Unexpected

So, monday night there has been this gig at the Knoflook.

I just happen to love working day parties and I went there without even
knowing the band that was to play.
Things can be already boring as they are, what’s the use in spoiling a
surprise when it’s not an emergency?

Food was ready when I entered the kroeg – dutch for tavern, hangout – and
there were unusual faces roaming around in the room amongst the old ones.
Faces framed by the domestic variety of mohawks, dreadlocks and mullets. The
atmosphere was warmly electric as it was hot, too hot for letting all that
excitement go decidedly.
Slowly buoyant, that was the mood.

Soup was delicious: peanuts with lemongrass, delightful to be scooped up on
bread and fingertips.

I tried to spot band members in the small crowd while playing and laughing
with one of the coolest toddlers on earth and her parents, two fellow
squatters in their early twenties. She was busy trying to figure out the
secret behind soap bubbles, growing frustrated because we all can make them
except her. Too funny watch her seeking the right mouth – cul de poule -
position while not pulling air out!
We cherished her, she’ll learn in time zero. Or, it might be, she was just
mocking us.

We washed our dishes and the concert started.
The band consisted of five members: four young men playing accordeon,
washtub bass, washboard and banjo; one young lady with a mandolin – and they
were all singing.
They began with a fast folk tune – not scared of the heat – and kept
alternating jumpy rhythms and touching ballads, waltzes and polkas in a
cross section of every popular music you can think of in a dough, from punk
to zydeco.

By the end of the gig it turned out being difficult for anybody to sit
still.
For further reference, band’s name is Blackbird Raum – from California – to
rock our dancefloors!

Then a cheerful and easy feeling after the music stopped, when we
enjoyed the rest of the evening’s summer sun on the roof and balcony,
telling stories.