Music Appreciation, and Bars
The downtown loft that P. and I moved into upon our return to Knoxville is, like most downtown lofts, in an old converted factory building. It's in what's called the Old City ("Knoxville's Bicentennial Neighborhood!")so it's a lot of older buildings and factories that are being rehabbed into condos and shops and things. It's still actually bordering on the seedy side, as there are lot of dusty storefronts and the only successful establishments so far seem to be the five bars that bracket our intersection. But it's one of those things where I have a feeling if we'd actually purchased this property and held onto it, in five or ten years we'd have our own magazine article, like the early adopters of the South Loop. But since our neighborhood consists of primarily nighttime establishments (and one venerable coffee shop to sober up in,) I'm accustomed to it being a ghost town during the day, with the real action happening after the sun goes down. (Just like The Old Neighborhood, but dustier, and with college kids instead of rich people.) Which is why I was surprised to be woken this morning to the sound of...a guitar solo?
I was confused. At first I thought it was our new neighbor, who apparently moved back in yesterday with a lot more banging and pounding and installing than was really necessary. But then I realized that it sounded like it was coming from downstairs on the corner. At this hour? I've been trying to take Daisy out early in the day this past week, both for my health and for hers, since by the middle of the day the sidewalk gets hot enough to burn her paws. But this musical event had managed to eclipse even the dog on a sleeping-in Saturday. So we went down to investigate.
One spoke of our four-way intersection was completely closed off, with a police car and everything. Beyond that, I saw a single portable stage with a bunch of shirtless men jumping up and down with their guitars. (Shirtless, I'm assuming, because it's still 100F and not just because it's part of their "vision" or anything. At least, I hope.) Then I saw the sign:
SKA WEEKEND!
First of all, since it said "Ska Weekend!," and not, "Ska Day!," I'm assuming this means we will be graced with two whole days of musical appreciation. Second of all, I'm confused, as this sounds nothing like any ska music I've ever heard, and I was graced with a solid ska education during my college improv career, working with the Cobb Hall kids with the big pants. Third of all, none of these people look anything like the hipsters I commonly associate with ska appreciation. Sure, one girl I saw at least managed to get the shoes right, but then she killed the whole thing with her pink ruffly ass-band of a skirt and her cropped pink tank top. If you're going to show that much skin, you should put some sunscreen on. Melanomas are bad! Fourthly, they were selling tickets for this thing and people were lined up around the block. AROUND THE BLOCK. People of all ages. Pushing strollers.
I was left to question my world view as I continued down the street with Daisy, until we were stopped by a group of young people who looked like they had just left the ska experience.
"Excuse me...[sniff]...ma'am?"
"Yes?"
"Do you live around here?"
"Well, uh, sort of."
"Do you know where we could find a bar?" [It was not yet noon.]
I looked back in the direction from whence they had just come. "Well, there's those four down there." [The fifth one is opening soon.]
"No, I mean, like,...a bar."
"Well, um...then, I guess...no."
"Okay. [sigh} Thanks anyway."
And off they went.
I'm assuming that by a bar, they were really looking for one that was open already. Seeing as how I try to drink at home before noon, there wasn't much I could do for them. I will be intrigued to see how Ska Weekend! plays out. The music has stopped now, though. Boy, that was fast.
I was confused. At first I thought it was our new neighbor, who apparently moved back in yesterday with a lot more banging and pounding and installing than was really necessary. But then I realized that it sounded like it was coming from downstairs on the corner. At this hour? I've been trying to take Daisy out early in the day this past week, both for my health and for hers, since by the middle of the day the sidewalk gets hot enough to burn her paws. But this musical event had managed to eclipse even the dog on a sleeping-in Saturday. So we went down to investigate.
One spoke of our four-way intersection was completely closed off, with a police car and everything. Beyond that, I saw a single portable stage with a bunch of shirtless men jumping up and down with their guitars. (Shirtless, I'm assuming, because it's still 100F and not just because it's part of their "vision" or anything. At least, I hope.) Then I saw the sign:
SKA WEEKEND!
First of all, since it said "Ska Weekend!," and not, "Ska Day!," I'm assuming this means we will be graced with two whole days of musical appreciation. Second of all, I'm confused, as this sounds nothing like any ska music I've ever heard, and I was graced with a solid ska education during my college improv career, working with the Cobb Hall kids with the big pants. Third of all, none of these people look anything like the hipsters I commonly associate with ska appreciation. Sure, one girl I saw at least managed to get the shoes right, but then she killed the whole thing with her pink ruffly ass-band of a skirt and her cropped pink tank top. If you're going to show that much skin, you should put some sunscreen on. Melanomas are bad! Fourthly, they were selling tickets for this thing and people were lined up around the block. AROUND THE BLOCK. People of all ages. Pushing strollers.
I was left to question my world view as I continued down the street with Daisy, until we were stopped by a group of young people who looked like they had just left the ska experience.
"Excuse me...[sniff]...ma'am?"
"Yes?"
"Do you live around here?"
"Well, uh, sort of."
"Do you know where we could find a bar?" [It was not yet noon.]
I looked back in the direction from whence they had just come. "Well, there's those four down there." [The fifth one is opening soon.]
"No, I mean, like,...a bar."
"Well, um...then, I guess...no."
"Okay. [sigh} Thanks anyway."
And off they went.
I'm assuming that by a bar, they were really looking for one that was open already. Seeing as how I try to drink at home before noon, there wasn't much I could do for them. I will be intrigued to see how Ska Weekend! plays out. The music has stopped now, though. Boy, that was fast.