good morning, don't cop out
The rats in NYC subways are just as rotund as I remember.

So, let me try and write something about last night before I forget details I'll want to remember. I traveled into Manhattan to see Matt Good. I've mentioned him before, but he's Canadian and not particularly well known here but he's right up there along with my favorite artists ever. Apparently he's done a few shows round these parts in the past, but for whatever reason, I didn't know about them. I've been a fan for around 10 or 11 years, so getting to see him perform was really kind of a special thing.

All the travel details aside (the trains were packed - Ranger game last night as well), I made it to the venue shortly after it opened at 7, so I had plenty of time to check it out and soak it in, having not been there before. Very cool place. Intimate, with tables on either side, two bars, and a balcony with more tables. I walked in for a bit, walked around, and asked for a table. After a few minutes a few more people were sat at my table. Apparently they intermingle everyone at shows. It was a little weird sitting with strangers while I drank my beer and they ate, but they were nice (and for the most part, Canadian). I learned they were actually there for the opening act, who they knew personally. A few people came by and said hello to them, one of which was apparently her, which I realized when she went on stage at 9. By that time, the people around me had moved down to the stage area and I had the table all to myself, but three others were seated next to me and made my acquaintance pretty quickly. They were around my age, two girls and a guy, husband/wife, from New Jersey. The wife talked and talked, which was okay, because I was probably on my third or fourth beer that by point and found her nothing but entertaining. The opening act wasn't bad at all. Just a girl and a piano. Her between song banter was really pretty funny, including the story about Dave Gahan at Best Buy, whom she told she does a version of his song better than him. (She then played 'Walking In My Shoes.' Not better, but not bad either.) She played for about 45 minutes, and soon they were setting up for Matt.

Not a whole lot needs to be done for a man and a guitar, so he was on by 10 and I was in my glory. The Jersey wife and I looked at each other excited as schoolgirls and got to see this amazing show. Matt talked quite a bit between songs, and had the entire audience laughing. He talked about possibly doing an album consisting entirely of songs about unicorns, or one about the sexual tensions between Lord of the Rings characters. hehe.

Pretty much the best show ever. Entirely what I expected and more, and being old and cranky about having to stand for hours on end at concerts, getting to sit and drink the entire time and enjoy music I love was pretty fantastic. One of the ladies from the group I originally was paired with accidentally left her coat on the chair I was sitting in, so she stopped by during the show and asked if I'd watch it. I did, and saw her after the show and exchanged pleasantries. I shook the hands of the Jerseyans, and made my way to the bathroom first, then the subway.

I think I'll continue this in a new post..