are in the same country, I’d like to do the same), however half the conversation was interrupted by the screaming sound of the jet engines above us. One of the Felice Brothers (the larger one who plays the keys) walked out of the venue and asked if we had a light. We started talking about their tour and how it’s been going so far. Trekking in a small camper across America while playing music is my dream. The girl who I had been talking had also lit up a cigarette just as the doors to the venue finally opened…
Being the first time and first one in the venue, I found my way to the stage. Empty, I made my way to the bar and ordered a Jack n’ Coke. I watched the bar tender pour me a cup of about three quarters whiskey and one quarter coke. I sat down at a bar stool and waited for the San Diego crowd to fill in. After a while, I noticed another cute girl to the left and behind of me. To spark conversation, I asked what time the first act was to come on. I also asked her who it was that was opening for the Felice Brothers. She said it was this guy named Willy Mason (didn’t know he was standing behind me at the time). We got to talking about a lot of different things. She taught art at an elementary school. She works part time at a restaurant while going to Grossmont Community College. I found out later that her name was Mindy.

Continued on 8 /11/2009 8:00 pm

The Felice Brothers was an epic show. They were the dirtiest, most raw band I’ve seen live and it was awesome. They managed to play all their good songs while being extremely intoxicated. The drummer’s symbols were old, shitty and cracked. Their instruments were barely working, but it was great. They even admitted that they were “fuck-ups”. It was hilarious.

Any ways, I couldn’t finish the entry above simply b/c I didn’t have enough time/though to finish it. Today I want to talk about what I’ve been thinking, b/c I have a tendency to forget thoughts, also because I feel writing is the only way for me to say things how I mean them to be. Within the past year my mind has transformed after being introduced to many new ideas, concepts, and knowledge. I’ve been working at a defense company this summer with a bunch of right-wing nuts, and am very confused and concerned as to what the future is going to be like for me. The pressures of graduation, living in San Diego (where many good friends have transferred out), working, school, and the American mentality of finding work and working for the rest of my fucking life is building up to a point where I can no longer handle it. Every young person I talk to who has joined the work force says to “Delay joining the real world.” And I understand why. Because full time work sucks. However, all the old people I get advice from says to get a job, early, because eventually you will want and need money/security some day. And I understand both. However, I mainly understand both stances as a result of our nation’s faulty monetary system. But, I won’t get into that.
The only thing keeping me going is the conversations/ visits that I have with my true friends, and awesome people that I have met abroad b/c we share the same vision, fears, and, dreams. They are the only things that basically keep me going. “Keep the fire burning” as one friend I had met from Maryland. Meaning, ‘don’t get caught up w/ bs” yet it’s hard not to. And we as Americans are almost forced to deal with bs. The other day I met this Swedish dude who was shocked as the way we Americans are structured for instant work. Each step of our lives is to work for the future. And I hate it. Why can’t we all just concentrate on the now? Why can’t I just stop worrying about anything and concentrate on the now? Anyways, I think I’m just freakin out b/c I feel my life has more of a purpose than to just get some random ass job that’s either solely for personal gain, or to enrich the government. There’s no way that’s it. It’s weird how Christians think that life = sin and suffereing. It almost seems that way sometimes. However, I’d like to think the way some Islamic /Buddhist people think.. that you’re born to do good/or that you can achieve nirvana here on earth. That would be my choice. But it seems almost impossible in this day and age, growing up in America to find happiness w/ out fear. Anyways. That’s all I’m gonna say right now. Take care. Peace. Love. Happiness.