2003-06-04 - 10:30 a.m.
Last night all my dreams about England, and specifically Brighton, came true. No, I did not shag one of those cute mod boys i sawwalking around in an ally here like Jimmy in Quadrophenia- though I did find the ally, it's off East street, but I went to a show of some of those indie rock country bands. I wandered in alone and had a nice chat with the man and woman at the door and sat down at one of the the little tables, alone, and read and listened to the new and old country that was being played- Johnny Cash, the Mountain Goats, The Silver Jews and others. Right before the first band, Royal City, from Toronto, started the woman by the door saw me awkwardly standing around and motioned to me to sit by her.
"Are you here alone? We've been keeping an eye on you all evening, trying to figure out if you were alone or waiting for someone."
"Yeah, I came alone." I said.
"Well," she said, "Sit down!"
It was so nice- we chatted inbtween bands and I found out she was from Vancouver originally. She played music too and her partner, Dave, who was the DJ, helped put on these shows. It found myself grinning and tapping my foot along to the music, feeling warm from hospitality and kindness and feeling welcome. I was excited enough when I found out the show was going on, to go and hear some interesting sounding bands, but then, to meet friends and have a more permanent, emotional tie to this place, that was what I was secretly hoping for.
