Out on the Town

As it turns out, live music is always a good idea. Jamin and I returned to Sanders Memorial Theater last night for the first time since March of 2000, when we sat stary-eyed on the mezzanine falling in love to the tune of Lori McKenna's "Fireflies." Last night we rode the T to Harvard Square, took a shortcut through the Yard, wandered through the lobby--past the memorials of Harvard students who lost their lives in battles like Bull Run, Antietam, and Gettysburg--and up the dark-wood staircase to our seats on the last row of the side balcony. But our restricted view didn't block any of the energy bouncing off the stage from the only opening act that I've ever witnessed receive a standing ovation--and an encore! The Carolina Chocolate Drops is a trio that sings and plays foot-stomping old-time African-American music of the rural South with a fiddle, banjo, guitar, harmonica, snare drum (of the fife and drum variety) and I kid you not, jug. When was the last time you saw anyone play the jug on stage and get a standing ovation for it? It was unbelievable. And that was just the opening act! By the time Crooked Still took the stage for their first hometown show since last November, well, let's just say, there ain't no grave gonna keep those people from dancing in the aisles.

As we rode the red line home, over the river with our glittering skyline flashing by through the train windows, we began to panic about filling up with enough live musical feasts like this one to last us after Boston flashes out of our daily reality . . .

Club Passim, anyone?