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Butt-Chick & Elbow-Girl...
Jun. 12th, 2004 02:18 pmHere's me, doing what I do most often- writing about another show I went to! Long before Wiscon, Bonnie said there was a show coming up at the Barrymore I had to see. I very much trust her judgement in music, so we got tickets and saw the Antibalas Afrobeat Orchestra this past Thursday. Sort of Fela Kuti meets James Brown meets Tito Puente meets the Greatful Dead. Socially concious music with a great horn section, and songs that go on for 15 minutes!
Thursday was cool and very wet. I met Bonnie and several of her friends at the theater. The Barrymore was built in the 1920's, and is a Madison fixture. I saw 101 Dalmations there as a little kid. It spent a few years in disrepair, but after a re-vamp, now hosts live music, independent films, and small theater productions. On the ceiling, they've always had little lights that twinkle like stars.
They've taken the first few rows of seats out to accommodate people who dance at shows. As soon as the music started, everyone poured up to the front, and anyone with personal space issues was shit outta luck! You could not dance without touching someone else, and it soon became very warm and close in there, nevermind the weather outside! Pot smoke hung heavy in the air. The music was wonderful. Elbow-Girl was just to my left, dancing with wild abandon, not caring that her pointy body parts were a hazard to others nearby! Her boyfriend tried to rein her in a little, but I had to deflect more than one glancing blow. Butt-Chick was to my right, not as dangerous, and at least apologetic whenever she bumped into me with her ample behind!
After the first set, we went and stood right up by the stage, and I'm really glad we did. I had a bit more room, a section of more open air, and a great view of the band. There were 11 guys in the band, only one of which appeared to be over 30. Four on horns, three on percussion, three guitars, and a keyboard player. The stage was just at stomach level, and I stood there groovin' with my hands pressed flat on top of it, absorbing the beat and the music. It felt very good indeed. A perfect way to spend a rainy Thursday night.
Thursday was cool and very wet. I met Bonnie and several of her friends at the theater. The Barrymore was built in the 1920's, and is a Madison fixture. I saw 101 Dalmations there as a little kid. It spent a few years in disrepair, but after a re-vamp, now hosts live music, independent films, and small theater productions. On the ceiling, they've always had little lights that twinkle like stars.
They've taken the first few rows of seats out to accommodate people who dance at shows. As soon as the music started, everyone poured up to the front, and anyone with personal space issues was shit outta luck! You could not dance without touching someone else, and it soon became very warm and close in there, nevermind the weather outside! Pot smoke hung heavy in the air. The music was wonderful. Elbow-Girl was just to my left, dancing with wild abandon, not caring that her pointy body parts were a hazard to others nearby! Her boyfriend tried to rein her in a little, but I had to deflect more than one glancing blow. Butt-Chick was to my right, not as dangerous, and at least apologetic whenever she bumped into me with her ample behind!
After the first set, we went and stood right up by the stage, and I'm really glad we did. I had a bit more room, a section of more open air, and a great view of the band. There were 11 guys in the band, only one of which appeared to be over 30. Four on horns, three on percussion, three guitars, and a keyboard player. The stage was just at stomach level, and I stood there groovin' with my hands pressed flat on top of it, absorbing the beat and the music. It felt very good indeed. A perfect way to spend a rainy Thursday night.
