homesick

Last Thursday we went to see Lucinda Williams at the Paradiso, one of the coolest live music venues I've ever seen. It's an old church that has been turned into a nightclub. The main chapel area houses the main stage with two balconies. There is also a smaller room upstairs which is a great, intimate space. We've seen loads of bands there and Lucinda was a treat.

Aaron's been working late lately, so we rushed through dinner and down the street to find a long line to get in. Luckily we had our tickets and monthly membership cards* in hand so we were able to go right in. We managed to get to the bar and find our way through the crowd and find a really great spot near the front with a great view of the stage. It was odd being at a show where most of the crowd was older. Like 10-20 years older. I'm used to being there and feeling like a grandma around all the cute young 18 year olds...

The Dutch are tall people, Like freak-of-nature tall, so being of average height, it's really hard to find a place where you can actually see the stage in a crowded venue. We first stopped right behind a guy who was perhaps close to 7 ft tall and I simply pushed my way past him to stand in front. I figure it's the price of being tall, you have to know that short people have the right to stand in front of you. He gave me a dirty look but I ignored him and was happy to have such a great view.

[Incidentally, I did try to stand clear of the area directly in front of a guy in a wheelchair who was up on the raised area just behind us. In addition to being tall, the Dutch can also be quite rude when it comes to observing and respecting the space of others around them. I fiercely cling to the golden rule though it is hard not to want to knee someone in the groin once in a while.]

Lucinda played like I would have imagined. Her southern drawl is gravelly and filled with heartache and pain and but somehow she always sounds like she's having a good time (I'm pretty sure she was). Many of the songs were off of The Car Wheels on a Gravel Road album, which apparently has been recently released as a double CD set. She also played several new songs, from a new album to be released in the spring.

I was feeling really good about our perfect spot and just being out in general (after weeks of feeling like shit) so I was really surprised at the rush of homesickness I felt when she started playing. Car Wheels always reminds me of living with my grandmother in East Texas when I was 5. She sang that along with 2 or 3 others that filled me with this overwhelming sense of homesickness, I had to try really hard to choke back tears. It was so nice to hear her voice live. Even better than recorded, more emotion that you can ever get from a speaker. And it reminded me so much of home. Of Texas and small towns with full service up gas stations and rusty beer coolers and squeaky screen doors. It was nice (and sad) to hear someone singing about home. I missed it terribly and have found myself listening to Lucinda, Lyle, Shawn Colvin, Iris deMent and all the other music I have that makes me think of being there.