I just had a really marvelous weekend spent with three of the most wonderful women I know. So marvelous I could not write about it Sunday night because I was too tired to even Twitter, or Tweet, I am not quite sure on the verbage or even nounage there. Anywho, back to the weekend. I left for Atlanta, ticket-less (that situation will get a separate blog, as will the whole Variety experience no matter what the act) to an Ani DiFranco show at the Varity Playhouse with my great friends LMS & CC. My travelling companion was sleepy much of the way, but good enough to keep me in tune to awakening conversation and music. I had warned LMS earlier about what might be to come. Ani concerts are often kinda of full of women living alternative lifestyles, she seemed nor shocked or even phased, so I knew she would enjoy it no matter if the room was full of Dr. Seuss' Foona-Lagoona Baboona's. Ani appeals to us all. ('cept maybe Rush Limbaugh fans, but who knows who all was there?)
Before the show LMS and I dropped by the Kroger in Edgewood in search of one thing: Ting! and we bought out all nine bottles of that carbonated, grapefruity goodness known as "a little island sunshine in a bottle."
Fast forward a few hours maybe and we arrive at the Yacht, a.k.a. the EYAC or Euclid Avenue Yacht Club. As always I meet a few new friends and remember the old ones. This was the first meeting of old friends CC and LMS. I was so tickled the two finally got to encounter one another. Around 7:00-ish CC headed down to the Variety after hearing my aforementioned predicament. She returned and told me, to my dismay, the show was sold out. But I digress, that's for a later blog. Long story short, by 8:15-ish all three of us were inside the Variety.
The opening act was Toshi Reagon. She is signed with Righteous Babe Records and is one of the most Righteous Babes this writer has ever seen. Look her up on youtube or something of that ilk. CC once met her in Atlanta and seemed to enjoy the time the two spoke about Toshi's music, and Toshi's mother's music (look her up too, Bernice Johnson Reagon or Sweet Honey in the Rock.) Toshi did a few folky/rocky/blues-y numbers. She even got the audience involved in a sing-a-long of sorts.
At this point CC had to go home. Again I will get to that in another post, but she had a stressful Sunday for which she had to be up early. Next came a bottle of water and a smoke, but just for me. . . the smoke that was.
LMS wanted to get closer to the stage and it just wouldn't happen, but later we would realize we we're close enough. Lights dim and chaos, well not real chaos, but it ensues.
It's Ani! For the first time in years since I have seen her live, it's Ani F***ing DiFranco (T-shirts are on sale at righteousbabe.com) It was almost a blur for me and I have seen her live before.* So many bouncy, happy, folksy sad, political, lovely music. Ani has tendonitis and still is one of the best rockin’ guitarist I have ever seen. She was dressed as usual in a white A-shirt and baggy brown pants, and knew how to make this crowd jump.
As much as she supported Dennis Kucinich, when Barack Obama won the nomination she was behind him all the way. So much so she wrote a song I later learned was titled "November 4th, 2008" about that historic election and what might follow. I loved the partial reprise of "Yes we can, yes we Can." At some point during the show I think I even heard LMS singing along. . . a rarity I believe.
After the show I told LMS what CC has taught me after any show at the Variety. . . get yo' arse to the bus out back! We do so. . . followed by about 50 other fans... who wait for about 15 minutes, get cold and go home.
We are now down to about 20-ish devotees. Then out comes Mister tour manager. His first words are something to the effect of; I am not trying to push you away. Just that we have a schedule, Ani has some backstage time before we leave at 1:00am (it's about 11;15 now.) Ani has tendonitis and I am warming these up for her hands now (a couple of packs for the fingers that are sore) and she has some lap time with Petah Lucia. Also, the tendons prevent autographs, and she's not into pictures. I was thinking, hand pain, giving up time with her child, Godluvher, I just want to say hi, and if I can do that, then so be it. So we wait.
After a few visits more from Mister tour manager (extremely kind fellow too) we get a few visits from Mister Variety Security man, and Mister Homeless Leave the Artist Alone man (both of who were assured by Mister Tour Manager we were all okay) our "crowd" dwindles to about 10-ish, including young, I believe, experimenting lesbians and a young aspiring artist from Savannah who moved to Nashville. We all wait in the cold some smoking cigarettes just to stay warm, others borrowing lighters just for the warmth of the flame. We all have our little conversations and learn a little about our fellow Ani fans. The a smell began to erupt. . . pee. We thought it was the liquid creeping down the asphalt underneath us from someone who decided he couldn't wait. It turns out it was probably from the tour bus. A real fan might say (and I would lie if I didn't I thought it) "That's Ani's pee." (But my thought was shortly there after was "Ughhh pee smell.") I mentioned it was a bit chilly, according to the local forecast the low was 40. . . LMS decided the best way to keep warm was dancing. To be specific, Buttercup. That's a dance they teach campers to this day to the Foundations "Build Me Up Buttercup" year after year. Some of our co-Ani-waiters even tried to learn the dance from us. . . but to no real avail. Finally the moment of truth. . . and stay tuned loyal readers. . . LMS has a brilliant idea that almost comes to fruition.
The wonderful little folk singer started walking toward the tour bus. Elation ensues from the small crowd gathered. And to top everything her has tugging on her finger a little white blond-headed little one Petah. I thought about the first time I saw Ani live in Birmingham many, many years ago. She and Andy S. at City Stages and about 12 of us in the audience. Anyway. . . All the while Petah is recognizing the tour bus in her own way. . . "Bus, bus, bus." Ani was great to see, but any child always garners an "Awwww."
After almost losing her finger to a little one wanting to get on the "bus, bus, bus" Ani takes her time to greet us all with thanks and return thanks for her taking time and the tremendous show just a few hours ago. LMS's idea of doing the Buttercup almost turned into reality until someone who took himself way, way too seriously had to share his thoughts. "Whatever freakshow, LMS said we had a dance for Ani and she said she wanted to see it." But it was not to be. And LMS and I were very respectful of the now weary artist and did not try to take any more of her time. I think we both know enough mom's and respect their time with their little ones. I hope you all might have the same consideration for others as well. Thank you.
As for the night that was it. I finally really met and talked to my favorite little folk singer and had grand company. It was late and cold for Atlanta, but it was worth it to me.
Get in the Pilot, drive to Smynings, stop at McD's for a Happy mean and sweet sleep. My host, CC, had to get up early and was as quiet as a church mouse (pun intended) while she readied herself for an important day. I slept soundly (almost) on the pull out sofa whilst LMS made her home on the futon in the guest room.
'Bout around "too dang early" the birds started chirping before sunrise. Then the upstairs pups Riley (female golden) and Hazel (male chocolate) started their daily routine of barking. So that was waking me to a point but in the end I was rested by the time my host arrived back home around noon. Time for some patio time in the lovely weather on a lazy Sunday morning.
The trio we had amassed went to a tasty little Mexican restaurant CC suggested nearby for some much needed nourishment. From there it was bye-bye to Miss C (the aformentioned CC) and back down to the Variety Playhouse 'hood of Little 5 Points. LMS and meandered around the shops in the area. I found a rockin' straw cowboy hat at Junkman's Daughter. But the real stop was at a little place known to the locals as "the Rag.
Rag-O-Rama (you can look them up on-line too) 5P's hot little consignment shop. Think Goodwill with better duds and maybe a little on acid. I sort though the jeans looking in the place where I found my two favorite pairs of jeans ever. I unfortunately locate nothing. But it is always fun to look and find the occasional NKOTB t-shirt with "Hangin' Tough" on the back. LMS is luckier than I in finding clothes to fit her taste coming out with a pair of fitting pieces of apparel.
After a quick trip through Atlanta and some trips down amnesia lane, your intrepid author is on the road home. For a deserving rest. As I believe is his travelling companion.
I may have forgotten much, but all in all it was a busy yet oddly relaxing weekend. Endless thanks to all of you who made it happen, 'specially LMS and CC, TM is very grateful. While I have had many memorable days in the South's Greatest City, this one is chalked up to one of the best. I will soon update y’all on the later posts to ‘splain some things.
And if you can find it Ting! is the best soda on the planet.
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